How to Make a Simple Shakity-Shakity-Bra!

 As a burlesquer on a budget I have to think of creative solutions when it comes to making costumes that don't break my bank. With help from the dollar store and input from fellow Screaming Chickens, I have proudly created my first fringe bra which I like to call a shakity-shakity-bra! I'll be wearing it in a burlesque number at The Wise Hall on the 14th and 28th. In case you are looking to make a simple shakity-shakity bra, here is how I created mine:

The Supplies

• A bra from Value Village (aka VV Boutique) - $2.50
• Fabric glue - $6.50
• 2 meters of fringe - $8.00
• 'Crystal' appliques - $1.00 for a large assorted bag
• Needle and thread - Free, borrowed from Mummy Dearest

Step 1: Cut out fabric on both sides of the bra.

• This allows more skin to show!

Step 2: Glue fringe on bra

• Measure the fringe against the bra and cut it to the length required to cover one end of the cup to the other.
• Carefully line the top of the fringe with fabric glue, place fringe on the bra and press down lightly making sure the glue sticks.
• Continue by layering the fringe one above the other until the entire bra is covered.

Step 3: Glue fringe on the side of the bra

• Follow the same process as the bra cup, this time just use one layer of fringe.

Step 4 - Bedazzle!

•  Add 'crystals' to wherever the bra needs some razzle dazzle, in this case I added them to the bottom of the bra so when I shake the part that the fringe isn't covering has some sparkle to it.
• I also added crystals to the middle of the bra between the cups and the straps!

Step 5 - Shakity-Shake it! 

 

I'll be wearing this bra along with matching panties (yet to be made) at The Taboo Revue on Friday, January 14th and Friday, January 28th in a fantastic go-go number that would be shakity-shameful to miss! Visit www.rufflesilkskin.com/see-ruffle-live for more information and tickets! 

My Burlesque Resolutions

Me in Thailand, April 2010

A lot of people weren't happy with their 2010 as I can see from Facebook and Twitter! But I truly can't complain. Every year is a new chapter in my life and this year contained so many spontaneous adventures that looking back, I can't believe all the things I was able to accomplish in 2010. Some of my highlights were a trip to Thailand in March, a promotion, an amazing long weekend in Penticton and of course, my discovery of burlesque.

This year, I have some personal resolutions - or 'goals' as Miss. Precious Metal would want me to call them- including being active every day, stop going on celebrity gossip sites and to be more creative. The first and the third of those resolutions can fully apply to burlesque, the second... well... not so much. I'm going to integrate dancing into being active and put creativity into costumes and routines. However, I have a full list of resolutions/goals specifically for burlesque:





Inspiration for my robot number


• Sew a costume on my own from scratch.
• Learn to do those silly sugars! Why can't I do them?!
• Get 100 'likes on Facebook. (Like me here!)
• Perform the awesome and costume heavy robot number I'm fantasizing about.
• Learn more and in depth the history of burlesque

I'm confidently hoping that by this time next year I can say that all these things were no problem and with the support and help from the right people I don't think it will be a problem. Here's to a fantastic 2011, I hope all your goals and dreams happen for you as well.

Christmas Hangover/Nifty Giftys!

Whew! Christmas is done but the holidays are definitely not over. Personally, I still have a few turkey dinners to ingest and glasses to tink together. I sincerely hope you had a wonderful Christmas. It's my favorite time of the year and aside from some of the stress the big day can bring, I had an amazing Christmas day with my family. With my new found obsession with burlesque Santa was kind enough to wrap me up some burl-q gifts. I got....


The Night they Raided Minsky's on DVD
The Burlesque Handbook by Jo Weldon
Burlesque: A Living History by Jane Briggman
and a adorable feathered hat I can wear for performing

My new read!

... I must have been a good girl! I'm saving the movie for when The VanDolls meet this Tuesday and I haven't started on the history book but I am into the Burlesque Handbook and I love it! It makes me want to drop everything and fly to New York to attend Jo Weldon's school. It's one of those books that I want to read through but I can't help to skip ahead, just filled with fun advice and great tips. Yesterday I made around 8 sets of paper pasties to make sure I can get her technique right.

Anyways, I'll stop bragging about my gifts, I'm just so excited! Again, I hope you had an amazing Christmas and it continues into the New Year.

My next performance is January 7th at the Wise Hall. I'll be performing my Becoming Burlesque solo other than that I don't know many details yet... stay tuned!

Rufflesilkskin
www.rufflesilkskin.com

Reading Naked to Overcome Public Speaking Fears

Me being a turd at 14

When I was 14 I entered a city-wide public speaking competition. I was the only entrant from my school and keen on becoming an ac-treese! I felt this was a great opportunity to practice my public speaking and take the stage! As always, I wanted to stand out! Be controversial! Open the judges eyes to something shocking! Statistics! Statistics on teen depression. I dug up all my confidence, writing and researching skills and put together a speech that I thought was a shoe-in for the win. It was relate able, touching, scary... exciting! As my fellow speakers and I gathered to listen and speak my confidence was quickly shattered after 4 or 5 other speeches on teen depression. Apparently I was as original as vanilla ice cream. Finally it was my turn. I grasped my paper, put on the fakest smile I could cook up and repeated statistics to the judges. At the end of the day I did end up going home with the ribbon... the participation ribbon and since then my feelings towards public speaking have never been the same. So, what can I do to get over this public speaking fear? Join a Toast Masters club? Na. Practice in front of the mirror? Pff. Read to my dog? No. Read naked in front of a group of strangers? YES!



NGR at the Beaumont in Vancouver

 What better way to fill the cliche of 'facing your fears head on' by combining some of the most feared things on earth- being nude in public and speaking in public- together in one special event: Naked Girls Reading. On Thursday, Dec 23rd I will be showing those public speaking judges who's boss by putting on my biggest smile and not much else to read Christmas stories to an audience of people who are paying to see just that. Yes, it's scary but what really convinced me to do it (aside from all the great people involved!) is it's the exact reason I wanted to join the burlesque community in Vancouver. It's fun, a chance to perform and a challenge. A challenge I plan to kick ass at non the less.

So, for the next few days I'll be clearing my throat and reading away. I vow that my performance will vouch for more than a participation ribbon.

Tickets for Naked Girls Reading

- Rufflesilkskin
http://www.rufflesilkskin.com/

New People, Places and Things

One of the things I've loved most about joining the burlesque community in Vancouver is all the people, places and opportunities that I've discovered that I never knew existed. A perfect example is last night at New Age Vaudeville in Surrey. I performed a burlesque number in between a wrestling trio and a rock band (not literally). The crowd was pumped and totally into the metal music, chair slamming and tassle twirling.

As a Surrey-ite born and raised, I never knew that this community existed! And that's the beauty of it all. Being thrown into a completely new experience and saying 'Yup, I did that'.

Speaking of new people and new experiences, next up for me before Christmas and New Years is Naked Girls Reading: The Grinch. Yup, it's exactly what it sounds like and again, a new experience. Yes, I've been naked. Yes, I've read The Grinch. Yes, I've performed. All together at once? Soon I can say yes to that too. Cheers to living life as it comes!

Rufflesilkskin
http://www.rufflesilkskin.com/

Burlesque, Brawls and Bands - Oh My!

This Saturday, December 11th will mark my first booked gig since graduating from Screaming Chicken! I will be performing in New Age Vaudeville in Surrey. The show is a mix of pro wrestling, metal bands and of course burlesque.

After seeing posters around the Lower Mainland and even an ad in todays 24hrs newspaper, I have a mix of excitement and fear in my stomach. I will be performing in a wrestling ring (never thought I'd say that) and part of my act is going to be improvised on the ropes! I don't want to give too much away but there are still a few tickets available (email rufflesilkskin@gmail.com). The amazing Melody Mangler will also be performing. Please come out and support, I'd love to see as many smiling faces as possible there!

Rufflesilkskin
http://www.rufflesilkskin.com/

The Taboo Revue - XXX-Mas Style!

T'was the night before Taboo when all through the Wise many creatures were stirring, wearing thigh highs!   Last night was the first Taboo Revue show - the Christmas edition! Missed last night? No worries! There is a show tonight at The Wise Hall in East Vancouver.

With out giving too much away, the show features all the Christmas classics - a rendition of Jingle Bells, a nativity, a brawl between Jesus and Santa and of course boobies. Although I will not be performing in this show, you will see me on stage in my underwear picking up other peoples underwear! I am an official stage kitten which requires me to set up and take down for all the performances.

Perfect for the burlesque virgin or a long time fan! Check out the Taboo Revue Facebook event for more information and to get tickets.

See you tonight! HO HO HO!