The weather is getting warmer, and it’s time to think about costumes for summer performances! Or in you’re in the southern hemisphere, think about winter holiday performances 😉 Either way, now is a good time to start making costumes for the upcoming season. So in that spirit, I have 3 big announcements for you today. Announcement #1… Enrolment of the… Read more →
Rhinestones are your best friend when you make dance costumes. But it can be overwhelming to know which one to buy. I often buy rhinestones from Dreamtime Creations. and since I was buying some rhinestones  for a project the other day, I thought to buy one of different brands to compare the quality and colours and share my observations with… Read more →
Here’s an honest disclaimer – This post contains some affiliate links. This means that if you click on the links and purchase products, I earn a small commission (no additional cost to you). The small commission I earn keeps all the Sparkly Belly tutorials free 🙂 No obligation, just an option. Thanks! Last week I showed you how to make… Read more →
I’ve been curious about those curly rhinestone appliques used to decorate belly dance costumes, often by Russian designers. And lots of dancers have been asking how to make these on Facebook. They are so cute and help you create beautiful, romantic designs. It took me a while, but I finally figured out how to make them, and in this video, you’ll… Read more →
Last week I shared with you this book called The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up, which helped me clean up my place including my sewing station. It was great to hear many of you are also starting spring cleaning and have seen the awesome effect of the Konmari Method explained in the book 😀 If you haven’t tried, I highly… Read more →
Last week I did a review on a whole bunch of beads sent to me by PandaHall. I’m receiving positive feedback on the review, so I’ll think about recommending more products and sharing more coupons I find in the future 🙂 This week I’ll show you how to make a beaded lace applique and DIY barefoot sandals using some of… Read more →
As a dancer, it is important that you are dressed up and look polished from head to toe. That includes your nails too. But if you are a dancer that performs regularly, it’s quite cumbersome to have to do your nails frequently for your performance. Trying to do nails in the backstage is annoying, and I’ve heard from a couple… Read more →
Last 2 weeks, we made this simple and pretty baladi dress with a keyhole neckline. But what makes your baladi dress look complete? A sparkly hip scarf, of course! 😀 In this post, which is the last of this baladi dress series, you are going to see how to make this hip scarf that goes with the baladi dress. You… Read more →
Last week I showed you how you can make a custom pattern for a baladi dress using your own shirt. So glad to receive emails and comments from dancers telling me that they are excited about this pattern! 😀 This week, we’ll sew all the pieces together. So let’s get started! Get your FREE keyhole neckline pattern here! Check out… Read more →
Happy New Year! 😀 I wanted to start the new year with a DIY project that has been requested by many dancers, and it’s baladi dress. Baladi dresses are used when belly dancers dance more folk pieces, like ones with canes, and fun shaabi pieces. They can be made fitted or loose and can be simple or heavily decorated. So… Read more →