Hi there guys, I've been making my own tassels for a while now, but they're not perfect. Has anyone got a really good method for making them? I refuse to pay eight quid a set from ann summers.

__________________
http://www.myspace.com/mitzybear

I make a cone shape on card then draw on the heart/spade/star shape (whatever you like really) and mark the centre with a dot. I then cut upwards to this dot and flatten out the card again, this gives you a template that will make a perfect 3D pastie. I cut a teeny circle round the centre point dot for the tassel to go and swing freely. Cutting them from a cone gives them a lovely sticky out shape, otherwise they sit flat and I like mine to curve around my tassel twirlers . I then cut this shape out in fake leather which I use as a backing, Ive found this sticks to toupee tape really well. Then I glue this to the card template and secure with black electrical tape to match the fake leather.
Then I cover the facing acrd side with sequins working my way into the middle. I stick these with my best friend PVA glue.
Then to make the tassels I cut a length of that long tassel trimming you get in haberdashery stores and roll about 5 inches of it to make the tassel, I sew this in place but pull two strands upwards to hang the tassel from, that way it never braeks sinceit is already a part of the tassel. I poke this through the hole I left in the middle.

I just totaly made this up myself, there was no tutorial or book so someone may have abetter method, but I'll post photos to show some cute ones I have made and maybe help illustrate my ways.

__________________
www.myspace.com/tsuisuicide
www.renegadeburlesque.com


Sukeban!

Thats ingenious! I think I'll be giving that a go at home!

Ailsa
xxx

At gstringsforever.com you can buy tassel makeing how to book or kit. I have been thinking about buying one myself. It is writen by Jo Wheldon (sp?) and her pasties are very nice.

I went to Gstrings forever looking for a kit, the link was to e-bay but i couldn't find any. I started making some myself, i've been only making round ones for now.haven't experimented much.

I bought some stiffening, got a large egg cup shaped thingy (think it was a tea-light holder) and drew around it on the stiffening, cut it out, then found the center of the circle, placed a dot.got me scissors and cut 1 line up to the dot. Then i slightly folded the flaps(or sides if you will) around until i had a wee peak in the middle, got the scissors again and snipped the peak slighty. I slipped the tassel into the now hole (where the peak was) and tied it. Then i pulled the flaps over again until the peak came back, and used a hot glue gun to stick them. I got some sequins (the ones on a roll, not the loose sperate ones!) and glued then on bit by bit turning until it reached the top. I find if where you started out to glue on first, is kind of puckered up and can't be fixed, then add a wee small bow. I hope to add a tutorial to my site next week. I hope this helps someone? pps:

__________________
xoxo
http://www.myspace.com/cazorama http://www.myspace.com/theteasemafia - Now with photos & Showreel !

I had to take down the listings on ebay because I'm going to Exotic World over the weekend and won't be able to read email till May 30 or ship till June 1, but you can order one at any time.

EDIT I posted a few anyway, with that info in the listings.

So far everyone's had success with the kit, and I've sent out.I don't know how many, a bunch!

Best,
Jo Weldon

__________________
Headmistress of The New York School of Burlesque.
For Daily Burlesque News, Check Out Burlesque Daily.

Can I add that to get the tassels twirl better, you could add a ball bearing on the inside, and get really heavy tassels, they will go so fast! Ann' Summer's one are soooooo bad, they might look alright but won't do the job.
Happy twirling!

I find a compass is invaluable for drawing consitent, perfect circles and finding the exact centre in them.(;

__________________
www.ruby-rouge.co.uk
Accessories for Decadence & Deviance

I bought the £8 pair from Ann Summers - but they are a bit impersonal, so I decided to make my own too. I had no idea where to start really, so I just went to C & H fabrics and played about a bit. For the base I used black vinyl material. I just drew round a glass and cut it out from that, I then cut a slit in the circle of fabric to the centre and made a shallow cone shape, and fixed it with fabric glue.
The first time I sewed all the sequins on by hand, but glue works just as well. I think the tassels I bought are for cusions or something but they worked well, even though they are bigger than the usual. Definatly just experiment, trial and error etc, and see what you get. I also bought some really nice ones cheaply from E-Bay. Hope this helps somewhat.

Cheers guys! All comments very helpful, I have successfully made a pair of professional looking pasties! I made some heart shaped ones that actually looked like hearts for a change.
Think I'm gonna get Jo's book on making them anyway purely because anything Jo does is going to be good. When are you coming to the Uk Jo? Don't keep us waiting!

__________________
http://www.myspace.com/mitzybear