A truly self-taught designer and artist, Samira has wide interests and reads avidly. Her personal library is filled with volumes on costuming, color harmony, cultural anthropology, painting and drawing, quilting, history and spiritual growth.

She began costuming her friends and teaching herself to paint before she was twelve. In her early years she was drawn to theater production and event planning. Taking that experience with her into the busy years of raising a family and running her costume business, she produced costumes, parties, and community events that are still talked about.

Being a skilled seamstress and perfectionist, her creations are so well made that pieces made back in the 70's are still in fabulous condition. She was especially known for her Persian applique ensembles, Afghani dresses, gypsy skirts and belly dance coin costumes. Her signature style sports brilliant color in exciting combinations or rich vibrant designs showing off her command of exotic belly dance themes.

Samira put aside her costuming business to persue other dreams around the mid-80's. By 2002 she had become a skilled watercolorist and an ordained minister. Sarah lives in Santa Barbara, California, dividing her time between writing, painting, designing and the ministry.

Samira has recently returned to designing belly dance pieces with the urging of her professional dancer daughter Jenza and her famous dancer granddaughter Sa' Elayssa. You can find recent designs on this site and occasionally on E-bay.