It is the beginning of December. I'm starting to make preparations for Christmas and am finishing up the last of my orders for this year. I make a lot of my Christmas presents and so I need to schedule a block of time to do that and also some down time to spend with family.

This red/green costume is available now in my Etsy store.



Brown and natural bun wrap was made for one of my friend's daughters. It is made with ni'au, coconut fiber, lauhala. The center of the flower has a cultured black pearl. The flower was very time consuming to make.

Choosing the proper costume for a Tahitian Dance competiton- Pareo

The competition season is starting. Do you have your complete costume?

Depending on the competition that you are participating in, you will have different costume needs. Make sure you read the rules and regulations for the competition that you will be entering. It is usually included with the entry form.

Most solo competitions require a pareo to be worn. They will specify what the fiber contents should be. Usually, Rayon is allowed. I have seen some that require cotton only.

My shop now carries solid color pareos, in 100% Rayon. The fringe has been removed and the edges have been neatly re sewn. I also remove the maker label.

Please visit my shop
islandcostumes.etsy.com

This is the back side of the braid













I use a hook to hold it tight while I braid

Tahitian Dance costume tutorial. How to make a haku braid costume.

Supplies

a good sized handfull of raffia (or 6 long 1 inch strips of fabric)
a large amount of ti leaves, fern, silk foliage, raffia, more' cut into 10-12 stips
patience




I used 3 yellow strips of fabric so it easier to see in the photos






1. Tie a knot in the top of your raffia(fabric)









2. braid for about 12 inches or so. This will be your tie to tie around your hips.














3. have 2 pieces of the braid in your right hand and 1 piece in your left hand.
Add a clump of leaves. I use 3.





















4. cross over the upper piece in your left
hand






















5. cross over the piece in your right hand
pull it tight


















6. Flip up the back end of the clump




















at the same time- lay your next clump




















Cross



over with the upper left










cross over with the right

and keep going until it is as long as you would like


you will need to make a 12 inch braid at the other end for your other tie and then tie it off

Today was not a good day to photograph

It was coudy and rainy today. I couldn't photograph outside. This photo was taken under the florescent light on my shop table. These tops are for a pre-teen girl. They are so tiny it was hard to sew them. Also, for some reason I broke at least 5 needles in the underwires. It is very frustrating. Especially when it involeves a trip to the store to buy more needles.

The red top will have a white flower on it.

New Tassel hipbelt

THIS TASSEL BELT HAS OVER 40 TASSELS.

ti leaf with ni'au

A special order for a customer as a gift for her daughter. Isn't that what every girl wants!!

The new costume is finally completed. It is a knee lenth more' skirt with a feather, ni-au, more' and shell hip belt. A side style headpiece and a strapless bra covered with a tatoo print fabric.

The hipbelt wont close around my mannequin because she is chubby.

I Completed the hip belt for this costume today. I was supposed to go to the fabric district up in L.A. to get fabric for the top, but my boy woke up in the middle of the night with the stomach flu.

After a time of rest, I suddenly have 3 orders. I am thankful, and a little stressed. This is the beginning of a complete costume for a customer. Wait until you see the rest!

A New Item

A new ti leaf head hei. This now has different color mixed greens for variety. I made this as a special order for this customer. She runs a entertainment company that operates in L.A. Check out their website www.hulashows.com

Just finished new outfit. I really think this turned out great. I wish my model had a head so you could really see how the whole thing looks together.
The bra top is a lot of hard work. It has to be mostly hand sewn.

I completed this new top today

for the customer. I really like the way
it came out. The customer suggested the shell.
I think it looks great. This is a simple strapless
bra, covered with fabric. It is partially machine sewn and partially hand sewn. It will look much better that coconuts.

Things aren't going good today

I finished this outfit today. It ended up not being what the customer wanted. You may end up seeing this in my Etsy store soon unless I can get it ironed out.

I received an order yesterday for 2 sets of Tahitian Dance Costumes. The 1st order I have had in a week or so. This is good considering I am going to Hawaii in a fer weeks, so it is good that I am slow right now. I hope to come home with some new supplies and maybe even some new costume styles.
I will post photos as soon as I finish the costumes. They are ti leaf headpieces and belts with a solid pareo and a vintage fabric covered bra top.

A New Bigger Headpiece

I just completed this headpiece this morning. It is a special order for a customer that wanted something a little bigger than I normally make. Also this headpiece is made with mostly coque feathers( the rooster tail) So it is rather expensive. I do love the color combination.

My order of Poi Balls is complete!

Today I am working on a headpice that is a special order for a customer. It is much taller that the headpieces that I usually make. She sent me a photo to show me what she wants. I will have to finish the backside because you will be able to see the top of it.

Today I learned how to upload and image. I am so proud of myself.
This red/brown hipbelt and headpiece are listed on ebay. The price starts at $50. It also includes a full size rayon red pareo.

This week I am working on poiballs. I had a customer order 36 long and 9 short. Needless to say, I am up to my ears in poi balls. It is kind of a messy job, so my living room looks like a poi ball factory.