Finishing Touches: Tutu Embellishment & Accessories
Tutu Embellishment - Plates & Overlays, Trims & Rhinestones
Tutu Accessories - Sleeves, Headpieces, Wings

Current Format: 1 (very long!) Day
2010 Availability: TBA
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This seminar is actually several different project-style 'break-out' workshops built into one very long(!) 12-hour day. You pick and choose what you want to learn, and which workshops you want to take.

This workshop will begin at 9am and run approximately 6 hours, leaving you plenty of time to select and complete 2 or 3 of the 'Accessories' workshops.

Learn the tricks and techniques to turn your tutu into a real dazzler where it most counts - onstage and under the lights! Benefit from our 20+ years experience staging and designing for hundreds of dance performances. You will design and create at least one fully-decorated 'plate' for a tutu skirt, and one fully-decorated 'overlay' for a bodice.

In addition to the hands-on work, we also discuss essential design and color elements for various staging and lighting methods and styles, as well as fabric and decorating options, uses, and application techniques. And, we'll help you learn to use and depend on that frequently overlooked element - your designer's 'distance eye'.

The workshop includes a copy of the latest edition of "Finishing Touches: The Art of Embellishment", by Claudia Folts. We will supply some fabrics and trims as well as one gross of 20ss Crystal Swarovski® rhinestones (additional colors and sizes will be available to purchase). We strongly recommend that you bring some additional trims, laces, etc. with which you might like to work.

You should bring one undecorated tutu and/or bodice to work on. If you don't bring a tutu or bodice, you should at least have the size and color information necessary to create a plate and overlay.

This workshop is extremely intense and very personalized. Although we cannot possibly cover everything you ought to know in such a short timeframe, you will leave this seminar with the knowledge and skills to create many different plate and overlay designs, as well as invaluable knowledge of what embellishment techniques 'work' and why.

This series of 'mini-workshops' will begin at 9:00am and run until 9:00pm. We don't have an exact schedule for when the various classes will be taught. Just sign up for what you want to take, we'll make sure everything works out. But keep in mind, there are nearly 20 hours of mini-sessions listed below, the 'Embellishment' workshop (above) is 6 hours, there are only 12 hours of teaching time, and you'll probably want some lunch and dinner (unless you're using this seminar as a great diet!).

These fun classes answer more questions than you knew you had about all those little extras that can really make the costume! We will supply all instructions, patterns, and materials for the projects you choose to do.

(a few examples)

***   'Tulle, Chiffon, & Spanish Sleeves' workshop - 3 hours
You will create several different decorated sleeves, including a Spanish sleeve, silk-chiffon 'Shoulder Wings' in pink or white, silk-chiffon shoulder-strap-attached long-sleeves or short-sleeves in pink or white, and tulle arm puffs and ruffles with your choice of tulle, glimmer tulle, or sparkle tulle, with several color options.

You will decorate your sleeves with trims, ribbons, and Hot-Fix rhinestones, so be sure to bring your hot-fix rhinestone setter.

These sleeves are quick, easy and great for many different parts - 'Sugar Plum Fairy', 'Sleeping Beauty', 'Don Quixote', 'Snow Queen', etc.

You will go home with patterns that can be used with many different fabrics and trims, and with the 'know-how' to make many different variations on these sleeves, including puffs, attached puffs, long and short sleeves.

(side-of-bun example)

***   'Flowers and Jewels Headpiece' workshop - 2 hours
You will create a gorgeous side-of-the-bun or garland/wreath style headpiece made with various flowers, Swarovski® Hot-Fix and/or regular flatback rhinestones, and various fancy trims.

(garland-wreath example)

We will make the bases first, using various colors of tutu net and rigilene and a choice of 1/4-inch elastic pinning loops or horsehair. You will arrange various flowers, jewels, and trims on the base, then attach them using glue and hand- and machine-sewing.

These headpieces are great for so many ballets - from Waltz of the Flowers and Spanish, to more contemporary ballet pieces. Choose from the following options: black/red, lavender, pinks, or white.

Although very quick and inexpensive to construct, this headpiece looks like you labored for hours!

You will create one multi-role 'Princess-Style' headpiece, using your choice of 2 different design and construction methods. One technique is built on sturdy horsehair with hand-wired rosemontée rhinestones. The other technique uses sewn-together appliques with sewn-on rhinestones - in various styles, colors, shapes, and sizes.

We've shown a couple of examples of past designs, but your final headpiece will depend on currently available trims and stones, and your in-class choices.

The techniques taught in this workshop are suitable for any 'princess-style' headpiece or role, just adapt them for your needs.

***   'La Bayadere Headpiece' workshop - 3-4 hours

The 'La Bayadere - Kingdom of the Shades' headpiece is built on sturdy horsehair, with crystal cupchain rhinestones, and your choice of white tulle or silk chiffon for the 'headpiece to wrist' drapes.

Yes, you can take this class twice, and create your headpiece using both fabrics.

***   'Fairy Wings' workshop - 2 hours
You will learn how to shape millinery wire into gorgeous wings, then cover the frame with Glimmer or Sparkle tulle, and finish the piece with selected trims. For this class, you will choose either Faerie Wings ('Midsummer Night's Dream'-ish) or 'Sylphide'-style Wings. The techniques for either style are essentially the same, and you will receive pattern sets for both styles.

We offer several color options for you to choose from: white glimmer tulle, rosette glimmer tulle, grape (orchid) silver-sparkle tulle, rosette silver-sparkle tulle, white gold-sparkle tulle.

Although you will shape your wings by hand or by using one of our 'jigs', we will also show you how to design and make your own 'jig' - a reusable pattern for wiring the basic wing shape (when making several sets of wings, a 'jig' can help make the wiring process faster and simpler, and provide a more consistent size and shape). The instructions are easily adaptable to nearly any size and shape of wing design.

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