Friday Tip

Dear Constant Reader,

Happy Friday!

I’m trying something new. Inspired by some terrific burlesque instructors, like Bebe Bardeaux and Jo Weldon, I’ve decided to offer a monthly on-line workshop series. These are going to be mostly lecture classes, on topics like burlesque history and costuming. At least at first, because that’s what I’ve got ready to go. I’m working on some new classes and I’m open to suggestions. Our other faculty members may join the line-up too.

We’re going to kick it off with Getting Tight: A Guide to Corsetry on Tuesday, May 19. And as a little teaser, here’s your tip:

Remember to loosen the laces before you unfasten your corset.

Whether your corset has a traditional busk, a zipper, clasps, or something else, it’s going to be a lot easier and smoother when you release some of the pressure on that closure. Otherwise, it could be a struggle to unfasten, which is never fun, doesn’t look good, and there’s the possibility you’ll damage your corset.

For more corset information, join me on Zoom on May 19th!

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 17 April 2026 at 11:00 am  Leave a Comment  
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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!

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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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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Friday Tip

Dear Constant Reader,

It’s Friday again and in Boston it’s snowing again. I hope you have a cozy place to watch the snow or weather the chill. Here’s your tip!

Sharpen your scissors.

You already know to have fabric scissors that only cut cloth, but eventually they will get dull. You want them nice and sharp to slice right through your fabric instead of chewing it up.

Having them professionally sharpened is the best method and will guarantee good sharp blades. However, you can also buy a sharpener. You can get one just for scissors or one that also sharpens knives. They’re easy to use and inexpensive.

If you’ve just noticed your blades are getting a little dull, you can cut fine sandpaper into strips and it will sharpen the blades. Really. It’s not going to fix really dull scissors or nicked blades — those need a real sharpening — but it will keep you going for a bit longer.

M2These writings and other creative projects are supported by my 18 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 February 2026 at 12:58 pm  Leave a Comment  
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More Pasties

Dear Constant Reader,

I’ve got a semi-regular show with an occasionally rotating cast of performers. One of them is relatively new to  burlesque and quite talented. However, I saw she was wearing stick-on pasties. You know, the flat kind that one might wear to be cheeky under a sheer-ish top. She deserved better. And I just happen to know someone who could make her a nice pair of professional pasties. That would be me.

Since she’d been wearing star-shaped stickers (I just can’t call them pasties), I decided to make five-pointed star pasties using one of Manuge et Toi’s templates from her huge library — you can buy any or all of them for yourself here. As I usually do, I started with buckram for the base and attached a layer of silver lamé. It would give her a nice shine if she wore them plain and also be a good base for rhinestones later. I wanted to her to be able decorate them in her own style.

At our last show, she arrived frazzled and then asked if anyone had pasties she could borrow because she forgot hers. “Well…” said I, and pulled out the pasties, “You can’t borrow these because I made them for you.” She almost cried. I love it when I can make a little difference for someone.

Here they are

Star pasties for Candy Crush

I can’t wait to see how she embellishes them!

M2These writings and other creative projects are supported by my 18 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 February 2026 at 4:14 pm  Leave a Comment  
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Pastie Exchange

Dear Constant Reader,

As I’ve mentioned many times before, I’m a Patron of Manuge et Toi Design, which is an amazing resource for burlesque costuming. I’ve learned so much over the years! If you want to up your costuming game, whether for burlesque or not, I highly, highly recommend subscribing.  It is also a lovely and supportive community. This past autumn Christina organized a pastie exchange, pairing participants up.

I checked the IG account of my partner, Aurora Rocket, and saw she had a touch of creepiness in her style. I’d been dying to try making planchette pasties and she seemed like the perfect victim person. 

As is my usual style, I made the pasties with a buckram base and fused a tan satin on to it. I used the duller side of the satin for more of a wood effect.

The designs were done in jet and crystal (Looking Glass Gems), honey (LUX Austrian Crystal), and peridot (PriceLess Crystal) rhinestones. I considered covering the entire surface in honey stones, but I was afraid of losing the impact of the eyes if the entire surface was sparkly.

These pasties were a stretch for me, in terms of shape, size, and decoration. And, being a little intimidated by the challenge, I procrastinated a bit and then realized I was going to be losing six days right before the deadline because I was going to London (woe is me!). I still managed to get them in the mail exactly on time.

Christina organized a live unboxing party on Zoom, so none of us could open our packages until the appointed time. It was hard to wait! I was super-nervous for Aurora to open the box, especially after I had seen so many beautiful and creative pasties made by others. I  needn’t have feared, she seemed delighted.

And I’ve made you wait long enough — here they are!

Planchette pasties

And what did I receive in return? These gorgeous blood drops! You can’t really tell from my photo, but those rhinestones are immaculately set. It’s such a beautiful job. I believe I’m going to replace the bat pasties I wear for “Moon Over Bourbon Street” with these lovelies.

Thank you, Aurora and Christina, and all the other pastie makers for brightening up my December!

M2These writings and other creative projects are supported by my 18 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 26 January 2026 at 12:15 pm  Leave a Comment  
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Friday Tip

Dear Constant Reader,

Happy Friday! Here’s your tip:

Before taking costumes to the dry cleaner, test a swatch.

Sometimes the dry cleaner seems like the best option to get a costume clean. However, the chemicals they use sometimes interact badly with the trimmings we use. I have heard stories of AB coating coming off rhinestones, glue loosened, and feathers left limp. I personally had some silvery trim that came back permanently dulled (it’s okay, it was only a little and I replaced it with something better).

So, test it first. Take a scrap of fabric from your costume (or something similar if you don’t have leftovers) and attach samples off all your decorations to it. Then take that to the dry cleaner and have them clean it. If everything remained intact and beautiful, you can take the real thing in. If not, you might want to try again elsewhere or figure out another method to clean your costume.

M2These writings and other creative projects are supported by my 18 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 12 December 2025 at 4:05 pm  Leave a Comment  
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