So it is finally summer

 I  have been struggling through this last few days of school with Bursitis in my hip I finally go in for the Cortisone shot today. I am not sure what this will  mean for the all the dance rehearsals and performances we have scheduled for the Tribal Goddess Collective. I have some art shows booked and will be teaching/ coordinating the summer camp at the art gallery starting this upcoming Monday. I really need to spend this weekend preparing. I have spent the last few days just trying to heal and laying on ice packs.

I have been working on a second etsy shop called Tribal Trends. Me and my fellow dance sisters are posting tribal dance accessories for sale in this shop.Above is one pair of the chandelier style beaded earrings I have been making for this new shop.

New tribal style tassel dance belt

So awhile back I posted about some new tribal tassel belts I was working on and that I was reworking some old ones. Well I am working on a purple outfit. I just ordered a new purple top and  have a purple velvet skirt that inspired  the whole thing.
Their is a multiplicity of  fibers going on here. The tassels are made of three different types of yarn. there is also trim from Jo-Anns and these little metal disks  I have scavenged from craft stores over the years. It is not quite done yet I am debating on another row of tassels and  some disks or other closure type in the front.

My Art filled weekend- waht I did Superbowl weekend

Their are times in my life that life is really good and times that I find my life very frustrating. I found myself last weekend to be very inspired on Sunday when I drove home from The Hearts and Crafts show at Java's on Gibbs Street. I had just meet some very inspiring artists making awesome creations. I meet three girls taking photos who asked me to jump in and have one taken. The photos were inspired by the paper mustaches on sticks that artists from littlegreenbird were handing out for free. They were really fun and people were all walking around with them. The more people walked around with them the more other people wanted to know from where they were coming.  It was a great idea.

I spoke with several artist at that event. I meet the owners and creators of Evenandoddcreative. They make cuff bracelets and messenger style bags from old sheets of sign vinyl and  bike inner tubes. I talked with them for awhile about the unique materials they use and the complications of those materials...like trying to sew though bike inner tubes and sign vinyl.

I spoke with Lauren Premo who makes enchanting hand thrown mugs and beaded jewelry. She told me a little bit about the resist method she uses when glazing her pieces.She also told about the joy of her new married life.Congrats! Lauren!

I also spoke with fellow RNEST artists" Fawn Brokaw of FawnRayDesigns (wonderful mixed media using natural objects), Kira Sinclair the maker of "Nubbins", and other textile creations and BuenHelena who makes art and finds inspiration in vintage items.

Spoke with many many other talented artists and could not possibly list them all in detail within the limited window of time I have to dedicate to this blog entry. Besides, I am going through my weekend backwards here and this is only Sunday afternoon but a shout out goes to Robert Frank, Alexander BOG, Amy Rau, and Sarah Ortiz.

On Saturday night I performed in a Hafla (belly dance party) put on by the student performance troupe "Rashas Rhinestones" along with other dance sisters at Goddess Hour.



This is me as part of the newly named "Tribal Goddess Collective." We  performed to the song "Minnie the Moocher"

All the performers did a great job!
Just before the meeting literally just before (I had to go in costume). I went to the second meeting for the Warehouse co-op, which is a group of artists trying to create a  artist collective space.

Before that I raced home form work walked my dog, scarfed down some food, and got all gussied up for the performance.

Before that I was working my usual Saturday shift at the art gallery and had a real blast with the kids that day. They had me laughing as we all drew, toured the gallery and told each other stories...We were creating drawings of art galleries and I decided to make your drawing a gallery on art all dedicated to mustaches.

On Friday I came home from  after school care work heated up that frozen food I made the week before in my Crockpot ate that up then Ed and  I went to Anderson Alley art studios near Village Gate. We talked with many talented artists there too. The "Thaw" Rochester theme was in effect. The artist there had created ice sculptures ice art outside their studios in the hallway space the most impressive ice sculpture I saw was outside of Nosferatu art studio.It was large blocks of ice with objects inside them with lighting and their was dry ice underneath to create fog.

 
I  talked with, old friend,  glass and ceramic artist Nancy Valle about her process and how her jewelry items are like "mini sculpture" to her.  I picked out an item from her dollar bin to make a necklace. I also talke to many other artists and found them all talented and intriguing.

Back to making dance costumes

 I have been interested in Belly dance for a long time now. I have studied with many gifted dance teachers since returning to NY in July 2006. I also really love making my own dance costumes and accessories. I actually am part of a tribal class that is doing a number that needed a tutu for costuming. So I put away the scrap booking stuff and got out the sewing supplies. I looked at several tutorials on how to make your own tutu. I had no idea how many rolls of tulle I  would need......... I am also going to make a new belt..... that will need grommets. I am completing these project now and revamping  some old pieces that need some repair from dance and travel related wear and tear. some need felt lining,some needs grommets and new way to be adjustable..

So for now here are the old pieces will put up new ones as they are completed.

Godess Hour Tribal Class debut Nov 2010

Debut performance of new tribal group at Goddess Hour.  Directed by Deirdre hipswithattitude.uk.com