Category: General

Do you listen to podcasts?

I was recently interviewed by Tiffany of the Bellydance Bundle for her new podcast, Yallah Raqs.  My talk is titled “Zills: Practice & History” and I had an absolute blast recording it!  If you are a podcast listener, I hope that you find it both informative and entertaining!

Enjoy the Podcast!
Dawn Devine ~ Davina
October 3, 2019

 

Hello Gang,

It’s time for the change of the seasons, and in the cycle of my belly dance business, it’s time for a good rummage through my makeup collection. Simply put, it’s time for a good oldfashioned clean-out. There are quite a few products that need to be tossed. Some because they are expired or have simply lost their makeup mojo. Others, like the poor unfortunate Profusion Spectrum palette to the right, are broken.

Cosmetics are like Food

For me, makeup has this beautiful arc of experience.  You buy the products, consume them, and enjoy them. It can be a very pleasurable if ephemeral, experience.  But like leftovers at the back of the fridge, old makeup needs to be tossed!  Makeup has posted expiration dates. These recommended guidelines are based on the ingredients.

Creamy, liquidy and wet products simply go bad over time if you are using it or not. Powder products have binders and preservatives that can go bad, allowing bacteria and fungus to proliferate.  To keep the state of my collection health, I go through my makeup stash each year and do a real clearout.

However, I will be the first to admit that I will keep a powder product like eyeshadow way past the suggested “use by” date.  But when I’m done with it, I have no problem throwing it out when it’s just not working for me.

Focus on the Eyeshadow Drawer

This fall, I took a close look at the eyeshadow in my makeup drawer and decided I had more eyeshadow than I could ever hope to use before it goes bad.  This is the one product category that I feel needs a good cleaning this year.  In my world, I basically have been buying 2 eyeshadow palettes a year.  I ask to be gifted one for my December holiday gift, and I pick one out for myself on my birthday. Consequently, my eyeshadow drawer was full, almost to the being of being unable to close!  So I took the bull by the horns and dove into purge these products.

Establishing Eyeshadow Declutter Guidelines

Before diving into any declutter, it’s good to lay out some basic guidelines or rules to help keep you focussed. Many folks hold onto things beyond their useful date for sentimental reasons. Other people simply like the feeling of abundance and choice.  For me, I often find it difficult to let go of things that felt like an investment. To help me during this purge, I established this set of rules.

Toss any eyeshadow untouched for two or more years.  Palettes that were still in good condition I offered to my dance friends.  Things that were bad went directly into the trash. My motto is “When in doubt, toss it out!”

Choose your favorite colors.  I’m a cool girl (as in, I have a cool undertone) so I primarily wear pinks and purples, blues in every shade, turquoise and aqua. This list helped guide the next round of cuts.  If a paletted didn’t include these colors, it was added into the giveaway pile.  I have to admit – I never wear warm tones so this Wet-N-Wild “Cosmic Collision” got a new home with a friend.

Rank your palettes.  Once you’ve done a first and second pass, it’s time to rank your eyeshadow.  Starting with your absolute favorite and rank them holding them in your hands and doing a side-by-side comparison.  When you have them ranked, give final consideration to the palettes in the lowest categories.

After this sorting pass, I had an epiphany. What I like best is putting together my own eyeshadow palettes. I enjoy the creativity of selecting colors that coordinate. While pre-made palettes are gorgeous, I found in many cases I was only using one or two colors out of 8-12 options.  I’m going to depot some of these palettes to harvest my favorite colors.

*** Check out this blog post, “Help – My Depotted Eyeshadow Won’t Stick to my Palette!“

Build Your Own Eyeshadow Palette

Since September is my Birthday month, I decided to invest in a “Build Your Own Palette.”  In the past, I’ve built quads using Inglot cosmetics, and frankly, I love them!  But this year, I needed a more affordable option.  So I choose to build an affordable 12 pan palette during the Colourpop Labor Day sale.   

Build your Own from Colourpop – https://colourpop.com/collections/eye-palettes  My favorite shadow in this palette?  The incredibly reflective silver in the lower right corner called “On a Whimsy.”   https://colourpop.com/products/on-a-whimsy

Makeup is a Regular Belly Dance Expense

Of course, there’s much more to a makeup collection than just eye-shadow palettes.  For each other category, like foundation or mascara, I to try and keep only one or two.  My process is to make a shopping list and buy the products that need to be replaced. As the new products arrive, I make the replacement then.

Turning Minutes into Makeup

A while book, I wrote a blog post about how I “Turn Minutes into Makeup” by using the MyPoints website.  In a nutshell, I spend about 5-10 minutes a day to earn points that I convert to gift cards that I use to buy makeup. Over the summer, I’ve “Saved Up” points to use to restock my belly dance makeup essentials.  These are the things I picked up to replenish my makeup collection after the purge.

Mascara

The rule of thumb is to swap out your mascara every 3-6 months for eye health and safety.  To keep my eyes save and healthy, I’ve tied switching my mascara to the spring and fall equinox.  My goal with mascara is to darken my naturally dirty-blonde lashes and add volume. When I’m not wearing false lashes, which means most days, I am really enjoying the L’Oreal Lash Paradise.  But when I’m wearing falsies, I like to use a really crispy, waterproof mascara that will help support the weight.  The best I’ve found for this very specific effect is the Covergirl Supersizer.

Covergirl Supersizer Mascara — https://amzn.to/2OhVT35

L’Oreal Lash Paradise – https://amzn.to/2OfkWE8

Glitter Primer/Glue

If you want your glittery eyeshadows to seriously pop from stage, using a layer of glitter primer or glue will be your best friend.  I find I go through a tube every other year.  Like eyelash glue, glitter glue will dry out and get clunky to use over time.  But unlike lash glue, I find that for me, a tube will last about two years. I’m not loyal to any particular brand and have selected this NYX Glitter Brilliance for my next tube.

Nyx Glitter Primer – https://amzn.to/2LIMBeR

 

 

 

Lip Exfoliator

I have very dry lips and regularly use a lip exfoliator.  I go through about a tube and a half of this e.l.f. Lip Exfoliator each year, and was happy to find a two-pack that will take me through all of 2020.  There are several different “flavors” of these exfoliators, but I find the original is most effective.

e.l.f Lip Exfoliator – https://amzn.to/30a40Fm

Eyelash Glue

My eyelash glue always goes dry, gets chunky, and clunky before I manage to use it up.  I only wear eyelashes when I perform or attend an event where I need to go full glam.  For me, a tube lasts about a year before it dries out.  The autumnal equinox is the time when I replace the old glue and purchase new.

Kiss Strip Lash Adhesive – Latex Free – https://amzn.to/2LHh2Sx

Duo Green Brush-On Lash Adhesive – https://amzn.to/2V8MRGU

 

Thank you

I just want to take a moment to thank you for reaching the bottom of this post!  If you like the content here on my website, come join the conversation over in my FaceBook club, Studio Davina.  Join me and my friends, family, and fans as we chat about costuming, sewing, makeup, and more!  Just follow this link.  I also want to thank anyone who uses one of my Amazon affiliate links above. Using these links helps me keep this content free and accessible with no impact on the prices of the products you buy.  I really appreciate your continued support.

Happy Dance and Costuming,
Dawn Devine ~ Davina
October 1, 2019

“What scissors should

I use to cut modern assiut?”

This is one of my most frequently asked questions over in my assiut and sewing groups on Facebook.  So I thought I would take a moment to talk about these dressmakers shears from Kai. I have been using Gingher since I went to fashion school, and I have an entire arsenal of cutting tools from this German company.  My heart was devoted to this brand until I started the build for the Cloth of Egypt photos. 

Cutting Modern Assiut

I realized that it’s quite easy to cut through the metal stitches of modern assiut. I was using a very affordable pair of Fiskars shears I have laying around for cutting trims and through sequin fabric and trim.  When I reached for my trusty Fiskars, I realized they were really dull.  Not just a tiny bit dull, but OMG, nothing will bring back the edge dull.

I had heard some great reviews of the Kai sewing shears. When I compared the price of Fiskars to the cost of a basic pair of Kai scissors I found these Japanese scissors were not that more expensive. So I picked up a pair.

I’m pleased to report that after cutting assiut for over 200 garments and countless accessories, these Kai shears are still sharp and going strong. My last pair of Fiskars didn’t keep their edge nearly as long, so in the long run, I’ve actually saved money.

Cutting Vintage Assiut

But what about cutting vintage assiut?  Let me start by saying this,  I wouldn’t recommend cutting into a high-quality piece of vintage assiut. However, if you are upcycling a damaged piece or have a fragment you want to use for costuming, go for it.  But don’t use your sewing shears. Vintage metal varies widely in composition and is much heavier than the modern aluminum alloy that is easy to cut.

Instead, I like to use a scalpel or surgical style seam ripper to cut the threads between the stitches.  I plan my cuts in advance and carefully cut the fabric stitch by stitch. This gives me the most precision while saving my shears from damage.  In addition to cutting assiut fabrics, I also use this style seam ripper to cut faux fur, crusty embellished lace, and when upcycling vintage beaded garments.

If you are interested in learning more about my favorite sewing tools, I’ve put together a supplies list.  Please feel free to drop me an email or join the conversation over on Facebook if you have more questions about tools and how I use them.

Happy Costuming!
Dawn Devine ~ Davina
July 29, 2019

PS:  Thanks so much for supporting my blog by using my Amazon links.  When you click through it doesn’t add any additional cost to you, but they give me a tiny sliver of commission that helps cover the expenses of this site!  Thank you!

Hey Gang, Updated for 2021: One of my most popular talks has become a class on the Beyond Dance Business Academy.  It begins as a live 90-minute lecture on June 20, 2021.  The recording of this lecture will be part of a permanent class. Dancers in Orientalist Art with Dawn Devine ~ Davina Reserve your seat
Women as Portrayed in Orientalist Painting by Lynne Thornton This impressive book comes in two sizes.  In current print is this small pocket variety that I’ve included in the link.  There is also an out of print version in French, a hard-cover coffee-table book-sized edition that is very expensive on the collectors market.  The pocket-sized edition contains all the same text and in a smaller and more affordable package.  As the title indicates, the focus is on images of women and the various roles and scenes that painters choose.  I consider this book to be an essential read for anyone interested in a more feminist reading of Orientalist paintings. Buy this essential read on Amazon.
Orientalism by Christine Peltre This is the book I would choose to use as my primary textbook if I were currently teaching a full “Orientalism in Art” course.  This is an overview book, that will introduce to the broad topic of Orientalism in art. This book presents a nice balanced approach to a discussion of Orientalist art. This soft-covered but lavishly illustrated book includes a great collection of images to support the text.  If you are only going to have one book in your library devoted to the subject, this would be my recommendation. Pick up your copy on Amazon.
Orientalism: History, Theory and the Arts by John MacKenzie This book is a response to Edward Said’s book “Orientalism.” MacKenzie approaches the subject of Orientalism, but looking at the topic through the lens of Art History. But though it’s an art history book, there are only a few poor-quality black and white images, but lots of valuable analysis of the Orientalist painters.  Be prepared to look up colored images of the artists and works mentioned in the text. Order a copy from Amazon
Orientalism by Edward W. Said This groundbreaking work nearly single-handedly serves as the basis for postcolonial literary studies.  Written in 1978, the book was a close analysis of a carefully curated selection of western writers who traveled through the MENAT region.  Over the intervening 40 years, this book has been critiqued for its narrow scope and polarizing language.  If you choose to take on this title, be prepared for a very academic book geared towards a well-educated reader.  Purchase a copy on Amazon.