" One man's trash is another man's treasure

" One man's trash is another man's treasure

As one woman's junk gives others pleasure."   Tom Zart poem Garage Sale

The inspiration to make the "Trashions" from the shopping bags came while I listened to NPR radio as I worked long hours in my studio.  I was applying for a work positions during the summer of 2009.


People called into the radio interviews with horror stories about how the economic recession, stock market crash 2008  was ruining their plans to retire, downsizing, layoffs, growing unemployment of people my age no matter how much education, experience or skills they possessed.

I began thinking people were in such economic distress that we would be have to make our garments from the throw away bags.


Playing in my studio I taught myself a way to melt layers of bags together creating my own "material."




Land and Sea # 1

Using plastic shopping bags that I has collected from recycling bins I cut, melted or sewed the seams together to create a unique garment that is the result of a near-total transformation of the material.



Land and Sea # 2

The color of the plastic bags influences the design of the dresses.  

 For example, "Land and Sea #2," the blue and neutral hues reminded me of sand and sea during the many hours I spent alone on Tybee Island in Savannah, Ga.



This dress is inspired by a 'Mandarin Wind,' a tropical hibiscus plant I bought for myself in Savannah to make me feel happy.  The bright, red orange hues provided me with a joyful feeling while I explored making small samples for graduate classes I was taking at Savannah College of Art and Design. 



Mandarin Wind



Hula



               Hula inspired by grass skirts and leis begs to be put into a dancing motion.

Gaga

This dress was made by my daughter, Kara, inspired by the Lady Gaga's meat dress at the Video Music Awards September 2010.
                                       Meat Dress  was designed by Franc Fernandez's

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/09/13/lady-gagas-meat-dress-photos_n_714117.html#144466

Using clothing as a metaphor for shared as well as personal concerns,

"I am creating beauty from ashes, seeing positive in negative, using throwaways to create something of value."

            Come see Hula and Gaga dancing on live models at the VIP evening party. Mandarin Wind and both Land and Sea Dresses will be part of a display in VIP lounge along with work from Fiber Design students.
             I am looking forward to the show and talking with you about my collection.

 

Buffalo State College

 Runway 4.0 Diversity Mash Fashion Show

April 16, 2011     http://bscrunway.wordpress.com/2011/03/11/runway-4-0/

"Make the most of yourself, for that is all there is of you"- Ralph Waldo Emerson

"Make the most of yourself, for that is all there is of you"- Ralph Waldo Emerson

Kara took this image of me in my studio surrounded by our
" Trashions " .

 Land and Sea #2 was shown in Pittsburgh 2009 as part of the Paper or Plastic ? @ the Luke & Eloy Gallery. 
" Artists don't hold anything back in Luke & Eloy Gallery exhibit - That was certainly the case for Carol Ann Rafferty of Clarence, N.Y. Her dress, "Land and Sea #2," is part of a series she is working on using plastic shopping bags, of all things, that she has collected from recycling bins.

Using clothing as a metaphor for shared as well as personal concerns, Rafferty says, "I am creating beauty from ashes, seeing positive in negative, using throwaways to create something of value."

Rafferty says the color of the plastic bags she uses influences the dresses. "The blue and neutral hues reminded me of sand and sea during the many hours spent alone on Tybee Island last year in Savannah," Rafferty says."
http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/ae/museums/s_652704.html#ixzz1Hib3lqz9

Live models dressed in  rice rafferty  " Trashions "  will mingle among the patrons in VIP Party Lounge .
 More " Trashions " will be on view in a static display along with works from current students of the Buffalo State College Fiber Program.


 

Gift Basket of inspirational sewing supplies will be awarded from rice rafferty to a student from the Fiber Program after Runway 4.0


Short video of me delivering  Ultra Feminine Denim Collection  to the panel of jurors at Buffalo State College Fashion Department. taped March 24th 2011.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x185rQ9IGe4&feature=player_embedded#at=12

 Save the date, buy your tickets early and plan to be seen at this festive celebration where art meets fashion.

 Fashion Diversity Mash - Buffalo State College-Runway 4.0 presented by Fashion Textile Technology Program.  There will be a presentation of Buffalo State College’s Fashion Department senior designers, fiber design students, alumni, and local designers. All proceeds go to the Fashion Technology Scholarship Fund.Date: Saturday, April 16 at  4:00 and  8:30 PM  



Address: The Pierce Arrow Building
               1685 Elmwood Avenue
               Buffalo, NY 14207
Cost: General Admission: $30.00


Purchase tickets at Wegmans That's T.H.E. Ticket locations. Check your store for availability.
for more information or to purchase VIP tickets follow this link  http://www.facebook.com/pages/Buffalo-State-College-Runway-40/116359321710369#!/event.php?eid=118139591596019

" I am not young but I feel young. The day I feel old, I will go to bed and stay there. J'aime la vie! I feel that to live is a wonderful thing. "

" I am not young but I feel young. The day I feel old, I will go to bed and stay there. J'aime la vie! I feel that to live is a wonderful thing. " 

Coco Chanel

Kara and I have been working on a collection of rice rafferty hair adornments and accessories.  Kara did a photo shoot of our new bridal veils, head pieces with and without bird cage veils, feather fascinators, head bands and communion veils.
http://kararice.blogspot.com/2011/03/rice-rafferty-white-birdcage-veils.html

Hats were a normal accessory when I was a young girl as it was mandatory to wear a hat before entering into a Catholic Church.  I had seen the nuns drop a dirty dust cloth on my peers who neglected to bring a hat to wear to the weekday school mass.   No dirty cloths for me.

 My mother worked for years as the Head of the Coat and Dress Department for Lerner Dress Shop in downtown Pittsburgh.

" Lerner Shops was founded in 1918 by Samuel A. Lerner and Harold M Lane in NYC. The Company was acquired in the 1960's by Rapid-American, a holding company. In 1985 it was purchased by the Limited, Inc. and when sold in 2002 it was operated as Lerner New York and New York & Company. "

Fashion and style is in my blood. My mother who looked like a composite of Marilyn Monroe and Doris Day had the most wonderful collection of stylish hats.  My eyes danced as I squealed with delight every time she carefully lifted down her hat boxes, untied the ribbons on  the lids, slowly pulled open the tissue like a flower blooming in the garden to reveal another wonderful HAT ;~)

  Wearing a head piece always makes me feel special .

Lovely Chapeau hair adornments can be made with or without bird cage veils because it is important to feel special as often as you wish ;~)

                                             Why should brides have all the fun ?

In the ’30s, ’40s and ’50s, women used to express their femininity through waves and curls that represented the perfect “accessory” for the curvy and sexy silhouettes they had and which were considered as being so hot.

Chapeau stylish from all angles with bead adornment.



Retro means classic beauty and ultimate femininity.



Not quiet ready to add the bird cage veil yet don't want to miss out on the fun ;~)



Beautiful Moire, watery silk look, plays with the lights
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moire_(fabric)





Remember you're never fully dressed without a smile ;~)



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Feel free to contact us for more information or questions about custom made work.