The Green Monster is Back!

Off and on over the last several months I have picked up this costume to work on as life and other projects have allowed. My half-hour lunch breaks at work have been filled with bead embroidery and now that I get to place the appliques that I worked so hard to build on the covered bra I feel so close to being done! Of course, I'm not really that close. I still have straps to build and attach, lining to sew in and the whole skirt to build and decorate! Here's what we've got so far:

And the Green Monster Sparkles On...

This is how the leaves start- micro suede, rhinestone strands and beaded whip stitches.


















Then they get filled in with sead beads, bugles and sequins.


















Here you see them against the Green Monster skirt fabric. There is a distressing lack of contrast between one super sparkly surface and the next. I will be debating options on bead choice for the stitches that will be used to attach the leaves to the finished skirt. I'll thread some beads up and lay them next to the two fabrics to decide. I'm thinking that clear iridescent beads might be bright enough as they'll look kind of white like the rhinestones in the center of the leaf. Once the leaves are mounted to the skirt, I plan to sew a dime sized AB crystal or slightly smaller blue button like the ones used in the center medallion to the point of the leaf. Then I will hang a few strands of fringe from it :)