My entry for Etsy.com's Upcycling contest, which won 3rd place out of over 1000 entries. Etsy bought the outfit and it now resides at the Etsy Labs in Brooklyn

Skirt, bustier, and flower choker made from recycled FEMA-issue blue tarp which was found discarded on the streets of New Orleans last spring.

I was inspired to recreate something similar to what I made last year for a charity auction here in New Orleans that benefited the America's Wetlands organization.

The charity auction was a fashion show...the only rule was that all of the outfits had to be created using blue tarp as the primary material. The outfit I made for the auction ended up making the front page of the Living section in the local paper that week.

The story in the newspaper prompted a request from two friends for me to make a couple of simple dresses out of blue tarp for them to wear on Mardi Gras day. One of the friends had found a big pile of discarded FEMA-issue blue tarp on the side of the road. I made them two dresses and two small purses out of the blue tarp she brought me, and I still had a ton of it left over. I've been holding on to the leftovers ever since, trying to find things to make out of it.

The entire outfit is made out of blue tarp and also features red zig-zag contrast stitching, red functional buttons, lace-up ribbon closure on bustier, and a blue tarp fleur-de-lis applique.

Super cute one-of-a-kind neckwarmer made from recycled blue denim and burgundy, pink, yellow, orange, black and lavender Southwestern-themed polar fleece. Features handmade jumble flower made from denim and polar fleece, which includes burgundy, purple, orange and yellow handsewn buttons at center. Snap closure. These neckwarmers are sooo warm and cozy! I made one similar to this for myself to keep and I love it on cold days. Flower is approximately 5 x 5 inches (12.5 x 12.5 cm) Neckband is approximately 24 x 5 inches (61 x 12.5 cm)

These recycled Calvin Klein jeans have been given a new life and revamped into a one-of-a-kind piece of clothing. This reconstructed denim skirt features a fleur-de-lis applique (the symbol of New Orleans). The applique is made from recycled coral-colored textured silk.

One-of-a-kind recycled colorful stripes ribbon and denim flower choker. Features handmade jumble flower made from graffiti denim and shiny fuschia stretch fabric. Flower includes four handsewn buttons at center. Snap closure.