I'm excited to announce that Santa brought me a professional Serger to tackle all those great stretchy knits people know and love! Having a Serger means that I can finish seams in a professional manner on shrugs, dance pants, stretch velvet skirts and tops, and a TON of other stuff!
I haven't figured out the limits of what I can do with it but I have to say I'm thrilled to be able to take on stretchy knits!
Saturday, December 24, 2011
Friday, December 16, 2011
Merry Yule and Happy Christmas! Also, Paypal.
I know it's been a while since I posted ladies and gents and I appreciate your patience! I just wanted to announce that I stopped being lazy and finally set up a paypal account for my goods and services! Just send an email to redbansheedesigns@gmail.com!
I've had several projects over the last couple of months and below is a picture of a custom fitted dance vest I made for one of my wonderful clients! Hopefully soon I'll have some "in action" pictures of it too!
I'm very excited to be working on several projects at the moment, some for the business and some for myself. I'm currently experimenting with some vaudevillian fusion costuming and performance so expect to see many neat things coming in the new year!
I've had several projects over the last couple of months and below is a picture of a custom fitted dance vest I made for one of my wonderful clients! Hopefully soon I'll have some "in action" pictures of it too!
I'm very excited to be working on several projects at the moment, some for the business and some for myself. I'm currently experimenting with some vaudevillian fusion costuming and performance so expect to see many neat things coming in the new year!
Monday, October 31, 2011
Sketch!
I gained permission from my artist to share his preliminary work! Sebastian (http://sketchsomethingsebs.blogspot.com/) is extremely talented and his attention to detail and artistic vision produce high quality work and his friendly and helpful personality make him a joy to work with! On with the show!
Isn't that awesome?
Happy Halloween!
I haven't updated in a while but I wanted to take a few minutes to tell you how everything is going! I have two new commissions from some wonderful ladies in my area and I'm very excited to be working with both of them! I will be designing a few Turkish vests (both short and hip length) and hopefully will begin to be able to produce them and keep them in stock!
Additionally I have found a wonderful artist who has done a few preliminary sketches for me for a Red Banshee graphic and I can't wait to see the finished product! If I get a chance to clear it with the artist I'll post the sketch here and you can get a sneak preview! If it comes out as well as I think it will, I'll definitely be using it on my business cards and website (when I get one eventually!).
Triboriginal was wonderful and everything I hoped it would be and I'm so glad I went! I think it's going to become a yearly tradition for me. The shows were absolutely amazing and some of the performances were positively stunning. I don't think I've ever cheered louder in my life. The haflas were fantastic, relaxed, fun, and open to everyone. There was music, wine, dancing, singing, and playing and I went to bed every night just humming with energy. I did get a few promo shots for my harem pants and I've posted a couple for you to check out! Kai was a great model (and she did it all for free!) and I'm very happy with the way they came out!
In other dance news, I performed my very first solo at the Colorful Waves (http://www.colorfulwaves.com/) Monster Mash hafla on Saturday. I was so nervous I couldn't even feel my arms through the whole thing and I was shaking like a leaf when I came off stage! But it was a fantastic experience and a whole new part of my dance journey and I'm thrilled that I had the chance to do it! Here's another picture!
The photo was taken by the lovely and talented Monika Shakinovsky of Woodland Willow Photography (http://www.woodlandwillow.com/) . I made the entire costume though I didn't have a chance to really "do it up" since I was on a time limit! The bra and belt are from a different costume that I modified by adding gray lace over the glitter dot and adding a few chains to the belt.
That's all I've got for now, thank you so much for checking out my blog! (Psst: if you like it, feel free to follow it *nudge nudge wink wink*)
Joyous Samhain and a Happy Halloween to all!
-Red Banshee
Additionally I have found a wonderful artist who has done a few preliminary sketches for me for a Red Banshee graphic and I can't wait to see the finished product! If I get a chance to clear it with the artist I'll post the sketch here and you can get a sneak preview! If it comes out as well as I think it will, I'll definitely be using it on my business cards and website (when I get one eventually!).
Triboriginal was wonderful and everything I hoped it would be and I'm so glad I went! I think it's going to become a yearly tradition for me. The shows were absolutely amazing and some of the performances were positively stunning. I don't think I've ever cheered louder in my life. The haflas were fantastic, relaxed, fun, and open to everyone. There was music, wine, dancing, singing, and playing and I went to bed every night just humming with energy. I did get a few promo shots for my harem pants and I've posted a couple for you to check out! Kai was a great model (and she did it all for free!) and I'm very happy with the way they came out!
In other dance news, I performed my very first solo at the Colorful Waves (http://www.colorfulwaves.com/) Monster Mash hafla on Saturday. I was so nervous I couldn't even feel my arms through the whole thing and I was shaking like a leaf when I came off stage! But it was a fantastic experience and a whole new part of my dance journey and I'm thrilled that I had the chance to do it! Here's another picture!
That's all I've got for now, thank you so much for checking out my blog! (Psst: if you like it, feel free to follow it *nudge nudge wink wink*)
Joyous Samhain and a Happy Halloween to all!
-Red Banshee
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
Triboriginal, Random Thoughts, and Fun Stuff!
I'm preparing to attend my first Triboriginal Culture Camp this year and I am so excited I can hardly sit still! Triboriginal is going to offer me a great many opportunities both from a dance and business perspective. From a dance perspective it's jammed packed full of some of the most amazing dancers in the country (Kami Liddle? Julia "Spoon" Zay anyone?) and has a ton of classes on dance, drumming, and circus arts! Thinking about the wealth of talent and opportunity to study with some of these people gives me a little bit of a braingasm.
From a business perspective, this will be a great opportunity for me for several reasons:
1- Promo pictures FINALLY! I managed to con Kai into modeling some of my pants for me. She's such a good dance wife! I'm bringing two pairs of cotton prints, one pair of crepe back satin, and one positively GORGEOUS brocade that makes me swoon every time I touch it.
2- Marketing: This will be a fabulous chance for me to see what other crafters offer, how they price things, market their products, and what they bring to the table. Because I'm new at this, I'm sort of shooting in the dark on how to get the word out. I can deliver a consistent product that is affordable and looks fantastic but there's a lot more to it than just being able to stitch stuff together!
3- Networking, networking, networking. Because that's "where I'll be wearing my wares" (I love English) I'm hoping to get those great "Those are really nice, where did you get them?" questions. At which point I can grin and say "So glad you asked...actually..." and start passing out business cards. (Hmm, maybe I should add glitter to my cards. Glitter gets EVERYWHERE.)
Who knows, maybe next year I'd be ready to vend at something like Triboriginal!
On to the Random Fun:
Truth be told, this is the beer that inspired me to go with "Red Banshee" as my business name. I wish I could use the graphic too!
I promise lots of pictures when I come back, Cheers!
From a business perspective, this will be a great opportunity for me for several reasons:
1- Promo pictures FINALLY! I managed to con Kai into modeling some of my pants for me. She's such a good dance wife! I'm bringing two pairs of cotton prints, one pair of crepe back satin, and one positively GORGEOUS brocade that makes me swoon every time I touch it.
2- Marketing: This will be a fabulous chance for me to see what other crafters offer, how they price things, market their products, and what they bring to the table. Because I'm new at this, I'm sort of shooting in the dark on how to get the word out. I can deliver a consistent product that is affordable and looks fantastic but there's a lot more to it than just being able to stitch stuff together!
3- Networking, networking, networking. Because that's "where I'll be wearing my wares" (I love English) I'm hoping to get those great "Those are really nice, where did you get them?" questions. At which point I can grin and say "So glad you asked...actually..." and start passing out business cards. (Hmm, maybe I should add glitter to my cards. Glitter gets EVERYWHERE.)
Who knows, maybe next year I'd be ready to vend at something like Triboriginal!
On to the Random Fun:
Truth be told, this is the beer that inspired me to go with "Red Banshee" as my business name. I wish I could use the graphic too!
I promise lots of pictures when I come back, Cheers!
Monday, September 26, 2011
Red Banshee Pricing
Red Banshee offers three tiers of fabric for custom harem pants. Below is a listed pricing schedule as well as some samples from each group! These are just a small fraction of the colors and patterns available in order to give you an idea of what would be the best fit for you and your budget!
Banshee Basics: $25.00
100% cotton prints and solids with good durability and easy wash and dry care.
Banshee Betwixt & Between: $35.00
This category offers charmuese, rayon challis, peachskin, and batiks. Handwashing is recommended but some of them can be washed in cold on the gentle cycle of most machines. Remove when clean and hang on a quality hanger to dry.
Banshee Premiums: $45.00 and up
Brocades, sari fabric, silks, and satins: Dry clean only.
Banshee Basics: $25.00
100% cotton prints and solids with good durability and easy wash and dry care.
Banshee Betwixt & Between: $35.00
This category offers charmuese, rayon challis, peachskin, and batiks. Handwashing is recommended but some of them can be washed in cold on the gentle cycle of most machines. Remove when clean and hang on a quality hanger to dry.
Banshee Premiums: $45.00 and up
Brocades, sari fabric, silks, and satins: Dry clean only.
Thursday, September 22, 2011
Business Cards and Harem Pants!
I got my new business cards earlier this week and I am so excited! I think the next round will be different and with some additional information on them but these are a great starter set!
I also bought some great fabrics to make harem pants out of for Triboriginal. I won't be vending this year (maybe next year!) but I will be wearing some of my prettiest pants and passing out info to inquiring minds. Here are some fabric samples of what I'll be wearing at TribO!
I also bought some great fabrics to make harem pants out of for Triboriginal. I won't be vending this year (maybe next year!) but I will be wearing some of my prettiest pants and passing out info to inquiring minds. Here are some fabric samples of what I'll be wearing at TribO!
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| Flocked Velvet (But mine will be red!) |
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| Part of my "Oriental" line |
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| Jewel bright birds for summer! |
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| Elegant Sparrows |
Thursday, September 15, 2011
Welcome!
Welcome all Newcomers, Stumblers, Dancers, and Curious Citizens!
My name is Heather and I'm the owner and designer of Red Banshee Dance and Design! Here's a little about Me!
Seamstress and Costume Designer:
I grew up participating heavily in the SCA (http://www.sca.org/). The SCA is a pre 17th century historic reenactment group that spans the globe. Here's a little blurb straight from their website!
"The SCA is an international organization dedicated to researching and re-creating the arts and skills of pre-17th-century Europe. Our "Known World" consists of 19 kingdoms, with over 30,000 members residing in countries around the world. Members, dressed in clothing of the Middle Ages and Renaissance, attend events which feature tournaments, royal courts, feasts, dancing, various classes & workshops, and more."
My mother was a seamstress in her "off" time and some of my earliest memories of sewing were working with her on new costumes (called "garb" in the SCA) for some SCA event or other. By the time I was a young child I was making very simple things on my own and when I was eleven I made my very first costume all by myself! That costume started an almost twenty year love affair with sewing, designing, creating, and altering that I still haven't given up! I've designed dresses for myself and my friends, made my own patterns, put modern twists on classic lines and dressed up "boring" with extraordinary colors and textures and put just a little blood, sweat, and tears into everything I've ever made.
Bellydancer:
When I was fourteen my Mom convinced me to take a bellydance class with her for fun. So we signed up together and took a six week class with a well known teacher in our area. I fell in love with it but teenage angst and life got in the way and I didn't go back to it until I was 24, ten years later!
As I'd gotten older and put on weight, I decided I wanted to do something new and exciting and I got to thinking that maybe I should look into bellydance classes again. Much to my delight and surprise, there was a huge community right in my area! I found the closest studio to my apartment and signed up for an initial six week class with a lovely Egyptian style dancer who had only just begun teaching. That class lead to another six week class, and then another, and then two classes with two different teachers a week, and then to three classes with different teachers a week. Before I knew it, I'd become a "full time" bellydance student. I performed for the first time about five months after I started dancing at a student hafla in the Durham area. I made my own costume of course and had an amazing time with the other dance students in my class. I now perform with an Arab-Spanish fusion troupe called Moorish Gypsy (http://www.moorishgypsy.com/) out of Cary North Carolina as well as with my best friend and "dance-wife" Kai. Rumor has it there may be a solo in my future!
Dancer & Designer:
When I became active in the local bellydance community, I always got a ton of compliments on my costumes and designs. I'd blush (yeah, I'm a little shy about that) and thank them but it never really occured to me to try to make a business out of it. That's when I started getting requests: "Heather, can you show me how to make a choli?" "I love those harem pants, they're amazing!" "That's the neatest cover-up I've seen in a while!" "Do you sell your costumes?" "You MADE those dread locks?" "Help! I need to shorten this skirt but I don't know how to sew!"
Finally at a hafla after my first performance with Kai as a duet, I was cornered but the lovely ladies of Bella Luna who are a tribal fusion ATS troupe in my area. I was politely "informed" that the harem pants I was wearing might be in danger of being stolen off my body and asked when I was going to start selling things I made. Usually I just laughed these kinds of things off, but one particular lady was vehement and begged me consider making basics for the dancers in the area. "We want to have local vendors but there just aren't that many in this area! And NONE who make pants, cholis, and vests!"
I told them I'd think about it...
I thought about it and here I am. I hope you enjoy wearing my designs as much as I enjoy making them!
Red Banshee Designs
Durham, North Carolina
919-972-8635
My name is Heather and I'm the owner and designer of Red Banshee Dance and Design! Here's a little about Me!
Seamstress and Costume Designer:
I grew up participating heavily in the SCA (http://www.sca.org/). The SCA is a pre 17th century historic reenactment group that spans the globe. Here's a little blurb straight from their website!
"The SCA is an international organization dedicated to researching and re-creating the arts and skills of pre-17th-century Europe. Our "Known World" consists of 19 kingdoms, with over 30,000 members residing in countries around the world. Members, dressed in clothing of the Middle Ages and Renaissance, attend events which feature tournaments, royal courts, feasts, dancing, various classes & workshops, and more."
My mother was a seamstress in her "off" time and some of my earliest memories of sewing were working with her on new costumes (called "garb" in the SCA) for some SCA event or other. By the time I was a young child I was making very simple things on my own and when I was eleven I made my very first costume all by myself! That costume started an almost twenty year love affair with sewing, designing, creating, and altering that I still haven't given up! I've designed dresses for myself and my friends, made my own patterns, put modern twists on classic lines and dressed up "boring" with extraordinary colors and textures and put just a little blood, sweat, and tears into everything I've ever made.
Bellydancer:
When I was fourteen my Mom convinced me to take a bellydance class with her for fun. So we signed up together and took a six week class with a well known teacher in our area. I fell in love with it but teenage angst and life got in the way and I didn't go back to it until I was 24, ten years later!
As I'd gotten older and put on weight, I decided I wanted to do something new and exciting and I got to thinking that maybe I should look into bellydance classes again. Much to my delight and surprise, there was a huge community right in my area! I found the closest studio to my apartment and signed up for an initial six week class with a lovely Egyptian style dancer who had only just begun teaching. That class lead to another six week class, and then another, and then two classes with two different teachers a week, and then to three classes with different teachers a week. Before I knew it, I'd become a "full time" bellydance student. I performed for the first time about five months after I started dancing at a student hafla in the Durham area. I made my own costume of course and had an amazing time with the other dance students in my class. I now perform with an Arab-Spanish fusion troupe called Moorish Gypsy (http://www.moorishgypsy.com/) out of Cary North Carolina as well as with my best friend and "dance-wife" Kai. Rumor has it there may be a solo in my future!
Dancer & Designer:
When I became active in the local bellydance community, I always got a ton of compliments on my costumes and designs. I'd blush (yeah, I'm a little shy about that) and thank them but it never really occured to me to try to make a business out of it. That's when I started getting requests: "Heather, can you show me how to make a choli?" "I love those harem pants, they're amazing!" "That's the neatest cover-up I've seen in a while!" "Do you sell your costumes?" "You MADE those dread locks?" "Help! I need to shorten this skirt but I don't know how to sew!"
Finally at a hafla after my first performance with Kai as a duet, I was cornered but the lovely ladies of Bella Luna who are a tribal fusion ATS troupe in my area. I was politely "informed" that the harem pants I was wearing might be in danger of being stolen off my body and asked when I was going to start selling things I made. Usually I just laughed these kinds of things off, but one particular lady was vehement and begged me consider making basics for the dancers in the area. "We want to have local vendors but there just aren't that many in this area! And NONE who make pants, cholis, and vests!"
I told them I'd think about it...
I thought about it and here I am. I hope you enjoy wearing my designs as much as I enjoy making them!
Red Banshee Designs
Durham, North Carolina
919-972-8635
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