Categories
General Makeup and Appearance

Does your mascara miss you? Spring Makeup Challenge 2020

If you are like me, you probably aren’t putting on as much makeup as you ordinarily would if our lives were more routine and typical.  But in this era of closed restaurants and canceled shows, dancers have been hastily moving their classes and performances onto the digital world.  I simply spend most days without makeup.

Makeup Is A Lot Like Food

My calendar recently reminded me it’s time to switch mascara tubes.  Conventional wisdom suggests that to keep your eyes healthy, you should swap out your mascara every 3-6 months.  I’ve set up a reminder in Google Calendar to “Ping” me quarterly.  This 4-month reminder lets me know that the end of the line is approaching for my current open mascara.

Liquid and cream products that come close to the eye’s membranes should be swapped out every few months.  These “wet” products can harbor bacteria and mold that can cause problems to the eye. Some of these issues, like styes or conjunctivitis, can be quite painful, so it’s best just to play it safe and swap that beauty product. For me, that product is mascara.

This blog post includes information on makeup product use-by dates. 

I Keep Only One Mascara on the Go

To minimize costs, I only keep one mascara open at a time in my performance makeup kit.  I am “Team Drugstore” when it comes to mascara, so I tend to pick them up in pairs when I see the style I prefer available with a “Bogo” sale and preferably with a coupon.  This way, I always have a backup when that quarterly alarm goes off.  It’s sort of like always having a jar of pasta sauce in the cabinet. Having a backup means I’ll never run out in a pinch.

Spring Makeup Challenge

So that pesky “toss your mascara” alarm has gone off and it’s time for it to hit the trash.  I opened it in January, and I’ve used it maybe ten times in the ensuing months. It feels wasteful to just toss this in the trash and I certainly don’t want to crack open a new mascara either.  So it occurred to me that what I should do is give it one more month, and really get some use out of my makeup collection with another makeup challenge.

Challenge Theme: Peacocks and Mermaids

So starting next week, I’m going to embark on a new challenge, to pull out the purple and aqua colors in my eyeshadow collection and film some looks. Then, over the following weeks, I’ll pull out palettes from my eyeshadow collection and craft some new looks. I’ll talk about the products I own and why I bought them.  But more importantly, I’ll demonstrate how I use these palettes, so you can decide if they might work for you.

Because I’m convinced we will dance again!
But before that time comes, let’s use up some of this mascara!

Dawn Devine ~ Davina
April 23, 2020

 

Categories
General

Mask-Making Pattern and Directions – downloadable .pdf

Like many of my fellow crafters, I spent an entire week of April 2020 making masks for my family and friends.  In a time when I feel helpless and like the world is spinning out of control, I found a way to use my sewing skills to help my local community.  I shared the pattern for this project with the members of my Studio Davina FaceBook group.  Several folks asked for directions and so I put together this .pdf which also includes the printable pattern on the last page.

This shaped mask, which my dance buddy and co-author Sara Shrapnell called the “Axe Head” pattern, is a ladies large.  My other co-author, photographer and troupe mate Alisha offered to model one for the selfie above.  This is a lined mask with loops to wear behind the ears. These are for wear in this time of sheltering in place. Masks have suddenly become essential shopping trips at the grocery or for fitness walks. I recommend making this from 100% cotton with 1/4″ elastic.  If you would like to see the directions click on the photo above to download the printable .pdf.

There are many different patterns and directions available all over the internet.  Feel free to use this pattern to make as few or many as you need.  If you take any photos or selfies and share them on Facebook or Instagram, be sure to tag me!  I would love to see your quarantine couture!

During this time of crisis and change throughout the world,
please take extra care of you, your family, and friends.  

Be well and be safe!
Dawn Devine ~ Davina
April 10, 2020

Categories
General

Making Masks

Hello Gang – Whew – the world is really going through it right now!

Over the past seven days, I’ve been making masks. Lots of masks. For my circle of family and friends to wear when taking fitness walks or heading out to the grocery store.

My intention was to make something that fit my face with less bulk than traditional, more medical style pleated masks.

Because I was making my own pattern, I also wanted a pattern that comfortably covered my schnoz.

I’m working on a longer post with directions on how to put this together, but if you need a pattern now, perhaps you would like to try this one!

Click on the image below to download a .pdf.

Best of luck in the coming weeks – be safe and be well!
Dawn Devine ~ Davina
April 4, 2020

Categories
Costuming DIY General

7 Bellydance Costuming Tasks to do During a Down Time

As I write this in March of 2020, virtually the entire world has gone into quarantine as a preventative health measure.  With a bit more free time, you can now do some of those pesky chores that always seem to fall to the bottom of the list. So to help combat the overwhelm of the situation happening throughout the world, I’ve created a list of costuming and wardrobe maintenance tasks that regularly need to be completed.

Five-step plan to tackle these projects:

1 – Grab your favorite beverage
2 – Put on your headset and listen to a playlist of upbeat music, an interesting podcast or an audiobook.
3 – Choose a project from the ideas below
4 – Work on it until it’s done or you need to stop.
5 – Stand back and admire your work!!   If you’re on social media, why not take a set of “Before and After” pictures to share with your dance friends.
Now you might already have a to-do list and schedule for your costume wardrobe maintenance.  If so, I applaud you!   I have quarterly objectives that I have set reminders in my Google calendar.  These “not so fun” tasks can be difficult to make room for in my calendar, but then offer me so much satisfaction when they are done!

Update (or Start) your Costume Inventory

Years ago, I would keep a spreadsheet of all my costume pieces.  But now, in the era of the smartphone, I simply keep an album of me wearing each and every costume I have in rotation. So if you’ve gotten new costume pieces since you’ve done your last inventory, nows the time to add them.  The same goes for things that have been removed from your inventory.  Delete them from your spreadsheet or move the photo from your “Wardrobe” gallery into your “Archives” so that you can save the memory, but keep your wardrobe inventory accurate.  These costumes are embellished with acrylic sew-on stones I picked up from Amazon.

Do the Laundry

If you are like me, you probably have a veil that’s been through the wringer or a skirt that’s been worn one too many times. Now is a great time to wash those pieces and get them clean and fresh for when the gigs start pouring in.  In my world I hand-wash silk veils using baby shampoo, I machine wash assiut pieces in a lingerie bag on the gentlest cycle (which on my machine oddly says “hand wash” and I make sure that all of my spandex wear is washed in cool water and hung dry to preserve the spandex.  What do I use to launder my assiut and tel kirma pieces?   I use Orvus, which I think is the choice for vintage cotton textiles.

Clean and repair Jewelry

In our dance form, jewelry can take a real beating. So it’s time to give your jewelry some TLC.  Give everything a good polish and shine.  Identify and repair any jump rings or missing pieces that you can.  While you have everything out and cleaning it, why not take photos for your inventory while you have everything out and on display.  I use a jewelry cleaning cloth similar to this one to wipe down stones, cones, and chains.

Re-line Bra and Belt Sets

Linings can get pretty gross.  They might get makeup on them, sweat, and oil from contact with our bodies.  Periodically I like to remove the old sweaty lining and replace old padding in the bra. Then I spray with disinfectant – I use 2/1 vodka/water.  Let the bedlah pieces dry thoroughly. Then I install a new lining into the garment.  These Dritz ready-made bust pads are quick and easy to install, but you can always make your own.

Make Repairs

Every wardrobe is completely different and unique, so ya never know what exact tools and materials you will need to make repairs on your garments. But I have a well-stocked sewing kit, and I try to keep a “repair materials” kit for each of my costumes.  That includes a selection of beads, rhinestones, coins, and other surface embellishments to make repairs. For touching up my shoes and other craft projects, I keep a collection of Sharpie markers in various colors in my tool kit.

Clean Storage Boxes & Gig Bags

Since you will be pulling everything out of their storage containers, this is a great time to wipe them down.  While you’re at it, it’s also a good time to clean out and wipe-down your class and gig bags too.  I have owned this canvas tote bag from Lands End for more than 25 years, and it’s still going strong!   But it no longer is completely white – even after cleaning.  I kinda want to get another one, the new styles have an outside pocket, but this one has a lot more life in it!

Makeup Stash Clean and Inventory

Oh you know it’s a chore to go through and clean up the old makeup stash.  First, focus on the tools and toss the dead tissues, clean the brushes and sponges.  Next, go through your products to get rid of anything dried out, outdated, past its prime. If you haven’t used it in the past year, you might want to usher it out of your collection. Be sure to check all of your bags, purses, and pockets for hidden lip products.  And don’t forget to wash the boxes, bags, and cups that you use to store your tools and products.  Most of the brushes in this cup come from BH Cosmetics and Real Techniques.
I hope that your time off is at once quiet and uneventful! 
Stay safe and be well!
Dawn Devine ~ Davina
March 20, 2020
Categories
General

Six Hand-Sewing Essentials for Belly Dancers

Every performing dancer should have a sewing kit handy for doing minor repairs, replacing hooks and eyes, and putting in fresh lining pieces to their belt.  Although I’m a professional seamstress, I find myself always reaching for a small box with just my hand-sewing essentials.

Bees Wax

Probably my most essential product is beeswax.  It serves as a conditioner, that prevents the thread from twisting on itself, getting bunched up, or even knotting. It literally will cut my sewing times by significantly reducing the hassle time.  I like to support my local community by purchasing cakes of wax from the honey vendor at my local farmer’s market.  But you can buy wax from the fabric and craft stores or at myriad places online.

Hot Tip:  I like to pre-load a number of needles and run them through the cake of wax and then hit them with a hot iron.  This helps the wax penetrate the thread and the needles are ready to just quickly grab as I work.  Batch prepping saves time.

Needle Puller

Hand sewing through buckram, my favorite supportive inner layer, can be tough.  Add a couple of layers of interfacing, fleece, fashion fabric and embellishments, your hands can get a serious workout!  So enter the silicone needle puller.  These small textured round disks add grip to your fingertips, allowing you to more easily grab and pull stuck needles.

Hot Tip:  For those most intense stuck needles, I keep a jewelry-making plier in my kit. I prefer a smooth needle-nose variety that won’t damage the surface of my needle when I pull.  Most of the time, the silicon circle does the trick, but for those moments when I need it, the pliers are there!

Small Scissors

As many of you know, I’m a historian by education. So I love this nod to the past with a pair of tiny vintage-looking embroidery scissors. Small scissors to cut threads are essential, but I recommend if you sew a lot, pick the tools that make you happy.  I find this pair to be a visual delight!

Hot Tip:  When I’m pressed for time and have a lot of sewing to do, I pick a different tool.  Thread snips don’t require putting a finger into rings and the dual action of opening and closing the hand.  Instead, it’s a quick and easy, grab-and-squeeze action.  While this might not save a lot of time on single cuts, if you’re working on a big or fast project, this is the tool to choose.

Thimbles

I always use a thimble when I sew.  The goal is to have a firm surface on your “pushing” finger, which for me is the middle finger of my right hand. A good thimble protects the surface of your finger and gives you a solid surface to really push you thimble through.  It can take some practice, but once you get the hang of it, it can make hand sewing both more comfortable and less tiring. My favorite is the Dritz “Slip Stop” thimble.

Hot Tip: Assemble a thimble wardrobe to suit a variety of situations and needs.  I personally like a silicone thimble for easy sewing.  For heavy-duty sewing through buckram and grosgrain, I use a metal thimble with a ridged tip.  Some seamstresses prefer leather.  Have long nails?  Get a thimble ring instead. There are many to choose from and they are fairly small and affordable.

Needles

If you are first starting out sewing, or a road warrior who takes their projects to events, keeping a good all-purpose needle kit. Pick a kit with a variety of styles and sizes of needles.  When you’ve been hand sewing for a while, you might have determined you have a favorite style.  For instance, I prefer to sew with milliners needles which tend to be longer, have a slightly bigger eye, and are quite flexible.  I also have learned to buy quality and prefer the rather posh brands, John James and Richard Hemming.

Hot Tip: Play with every needle in the pack.  Ignore the “titles” of the needles and figure out what needle is best for you.  When you’ve determined what style, size, and a needle company you like, you can buy individual kits containing just your favorite and most-used style.  Then refill your big kit and go.

Thread

Last, but by no means least, buy the best quality thread you can afford.  Cheaper and older spools of thread are less supple and break easily.  When I’m hand-sewing belly dance costumes I do the bulk of my sewing with either “upholstery” or “button and carpet” thread for speed, strength, and overall durability.  While you might not want to spend more money on specialty thread, it will save you sewing time and make your costume stronger.

Hot Tip: One of the sewing lessons I learned working in professional theater is to keep a spectrum of grey thread in the styles I prefer in stock.  Match the shade of grey tonally to your costume color.  So pale grey with yellow, charcoal grey with deep blue, etc…

Handy Storage Box

I like to keep my hand sewing kit in a small portable box that I can quickly grab and go.  I do hand-sewing not only at my main worktable, but also at my desk, on the kitchen table, and even at events.  In addition to the items listed above, I also have an assortment of safety pins, stick pins, fabric clips, and a few hooks and eyes.  Customize your box to suit the size of your individual tools and project needs.

And see that wooden handle in the box? That’s actually a custom-made seam ripper made by my brother Joe of Wicked Mojo Designs.  I love it and I’m totally biased!

I hope this rundown of supplies will help you get your own effective hand-sewing kit set up and ready to support your adventures in costuming!

Happy Dance and Costuming!
Dawn Devine ~ Davina
March 16, 2020