Dr Sketchy TONIGHT!

Photography by Nick von Fiction

Just a reminder that tonight is Dr Sketchy Brisbane with yours truly modelling in some weird and wonderful get ups and doing a very special performance for you.

Entry is FREE!

Glass Bar @Judith Wright Centre, Fortitude Valley

Bring your pencils and sketch books and prepare for a magical evening.

x Bella

Costume Care

I will make it fit! Applies to shoes on sale at 50% off

and squeezing all your stuff into one bag for a gig.

There is always one part of a gig that I absolutely dread. Unpacking after the show.

When I've worked my tushie off dancing up a storm, usually my bags are left inside the front door when I finally get home and faceplant my bed, and that's often where they'll stay for at least a day.

But I'm not foolish when it comes to costume care. It's easy to make expensive mistakes if you're not careful so I thought I'd give you the inside tips on what I do to ensure my costumes and props are in good condition time and time again. The same goes for party costumes, you don't have to be a performer to care for your clothes properly and if you have no intention of

using the costume again you could sell it on ebay if you keep it in good nick.

Consider Halloween, plenty of performers would have been heavily into the fake blood. I know I was! If you use it, make sure you have a few plastic bags handy in your case to wrap up any messy items to take home. There's no need to get that stuff all over the rest of the things in your case.

No matter how tired you are when you get home, if you have costumes with fake blood on them (or real blood for that matter) take them out of the case and at very least rinse out the residue in the sink and give it a spray with stain remover. You can deal with the rest in the morning.

In the morning, fill the sink with hot water and Di-San, or Napi-San and let the things soak for a few hours and hey presto! It should be spotless. Keep in mind that some fake blood stains bodies and clothes worse than others, particularly cheaper ones, so don't be slack or you may never get the marks out.

Take every costume out of your case and check it over for tears, marks or missing pieces. It's much easier to call a venue the next day about that missing bra than just before your next gig. Same goes for repairs and cleaning.

I know plenty of performers who don't get around to washing their costumes very often, if at all because they don't wear them very often. Consider however any time spent rehearsing in them and in summer performing in steamy, overcrowded venues your perspiration can degrade costumes. At very least check them over for marks. I once found a whole shoe print on one of my very precious gowns where I had performed amongst the crowd. Glad I found that before the next show!

I hand wash (never, EVER, machine wash) my costumes whenever I feel they need it. Be prepared for a tidal wave of glitter in your bath or laundry tub.

Finally make any repairs such as sewing buttons, beads & sequins back on, dealing with frayed edges or tears before storing them away.

Until you're rich and famous and can pay a minion to do your mending for you, make sure you always have a spare needle and thread to match the colour of your costumes handy!

Important: Check zippers, clasps, velcro, ribbons or whatever you are using to unfasten your clothes. A broken zipper can cause hell if it means the dress won't come off mid-act!

Also brush any wigs and store, and collect all the hairpins you've left in a trail from the front door to your bed and store them away for next time. Seriously, you will be glad you collected those bobby pins next time a show rolls around.

Everyone has their own method of storage but it will make it easier on you to keep your costume wardrobe organised in some way. I have a double rail on wheels. Dresses on the top rail in dress bags, all the other bits and pieces for each act in bags on the lower rail, shoes & small props on the tray at the bottom. El cheapo rails will probably not handle the weight of lots of heavy costumes so best not to be stingy. Something solid that doesn't use lightweight plastic connectors to hold the bars together. Trust me, I have learnt the hard way.

Gloves should be hand washed more regularly particularly if you pull the fingers with your teeth and stored together, as should pairs of stockings which should be checked for runs before packing away. You have no idea how many black stockings I have that don't match. Laddered stockings can be used to store gloves, stockings and other delicate bits of costume.

I think that just about covers it!

Until next time...x

In my beauty case...

Photography by Tor b551.com

So I seem to be asked more and more about my skincare regime and personal taste in fashion. I've avoided writing about it because it seems a little self-indulgent of me (not being any expert on make-up) but as there seems to be a bit of interest in the subject I figure what the heck! This little post is about the make-up and skincare I use.

How do I keep my skin looking great? I don't. I wear lots of make-up on stage which is why it looks porcelain in the pictures but in real life it is an ongoing battle to keep my skin in good condition. Make-up, late nights, a few too many champers and my skin gets positively grumpy with me. I also have extremely fair skin and so am very prone to freckles at the first peep of sunlight through the clouds. In addition to this, the illusion I was under that in passing my teenage years that I would be magically endowed with clear skin has fallen rather short of the mark.

So it's simple for me, 30+ sunscreen, even in winter. Make-up wipes by the bed for those nights I cannot summon the energy to wash my face, or in my make-up case for the trip home from a gig along with a little travel pot of moisturiser. All over body moisturiser, I am religious about this after a shower because the water in the three places I am most, England, Germany and Australia, is very hard and dries skin quickly. My friend Bea Devile has also instructed me to body brush or use exfoliating gloves for lovely legs but I'm terrible at remembering this.

My other indulgence is the 'Brazened Honey' face mask from Lush. It works like magic when my skin looks really tired and I just need to perk it up before a show or the day after a show when I want to go out again and not look like I dragged my glittered behind into bed at 6am that same morning.

As far as make-up goes I seem to stick to my staples. One of my lifesavers in hiding tired under eyes is a concealer called Touche Magique by L'Oreal. I'm pretty sure any illuminating concealer would do though. A decent red lipliner, I have stupidly sharpened mine to the point where I can no longer see what brand or shade it is so I'll have to do some investigating! I often use just lipliner all over instead of lipstick for a show as it will not budge, but of course a decent red lipstick for after a show is a must.

Also, loose face powder, not compact. Trust me.

Black liquid eyeliner and false eyelashes. They are a bugger to learn how to use properly but once you do, what a difference it makes. I still curse and swear when I'm putting on eyelashes as do most of my friends but it's worth it in the end! I once blogged about another burlesque lass, Khandie Kisses I believe who told me once that she had so many false eyelashes she thought they might form one giant eyelash and crawl around her apartment. I'm proud and terrified to say that I am at that stage of monster movie eyelash take-over.

As to how to put them on properly, it's all just practise I'm sorry to say. One day I promise you'll get to the stage where you can put them on while on a moving train. You'll still curse and swear though.

Finally, the perfect nail polish. I go pink for 60s and red for everything else. My particular red being a bottle of Chanel 159 Fire Red which as I hold it up to the light now, I see is over halfway used. Tragedy!

Hair, well when it comes to hair I am lazy. I'd rather have someone else do it but I feel it is necessary as part of my sartorial education and I try, although I do make more shortcuts than I'd like to admit. I'm in love with my Vintage Hairstyling book by Lauren Rennels. If you'd like to learn how to do your own vintage hair and make-up there are also a few fabulous classes available.

In Brisbane see the facebook page for the Bombshells Academy http://tiny.cc/330z7 to join classes and learn everything you need to know on vintage hair and make-up.

So that concludes my ramblings for another night. I'll try to do a blog on clothes at some point if I can focus for long enough!

x Bella

Upcoming Shows!

Shoot, I keep forgetting that my website is throwing a tanty at the moment and won't update anything, including all my upcoming shows!

So...for the students, the cheap, and those who just want to have a fun and chilled Sunday evening of entertainment, pop on down to Barsoma tomorrow night for a special 10:10:10 edition of Qsesh. It's free, there's $5 pizza and there's some awesome music and even more awesome (yeah I said it) burlesque. 22 Constance Street, Fortitude Valley Brisbane.

Then on the 30th October your Halloween plans are all set because the Monsters Ball is coming to town! There will be 3 stages, 6 rooms, 2 floors, Bands, Burlesque, Freakshow, Magic, Comedy, Markets, Voodoo Lounge, DJs, and Prize for the best costume! It is from 8pm till 5am at The Step Inn, 186 Brunswick St, Fortitude Valley. $15 presold or on the door before 9pm, $20 after. Get tickets here...http://tiny.cc/q0smk

There are a few others but will pop them up on here as soon as I have the finalised details but that's at least two weekends of fab entertainment to keep you busy planning your calenders in the meantime!

The sexy plie, the piston, and the pin-up...

For some reason every time I wake up the day after a show I'm always aching all over. I think the rush of performance blocks out any pain receptors and I'll push myself much harder on stage, resulting in my waking up with muscle aches. But it's a satisfied sort of pain and after a hot shower all that was on my mind was food (surprise, surprise).

Not much is open in Hobart on a Sunday in the city centre as Torsten and I found when we went exploring for food. We found one of those diner style places that looked like it never closes where they do a reasonable breakfast. Nothing mind blowing but we were hungry and I didn't have much time before I had to get back and put my stuff together for the afternoons dance classes and tutorials. Next time I'll head straight for North Hobart as I was reliably informed by the girls that that's the best place on a Sunday for food.

I was teaching a basics class at Tasmania's Pole Dancing and Burlesque Academy and was amazed how quickly the ladies of Hobart picked up the choreography. It was a very sexy tease to a bit of Screamin' Jay Hawkins and they were totally rocking out to it with their boa's and gloves.

Both Grace Cherry and Lucy Sky Diamond had one to one tutorials with me and I tell you what, I can't wait to see more from these ladies. Asides from being just the nicest girls you'll ever meet, they are extremely talented. I'll be watching with some interest at where their performances go.

So with a full afternoon and evening of classes finished can you imagine what mind was on? Before I left I got Grace & Sarah's recommendations on where the best fish & chips were and so that's how Torsten and I came to find Fish Frenzy down at the harbour. It was absolutely freezing cold in the loveliest way when we hopped out of the cab and bundled into the very laid back fish & chips restaurant. Glass of rough red, great chips, prawn cutlets, calamari & fish. One fish we liked, the other not so much but unfortunately I can't remember the names of them!

This was followed by an icy walk around the harbour to walk off our very full belly's. Having walked past the Art Hotel I made a mental note to stop in there next time. Their dessert menu looked wonderful.

Then all the way back around to Salamanca which at night time in the cold with the fairy lights in the trees reminded me so much of Berlin at Christmas. Followed by caramelized fig, green apple, lemon and peanut butter fudge gelato (2 flavours each - I would recommend the peanut butter fudge) at Cargo and I was feeling a strange sense of contentment as I trundled off to bed for another night's beauty sleep.

Hollywood (finally) Revealed

Bella with Lucy Sky Diamond in background.

Photography by Tor b551.com

Show time!

So we bundled into Tigerlily's car for the trip to Franklin. Thankfully Grace Cherry had taken my costumes and props the night before so I only had a pile of make-up and hair bits and bobs to cram in the boot.

This trip was to be our only opportunity to see some of the Tasmanian countryside and the trip to Franklin was absolutely beautiful. When we arrived at the Palais Theatre there was a mist rolling in from the hills our enormous dressing room overlooked the River. One other highlight was finding out that Chicken Feed is the place to get glue on crystals and Lady GaGa Cds. Thanks girls!

The usual preparations ensued, hair dramas, eyelash fixing, make up applying, etc, etc. Meeting all the other performers was wonderful and it was a real variety show. We had a magician, Bob Buchanan for an MC, Lucy Sky Diamond on aerials, Sarah Muir on pole, tango dancers, cabaret performer, all the girls of Miss Kitty's Meow including Tigerlily and Grace Cherry plus Scarlett Jezabel and the bestest stage manager this side of the equator!

Considering the stage was slightly raked I was concerned as when I did a sound check and run through earlier in the night it was tilted enough to put me off balance. That and my dress fell off. Which I appreciate is the point of the act but only when I've carefully timed it. So I was a little nervous going out for my first act. I needn't of worried. The show went perfectly. And I mean perfectly, which never happens! Usually you come off stage thinking, 'I could have done that move better,' or something of the sort but I was so happy with both acts and was on a complete high when I dashed into the wings to put my dressing gown on (a very pretty one mind you!) for final bows.

I was also lucky enough to be waiting in the wings for my final act when I was able to watch Scarlett and Grace do their duet fan dance. Fan-bloody-tastic. I know, groan, pardon the pun, but it was. The colour, the grace, the cheekiness. I just loved it.

Other highlights for me were Tigerlily's bubble act which was absolutely adorable with an excellent use of props and Lucy Sky Diamond with her trapeze act. She has inspired me to finally commit to creating a trapeze performance of my own, what a girl!

Torsten of course was snapping away which is where the shot above is from, preparing for the first act. I've also popped a couple of pics up on my facebook fan page and others are visible at his blog including a few lovely architectural shots of the theatre.

So feeling somewhat elated we all bundled back into Tigerlily's car for the scary ride home. That beautiful mist from earlier had turned into a fog so thick we had to crawl at 40km the whole way home. Some crazy cab driver shot past us like a bat out of hell while we were on one of the most impossibly thick spots where we couldn't even see where the sides of the road or lanes were. I don't know if he had x-ray vision or something.

Later we found out that Grace Cherry's cab driver was also driving like a maniac all the way back to Hobart. Seriously people, if you are paying for it, you have a right to tell them to slow down. Not a fun way to end a night thinking you might die at the hands of a kamikaze driver.

Anyway, a brief mar on an otherwise perfect evening.

I absolutely collapsed into bed with an enormous sense of well being and looking forward very much to a sleep in!

Soggy Salamanca

Soggy Feet

The next day was a planned trip to the Salamanca markets. But oh how the heavens had opened! Wishing bitterly that I had one of my beautiful coats and a good pair of boots, we gave up on the markets after my shoes filled with water. It just wasn't browsing weather.

Torsten bought an umbrella that broke the same day from a lady selling sunnies and umbrellas. All bases covered but I wonder if everything she sells is just as dodgy.

We did find Tigerlily manning one of the stalls, looking like she'd much rather be in a warm bar with a good cocktail. Also found a fabulous stall selling printed hoodies and t-shirts. If the weather wasn't so rubbish I might have tried one on and bought it. They had the cutest prints. One of my favourites was a black hoody with the characters from Where the wild things are.

I was also utterly charmed by one of the bartenders at a pub where I'd ducked in to find the loos. After shaking off the water and getting my umbrella under control I felt rather dishevelled, but he took a look and smiled, 'You look great'. Very kind, but I think perhaps a little white lie!

Anyway, Torsten and I gave up and went to get lunch. Usually there is simply no time to eat dinner before a show when I'm performing, and even if I had time I wouldn't. The nerves, excitement and concentration don't leave me with much of an appetite, so I figured I may as well have a decent lunch. Holy moly did we eat.

In this cafe we had memories of the kind of place our mum might have taken us, long before cafe's were trendy in Brisbane. The kind of cafe that old ladies went to in Myer. The food was great though, and very reasonably priced.

I believe it was called Bojangles or something similar, and was located in a mall. The menu was unnerving in its use of BJ as an abbreviated title for the store but nonetheless I would have recommended the place for a no-nonsense sort of meal.

After hauling our overstuffed bellies back to the hotel to get all our stuff together it was onwards to the show!