I am packed and ready to be on the way to Jackson, Mississippi for Project Tutu. I worked a little more on my “practice tutu” this week. Since my machine had to be sent via UPS, I had to do all of the trimming by hand. Took a little longer than it normally would, but it was good to practice some hand stitching.
More later with pictures from Jackson and what our project will be!
On June 23, I will be traveling to Jackson, Mississippi to participate in the first ever Project Tutu sponsored by Tutu.com. I am fortunate enough to have the sponsorship of my employer, The Richmond Ballet. I have been practicing for the past few weeks, timing myself to find out how long it takes me in the construction process of the tutu.
The skirt took a little over 5 1/2 hours from cutting the net to steaming the skirt. I didn’t tack the skirt but that usually takes me a little over 1 hour.
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I chose an 8 piece bodice for the practice session. We will be provided with patterns in the competition, I just used one I had available. The bodice took a little over 2 1/2 hours to get to the “ready for hand stitching stage”
I am using a simple gold lace and trim design for this tutu. I will be hand stitching the bias strips and lace onto the bodice, and adding rhinestones once the trims are attached.
Earlier this year, Tutu.com announced that they would be holding a tutu design competition. The winner of the competition would have their tutu in a fashion show along with the tutus of current ballet costume designers, vintage tutus and tutu.com designs. The fashion show is being held at the International Ballet Competition in Jackson, Mississippi.
I was fortunate enough to be selected as one of the top 6 finalists, and then, as one of the two selected to be featured in the fashion show.
My tutu design is a 9 layer black and white tutu with white enhanced silver sparkle tulle in between the layers. The 12 piece bodice is white bengaline, with a nude inset.
I used techniques from “The Artful Ribbon” to make the ribbon flowers with ribbons I found at local craft stores. Some are solids, some are fun prints, like polka dots and zebra prints. I wanted to use the black swirls to create a fanciful look.
The ribbons on the bodice and skirt are white grosgrain ribbons with quotes from famous choreographers about dance.
I used different findings, beads and rhinestones to complete the decorations. The large rhinestone flowers in the center of the black flowers are clasps from a rhinestone belt someone gave me. I love using found objects in unusual ways in decorating my costumes.
