I've been looking at alot of Burlesque Performances lately on Youtube...

I searched the internet far and wide looking for a reasonably priced fan that I could potentially practice with. To no avail, everything I found was between $200-$1000 big boys to buy a pre-made or even fan making kit! Being the resourceful young lady I am -- I decided to make my own. Follow this to the "T" or change it up a bit, but these feather fans are perfect! They turned out super luxurious looking!

You'll Need:

• 25-30 large real or fake ostrich feather plumes, all roughly the same size


• Felt, velvet, valour, contact paper or any other material you deem fit.


• Posterboard


• Hot glue


• Ribbon


• Old brooch, beads or costume jewelry

How To Make Your Very Own Burlesque Fan:



1. Pick out your feathers with co-ordinating colors. You can get them at a variety of places from craft stores to online wholesalers. I bought mine online and it seemed to be the best deal. (30 plumes for $87). Try to stick to the ostrich style feathers as you want that wonderful movement they make as you wave them.


2. 
   
   Take your posterboard and choose a style for a fan base. It can be a semi-circle, or if you'd like to get more complicated, you can do a scalloping design. Cut out two identical shapes and make sure they match up nicely. Then with the hot glue, wrap each piece in your felt, contact paper or velvet and neatly secure it on the inside of the posterboard pieces.


3. Take one piece of the posterboard and lay it out on a flat surface, with the inside part facing you. Arrange your feathers across the base of the fan and make sure they are evenly distributed. Hold your thumb just above the bottom of the quills and secure them with a little drop of hot glue, just to tack them into place. Let harden completely (5-10min). Then make any adjustments you need to make sure the feathers overlap properly.


4. Secure the fan handle pieces together with more hot glue. Make a few swirling patterns of hot glue on the quills of the feathers and glue the two pieces of posterboard together. Weight it down and let dry completely for 15 minutes. You will now have a fan, a rough one, but a functional fan. And now the fun begins! It's time to decorate!


5. Give your fan some personality! Add embellishments to the front of your fan. Glue some dangling beads or ribbon to the front of your fan, then glue the giant brooch or other decorative element to the front to tie everything together. Once you have finished decorating the fan, let the glue dry and make sure everything is secure enough to not fall off while you're using it. Add additional glue where needed, and your fan is completed!

Now that I have my wonderful homemade fan -- I need a costume to match it with. I'm thinking I'm going to take my RAGO Wide Band Thong from American Shapewear and embellish it with some fringe and sequin rope -- cute, no?

I'm going to try it and  blog about it next week so keep your eyes peeled!

The New York Burlesque Festival is an annual event in New York City attracting the best Burlesque performers in the world -- and let me tell you -- it attracts beyond the best.

Last year I caught the Saturday show, hosted by Scotty the Blue Bunny, who's spandex blue suit and killer heels made the MC experience more than pleasurable. I'm grabbing my tickets early this year -- last year was packed full and the price is higher at the door.

The festival this year will run as follows:

Thursday September 30th: Teaser Party
Brooklyn Bowl
61 Wythe Ave
Brooklyn, NY 11211
Doors: 8pm
Show Time: 9pm

Friday October 1st: The Premiere Party
The Bell House
149 7th street (between 2nd & 3rd)
Brooklyn, NY 11215
Doors: 8pm
Show time: 9pm

Saturday October 2nd: The Saturday Spectacular
BB Kings
237 W 42nd Street
NY, NY 10036
Doors: 6:30pm
Show time: 7:30pm-11pm
Saturday Night Official NYBF After Party
11pm-1am @ Lucille's Bar
(Next door to BB Kings and free for all Saturday ticket holders)

Sunday October 3rd: The Golden Pastie Awards
Highline Ballroom
431 16th Street
NY, NY 10011
Doors: 7pm
Show: 8pm

This year I'm looking to go Friday at the Bell House (Gowanus, BK) to see one of my favorite performers in NYC, Gal Friday!!

Gal teaches at the New York School of Burlesque , and man does she school you a thing or two. Not only is she a brilliant performer,  but I've had a few opportunities to meet her and she really is a genuinely nice and down to earth gal (pun intended). Maybe this year I can convince her to let me shoot her in that series of photos I've been talking about....

Learn how to make your very own set of pasties in this easy beginner's tutorial from Randi Kittens on CutOutandKeep.net!

I'm personally a huge fan of any type of DIY project and can't wait to try making a sequin pair to shake what my mama gave me in  my new black waist cincher from -- where else? -- American Shapewear!

I'm sure most of you have heard of famous Pin-up photographers such as Viva Van Story, but lately there have been small independent pin-up photo studios poppin' up in cities countrywide. I'd be lying if I didn't say that I've always thought about doing something along these lines.

I stumbled across a photographer named Celeste Giuliano the other day and was simply thrilled. She has an all inclusive studio in Philly, and provides everything you need to turn you into a gorgeous and camera ready pin-up.

Image: Celeste Giuliano Photography

What I love about these studios is that they are all inclusive. They have sets, costumes, a make-up girl, hairstylists, lingerie -- and from all the best designers as well. I keep seeing alot of clients in these photos wearing my favorite brand of undergarments, American Shapewear. Particularly the Satin and Lace bra and Rago's Open Bottom All-in-One Body Briefer (pictured above)-- but that's not what I'm writing about here.

This summer seems to be the Summer of Burly Q. Everytime I log onto Facebook I'm greeted with another event invitation to another burlesque show. Since I'm planning on going to a variety of events this summer, perhaps I can convince some of my favorite and lovely dancers to allow me to photograph them to get a head start. Who knows, maybe one day I can own a studio like Celeste Giuliano's, or be the next Viva....