I am blessed with a huge Hobbycraft about 5-10-mins from where I work and live! There are 2 huge floors crammed full of ribbons, sequins, ready made flowers and bows, glitter, feathers, flowers, lace, velcro, elastic, gems, beads...all of which can be used to customise costume and create costumes! Being fairly creative (well, I like to have a go!) - I am in my element.

I am keen to have a go at making some ostrich feather fans - I've seen some kits by Sally Rand (I seem to recall). Does anyone else make fans? Are these kits the best to use? If not, where can I buy reasonable quality kits from?

Oh I never thought of going to hobbycraft sounds like my kind of heaven. You should chat to Millie Dollar she makes great fans and she taught me.
Diva x

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Diva Hollywood - http://www.myspace.com/divahollywood

I bought mine from Ostrich.com you can either get them ready made or self assembly.

They're quite pricey though, I got mine for half price otherwise wouldn't have been able to afford them :-(

x

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myspace.com/lolapopsburlesque

oooh, i'll see if I can get hold of Millie - I saw her at Volupte in October - she did a couple of fan dances using peacock feathers and red ostrich feather, if I remember rightly.
i figured they may be quite expensive, but my birthday is coming up and as i've been such a good girl all year - santa may be kind to me!
lola - how did you get on making your fans from a kit?

Hobbycraft is great but quite pricey.Try to shop round on the net before you commit to buying from them.

It was pretty straight forward putting them together, just a bit fiddly at times and very time consuming.

Mine didn't turn out as well as I'd hoped but they look great on stage so I can't moan, plus that was the first time I'd ever done anything like that so am pretty darn proud :-)

Sounds like your quite creative so you shouldn't have any problems!!

x

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myspace.com/lolapopsburlesque

PA13 - The thing is, even though Hobbycraft may be a bit pricey, it is so convenient for me as it's so close by to where I am. If you can give me some websites - I would be most grateful! I have to limit the amount of time I spend online as it stops me doing things more urgent things, if you see what I mean!

Lola - I think with me, it is trial and error - I've customised bras and panties and other items of clothing - and I've done, done and re-done things so many times! They'd look okay on stage I suppose, but close up not so good. I went to the Kylie Exhibition at the V&A a while back and her costumes for shows were not that much to look at close up - on stage, stunning though!

With these cold winter nights looming, staying in sewing, sticking, creating and customising is fine by me! Get it all out of the way in time for summer!

Damnit I wish I had time to make pretty things......

I'm so busy at the moment Burlesque has had to take a back seat :-(

After Christmas though...... that's when the fun will start mwah ha ha!!!

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myspace.com/lolapopsburlesque

It is great fun modifying clothes and creating an entirely new look. I have done this kind of thing in the past but have been inspired to do some more,but as you say Miss Pops its a question of time....xmas shopping, work,family visits etc!!

I know what you mean about finding the time - I had that problem a while back and it frustrated me so much because I wanted to get so much done. I had to do something, so...I've saved time by doing things like grocery shopping in my lunch hour (instead of after work), cooking meals which last 2-days, going to the gym before work, instead of afterwards, getting up 10-mins earlier and getting a bit of housework done (that's one I definitely struggle with - I hate mornings!)