2018 Fashion Club Continues

Fashion Club with Tat met twice in February to continue working on their Recycled Runway Fashion Show design.  Winter Break meant no school for students, but we enlisted them in fashion design lessons.

Boys Busted out the Work

Tat's sons roamed the library during our class, but we needed more hands to complete tasks.  They wrangled friends and transformed a huge box of cardboard tabs in just ten minutes.  A stopwatch timed their session.  We strictly got ten free minutes, then had to pay them....  Sheesh!

Chop-Chop

Amelia was busy chopping up 3-D printing scraps into tiny mosaic sized pieces.  I was her helper and believe we killed a few pairs of scissors.

A little Help from our Friends

We even secured a little help from our friends....ok, it's Amelia's brother.

Jina is a Glue Gun Master

Jina continued gluing cardboard tabs to our skirt base.

Nestrelda Put her Gluing skills to Use

Whatever would we do without hot glue?!

Colorful Mosaic

Those 3-D printing scraps are being formed into a colorful mosaic covering the bodice of our design.  Progress was swift this month, but time is slipping away quickly.

A True "Insider" View

There are only 3 classes left for Fashion Club with Tat.  We're having fun and forcing kids to work in unusual ways.  Now it's time to choose a title for this ensemble.

Is she Booked for the Ball or a Younique Universe?  Give us your vote!

Check back in March to find the results of our Title brainstorm.

Thanks for visiting!

~Erica

Recycled Runway 2017

After seven classes and over twelve hours of hustle and bustle, Southeast Steuben County LIbrary's Glitter Ghost haunted the catwalk of the 2017 Recycled Runway Fashion Show. This fashion show is the annual fundraiser event for The ARTS Council of the Southern Finger Lakes and it was a smashing success!

Dress Rehearsal

The show was on June 3, 2017.  Being a Saturday, models and designers gave up their day of sunshine and outdoor adventures to be stowed away in the corners of the Corning Museum of Glass behind black curtains.  Every design was a surprise to our guests and no one wanted to spoil the anticipation.

Wig Design Plan

Jacket Design Plan

After each design session, led by Tatyana Buchholz at the library, I would write a blog to tease readers about our progress, but now is your chance to see the final product.  We had a vision to create a wig using that famed elementary school technique of folding paper in an accordion pattern.  The jacket was built with the simple looping process used to make advent chains for Christmas.  I remember making bracelets using these techniques on my bus rides home from school, but this class pulled it all together as a professional level design worthy of Project Runway--using only trash!

Final Hours of Design

As our group finalized this design during the last class, our model, Claire, got a good taste of how much attention she would receive on the day of the show.  Every model who participated in Recycled Runway was treated like royalty for a day, from hair and makeup to treats to keep everyone happy.

Silver Lashes--A MUST!

Our wonderful photographer, Chris Walters, shot images during the entire day. There were 31 fashion looks to fit and fluff along with 34 models to glamorize.  Bella Capelli Salon provided 7 stylists to sponsor the hair styles.  The SSCL Fashion Club created a wig so hair was not an issue.  Painted Love by Jennifer Sekella provided makeup and face painting for everyone.  Being a ghost character, Claire only needed a white wash to her face and a little bit of lipstick to give her a sense of "life" as she haunted the catwalk.

Glitter Ghost about to Emerge

I had the joy of organizing the grand event, so the moment I got to give a hug to our Glitter Ghost, I stole this shot before she stole the hearts of the audience.  Claire has been a dedicated library program attendee since 2010 and I have had the pleasure of watching her grow into a young lady.

Tiny Claire in 2012

Time brings change and watching kids grow and flourish into successful adults is a feature I appreciate in the library field.  I help develop individual interests and it seems that Claire is dedicated to the same interests as my own.

Style and Swagger

There were 2 rehearsals for models and technicians to refine their performance before the audience arrived.  We originally chose high heels to finish this outfit, but the boots gave a cow girl feel that everyone in the class preferred.

Glitter for Days

The moment our Fashion Club created their design proposal and named it "Glitter Ghost," the girls could not stop thinking of how to use glitter on stage.  During the final session, two students devised a ring-like pouch that could be used to dip into and dazzle the crowd.

Haunting

The glitter effect was haunting and our photographer captured it wonderfully in this shot. After all 31 designs graced the catwalk, I was honored to lead the encore presentation.  Being the Queen Bee of Organization, I held my trusty magic wand to take our bow.  It is apparent that we were adored and got tons of approval for the best show ever!

Find our Glitter Ghost in the Light Beam

This production is a tremendous labor of love.  There are 12 dedicated members of a planning committee who jury the proposals.  The planning team spends months scheduling meetings, arranging details and editing everything in their path.  This was my first year with the Queen Bee title and it was a fun ride!  You are sure to see me sporting that magic wand again in 2018.  The question is, will our SSC Library Fashion Club proposal be selected???

Talent Gala

Recycled Runway 2017 received so much talent and competitive designs, I worry our little Fashion Group will be against some tight competition next year.  The bright side is all 8 students want to submit personal proposals!  Best of luck to them.

Glitter Gone

That is a wrap for Fashion Club with Tat at the Southeast Steuben County Library.  If you would like to see images from the gala, check out the ARTS Council's Facebook page. Prepare to be IMPRESSED!!!

Fun for All Ages!

Be sure to save Friday July 28, 6:30-9 pm. on your calendars.  Construct your Steampunk Cosplay and entertain your friends and family at the 3rd Library Unmasked experience.  

All gears, cogs, and frills welcome.  

Thanks for visiting!

Check ya on the flip side.

~erica

Friday Fashion Club- Recycled Runway Preparation

The time has arrived, once again, for us to prepare our design submissions for Recycled Runway Fashion Show, a fundraiser for The ARTS Council of the Southern Finger Lakes.

Tat leading the Fashionistas

Tat Buchholz is the lead instructor for this series again.  Tat's energy and ideas push this group to levels of design usually seen in college courses.  This year will be no different from previous, but we have a smaller group, so everyone will work a little harder.

Aside from preparing our design proposal, teaching techniques to manipulate materials was the main focus of the program.  In order to make a grand impression on the runway, the audience needs to see big, impressive shapes.  The need for volume to each detail is important to make the design memorable.  These techniques the students learn are stepping stones for future project designs.

Amelia helps prepare the Proposal

After each technique was learned, we included it in our proposal page.  The collage of our proposal started exciting the group of girls.  We chose a title for the design- "Glitter Ghost" will be an ethereal existence, garbed in garbage.  Once the title was determined, the girls had visions of shoes, big eyelashes, and motorized thingamajigs....we get dreamy on the design floor.

While the details I provide in the coming months will be limited to techniques, you get a sneak peek at our jacket destination from our inspiration photo.  Lydia learned how to make chains with packaging from Blue Apron.  The volume created from this technique will certainly make our model waif-like.  The goal is for bigger presence than the body provides.  I just can't wait to see how this looks on the catwalk!

This group will meet each fourth Friday, with some dates added for flavor (meaning extra work time).  We have gotten off to a great start, even with less students than previous years. To catch up on recent designs, read up on our impressive entry from 2016.  It WoWed! the audience!!!

2017 Fashion Club Schedule

We meet again to work, work, work, work, work just 6 more times before the big event on June 3.  Check back often to see our progress--at least up-close detailed shots of our progress.  This is really a top secret project until revealed on the catwalk.  Get your ticket and enjoy the fun evening in store.

Until next time...thanks for visiting!

-erica

Recycled Fashion, the final days

Recycled Runway Fashion show is June 4 and we cannot seem to work fast enough. Students were treated to an extra day off of school for Spring Break, which fell on our Fashion Friday Club work day.  This means less helpers were available to finish our creation.  Have no Fear, we will conquer this mission.

An "Inside" View

With staplers, hot glue guns, and yarn in hand, our team of designers understands the pressure of this deadline and works very hard to complete the task.  I bet they will never see water bottles or yarn the same way again.

Organized Chaos

The piles of donated yarn have become integral to this design and will provide color and texture to this creation.  There is a lovely balance of chaos and order, which will please the audience.  Fitting this "organized chaos" onto our petite model will be a minor challenge, but we stare "challenge" in the eyes and charge onward.

There is only one class left, just days before the runway.  The pressure is on to complete and refine before the BIG DAY.  Check back in May for the final sneak peeks before the show.  Better yet- get your ticket to the show.  You will be amazed!

2015 Runway Desgns

Fashion Club...continued

Fashion Club is steadily designing with trash.  This is the second design group from the Southeast Steuben County Library to participate in the annual Recycled Runway Fashion Show, a benefit for The ARTS Council of the Southern Finger Lakes.  Each fourth Friday, from January through May 2016, the group will finalize their juried design to perfection until it is exposed on the catwalk.

Mess o' Materials

The trouble with reporting the fun we're having in the program is the desire to show off our progress, while keeping you all intrigued and interested enough to support every designers' efforts and purchase a ticket to the show.  Remember: the fashion show is a benefit fundraiser for our local ARTS Council.  Although we are training young ladies and gents to think and work creatively, we are also participating in a much larger effort, so please--support our local ARTS scene.

Gimme Your Water Bottles!

The main elements of our design are the clear plastic water bottles used to hydrate our patrons during movies and other programs.  These get recycled every month after Family and Adult movies.  There is a 5 cent deposit on these containers, which makes them more valuable than most trash in our state, but they are so plentiful in supply, we needed to re-purpose them for our design.  

Curly hair?

"The Age of Reason" is the title of our design.  We are going BIG!   Big hair and big dress.  Curls, height volume--we need it ALL!

BIG Hair

There are many directions to go, but teases are the only direction I will take you...until the catwalk. 

Yarn circle elements

Yarn and cardboard circles are the other elements in our design.  Yarn is always donated to the library, so we have an over abundance.  The cardboard circles are also a donation that is scrap from a local production company.

Here we go 'round in circles

It feels like we are working around a Mulberry Bush, 'round and 'round we go.  Strong staples and dedicated hands get this job done.

Bit o' Bottle

These bottles have grown into a tower and the piece is not even complete.  I just love the way these beauties seem to suspend in mid air.

Our designers are having a great time working together toward our goal.  The program series is past the halfway mark and the Fashion Show is just over 2 months away!  

This means I better get working on my own piece.  That's right, I have my own Trashcan Fashion piece in development.  Make sure you get a ticket to the show...I'll look for you in the crowd.

Check back next month for more snippets of our design and remarkable pieces from last year.

Friday Fashion Club

 

We are at it again-- taking our trash and creating fashion forward art!  Fourth Fridays at the Southeast Steuben County Library are dedicated to  Last year we participated in the Recycled Runway Fashion Show, a benefit for The ARTS Council of the Southern Finger Lakes and it was a smashing success!  Here is a recap of last year:  Catch Us on the Runway.

Our design is TOP SECRET, so you will have to purchase your ticket and get a front row seat to the show.  To tease and excite you, here is some bait to whet your appetite.  Enjoy!

Busy Fashion House

Mini Masterpieces

REpurposed Plastic

Layout Sample

Recycled Runway Fashion Show will be held in the auditorium of the Corning Museum of Glass on June 4, 2016.  Check back for sneak peeks at our progress in the coming months, but better yet, come out and support this fantastic fundraiser!

Spirited Away--Happy Birthday Hayao Miyazaki!

Today was our first installment of the "Studio Ghibli Afternoons" program series and it is serendipitous that today is also the director's 75th birthday.  

Happy Birthday Hayao Miyazaki!!!

In this series, we will show a Studio Ghibli film and serve an authentic food from the movie on the first Tuesday of each month through 2016.

Spirited Away is the debut for this series.

Spirited Away on the BIG SCREEN

It seems we have soothsayer foresight in planning this series.  How lucky to start the movie/ food series on the three-quarter-century birthday of the director?

  

I mean--Holy Kasutera!

What's that you ask?  What is Kasutera??  According to Japanese Cooking 101 it "is an old-fashioned Japanese sponge cake that is loved by everyone from the young to the old."  Our Teen Tech guru, Kayla, followed the linked recipe and had it piping hot to serve just in time for me to hit "Play" on the DVD player.

Steaming hot Kasutera!

We sourced some sponge cake from the local grocer, just in case the recipe was not a success, but it being mid-afternoon and our audience is late-teens/ early 20-something adults, barely any food remains with an hour left to the film!-->>>SUCCESS!!!

Along with the yummies, we have 2 door prizes to be won--

A 3-D printed "No Face" character token

or

A felt "No-Face" bean bag

The winners were pleased to have a special treat to take home, but all claimed it was totally not necessary!  Studio Ghibli has it's own following, no treats or tricks needed to bring a captivated audience. 

So I wonder if they would appreciate some "Dried Worm Salts- It's supposed to be good for you."<< a memorable line from the movie, but I am curious who wants to try some Dry Worm Salts???!!!

If Studio Ghibli is your jam, stop over here at SSC Library next month on February 2 at 3:30 for the next film, Kiki's Delivery Service.

Stop in again on March 1 for Howl's Moving Castle.

We'll save a seat for you!

Nerf Party

As summer winds down in the Southern Tier, some very enthusiastic young adults are battling to the finish in our first ever "Nerf Party" hosted by the Southeast Steuben County Library in conjunction with Corning Parks and Recreation Department.

Preparing for the mission

I am apparently too old to appreciate these brightly colored guns and supposedly painless ammunition.  The kids gathered their equipment and selected teams before I even understood how they were going to play.

Grab your gear!

choose wisely

A Parks and Recreation representative set up the Nasser Civic Center Ice Rink (it's ice-free in the summer) and offered the supplies to my group.  Play to "Capture the Flag" immediately commenced. 

The playing field is set.

Players are in position.

The "flag" in set in place.

I remember "Capture the Flag" from middle school, when we learned to play football with the coach.  This is NOT THE GAME I LEARNED.  "Stay in the green lines or else you're out!," I hear them screaming to each other.  There is a determination that slightly frightens my old bones and has me sitting on the sidelines composing this blog.

This means serious business.

Yikes!

How much ammunition DO you need??

My curiosity was tickled by the kids' giggles and slips all over this dusty ice-rink floor.  Unfortunately, curiosity killed the cat....or gets you shot in the neck by a hyper teen.

One of these gun wielders are my assailant!

After a short sting and shock>>>I mean, I'm the lady who set up this program and my teens have shot me>>>I decide it's safest for the 30+ year olds to stick to the side lines.

Luckily, I found some company to keep while I watch from a safe vantage point.

Wisdom to know when to step aside.

Happy August Everyone!  I hope you have a few more fun filled days planned before the yellow school bus' wheels go 'round and 'round!