One year-old Maury Lane enjoys her sister Maya Boone, 12, modeling a dress created by artist Margaret Hatcher, last December. (Photo by Kent Porter)

Sonoma artist Margaret Hatcher designs costumes from unusual materials, like old shopping bags.

It’s a choice. She’s into recycling.

So when word gets out that she’s involved in putting on a “Trashion” show, that’s of interest.  And she’s looking for other designers who want to get in on the act.

In conjunction with the Sonoma Valley Museum of Art and its forthcoming exhibit, “Eco Chic: Towards Sustainable Swedish Fashion,” running Feb. 19-May 15, the Sonoma Community Center is sponsoring a “Trashion Fashion Show and Accessory Exhibit.”

“The fashion show and accessory exhibit will begin at 5 p.m. on April 2 at the Sonoma Community Center. The fashion show is a one-time event with fashions on models  on a runway,” Thatcher explained.

“The accessory exhibit features smaller accessories — jewelry, hats, etc. — and will be in the Sonoma Community Center’s Gallery 212 through April 23. Gallery hours are 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday.”

Artists over age 16 who live in California are eligible to participate. The deadline for submissions is Feb. 18.

So why not dive into the dumpster and see if you can come up with haute couture?

Download an application at www.sonomacommuntiycenter.org.  They also are  available at the Sonoma Community Center, 276 E. Napa St.,  Sonoma. For more information: (707) 938-4626, ext. 3, or cc-margaret@vom.com

For more information about the Sonoma Community Center, call the registrar at (707) 938-4626, ext. 1; e-mail to scc@vom.com, or visit www.sonomacommuntiycenter.org.