This costume was not retired by choice. Due to complicated reasons, which I don't have the heart to go into right now, this costume was stollen. Though no longer in my possetion, this costume was, and will be, my favorite costume ever. I love it to death and hope that whoever has it now is happy with is.

Where to start! Okay, I'll go from top to bottom.

Earing:
The ear was made completely by hand. I used many different beads to complete it, including a rare chinese glass bead that I was giving to as a gift from my Chinese exchange teacher. The blue at the end is just yarn for needle point.

Wrap/top:
The top is simply a cotton stretch fabric that goes around my neck and over my chest. Pretty simple.

Obi:
My obi is made out of a sturdy cotton blend. It is in three parts which fold and tie together to make the final "bow" in the back. The obi alone takes about 30 minutes to prepare and put on. I use underneath the back portion of the obi a thick under obi made from an old heavy weight martial arts gi/uniform. The base protion was originally painted with the flower pattern, then for AX'o2 it was beaded entirely. The beading of the obi took 150+ hours alone. The seperate two parts remain painted and wont be beaded because of the folding and tieing process (it would ruin the beading). The beades are small 1 centimeter long green irridencent glass beads.

Sleeves:
Wee! My favorite part! ^__^ THe sleeves were measured, pinned and cut based on my arms. THey are made out of the same material as the wrap/top (yay for consistancy!). I dyed them to created the gradient with a mixture of a wine colored dye and a royal blue colored dye.

Flower:
The flower, at this point, is made out of red foam. It is completely beaded and it head against the obi by a pink string.

Skirt:
UGH, I hate my skirt. It had to be made and painted twice. All painting on both the obi and the skirt was done by hand by myself. The skirt is made out of a deep purple cotton blend.