Runway Monday: An Unconventional Coney Island (PR 12:3)

On the most recent episode of Lifetime’s Project Runway, the designers were taken to Coney Island. First they had to go around with vendor carts, giving samples of Yoplait Frozen Yogurt to the crowd on the boardwalk. The Yoplait taste testers then gave them words describing the frozen yogurt they’d eaten.

After I flew to Coney Island I asked Tom to buy himself some frozen yogurt on one of his trips to the grocery store. It was a big sacrifice for him, but nothing’s too challenging for fashion, right? Here’s the flavor he picked:

A delicious spoonful:

Like the designers, I could choose only three of the descriptive words I was given: “sweet, light, and pink.”

The next step of the challenge involved the designers playing carnival games at Coney Island to win prizes. Guess what I won? NOTHING. I wasn’t at Coney Island, you crazy people. I did, however, manage to procure similar prizes at a local business.


A pink dolphin and a toy cheerleader’s megaphone and pompons.

These prizes had to be deconstructed for yet another unconventional materials challenge, and here’s the look I created as modeled by Ellison.


Showing a little shoe in the second photo. Thanks, Mattel.

Don’t worry about modesty: along with the skirt and asymmetrical top, Ellison is wearing a pair of fluffy bloomers.

Sometime in the dead of night after I finished my look, a design elf infiltrated my workroom. Apparently someone’s (cough–Tom–cough) frozen yogurt experience inspired him to go into the model selection room, grab Lacy, and put her in this look.

I don’t think this design can be considered competition because he failed to use either the Mattel or Belk accessory wall wisely. If the first episode of this season taught us anything, it’s that the judges don’t like seeing models walk the runway without shoes.

My shoe-adorned models and I will see you next time on the runway, where hopefully I’ll create something in a color that’s not pink!

Previous episodes this season:

Episode 12:2 Million Dollar Runway
Episode 12:1: Sky’s The Limit

Photo Friday, No. 354

Current Photo Friday theme: Scenic Wonder


On our recent trip, our timing was damn near perfect as we crossed the Blackwater River in Mississippi and I was able to get this shot of the moon as the sun was setting. Of course, all I could think about was the Doobie Brothers lyric: “Old black water, keep on rolling, Mississippi moon, won’t you keep on shining on me…”

I love the moon and I love the natural beauty of my mother’s home state.

(Click here to view larger version on black background.)

Runway Monday: Million Dollar Runway (PR 12:2)

On the most recent episode of Lifetime’s Project Runway, the designers were asked to create looks inspired by more than 30 million dollars of precious jewels. I guess the armored truck couldn’t find The Compound, so I had to depend on High Fashion to provide my precious jewels along with my fabric. This look’s model is Dallas, who came from Mattel with earrings that inspired the jewelry I created for her.

A choker with two strands of “diamonds.”

Since the jewelry is relatively simple, I decided to keep the design simple and choose a busier fabric. Here’s a detail of the hemline. You can see her gold slipper peeking out, too.

And here’s a full view of Dallas’s look:


Hope you’ve enjoyed this week’s design. See you next time on the runway!

Previous Episodes:

Episode 12:1: Sky’s The Limit

Runway Monday: Sky’s the Limit (PR 12:1)


Lifetime’s Project Runway is back for their twelfth season, and though I wasn’t sure whether I would participate again, I found the lure was too great to resist. On the debut episode, skydivers arrived with the fabric the designers would be using for their unconventional materials challenge: colorful parachutes!


Tim Gunn parachuted into The Compound so I could have fabric.

I kid.

Fortunately, I was able to find ripstop nylon at High Fashion, and with Gail as my model, here’s the look I created. I’m not sure if you’ll be able to see it in these photos, but the fabric does have a faint design of squares.


Shoes and styling by Mattel, of course.


Hope you’ve enjoyed this week’s look. See you next time on the runway!