Shoelace Corset by Lanajean of Groovyjuice.com - Recycled Fashion Design at San Mateo County Fair 2013

This is Lanajean owner of Groovyjuice.com and I wanted to let you know about one of my entries this year in the 2013 San Mateo County Fair.

The theme is recycled fashion design and I created an accessory out of recycled shoelaces.

I sewed each shoelace by hand into a daisy shape, added a button to the middle, and I sew the daisy shapes together.

The final result was a play on the corset. I used black laces along the bottom to give the illusion of thinner waist,  and two long shoelaces at the sides to string the front and back pieces together.

Each daisy took about 20 mintes to make and the end result, many hours. Its the first time this fashion reseller has ever designed an original clothing item! I was inspired by my deceased elderly friend who saved the shoelaces, and made it in her honor.

I'm in good company at the fair, as all the entries are great! I'm also near  Jill Pilot's display of Riccocet, who designed the dress above, and kitty corner from the fabulous Fabmo, which salvages designer fabrics for reuse in the community.

It was fun to be a participant this year and get the complimentary tickets for my effort ;-)

So far,  saw a great show by the fabulous Whispers (above) and also saw Three Dog Night (below).

I'll write more later about my other fair entrees, the fabulous flower bouquet made out of water bottles!  The San Mateo County Fair runs from June 9-16th, 2013. My entries are located in Redwood Hall, Sustainable Living section. Hope to see you there.

Let me know what you think of my shoelace corset, especially if you cannot get to the fair! I'm already brainstorming designs for the 2014 Recycled Fashion design contest. !

Lanajean
San Mateo, California

The Hanger Sisters - My Groovy 60s Girls

Meet the hanger sisters; 1960s  vintage cardboard hangers from my personal collection.

These girls have been with me for ages. Some of you may recognize them from the exhibit I did years ago at the San Mateo County Library featuring metal flower pins, where I used them as part of a back drop.

I keep them in my hallway entrance, and I have dressed them in
vintage craft smocks. These colorful garments used to be quite common in the original 70s do it yourself days.

I've got a small selection of the flower power craft smocks, and I rotate the shirts every once in a while to keep things fresh. To me they are my adult paper dolls, and the first thing I see when coming home each day.

My ex webmaster Dennis scored these at the DeAnza College Flea Market in the early 90s, when cool 60s stuff was still affordable and abundant. When we split things were mostly amicable, but the hanger sisters were one thing we fought over bitterly. I decided I had a right to them even though they were "his" because I had grown used to seeing them in our shared apartment and made the point that were he to take them back, they would simply hang naked in his apartment, looking curious among all the "manly" stuff. He gave in and thankfully let me have them. I say thankfully, because he went on to sell a good majority of his collection!!

The only problem I have with my hanger sisters is that I've only got a blonde and a redhead. . .  Yes, somewhere out there is the brunette, and I am determined to find her. But truth is, I never have. I have seen similar design in plastic, but never the paper cardboard style.

Let me know what you think of the hanger sisters, and if you have anything similar. And I especially want to hear from you if you have the brunette!