Elizabeth Mini
"Carmenale in Rio"
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| (Photos by Patrick Fraser) |
My shoes are always tapping to a Tropical beat. Interpreting Carmen Miranda, her flair of color, costume, and Samba dancing, reminded me of my childhood home bordered by the Caribbean Sea in Honduras, C.A.
After finding shoes that Carmen might have worn, I made pattern pieces for inside and outside the shoes. Using twelve different fabrics I covered the shoes. I made 237 yoyos for the two shoes. Samples were constructed to mimic flowers. Glass beads and a purple necklace found at the Salvation Army provide a finished look. Lastly, neon glitter was sprinkled over the shoes for a festive appeal. A clear protective sealer was applied all over the shoes to retain the glitter.
The Carmen Miranda postage stamp from the United States Postal Service was just what I needed to finish the inside of the shoe. Samba, let's party in Rio.