Jeweled Tiaras
Hand-Wired, with Swarovski® Rhinestones

Current Format: 6 hours (typically late evening)
2011 Availability: TBA
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You know the ones - those beautiful Crystal Tiaras that look like real diamonds, rubies, emeralds, and sapphires, and make those ready-made versions turn pale in comparison!

This is the headpiece that is mandatory for nearly every ballet Princess and Queen role ever staged, and the headpiece wanted and needed by every Bride getting ready to walk the aisle. These are also the Tiaras that can cost tens and even hundreds of dollars more than those ready-made versions!

We offer multiple options for this course, with different levels of complexity and difficulty. In general, the higher the 'level', the more challenging the design is to construct - the frames (the underlying shape) become more complex, as does the arrangement and variety of colors, types, shapes, and sizes of rhinestones and beads.

Hand-wiring a tiara is labor-intensive, and can be very time-consuming. If you've never done one before, we highly suggest you use the Basic Techniques Class to learn the skills and techniques, and move on from there.
But Please Note: for Level-2 and above, you must have excellent manual dexterity to handle the intricate designs.

We provide all the rhinestones (Swarovski® and Czech, in appropriate sizes, types, shapes, and colors), as well as the wiring and other materials needed to create your Tiara, as appropriate for the design you select. 

In order to provide enough time for you to complete your project, we will provide you a pre-shaped tiara form. BUT, you WILL hand-wire all the jewels onto this form.

All Tiara designs are available in 3 color options: all Crystal, or all Crystal AB, or a mix of your choice of up to 3 different colors (the color selection will depend on season, venue, availability, the instructor's choices, etc).

For all levels and options, we will demonstrate how to design and create the initial tiara frame, and show you how to make your own 'jig' - a reusable pattern for wiring the basic tiara shape (when making several tiaras, a 'jig' can help make the wiring process much faster and simpler, and provide a more consistent size and shape). The jig instructions are easily adaptable to many tiara shapes and designs.

And by the way, although we've 'named' our various designs, it's just so we can keep track of the Level and shape. Any of these Tiara designs can be used for nearly any role you're costuming for. So don't let the design-name fool you, you should make your choices based on the design's complexity and difficulty, and your own requirements.

Also, you might be surprised how many directors would love to wear their own Tiara on Performance Night! We've had several commissioned for just such an occasion!

We usually are able to offer a different mix of design, color, and complexity options each year (we have so many to choose from!). We haven't decided on the choices for 2011 yet.
But our options and choices typically include:

Level-1 - Basic Techniques Level-1 is intended for the student who has never hand-wired a tiara, and wants to learn the underlying skills and techniques required. Although these are our easiest and simplest designs, your finished tiara will be perfectly suitable for any Queen or Princess! And you will have learned everything you need to create more advanced designs, or add or change the colors to suit different roles.

Level-1, Option 1 - 'Princess' This is our simplest, most 'basic' design. But don't be mis-led by the word 'basic' - it's a very gorgeous tiara, and one of our most popular designs! Originally created by Kellie Lugo of NYCB's costume shop in pale-pink and green, and taught in our first-ever Tiara class, we've made a few alterations ourselves.

Level-1, Option 2 - 'Easy Sugar Plum' This is a very nice and easy 'Sugar Plum'-style Tiara, designed by Christine Rebich right here at Tutu.Com. It's somewhat more advanced than the 'Princess', because it includes a 'drop-down' forehead piece.

Level-1, Option 3 - 'Arabian' We originally created this design for 'Arabian' from "The Nutcracker", but it works just as well for many other ballets - Le Corsair, Raymonda, contempory, and anywhere else a 'classically exotic' design is called for.

Level-2 - Advanced Techniques Level-2 is intended for the student who has already taken our Level-1 "Basic Techniques" class and wants to increase their skill-level, or who is able to stay focused and work fast. The designs are more complex, with a more complicated frame, and additional rhinestones, shapes, sizes, colors, and wiring. In other words, a more advanced and time-consuming project! You'll have several combinations to choose from, depending on your requirements.

Level-2, Option 1 - 'Advanced Sugar Plum' This 'Sugar Plum' design has a more complicated frame/shape than our Level-1 design, as well as a more complex selection and arrangement of rhinestones.

Level-2, Option 2 - 'Snow Queen' Although similar in appearance to our much simpler 'Snow Queen Tiara Kit' (not offered as a seminar option), this Tiara is more complicated and fully hand-wired (ie, no banded stones allowed). Shown here in its 'Snow Queen' variation, the design is wonderfully suited for many other roles.

Level-4 - Extra-Advanced Techniques   (available in Charlotte only) Level-4 Tiaras are SERIOUSLY More Complicated than any other designs we offer, with very advanced frames, and a very sophisticated mix of stone shapes and placement. You really MUST have prior tiara-making experience, be able to stay very focused, and to work very fast!

Level-4, Option 1 We currently offer only one Tiara design at this level. This Tiara was designed by Jessica Alford right here at Tutu.Com. The Tiara is stunning - the picture does not even come close to the real thing!

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