From the Distant Past

Dear Constant Reader,

I was cleaning up my sewing room (a Sisyphean task) and found these undies, which were made for a big group number in 2006. Martini Time undies

This was the finale for our “Centennial” show, celebrating a hundred years of the Boston Babydolls (one of our dates was April 1st — get it? We hadn’t even been performing as a troupe for a year at that point). We were supposed to perform it at Viva Las Vegas, but the organizers freaked out when we said there were 6 people in the act. Instead, we sent a trio (I wasn’t in it, alas). The following year (and I believe, ever after) the Viva burlesque competition was limited to solos.

When we were accepted to perform at Miss Exotic World that same year (the first year it was in Vegas), we decided the costumes needed an upgrade. We had all been wearing plain black panties, as I recall. Mine were from Victoria’s Secret, as the days of making my own were still in the future. Back then we very deliberately wore full-backed panties. My g-string era was yet to come.

I think it was Pinky Petite that took all the undies and added these cheeky martinis to the backs. As you can see, we were using sequins and glitter paint. So high end.  I thought they looked fabulous. Somewhere there’s a photo of the six of us leaning against a fence, butts out.

These days we would probably have martini glass-shaped g-strings, encrusted with rhinestones, and complimentary pasties, which I’m sure would read better and look more luxe. However, I’m kind of nostalgic for the days of sequins and hot glue and getting really creative with bargain basement finds. We were all fumbling our way through this burlesque thing, figuring stuff out as we went.

M2These writings and other creative projects are supported by my 19 Patrons. Thank you so much! To become a Patron, go to my Patreon page.

Published in: on 13 April 2026 at 10:58 am  Leave a Comment  
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Friday Tip

Dear Constant Reader,

Happy Friday! Here’s your tip!

Find an accountability partner.

There are so many distractions in life and it seems like there are always things getting in the way of just getting stuff done. One way to focus is find someone who has similar goals and work together to achieve them. I don’t necessarily mean collaborate, but create an environment where you all can get stuff done, a little at a time.

To illustrate, earlier this week Christina Manuge held an on-line quiet sewing hour for her Patrons where all the participants logged into Zoom, spoke briefly about what projects they were working on, and then muted themselves and, if they liked, turned off their cameras. Just knowing that there were other people working away, kept me on task and I got a lot done in the allotted time.

It doesn’t have to be something you do at the same time as your partner. If you both set the goal of going to the gym three times a week, you can set your own schedule and then check in with each other and compare progress. Commiserate one another if you hit a snag and congratulate each other for hitting your goals.

Support each other and we all benefit.

M2These writings and other creative projects are supported by my 20 Patrons. Thank you so much! To become a Patron, go to my Patreon page.

Published in: on 10 April 2026 at 4:06 pm  Leave a Comment  
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Friday Tip

Dear Constant Reader,

Happy Friday! Have a tip!

For a strong and shapely rear, exercise all parts of your butt.

The biggest muscle is the gluteus maximus. That’s the one we all know. It’s worked when your leg moves out behind you, like back leg lifts, but also squats and deadlifts.

However, you also want to work your gluteus medius, which is the one at the corner of your seat. Exercises that bring your leg out to the side, like side leg lifts or the ignominious “dog peeing on a fire hydrant”, work this area.

Technically not part of your glutes, your hamstrings deserve some love. Having them toned and strong lifts up your bum. Moves with your knees bent, like trying to kick your own butt, target hamstrings.

A series I like is bridges, keeping your shoulders and upper back pressed into the floor and raising just your hips. Start with your feet close together, then bring them to hip width, raise one leg to tabletop, then the other, finish with your feet out wide. That should hit everything.

This tip brought to you by my aching hamstrings from yesterday’s barre class.

M2These writings and other creative projects are supported by my 20 Patrons. Thank you so much! To become a Patron, go to my Patreon page.

Published in: on 3 April 2026 at 11:25 am  Leave a Comment  
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In Memoriam: Madeline Sinclaire

Dear Constant Reader,

I don’t remember when I first saw Madeline Sinclaire. She was such a fixture of the LA burlesque scene, with her Bettie bangs and brilliant smile, it could have been at any show I went to out there. I know she dazzled me completely at the Great Burlesque Expo in 2014 with her dreamy pink striptease with boa fans.

She was part of my first Stripper’s Holiday. I remember her workshopping “Jungle Bettie” and thinking that no one channelled Bettie Page like she did. I’ve seen a lot of people who styled themselves after the Queen of Pinups, but Madeline radiated the same joy that made Bettie so sought after.

I was heartbroken to hear she was in hospice (and, goddamn it, no one should have to fundraise for end of life care) and had barely processed that when the news came that she had passed away. She will be so deeply missed.

Madeline Sinclaire in The Main Event at The Great Burlesque Expo of 2014
David Salo Photography (1622 of 2331)Photo by David Salo Photography

GBE_2014_HANSWENDLAND_2193*Photo by Hans Wendland

It’s not just the loss of Legends that makes us poorer.

M2

Published in: on 31 March 2026 at 8:19 pm  Leave a Comment  
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Friday Tip

Dear Constant Reader,

Happy Friday! Here’s your tip!

If you can make your costumes adjustable, do so.

I was thinking about how commercial garments often have narrow serged seams, which don’t allow for a lot of leeway in alterations. If you want to be able to alter your garments, using a more generous seam allowance helps. But you can also use lacing, elastic, ties, overlapping panels, and other methods to make the garments adjustable without having to take them apart and resew them.

For example, here is a garter belt I made, based on a vintage example, with lacing over the hips.

Pink garter belt

The laces can be tightened or loosened, as need be, to make a perfect fit. And, I think it’s very pretty.

This tip was also inspired by a video Christina of Manuge et Toi shared of how she very cleverly added some adjustability into the bodice of one of her costume commissions. I aspire to be even a little bit as creative as she is…

M2These writings and other creative projects are supported by my 20 Patrons. Thank you so much! To become a Patron, go to my Patreon page.

Published in: on 27 March 2026 at 4:38 pm  Leave a Comment  
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Friday Tip

Dear Constant Reader,

Happy Friday! I think spring may actually be trying to break through. I saw the first crocus popping up in my back yard! Are you seeing signs of spring where you are?

Since the weather is improving, here’s your tip:

Hang your costumes outside to freshen them.

If you’ve taken my class on caring for your costumes, you know it can be tricky to wash burlesque costumes, so often we just don’t unless it’s a serious situation. After a winter of being stuck inside, garments can be a bit fusty. An hour or so outside in a gentle breeze and sunlight can help improve the way your costumes smell and sometimes even look (that may be a future tip).

Turn them inside out so the parts closest to your body are most exposed to the fresh air. This also protects the exterior from the sun. Extended sun exposure can fade colors. This is why we’re only hanging things out for a little while.

I know I said “hang”, but I know a lot of us don’t have clotheslines, so use a drying rack or a chair to support the costumes. Drape a towel over your support to protect your costume, just in case.

M2These writings and other creative projects are supported by my 20 Patrons. Thank you so much! To become a Patron, go to my Patreon page.

 

Published in: on 20 March 2026 at 5:23 pm  Leave a Comment  
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I Made a Thing!

Dear Constant Reader,

I may have mentioned that Devastasia is a very talented artist. She did the illustrations for my first costume book, as well as the second (I know, I know… I swear I will get it out there someday…). Whenever she’s teaching at B.A.B.E., she makes eye-catching ads for Instagram, like this: April Intro

I, myself, am not an artist, let alone a talented one. I just don’t have the eye that some of my friends do and I get overwhelmed by choices. There’s a reason all my Fannie Farmer cooking videos use the same fonts and music. I may say it’s for consistency, but it’s really because I made a decision and don’t want to change it.

While Devastasia will happily make these graphics for any class I ask, I thought “why should she have to do all the work?” So, I found a photo and using Preview (the only graphics program I have), I did this:Spring StripNot bad for my first try, if I do say so.

And if you’d like to join me to learn a burlesque routine featuring a parasol, well, all the info is right there.

M2These writings and other creative projects are supported by my 20 Patrons. Thank you so much! To become a Patron, go to my Patreon page.

 

Published in: on 17 March 2026 at 6:21 pm  Leave a Comment  
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Friday Tip

Dear Constant Reader,

Happy Friday!Here’s your tip!

When drafting or redrawing patterns, date the final pattern and add any notes necessary, as clearly as possible.

You don’t want to assume that future you is going to remember whether to cut something on the straight-grain or bias or that you want two layers of interfacing.

This tip comes to you from the sleeve pattern on which I helpfully wrote  “+1/2″ sa”. Did I mean the pattern includes half an inch of seam allowance or that I need to add half an inch for seam allowance?

I make these mistakes so you don’t have to!

M2These writings and other creative projects are supported by my 20 Patrons. Thank you so much! To become a Patron, go to my Patreon page. Or you can just tip me if you liked this.

Published in: on 13 March 2026 at 11:30 am  Leave a Comment  
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Friday Tip

Dear Constant Reader,

Happy Friday! Here’s your tip!

Make sure all materials in your costume are compatible with each other and with anyone or anything you interact with on stage.

By which I mean that not all materials play nice together. If you have a satin robe with a satin sash, you may find things do not stay in place as the slippery fabric slide apart from one another.

Or fabrics can catch on one another. To illustrate, once upon a time ago, Betty and I performed a lift in an act. She was the base and I was the flier. We had practiced it many times in rehearsal and I’m pretty sure had successfully performed it before. However, this time, as I was dismounting from Betty’s hip, the wide sequin waistband of my undies caught on her fishnets. Maybe it was the other way around. I don’t remember. I do remember the panic as we tried to disentangle ourselves gracefully. Dear reader, we were not graceful.

Other materials that often work poorly together: chiffon and velcro, magnets and anything ferrous, fringe and zippers. I’m sure the more experienced performers amongst my readers can add their own combinations.

M2These writings and other creative projects are supported by my 20 Patrons. Thank you so much! To become a Patron, go to my Patreon page. Or you can just tip me if you liked this.

 

Published in: on 6 March 2026 at 12:14 pm  Leave a Comment  
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Winter Reading Challenge

Dear Constant Reader,

Winter ReadingIn January and February I participate in the Boston Public Library Winter Reading Challenge — to read a book by an author from 6 different geographical areas of the world. As always, I end up reading new books that I wouldn’t necessarily have found otherwise.

Here’s this year’s list:

Africa: Binti: Home, Nnedi Okorafor (Nigeria)
I read Binti last year and was looking forward to her further adventures. Just a warning, no spoilers: make sure you have the third book ready to go as you’re not going to want to wait to read it.

The Americas: Turtle Island: Foods and Traditions of the Indigenous Peoples of North America, Sean Sherman (Turtle Island/North America)
This was probably my favorite book of the bunch. I learned so much about Indigenous foodways and regional foodstuffs. I’ve made a handful of recipes so far and all of them have been very good and worth making again.

Asia: Island Witch, Amanda Jayatissa (Sri Lanka)
This novel takes place in Sri Lanka during the Colonial era, but the theme of women’s rage is universal.

Europe: Strong Roots, Olia Hercules (Ukraine)
I have read a couple of her cookbooks (and cooked from them), but this is a memoir about her family and their roots in Ukraine. Of course, food is a thread running through the story.

The Middle East: Headscarves and Hymens: Why the Middle East Needs a Sexual Revolution, Mona Eltahawy (Egypt)
I read one of her books for last year’s challenge and this is just as powerful. It was published ten years ago, but is sadly still just as relevant.

Oceania: Leave the Girls Behind, Jacqueline Bublitz (Aotearoa/New Zealand and Australia)
I think this was my least favorite. It’s a thriller, which mostly takes place in New York, although there are some scenes in New Zealand. I learned very little about the author’s home, which to me is the whole point of this challenge. I felt like the thread of the plot got a bit tangled and knotted up and the ending did not satisfy me. Alas.

I just realized that only two of the authors on this list were new to me. One of my rules is no re-reads. Maybe next year I’ll add in only authors I’ve never read before, or at least a majority of them.

Have you read anything good this year?

M2These writings and other creative projects are supported by my 20 Patrons. Thank you so much! To become a Patron, go to my Patreon page. Or you can just tip me if you liked this.

Published in: on 5 March 2026 at 1:42 pm  Leave a Comment  
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