Belt and Hair Update

So as I mentioned before I had some more work to be done on the belt.

I really just needed to add in the extra pearl veneers in between the other foam panels. 

This was my attempt to create rolled up, sewn, and spray painted batting tubes for the crazy beehive cone thing on the top of Akasha's head. It may very well have been holding the crown to her head.

Spray paint had postponed any further work as the paint needed quite a bit of time to dry. Even after the suggested 24 hours it wasn't ready to be worked with... D:

Here you can see my horrid closet, Akasha's hair tubes, and Aisha's updated hair tubes.

I was actually trying to update a bit of Aisha when I had the downtime to do so.

The tubes were caulked in varying places, probably about a finger's length apart from one another. Then half inch chunks of kanekalon fiber was gently smudged into the caulk. I had managed to use a little less than a whole tube of caulk making these.

Re-designed

Wow was I pleased with the second attempt/result.

After hot gluing all of the metal bits in place and covering the wrapped edges so they wouldn't tear me to bits, I followed up with the coins and some cut up mardi gras beads to act as spacers between the coins.

So many coins, so little time...

Then came some darted construction/posterboard paper that came in dual tone gold on one side and silver on the other.

After cutting darts like so I taped them up.

Then prepared them for the daunting task of upholding the crown.

Even here the crown is rather impressive

Ah handy dandy hot glue gun... Where would I be without you in this project?

This felt like it took hours. It probably only took me an hour. Maybe hour and a half.

Despite my rather unexcited facade I am quite ecstatic about the progress I made.

I couldn't get the camera to cooperate. Blech

Update on the Belt panel

While I surely don't look too thrilled I was actually quite excited when I finished gluing the pearl pieces onto their foam counterparts.

I'm surprised by how little you can see the black foam edging from far away. Even up close you'd have to be a punk to point it out.

So here it is with the skirt on underneath. I'm pretty happy with the results so far. Just gotta give that belt some extra loving with alternating trapezoidal panel pieces.

I'm whispering loudly while relaxing in chaos

Okay. So I ended up one wasting more money on more fabric for her arm drapes and skirt.

Who knew making a skirt and getting the right draping effect on the armbands would require so much work?!

I feel rather stupid but I finally have that stuff finished.

Lately I've been finishing up the chestpiece,

This is all craft foam, a bit of fabric for backing/providing support and a lot of paint (acrylic, 3-D fabric acrylic, and Rub*n*Buff)

I'm not entirely happy with the "gems" but it's the best I could manage for the time being. I'll definitely be revisiting this costume in the future.

 The belt

Probably made a few too many pieces for the main part of the belt.  But better safe than sorry.

Most of it was attached with super glue. The gems are tiny tiny I believe 7mm Glico rhinestones.


A few parts of the necklace,

and finally getting some of the headdress.

Once again utilizing craft foam, fabric for supporting the foam, and lots of paint.

 I'm waiting on my order of belly dance loose coins (7.50/10 ish with shipping that I bought from an etsy vendor)

and the mother of pearl sheets I also obtained from etsy. So far so good.
EDIT* THEY CAME IN!

If you ever needed mother of pearl veneer sheets then hit up these people - http://www.etsy.com/shop/MorningCalmStore?ref=seller_info

I suggest messaging them if you have need for more than one sheet. They're a little smaller than a piece of paper both length and width wise.

Your best bet in cutting them is probably also scoring it with an exacto knife or something along those lines.

I apparently sucked at this in the beginning so that's what awesome boyfriend is for;

Also for getting General Grievous Masks

Hopefully I'll get most of the costume done before the weekend is over so I can have smoother sailing til April comes around.