Relay: Mesquite’s Monster Fashion Show
Mesquite, Texas: Last Saturday at Town East Mall, recycled couture fused with the spirit of Halloween at the Great Big Spooky-Wooky Recycled Costume Contest.
This was the 6th annual recycled fashion show Keep Mesquite Beautiful has hosted, and all were welcome to submit their festive upcycled garments.
Image: Keep Mesquite Beautiful
Their main advert featured a Tim-Burton-inspired Queen of Hearts from Alice in Wonderland, (played by the mystical Helena Bonham Carter). Keep Mesquite Beautiful’s executive director Paige Swiney took the time to breakdown the process of creating the queen– a job far less taxing then you might have imagined.
Swiney and a few other board members worked together in parts, gathering and piecing together recyclables that people would come into contact with on a daily basis. The computer components were gathered at a local electronics equipment recycler, and the billboard wasn’t that much of a challenge to obtain.
“…They can hold [the billboards] for 90 days until the owner claims them. If they’re unclaimed…they will recycle them.” Keep that in mind, D.I.Y. or DIE crowd.
Perhaps the most fascinating aspect about the costume was the actual construction. “We taped it onto the model,” Paige explained. “It probably took…only a few hours. The hardest part was doing the makeup.” The ease and flexibility of creating an affixed costume turned out excellent, and that approach is always easier for busy parties interested in upcycling old parts into works of wearable art.
Other costumes included this clockwork dolly and the awfully fierce cousin of Godzilla. About 4,000 people saw the show over different periods of time, which was a stellar turnout for this public event.
“There is a lot of imagination and creativity that goes into these costumes,” Paige stated. “If we created something for Halloween, or inspired people to think about their Halloween costumes differently…we can challenge people to think differently about trash.”
Sure, there’s eight days left until Halloween. But that’s more than enough time to gather materials to whip up your own recycled Halloween costume this year.
Etsy Bomb: Episode #8 | Tundramoon Designs
While I’m here topping off Blue Moon ginger ales and recycling the cans like a good flora-bat…
…Tania Dawn of Tundramoon Designs has been getting creative with aluminum cans, turning them into lovely jewelry!
Along with cutting, decorating and shaping beer and soda cans, she uses bottle caps, vintage pieces of jewelry, glass and wooden beads, and metals in her pieces as well. She also makes custom scarves and hand-knit accessories. So go ahead and check out this month’s Etsy Bomb spotlight, Tundramoon Designs!
D.I.Y. or DIE: Suit up for Summer
Yes, summer, we know you’re almost here.
Yes, summer, we know about your relentless, oppressive, hypnotic heat that gets nearly everybody amped to go frolic outdoors, host garden parties with dear friends, and let loose, because that is the effect you have on people. It’s not a healthy relationship–even if there’s SPF protection involved–but still, there’s much you do to the human psyche for just being a simple season. People get giddy.
Some have been preparing in gyms and yoga studios all year, awaiting your arrival. Some couldn’t care less. One thing is for certain though–the rituals of water to combat the heat–be it in swimming pools, the beach or a cracking of a hydrant–will commence.
Ahem…That being said, if you’re about to purchase a new swimsuit, I’d urge you to wait just a moment. As an advocate for simple D.I.Y. projects, I think it’d be best if you’d entertain the idea of turning your favourite Alien Sex Fiend band shirt into a cute bikini or one-piece. It’s really all too simple, and it’d be a unique alternative that allows you to upcycle something you might’ve not warn as frequently otherwise. Here, take a peek at these vids.
Just remember, if you’re planning on making a functional swimsuit from a t-shirt, unless it’s just you and your lover(s), you’ll need extra material and padding…unless you’re into that wet t-shirt look and want the world to see your goods. If so, carry on without.
Now, if you’re not about to take to a sewing machine, NY’s own Vin-T can take your t-shirts and turn them into a custom swimsuit for you.
If you’re not prepared to transform your band shirts, that’s fine as well. When purchasing a new swimsuit, consider checking out brands such as EcoSwim, Odina Swim, Becca and Ruby Moon for sustainable and/or ethical fashions.
If you’re a guy, try Nautica, Greenlines, or even something from H&M’s Conscious collection.
Etsy Bomb #7: La Vieille Lune
Doing my usual Etsy rounds, I stopped with widened eyes at the jewelry on a certain designer’s Etsy page.
Kim Hand–owner, maker, designer and curator of La Vieille Lune–-has been selling her pieces since 2010. She prides herself on re-purposing old pieces of jewelry, lace, handbags and more. All of her pieces are painstakingly detailed, with a lot of her lace products hand-dyed.
This is one of those stores where it’s better to just take a peek inside! And after viewing her Etsy Store, be sure to follow her work on La Vieille Lune’s Facebook page as well!
Flora Gothica 