"At the deepest level, the creative process and the healing process arise from a single source. When you are an artist, you are a healer; a wordless trust of the same mystery is the foundation of your work and its integrity."

"At the deepest level, the creative process and the healing process arise from a single source. When you are an artist, you are a healer; a wordless trust of the same mystery is the foundation of your work and its integrity."                            Rachel Naomi Remen, MD, author of Kitchen Table Wisdom

I believe in GOD, Supernatural Creator, Higher Power, LOVE...  No matter what the name to me the driving force of creativity, the energy, the desire for Peace, Love and Oneness comes from the same source.  I believe we are all connected in this bond of LOVE and that when we are in the act of creating this powerful, healing energy flows through us too.

As those who follow my blog already know late last Summer into the Fall after many tests I was diagnosed with DCIS stage 0 breast cancer.  If you have not yet ever had a life threatening experience, one day you will.  The first time I heard my name and malignant cells used in the same sentence my heart stood still for a second.   I could have been knocked over by a feather. I am a mature woman; this was not my first brush with adversity.  Long before I had learned when life throws me lemons I will make a sparkling, refreshing, ice cold pitcher of lemonade.

In the mist of my CT scans, Pet scans, Mammograms and MRI to chase down cancer cells before they even formed a lump; my daughter Kara suggest I pull together a collection again this year for Runway 4.0 fashion show.  At first I thought she was kidding however when I turned away from my computer then looked over my bifocals into her smiling face, I said YES !!!   I said, "YES, if you promise to help me."  Help me she did.
The concept prospectus for Diversity Fashion Mash Runway 4.0 was wide open.  Participants could select from Fantasy, Ethnic Diversity, Classical Timeline or my choice Recycle, Regeneration, Repurpose. http://bscrunway.wordpress.com/2010/09/09/bscrunway-4-0-fashion-diversity-mash/


Dress Pocket - features beads, satin floral element and stitching on recycled denim pocket.



Work in progress beads sewn onto recycled denim will be embellishment for denim camisole.




Stitches from 3-D Floral element from recycled denim, button and beads.


 

Statement Necklace with hand dyed tulle, up cycled beads and jewelry adds elegance to blue jean denim.





Bringing it all together on models adds life to my garments.  Runway time is too fast and exciting to appreciate the details in all of my garments and adornments.



While working in my studio I decided to share my joy by making an Award Basket of Inspirational Supplies sewing items to share with a student in the Fiber Design Program.

As an Alumna of the Fiber Design Program and Adjunct Instructor for two years the Fiber Studio will always be " home " in my heart. I wish I had a basket to give each of the students. Everyone who made the effort to enter the fashion show is a winner. We all grew from the experience of creating designs, garments, meeting deadlines, working with composition of the collection, setting up installations as well as hair and make up for models.

 

My criteria for Fiber Student Award was;
must be in the Fiber Program for two more semesters,
not the same person who received the Runway cash prize,
someone who will put these supplies to good use.





Rice Rafferty Fiber Award Basket in Trashions Installation @ Runway 4.0



Here I am April 20th 2011, exactly three months to the day of my surgery, in the Buffalo State College, Fiber Studio presenting my Basket of Inspirational Supplies.  I feel strong, healthy and had a wonderful time creating my garments and sharing my passion for creating joy. Every time I visit my doctors they tell me I look great and ask what new projects are keeping me busy.

  YES, I believe in the Healing Power of Creative Energy and the Power of LOVE ;~)

Assistant Professor Jozef Bajus, Coordinator of Fiber Design Program

 Professor Elaine Povinen, Head Coordinator of Fashion Technology Program,

                                     Fiber Student Award Winner, Erin Curry and Me ;~)


                   

please visit Kara and I on fb riceraffery
  http://www.facebook.com/?ref=logo#!/pages/rice-rafferty/203899441756
 or shop on line for rice rafferty
http://www.facebook.com/?ref=logo#!/pages/rice-rafferty/203899441756?sk=app_169505045786

                                                      Have a Very Creative Day ;~)

Lady of Mystery

Ultra Feminine Warrior

Of all the looks in my collection, the Lady of Mystery would be the one most closely to portray myself.

This spring green silk garment is adapted from a seven in one dress pattern I made in 1976 from royal blue polyester. Keeping options open with multiple opportunities is a major priority for me. Nothing I hate worse than to be classified and put in a box. As soon as someone thinks they have be figured out, I transform myself like this silk dress rich with possibilities.

In October 2009 I met with Professor Elaine Polvinen for lunch on Buffalo State Campus to catch up on what had been going on in our lives during the prior year. She told me about the great success of Fashion Technology Runway 2.0 fashion show in last May. I has seen some of the images of the fashion show on the Internet while I was taking classes in the graduate program @ Savannah College of Art & Design. In graduate school my mind was consumed with making garments while I was supposed to be focusing on fine art pieces.

Elaine invited me to submit a collection for the panel of juror of Runway 3.0 in May 2010. As soon as I entertained the challenge I knew my collection was going to be made from silk, inspired by the 1970 convertible dress and all of my fabrics were create by mixing my own dyes. Turquoise is the hue selected for Spring 2010 by the fashion industry. I selected the spring green and copper to balance my collection.

Michelle's beautiful, thick, long, red hair was so easy to fashion into the french braid in fact I did it myself in minutes to help the girls get ready for the fashion show. I just love this image of the braid pattern repeated in the Michelle's long hair and the dress sash.

Braids symbolize Oneness and Unity. "The flowing strands of hair, individually weak but when joined together in Oneness, physically demonstrate the Strength of Oneness; "One Mind, One Heart and One Soul", the Song of the Uni-verse, and the Sacred thoughts you are to hold. There are times to wear the hair braided and times to let it flow free, different times to demonstrate your harmony with the flow of life and to demonstrate your thoughts of Oneness to others.
There are different teachings about the way to braid ones hair, and different teachings about the ways and rites of braiding Sweetgrass. One way is to gather 28 whole strands of Sweetgrass, one strand symbolizing each sacred day in one moon(month). Divide them in three equal piles, 9 strands each, each pile symbolizing the wandering spirits of the 3 tiers of Heaven (upper world, middle world, lower world), and with the one strand that is left, the strand that Symbolizes the Great Spirit, the Creator God(Father Sun), you tie all the loose strands together. Remembering as you braid the Sweetgrass, to keep your thoughts and intent pure and healthy, placing the prayers of love for life into your braid. It is the intent placed in the medicine that makes all healing possible. To end the braid, tie a knot with the grass.

A Knot is symbolic of Union and a Bond. The Tie that binds. The knot in the Sweetgrass braid also binds all the "thoughts" of our Mother together, to teach us, once again of the strength of Unity or Oneness. I created the dress same hue in both long and short versions. It is show worn frontwards and backwards with sleeves in both options. "

http://webspace.webring.com/people/ah/helenaaiyana/hair.html

My tulle art object hat is inspired by the helmet of the Knight in Armour. " Every knight needed one set of armour for tournament and one for warfare. Each cost a fortune. Suits of armour had to be custom made. There were over one hundred and fifty parts, such as gauntlets, breastplates, thigh plates, helmets, and from top to toe, each had to fit perfectly. Protecting oneself in battle has always been a concern for any soldier, and medieval knights were no exception.

In fact, it was their protective armor that helped define them as a military unit and social class as armoring oneself during the Middle Ages was a great expense that only the wealthy could afford. Today, the Medieval Knight's Armour and Medieval Swords are both exceptionable symbols of Historic and Noble times, and are often adapted to make beautiful decorative pieces to many interior decors. "

http://www.medievalware.com/Helmets-and-Armor-s/6.htm

Extruding an aurora of poise and confidence the true identity of this Lady of Mystery is concealed beneath a series of ivory, tulle, bridal veil illusion. Embedded within tulle, layered, veiled hat like art object are a series of fiber optic lights flaunting a technological obsession should the desire for a "look at me" opportunity arise.

Michelle Adams Enderton, is a mother of two small children, a graphic designer and a friend of Kara's from Clarence High School. She graciously spent the day away from her children to be with us.

Thank you Michelle for being part of team ricerafferty at Runway 3.0.