Red Boho Scarf Tunic Top I Made

Made this a few years ago, from some bandanas that my step-mom Libby gave me from NJ. She likes to sew, but she gets so much stuff given to her that she donates what she doesn't want.
And, she gave a bunch of stuff to me.

Bellydance Lace-up Sleeves That I Made

Lace-up Sleeves That I Made For my belly dance bedleh (costume).

I didn't make the coin-bra but I DID take it apart and alter it.

I made the sleeve-cuffs because I'd seen many other dancers wear something similar, usually cabaret dancers, but even Gothic Tribal Fusion dancers.

I had lots of old vintage silk from China that was given to me when I was in China from many old folks, and neighbors in China.

So, I thought I would use it. It's already made the harem pants/Turkish bloomers, which I bought a pattern to use for making it, and altered the design to fit what I personally wanted.

So, I made the flowing sleeves to match, and now I have a whole bedleh.

No one can seem to agree what to call this fashion item, but so many very well known dancers have some version of them. There was even a Gothic sewing pattern you can buy called "The corested Arm". But, as I don't have any money to spend on things like that, I just made up my own pseudo pattern with paper.

I measured my arms, made a paper mock-up, and went from there.

 The flowing parts of the sleeves I used ALL of the vintage fabrics I had. I made it look as tho' I had 2 layers of sleeve together, but they are sewn together.

The bigger part looks a bit like wings, and is rather whimsical.

But, the overlaying sheer sleeve with mini flowers (Blümchen) was inspired by sleeves by Moresca.

 I also have mini jingle bells on my sleeves, like the style of Moresca.

 The full bedleh (without coin bar or makeup or coin bra).

ALL entirely made by ME from old vintage Chinese silk. Including the hip-scarf!

(No I didn't make the NIKE sports bra.)

Blue Choli Bodice I Made 2010

I often wear this in my Pirate Costume, but You can also wear it for bellydance, clubbing, whatever.

It's made from an old Chinese dudou that I bought in Flushing Chinatown New York (2002). But, it was so poorly made that there was no use in fixing it, since I'd fixed it multiple times.

So, I made this!

 I didn't have a pattern. I just "felt y way" through the process of making it.

Sounds like psychic sewing! LOL!

The back was from an old Chinese fusion top I'd bought at the Cherry Hill Mall in NJ way back in 2003.

Same deal, poorly made, cheap plastic fiber fabric.  It's machine embroidered with a "feng huan" (often translated as "Chinese Phoenix").

The inside lining is real vintage 1970s silk from China.

Back When I 1st Made My Pirate Hat

It's gone through changes  I 1st made started doing it.

It was originally a Witch Hat. It's actually STILL a Witch hat... I just need to unpin in. By, now, I also have it wired in place. But, this was back when I 1st made it go Pirate.

ARG! Me bonny Bonnette!

Back at this time, I used my old chicken/rooster tails (circa. 1993) that we used to raise when I was a kid in South NJ.