Most of my pieces, including a few newbies, were also recently modeled at a fashion show in Lexington, KY (hosted by Images Talent at the Red Mile Clubhouse). Here’s a link to a photo slideshow from the event. The other two designers to participate in this event with me were Sara Jane Estes and Soreyda Benedit-Begley.

February 21st, 2pm-5pm … Who Let the Dogs Out: Images Modeling and Talent Agency charity event and fashion show to benefit the Woodford County Humane Society. More information at the Images website.

February 25th – April 9th … Trash Fashions by Jamie K. McIntosh at the Anne Wright Wilson Fine Arts Gallery, Georgetown College. Closing reception and Fashion Show Thursday, April 8, 2010, 5-7 pm. Gallery location/contact info.

(If I could get my darned Google calendar thing to display on my blog, it would be ideal. Aaaah, technology.)

The tutu is made from white Walmart shopping bags, fused together and then fashioned into a skirt that ties in the back, so it’s very adjustable.

The top is from a green mesh “corn sack” that I received from a local farm (ie, the bag that was used to transport corn). I usually pair the green tube top with the larger hoop-skirt that I made from tan Kroger bags. The necklace is made from clear plastic drink bottles. The boots…well, I haven’t started making shoes yet—but we’ll see about that!

Also, I’ve got a few exhibits to announce for the coming months:
“Wearable Art” at The Living Arts and Science Center’s Gloria Singletary Gallery, Feb 15th – April 2nd … and my Solo Show at the Anne Wright Wilson Fine Arts Gallery, Georgetown College, February 25th – April 8th.

I’m also planning to apply for several other art events going on in the Lexington area, so keep yer fingers crossed for me!

Eco-friendly Art by Local Hands and Hearts (to benefit Kentucky Heartwood & Sayre’s Green Council) featuring Earth Friendly Artisans, Poetry, & Musicians + kids art activities. (I do believe that this will be the last Gallery Hop in Lexington this year… and the weather still isn’t half bad, eh? So if you’re out, stop by and see us!)

Arists:
-Bottle Glass Jewelry by BLISS Boutique and Studio
-Felted Local Wool Art & Demos by Four Hills Farm
-Felted Local Wool Art by Garden Song
-Recycled Wood Products by Many Moons Design
-People and Planet Friendly Eco Silver by Mayapple Creations
-Recycled Clothing and Fiber art by Jamie McIntosh
-Pottery by Amelia Stamps

Performers:
-Poetry by Eric Sutherland
-Music By Carla Gover and Diane Rose!
-Sayre School performing arists
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I wanted to share this photo with you … it was taken by Chris Reynolds during the Boomslang music festival in Lexington KY, October 10th. It was cold outside that weekend, but we had so much fun! The carnival-themed activities included a fashion show featuring several local desingers, and our lovely Lauren here is wearing an outfit of mine made from various repurposed fabrics and materials.

Also, the fashion show at the Winchester Opera House Gallery last weekend was amazing!! I was honored to have my brother as one of the models, and he wore a coat made from the same camping tent fabrics that I used several months ago to make a women’s dress. I hope to have some photos of this event soon. Everyone looked AMAZING and I can’t wait for the next time–I would love to make it an annual event!

October 23rd I also submitted a skirt made from repurposed materials to the “Runway for the Cure” show sponsored by Skirt! Magazine in Lexington KY. I wish I could have been there to see my skirt in action… they had ten local business men volunteer to wear the skirts on the runway, and then each was auctioned to benefit the Susan G. Komen foundation. I know I saw photos of this event online somewhere, so if I can find them again, I’ll post it here later on.

Also, I’ll be one of the models participating in this event! I’ll bet you’ll never guess whose design I’ll be modeling… :}

Where do you get your materials?
Pack ratting, lucky finds on walks, anywhere I can find things other people have discarded. But I especially love it when people collect materials for me–I never know what new project will be inspired by the things I’m given.

How did you come up with this stuff?
My ideas come from the materials themselves. I very rarely plan out an entire project from start to finish. I sit down in front of a pile of materials that I’ve collected and just start playing with the objects until something starts to happen. At that point, I will start to envision what type of form the art will take, whether it’s an entire gown or just an accessory.

How do you put all these things together?
I mostly use a sewing machine, so I make a lot of “plastic fabric” by melting layers of plastic together with a household clothes iron. I also use a wood burner for etching and cutting plastic. I do a lot of melting things. I love using plastic, and it is very easy to cut, melt, bolt together, burn holes in. And it’s very durable and lightweight. And it’s everywhere you look! What I can’t fit into a sewing machine, I use different types of grommets and rivets to attach one piece to another. Wire and duct tape are also staple ingredients my art.

What does your art mean?
Obviously, I support reducing-reusing-recycling, but I’m not quick to get on a soap box about how terrible our pollution problem is. I recycle not only because it’s a good thing to do for the planet, but because I enjoy it and because it’s a challenge. I think about gender roles a lot, and sometimes I end up making a statement about feminism or what it might feel like to be in a different “skin” by wearing something that is normally not accepted in our culture. I have a strong belief in cultural relevance–that is, a person from one background can’t truly understand the workings of another culture. So I suppose that I’m simply tinkering with the associations we make between objects and what they symbolize. And tinkering with gender stereotypes along the way wherever I can.

Will you make something for me?
I’d love to! I often do commissioned works. Jewelry and bags are the easiest because they are more “onesize-fits-all.” Most of the clothes that I make are tailored to fit the measurements of a specific person. And since I collect so many materials, I can often readily make another article of clothing from the same or similar ingredients. Just ask, I love a good challenge!

I’m also planning my solo gallery/fashion show for October–It’ll be at the Winchester Opera House Gallery for the month of October, with an artists reception on the 16th and a real-live Runway Fashion Show to be held on the 23rd — Awesomeness abounds!

So stay tuned…lots of events to announce in the coming months!!