Behind the Scene Designer Series: Artist 4 – Paula Bullwinkel
When Paula Bullwinkel, our 4th Behind the Scene Designer, isn’t designing couture trash fashion, she works as an artist and art instructor at COCC. I’m always blown away by the strong lines that flow through Paula’s designs. She get’s the human form, and from this, transforms the materials into an extension of the wearer. Here’s a peak into Paula’s process of transforming trash and inspiring community for a more sustainable earth.
(link to 1st of the series) (link to 2nd of the series) (link to 3rd of the series)
Artist 4 – Paula Bullwinkel
RR: How did you get started as a trash fashion designer?
PB: I found extra stuff around my house and I like to imagine something new out of something old or mundane.
RR: What inspires your creations?
PB: I’m inspired by Japanese couture from 1980’s and 1990’s, and 1950’s party dresses.
RR: What is one thing you want to say to all the aspiring young designers?
PB: Art can be wearable.
RR: What is your current goal as a Trash Fashion Designer?
PB: I would like to find some really unusual materials in a junk or thrift shop to make something nobody has seen before. I would like to construct something huge and gorgeous.
There’s no question in my mind that Paula Bullwinkel will “construct something huge and gorgeous” for this year’s Rubbish Renewed Eco Fashion Show. Come out and get a glimpse on Thursday, January 15th.
Tickets on sale December 15th. Purchase online at rubbishrenewed.com through eventbrite, at REALMS Charter School in Bend (63175 OB Riley Road), or at Wabi Sabi (downtown Bend / 830 NW Wall St).
Refuse Remover ReStore Re-opening
Even with their move imminent and planning their GRAND RE-OPENING, Restore jumped on board as one of our headline sponsors for the Rubbish Renewed Eco-Fashion Show for their 5th year in a row. This like-minded, community organization has shown unwavering support for our mission of transforming trash and inspiring community for a more sustainable earth!
This week marks the ReStore GRAND RE-OPENING! The celebration includes: a Habitat Style “ribbon cutting;” enter for the grand drawing once a day; live piano music on a grand piano that’s for sale; liv-mic radio broadcast; plus the Doors to the Future Art Show & Fundraiser. Each day from December 9th to 13th honors a different aspect of our community. Come shop for used and surplus home improvement supplies, or donate yours, and celebrate the GRAND RE-OPENING of ReStore! All proceeds benefit Bend Area Habitat for Humanity, providing home ownership, home repair & weatherization services for hard working low income local families and individuals in Bend and Crook County.
“What one action can I take to lower my impact on the planet?”
First Friday, Community Garment Creation
44,000
The number of miles of new ribbon (more than enough to wrap around the planet – and tie a decorative bow, of course) that shoppers wouldn’t have to buy if every family in the country reused just two feet of trimmings from previous years. To keep the ribbon of Christmases past from getting creased, wrap them around a paper towel tube and secure with masking tape.
The Rubbish Renewed Community Garment offers a place to take a personal step towards walking more lightly on the planet. What will you do to generate less waste? Consume less? Ask yourself, “What one action can I take to lower my impact on the planet?” Make a pledge. Start today.
You can help create the 2014/15 Community Garment at the Rubbish Renewed table at December’s First Friday (December 5th) at Hot Box Betty, (903 NW Wall St). Write your pledge for action directly on the tin can lids. Your pledge along with all the pledges collected in Bend will be featured prominently on the 2014 Community Garment at the January 15th Rubbish Renewed Eco Fashion Show at The Bend Armory. Rubbish Renewed Community Garment 2014/5 By the Bend Community That’s YOU!

2013/14 Community Garment
Materials: Bicycle Tubes, Minty Blaster holes (a manufacturing by-product)
At First Friday also witness the first Rubbish Renewed past trash fashion live wax museum. Learn how some artists are inspired to lessen their waste by reconsidering the value of trash and transforming rubbish into wearable art.
Ticket Information
Ticket Information for the upcoming Rubbish Renewed Eco Fashion Show has been added to the website
TICKETS ON SALE:
Monday, December 15th
$20 Adults / $10 Students
1st Show at 6pm (doors at 5pm) – all ages
2nd Show at 8:30pm (doors at 7:30) – 21+
Purchase online through Eventbrite (eventbrite.com), at REALMS Charter School in Bend (63175 OB Riley Road), or at Wabi Sabi (downtown Bend / 830 NW Wall St)
Behind the Scene Designer Series: Artist 3 – N Spekktor
Our third artist in the Behind the Scene Designer Series, N Spekktor, has participated in Rubbish Renewed every year since 2010. N Spekktor is one of the few Rubbish Renewed artists who works as a fashion designer, in real life, outside of her passion for trash fashion. Each year she’s produced a spectacular piece for our 21 and older show. Last year N Spekktor generously donated her piece, Bags to Ballroom, for our live auction. We can’t wait to see what N Spekktor has in store for this year’s event that is transforming trash and inspiring community for a more sustainable earth.
(link to 1st post of the series) (link to 2nd post of the series)
Artist 3 – N Spekktor
RR: What do you do in real life when you’re not designing and creating trash fashion?
N Spekktor: I’m a Fashion/Graphic Designer, Event Coordinator, and Co-Producer of Beat Lab 92.9 FM. Over the past year I have traveled throughout the west coast showcasing my first ever swimsuit line and taking on collaborative projects with other designers such as Burning Artist Collective in Reno, NV.
RR: What hooked you on our Rubbish Renewed Eco Fashion Show event?
N Spekktor: I heard about this wonderful show from a friend and loved the cause. Not only do I get to play a part in Eco Fashion, but I get to support an amazing school.
RR: What inspires your creations?
N Spekktor: Each year I have created a different look using a variety of materials. This year I will be collaborating with a local business to create something that has never been on the Rubbish Renewed Runway.
RR: What is one thing you want to say to all the aspiring young designers?
N Spekktor: No matter how much they bully you or try to hold you back, please remember only you know what you are truly capable of. Don’t ever let anyone stop you. I did it and so can you.
The 5th annual Rubbish Renewed Eco Fashion Show welcomes N Spekktor into the Business Challenge competition as the designer for Stringsoil garment this season! Thanks N Spekktor for your dedication to sustainability through your creative fashion vision. We can’t wait to see what you pull out of the midden.
Student Designers at the heart of Rubbish Renewed – Gallery Posted

Designer: Ashlie Jackson
Materials: vhs tape & discarded cash register tape cores
Quote: “Through the many challenges of the design process I have learned perseverance.”
Rubbish Renewed started as a brainchild of two REALMS teachers. It makes sense then, that student designers are the heart of this event. For these young designers, Rubbish Renewed starts months before the show. It’s a time of creativity, determination and grit. The Rubbish Renewed tagline declares: transforming trash and inspiring community for a more sustainable earth, so inspiring students to rethink waste and learn life skills like perseverance is the perfect indicator of success for Rubbish Renewed. Here are a few quotes from last year’s talented student designers:
“I learned that trash is never gone, but with some creativity we can make magic happen!” Olivia Rose Barnes
“I really had to think outside the box, because finding useful trash materials is harder than using store bought materials.” Jessica Browning
“I learned that it is harder to make a dress for a person then for a doll.” Lilah Beck
“Inspiration can be found in almost anything, and once you find it anything can become something beautiful.” Soleil Haskell
“Through the many challenges of the design process I have learned perseverance.” Ashlie Jackson
“Creating is like a house of cards. It might fall down at first, but then you rethink it a second time.” Sydney Scott
“Through constructing my garment I learned that to create something you find beautiful you must mind meld with those who see its potential.” Isabella Robles
“Trash fashion can be just as cute as store bought clothes, plus it saves our planet.” Joanna Browning
“Turning garbage into fashion is like a bud turning into a rose, it may look like nothing at first, but it will blossom into something beautiful.” Denali Heinlen
Check out the new Runway 2014 Student Designer gallery posted today! Runway photos by Tambi Lane Photography.
2 Weeks Until Runway Submission Deadline

Artist sketch by designer Allison Murphy of the dress she designed for Tambi Lane Photography Studio as part of the 2014 Business Challenge
Behind the Scene Designer Series: Artist 2 – Sara Wiener & Karlin Hedin
For our second artist, in our Behind the Scene Designer Series, we have the design team from Sara Bella Upcycled: Sara Wiener & Karlin Hedin. Sara Bella Upcycled has been a supporter of Rubbish Renewed since our inception when Sara donated bags for under the seat prizes. Each year Sara Bella Upcycled has participated as a Marketplace Vendor, Adult Designer or Business Challenge Designer. We love having this creative team transforming trash, inspiring community for a sustainable earth.
(link to 1st post of the series)
Artist 2 – Sara Wiener & Karlin Hedin
RR: What do you do in real life when you’re not designing and creating trash fashion?
SB: Mom, ski, workout, run Sara Bella Upcycled
RR: How did you get started as a trash fashion designer?
SB: I opened Sara Bella Upcycled and decided to make wearable pieces out of plastic bags.
RR: What inspires your creations?
SB: Various types of everyday clothing and event specific clothing, such as a wedding dresses, raincoats, chaps, vests, strapless dresses and boustiers, inspire me. Karlin and I collaborate on our designs. I design the fabric and she sews the garment. We work as a team on all of our creations at Sara Bella Upcycled and we love what we do.
RR: What is your current goal as a Trash Fashion Designer?
SB: My hope is to get enough plastic wrap from the SHE (Sustainable Health Enterprises) menstrual pads packaging to make a fashion piece out of. This would be a special way of acknowledging the amazing work SHE does in Rwanda for girls and women and to acknowledge my daughter’s (Bella) work to raise $50-60 thousand dollars for SHE through the Kilimanjaro SHE Climb in June of 2015.
This year Bend’s Makers District is one of three headline sponsors for Rubbish Renewed Eco Fashion Show. The Makers District, located on First and Second streets between Greenwood and Olney avenues, is a collection of local companies in a semi-industrial but accessible city neighborhood. Sara Bella Upcycled is part of this inspired District.
Follow the links below for two other inspired trash fashion pieces created by Sara Bella Upcycled for Rubbish Renewed Eco Fashion Show. 2011, 2010














