Runaway Runway, recycled bridal party, in progress

On Friday, April 29th Columbia's Township Auditorium will be turned into a recycled fashion mecca! I can hardly wait for my "recycled bridal party" to grace the catwalk in this year's Runaway Runway. Although none of these garments are complete, I'm on schedule!

Nothing was purchased for the creation of these garments. There are no “base” garments on which recycled items are merely attached. Everything (even the elastic, yarn, and thread!) was
either recycled or came from Bill Mishoe’s “walk around/junk” auction of USED household items.


(Above: Finally fitting for the "Recycled Bride". Model: Clary Powell. Click on image to enlarge.)

Bodice for Dress: white and off-white artificial flowers collected from cemetery dumpsters and cording made from yard sale and leftover knitting yarns; thread.

Skirt for Dress: paper napkins collected during the Ohio State vs. Michigan football game at Three Lion’s Pub, Daniel Island; more white and off-white artificial flowers collected from cemetery dumpsters; thread

Crinoline: plastic bags used to protect mat boards delivered to Mouse House, Inc.; thread; elastic.

Veil: White and off-white artificial flowers collected from cemetery dumpsters stitched on water soluble stabilizer; over-sized mat board plastic bag; thread; elastic.

Jewelry: Bakery product plastic closure earrings.

Bouquet: artificial flowers collected from cemetery dumpsters with “ribbon” made from a JoAnn Fabric’s plastic bag.

After this finally fitting, I've made "adjustments". For example, she's not going to be wearing the necklace and bracelets. I think they'll show up better on the bridesmaid. Also, I've altered the plastic part of the veil. In the photo, the plastic is two layers....like the bag that it is! I've removed one layer and cut delicate "holes" in the single ply to create a "lighter" look.

(Above: Final fitting for "Recycled Maid of Honor" Model: Jamie Schumacher, my cousin who is graduating from the business school at the University of South Carolina the weekend after Runaway Runway.)

Bodice for Dress: Recycled, opaque silver dry cleaner bag; recycled felt from River Runner (used as packaging material to ship kayak to shop); thread.

Skirt for Dress: Recycled clear dry cleaners bags; thread; elastic.

Skirt overlap: Recycled, opaque gold dry cleaner bag; dozens of yards of “caution” tape collected in Five Points after St. Patrick’s Day; thread; elastic. Above is some of the "caution tape as it was collected....wrinkled, tied in places, dirty! Below is some of it after being washed, trimmed where needed and IRONED using very, very low heat.

Jewelry: Necklace/ruffle: Recycled “caution” tape collected from Five Points after St. Patrick’s Day; thread; cording made from yard sale and leftover knitting yarns. Earrings made from bakery bag closures.

Bouquet: TBA

(Above: Final fitting for "Recycled Bridesmaid" Model: Olivia Thompson, my studio assistant.)

Dress: Recycled dry cleaner bags, woven and stitched; thread; cording made from yard sale and leftover knitting yarns. (Below is a photo of the "warp" of dry cleaner bags stapled to the wall outside my studio. I wove it, stabling each row onto the wall....then, carefully removed the staples and hand stitched all the edges to prevent it from unraveling.

Under skirt: Recycled dry cleaner bags; thread; elastic.

Jewelry: Necklace made of recycled dairy pull-tabs, recycled bakery plastic closures, recycled Teflon coated picture-framing wire (from a client’s picture needing to be reframed…this is NOT the kind used at Mouse House, Inc.); ribbon from a “box lot” at Bill Mishoes’ “walk around/junk” auction of used household products. Bracelet: matches necklace. Earrings made from bakery product plastic closures. (I was originally going to have the bride wear the necklace and bracelet.....but they'll be more obvious on the bridesmaid!)

Bouquet: White, off-white, and yellow artificial flowers collected from cemetery dumpster; used 1” paint brush; perforated packaging paper; thread; “ribbon” made from a Coplon’s plastic garment bag. The packaging paper was donated by Ethel Brody (above), one of the other artists with studio space at Gallery 80808/Vista Studios. Last week Ethel's solo show, "Encore", hung in the gallery. An abstract grouping of her oil paintings can be seen behind the "Recycled Bride" above. The exhibit was in honor of her 87th birthday.

Flower Girl: Greta Hahn, Daughter of Lauren Michalski. This garment will have its "final fitting" next week....so....photos will be posted later!

Dress: Yellow artificial flowers collected from cemetery dumpsters created on a water-soluble stabilizer; thread.

Jewelry: Bakery product plastic closure earrings.

Flower basket: Recycled lampshade, recycled foam-centered board, recycled aquarium supply bucket handle; artificial flowers collected from cemetery dumpsters; ribbon from Bill Mishoes’ “walk around/junk” auction.


(Above: Free motion embroidery on strips of adhesive coated, Mokuba water-soluble "free lace" stabilizer).

I'm also hard at work stitching quotations about marriage and divorce onto wedding veils. These are for an installation called "I do / I don't", which like open on the same weekend in April as is Runaway Runway! It'll be a busy time!