DIY Vegan Tulle Boa for Burlesque

(UPDATE: I suggested that you could throw some stitches in the center of the knot before cutting your bows. After using my boa for a few shows, I would DEFINITELY add those stitches next time. It will prevent the strips of tulle slipping out over time.)

I'm completing a new costume and I decided I wanted to add a feather boa... but I wanted it to be vegan/ cruelty-free. I researched and asked around. Then I took my accumulative knowledge and came up with this method that I found surprisingly easy and the results are FABULOUS! In fact, I prefer it to a feather boa.
If you can't be bothered to make this yourself, there are few places you can buy a vegan boa on Etsy.com.

Please Note: I used a wide net tulle and did find that it would easily catch and tangle on beads. So take that into consideration with your costuming. Perhaps using a finer tulle or experimenting with this same method using a different fabric would prevent this issue.

What you will need:
-Tulle. There are so many different types to choose from! I chose a wide net stiff tulle, and a finer, soft tulle for some texture variation.
I bought a total of 16 yards from JoAnn Fabrics. However, 20 - 25 yards I think would have been better.

-Cord, in a matching color. I also found this at JoAnn Fabrics. I bought 2 1/2 yards.

Total cost: around $25 for me.

STEP 1: Measure the length you want your boa to be. Tape the cord to prevent fraying and cut to size.

STEP 2: This is the hardest step. You want your strips of tulle to be about 6-8 inches in width. So, fold your tulle and cut it so you end up with that.

STEP 3: Have you ever seen those puff balls used for decoration usually at weddings and baby showers? That's what you're going to make! Watch this youtube tutorial to learn how: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3qWhBOrO_VQ&t=104s

 

STEP 4: Above you can see that I am making the tulle balls but not cutting them until I attach it to the cord. The photo on the right is what it will look like once it's cut.

STEP 5: Above are a few varying photos illustrating what i'm doing. I'm tying the bows of tulle onto the cord with just one knot, so I can easily undo and redo it, and make adjustments till I feel they are in the right spot. I'm also varying the direction and angles i'm tying them on. There is a bow on each side of the cord. Once you have them in the place you like, tie them on tight. You could even throw a stitch in there, with a thick thread, in the center of your knot for extra security.

 

STEP 6: Cut the bows and fluff you balls (tee hee) eh' viola! I could have trimmed the access tulle sticking out, but i liked the organic look of it. I mentioned I could have done with a bit more tulle to fill in some sparse areas, which I can do later.
I also finished the ends of the cord by hot gluing a white trim around the tips. You can add whatever embellishments you like.

Miss L Fire Shoes, Luella

I recently became aware of Miss L Fire, and immediately fell in love with her retro inspired line of shoes! After eight years the UK based company has now opened shop in Hollywood, Los Angeles, and is quickly becoming a popular brand amongst vintage, retro and pin-up culture.

When i saw the Luella's, i knew my life would not be complete without them. Her packaging and branding is AMAZING. Enjoy these photos of the unveiling of 'Luella'!

First of all, just look at this box. LOOK AT IT! Adorable.

It even comes with its own shoe bag. I'm really pleased when I get these, because I use them regularly with my expensive shoes. I will explain later.

TA DAH! Isn't she a beauty? And look at the cowboy themed tissue paper!

It pairs beautifully with my favorite vintage dress.

They make me feel so pretty! (Try to ignore my mosquito bites, they were so bad that day!)

Color: It is a bit more on the green-yellow side than pictures may translate, so be aware. They don't pair as well with a canary yellow dress i had high hopes for, but i think i can still get away with it ;) BTW Luella comes in three more colors! 

Size: Miss L Fire uses European sizing. Typically i am an 8-8.5, so according to her chart I ordered a 39. It was a full size too big! Luckily i ordered these from ModCloth, who are excellent and fast about exchanges. On the Miss L Fire website, i felt a little uncertain how easy an exchange would be, which is why i chose to order them from ModCloth. But now that i know my size I will feel more confident ordered direct.

Once i got my 38, the fit seemed perfect and they were quite comfortable, but after a day of wear at work my heel was slipping out. I think the vinyl stretched a little. I put inserts where the ball of my feet go (these push the foot back into the heel) and voila, a good fit once again. 

Care: Treat your expensive shoes with care if you want them to last. Like i said earlier, i will carry my shoes in a shoe bag till i get to where i am going and then put them on. Also, if it starts raining or you find yourself in an area that is muddy, etc. You can swap them for your flats. 

The sued material picks up dirt and stains easily. Something i SHOULD have done (and was recommended to me by Miss L Fire) was spray them with a sued protectant spray. She also suggested i use a sued cleaner to get some marks off the heel. I tried using a alcohol/chlorine free baby wipe and it did not work, i wouldn't recommend trying that. But i DO use the baby wipes to clean the bottom sole of the shoe when i come home after each use. It just keeps them looking nicer, longer.

Overall: I really like this shoe and her brand. I will be purchasing more of her beautiful and unique shoes. 

Miss L Fire's shoes are limited edition, and she is currently having a summer sale including the Luella!

Throw Back Thursday, My First Blog Post

Hey, It's #TBT and yesterday I was reading over my first blog post, which is still one of my favorites. I love going back and reliving this moment in my life when i went to Toronto to perform at Girlesque 13. So today is a perfect day to re-share this with you:
Tempest Storm, Girlesque 13 and a Burly Girls Dream

A few quotes to tempt you to read further... 
"She almost lost her nipples." 
"It's a basement apartment...and it's covered in porn." (What happened when i had no choice but to go home with a stranger)
"Elvis followed, and kneeled next to her. 'Can I join you?' He asked Tempest."

Probably the best part about this article was my meeting Burlesque Legend Tempest Storm, and I recorded the stories she told us about her life. You drink in everything that woman says. 
Enjoy the read darlings! xo

My Miami Burlesque Weekend

The weekend before last (i know, tardy as usual) was a great weekend...Why? Because after receiving my U.S work permit i finally had not one but two burlesque shows! I was having serious showgirl withdrawal. It had been over six months since i last performed, and now i had a full weekend of burlesque to look forward too!

Curtain call at The Ritz Glitz Revue. (Click photos to enlarge) 

My first performance was Friday night for the darling Sophia Luna, and her gig at Jada Coles in Coral Gables. A small but very cool bar, both Alex and I enjoyed the atmosphere and the drinks were great (they had mini bottles of prosecco!).


When i first arrived, Google Maps had directed us to the parking lot at the next door restaurant. I walked in with my hair still in a few pin-curls and wearing vintage leopard print dress. A man, i'm going to assume was the owner walked up VERY close to me...

"Uh- hi! I'm the performer. Is this Jada Coles? Google Maps directed me here."

"No, Jada is next door. Are you parked in the back?"

"Oh! Yes I am, i'm sorry about that, I can move."

"No, you can park there."

"Oh? It's a shared parking lot?"

"YOU can park there." I immediately understood and flashed him my best show girl smile. He even let Alex and I drag all my luggage through his restaurant. It was a comical sight, i'm sure.

Once at Jada Coles I was shown to my "dressing room"... Burlesque performers do not always get the glamorous dressing rooms people imagine. I was directed to an office/ liquor storage room that was the size of a closet. It was hot and stuffy and had a huge metal door. I was going to change into my first costume so i shut the door... Um... there is no door handle from the inside. Trapped! I accept my fate and continue changing...if i die of suffocation at least i will leave and sparkly and beautiful corpse. I was not saved until Sophia showed up and we had to develop a system of texting our men to let us out. Every now and then interrupted by staff who needed to grab something. It comes with the territory sometimes and i'm used to it.

Sophia Luna

On with the show! The crowd was very warm and receptive to our antics. The space was just big enough i could do a cat walk through the crowd- an intimate show. Afterwards myself, Alex, Sophia, her fiancee and emcee Rio Dios Mio enjoyed some drinks and got to socialize with the super lovely guests. That is something i love about shows in intimate venues!

The next evening was The Ritz Glitz Revue, produced by glamour queen Aurora Natrix, at Bar Stache 1920's Drinking Den in Fort Lauderdale! Also featuring Jenna Beth, Lila Starlet and- oh hai again, emcee Rio Dios Mio!
First lets talk about the venue... Amazing! It's like a swanky high end bar made love with a theatre and this was their birth child. Complete with an upper level and wings overlooking the stage. The decor perfectly suits its title and theme, and the bars mixologists are artists of their craft. One con...the dressing room was such a mess it was difficult for four showgirls to maneuver in it, but i digress.

Aurora Natrix

Jenna Beth and I arrived at the same time. Followed by Aurora Natrix with a sewing machine in tow!
"Last minute changes." She giggled.
This is in no way a sign of procrastination, nor was I entirely surprised. Ever since I have met Aurora she is always sewing. Pulling all nighters sometimes (often). One time I helped her crystal a costume so she could have time to finish another. I probably laid down a few hundred crystals. Her boyfriend Jorge coming to the rescue with cookies, something i'm sure he often does. She is a slave to that machine, but it pays off... Her costume are the fucking bomb! She motivates me to up my game all the time.
Then arrives Lila Starlet, her hair still in pincurls and some massive props in tow. We don't pack lightly.

Lila Starlet

Jenna Beth

The show made my little burlesque heart sing. Everyone performed their biggest, best and most sparkliest acts! Jenna had feather fans, Lila had a giant keyhole shadow screen, Aurora had giant isis wings and I was showing off my new costume... I felt like a glorious, flowing pink and mint dream. The costume has kind of a 60's vibe. I call this act Fearlessly Feminine, because it looks so girly but my music and performance style is intense and fierce.
The audience was amazing and gave us so much love! After each performance, when i walked off the stage there was a voice from the wing above- "Marry me!" "I have a ring!"
We were all beaming afterwards.

Aurora Natrix regularly presents The Ritz Glitz Revue at Bar Stache. 
If you want to see my next Florida performance, check out the Events page on my website. www.AngelaLaMuse.com

Angela La Muse, Yours truly.

My latest costume, Fearlessly Feminine!

Wet n' Wild Megalast Lip Color is the BOMB!

I was in Target recently and noticed a rather pretty looking orange shade of lipstick by Wet n Wild, called "24 Carrot Gold".
It was on sale of .89 cents! And I have been lusting after a specific orange lipstick color... I can be so picky, and although there was no sample, this one looked like a good bet.

Got home...tried it... BAM! It was everything i had hoped it would be! The perfect shade of orange. Creamy. Matte. This is possibly a dupe for Lime Crime's "Cosmopop" as well.

So i immediately went back and bought a few more shades. It was no longer on sale, but regular price at $2.09, it was still a steal. Also, a lot of the shades were gone, including ALL of the 24 Carrot Gold.

Here are some swatches of the colors I purchased. I like to look at swatches on lips, because my lips have more pigment than my arm.

Needless to say, I'm impressed. I fully intend to get every shade! This is a showgirls dream, and what a money saver!

Photos bellow are in natural light and no filters. Click to enlarge.

Wet n Wild '24 Carrot Gold'. My favorite!

PinUp Style Inspiration

I have been doing a lot of fantasy shopping while I am waiting to acquire my work permit. So here is some modern day retro, pinup, bombshell wardrobe inspiration for spring & summer!

I'm using Marilyn Monroe as inspiration for this fashion look. And it all started with those Charlotte Olympia shoes! Which i found on sale for over $500 on The Outnet, regular price over $1000 (a gal can dream!). I am lucky enough to own a pair of Charlotte Olympia's, which were gifted to me from a celebrity friend and supporter. Perhaps i will share a picture of them :) It is truly like wearing art on your feet!
Motel Bikini from Dolls Kill
Pin Curl Tool by HRST Books

The Best DIY Face Masks

Update June 10th, 2015: I don't know what happened but i lost all but one of the pretty pictures I spent all day taking and I cannot recover them for some reason. Regardless, take the time to read and feel free to ask questions. 

I LOVE making my own face masks, ever since my teens. So I have been looking forward to blogging about this. There is lots to share!
I have tried alot of different recipes and have refined it down to these beautiful ingredients that I always have around the kitchen.

To start, I will mention that my skin is combination, prone to acne, delicate and sensitive. If you are suffering from acne, I would strongly suggest washing your makeup brushes and using my Apple Cider Vinegar Toner, morning and night. Doing just this clears me up quickly.

Most of my face masks are two ingredient recipes, except for one, it's a little more involved but it is THE BEST face mask I have ever used. I will post that recipe closer to the bottom.If you have all or a few of the following, you have the basis of many lovely face masks and toners:
Plain Yogurt, Coffee, Sugar, Honey, Ground Oats, Tea- usually Green or Chamomile in loose or bag form, Apple Cider Vinegar.

Grinding oats: I use certified gluten free rolled oats. For best results use a coffee grinder, to get that velvety powder that mixes so well. Pulse it for a few seconds at a time so you can control the coarseness of the grain to your liking.  

These are my go-to face masks, but feel free to mix it up with my other suggested ingredients. It's all natural so you cant go wrong!

Honey & Coffee Exfoliator- Coffee is an amazing exfoliator for removing dead skin cells and revealing healthy, new skin cells underneath. It also improves circulation in your face and is an antioxidant, so it has anti-aging benefits as well. This is my go to exfoliator! I will do it at least once or twice a week. Honey also has wonderful healing, antibacterial and antioxidant properties. Mix enough ground coffee with a table spoon of honey till you get a nice spreadable consistency. Add a pinch at a time, you don't need much. 

Soothing Yogurt & Oat Mask- This is a calming and cooling mask. Especially nice for people with sensitive, delicate or rosacea skin. Yogurt has so many benefits for the skin it makes a perfect base for face masks. I mix about 2 tablespoon yogurt to one heaping tablespoon ground oats. You can use this mask as a gentle exfoliator as well if you massage it into the face for about 3 minutes when you put it on, then moisten your fingers and massage the grains on your skin again before taking it off.
Sometimes i will add a touch of honey.

Deep Cleansing & Soothing Face Mask- Cetaphil Cleanser gel and oats! Oats have anti-inflammatory properties, as well they absorb and remove dirt while gently exfoliating. In combination with the best (and affordable) creamy cleanser on the market, they work so synergistically together! Mix about 1 teaspoon of ground oats to 1 tablespoon Cetaphil or until you get a spreadable consistency you like. Massage it around your face for 2-5 minutes. Wash off with a hot face cloth.

Extreme Moisturizing Mask- Do you have face cream you bought but are not really using it and its just sitting around on the shelf collecting dust? Make it into a fabulous face mask! Mix enough face cream with ground oats to spread nicely around your face. Leave it on for as long as you like! Eventually it will dry on the skin and little flakes of oats might fall off. This is really nice to do before hopping into a bath or while you are giving yourself a mani/pedi. Your skin will absorb the cream, taking in the added benefits with it. When you feel like it, wash off the remainder.
Optional: Finely grind some pure green or camomile tea in your coffee grinder and add that to your cream mixture for an added boost.

And now the best for the last... My ultimate face mask beast!

Green Tea Acne & Scar Reducing Mask with Toner

Good for:

-Acne
-Detoxify
-Exfoliation
-Skin brightening
-Lifting scars (yup!)
-Anti-Aging (can reduce age spots as well)
-Skin softening
The sugar in this mask produces Glycolic Acid; a natural alpha hydroxy acid that exfoliates the skin.

Ingredients:

-Green tea, that has been well steeped and cooled. Sometimes I add camomile.
-Apple Cider Vinegar. It is better to buy the kind that says "with the Mother" or raw and unfiltered. DO NOT use any other kind of vinegar. Only Apple Cider.
-White sugar
-Honey
-Pure Vegetable Glycerin (can be bought at most natural health food stores or beauty supply shop)
-1 drop of pure Geranium, Lemon or Lavender essential oil. ONLY ONE DROP! This is potent stuff. *More than 1 drop is too harsh for your delicate face.

In a bowl mix:

-2 tablespoons green tea
-1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
-5 tablespoons white sugar (i find if they are slightly heaping spoonfuls, i get a good consistency)
-1 tablespoon honey
-An additional 2 tablespoons white sugar
-three drops or about 1/2 teaspoon vegetable glycerin
-1 drop of your choice of essential oil OR 1 teaspoon of fresh lemon juice.
(Geranium or Lavender are both powerful acne treatments. Lemon is also good for acne, as well as brightening the skin and lifting scars.)

Stir together each additional ingredient as you go. The consistency should be a thick, runny paste that slowly pours off your spoon.

Application:

Apply mixture to a freshly cleansed face, careful to avoid eye area. Gently massage for 2-5 minutes. Leave on for 5-10 minutes. Moisten fingers and gently massage again for 2 minutes before removing with warm water and face cloth. Immediately follow with the Green Tea Toner (bellow) and a soothing skin cream.
*If you find your skin is too sensitive for this mask, omit the essential oil and just try lemon juice.

Store the remainder in a small glass jar. It will keep for about a week outside of the fridge.

Green Tea Toner:

I use this toner daily. The apple cider balances the Ph levels in your skin and is highly antibacterial, anti-fungal and antiviral which makes it SO GOOD for treating acne. It is refreshing to the skin, although a faint apple cider vinegar smell will linger on your skin for about five minutes. This will last for about two weeks in the fridge. I use this daily, and when i'm feeling lazy i will whip it up with filtered water instead of tea.

In a small glass jar mix:

-1 part Apple Cider Vinegar
-1 part cooled green tea (or camomile or both)

Application:

Apply with a cotton pad all over the face, avoiding eye area.
If you find your skin is too sensitive, you can dilute the ACV with more green tea.


PHEW! That was a long one. I tried not to get too technical, so feel free to ask questions. Try the masks and let me know what you think! 

My friend Style Hunter Fox recently posted a face mask recipe in her blog, so i gave it a try. It's an espresso and chocolate face mask, mmmm whats not to love? Check it out:
http://www.stylehunterfox.com/blog/homemade-face-mask/

Testing out Style Hunter Fox's face mask. Yep,
delicious. I approve!