Cafe Mundi Art Bazaar!

This Saturday, March 6th, join *annemarie* and dozens of other Austin Artists as we celebrate all that Cafe Mundi has given us in the past several years! From 11am to 5pm you can shop local artisans, jam out to some awesome music, and help raise $$$ for Cafe Mundi to continue its legacy by moving into a new location!

 

Details on my Events Calendar Page!

DIY Wednesday - September Events Recap

Oh how time does fly!  Just two weeks ago I was out for one of the busiest weekends I've had all year.  On Saturday Sept. 19th my friend Amy Barber of Sweettooth Bags, and I, set up during Gruene Market Days in beautiful Gruene, Texas.

This was our first time to do this craft show, and it was a lot of fun!  You can shop the handmade market for everything from soaps and body scrubs by Fleegal Farms, to handmade pottery, wood-inlay jewelry, wooden boxes and bowls, metal art and much much more.











The real highlight of that weekend was the We Make Stuff event produced by Candace Carlisle of Electric Promotions.  The event was a fun evening of crafty-demos by The WonderCraft, an exclusive Handmade Vendor Market, and a Fabulous Fashion Show featuring handbag designs by *annemarie*!
Anne Marie Beard and Candace Carlisle at We Make Stuff.







Gorgeous Model from We Make Stuff Fashion Show



The thing I enjoyed the most about the evening was getting all gussied up in my outfit!  A few weeks ago I attended the debut Fashion Show of local Designer Anslee Connell of Savannah Red.  I fell in love with her dresses, and asked to "dress" me for the event.

We found the PERFECT dress, and I have not felt that sexy in a looooooong time!  My amazing hairpiece was courtesy of Sweettooth Bags, and my unusual one of a kind necklace by Spoilt Victorian Child.  Viva Le Austin Designers!



The sassy pictures above are courtesy of Austin's busiest Photo Booth Man... Trevor Ray Thompson.  Allison and I are proud that he provided the photo booth for our first Shop Austin Event, as he is getting all famous now!

The Fashion Show was photographed by John Pesina, and you can see more of the pictures of that here.

October looks to be a fun filled month on the Austin Craft Scene and Austin Fashion Scene as well... look for details on Handmade Happenings™  by The Lone Star Ladies coming soon!

xo, Anne Marie

Fashion Friday - Curvy is Better!

Back when I was a Costume Design Student at the University of Texas, I toyed with the idea of launching a clothing line for curvy gals. I sketched out designs and everything... but never did it. The purse bug bit me!

I've been hovering in the 12 to 16 size range for about 10 years - and believe me, if anything it helps me get dates! Beauty does come in all shapes and sizes - and I love my super skinny sister as much as my super curvy one - but not everyone is so "curvaceously minded"

That's me at left, rockin' the curves at the Sci-fEye Ball!




Enter Anslee Connell, aka SavannahRed (pictured below). Anslee is an Austin-based designer and photographer on a mission to provide Curvy Ladies with super fabulous clothes!



She is producing her first ever fashion show next week, RetroCurves, a '50s themed debut collection of "curve-friendly apparel [that pulls] our current trend away from unflattering shapes and takes them back to defining the waistline."

Connell hopes that "with my designs, beginning with this collection, a curvy woman may regain the confidence in herself by looking great and feeling wonderful in something that was handmade for her unique body. Hopefully then, she will offer every stranger on the street that beautiful smile she may have been hiding."

Wow. I love this concept! I have been sewing my own clothes since I was about 12, and though I don't make much for myself anymore, I am still a huge fan of custom clothing. Looks like SavannahRed has a bright future ahead! I would highly recommend that you bring any young women in your life to this event - because ALL WOMEN are beautiful - no matter the age, no matter the size... a smile can always light up a room!




***Details***

WHEN: Wed. Sept. 16th, Doors at 7pm, Show at 8pm
WHERE: Space12
3121 E. 12th st., Austin, TX
COST: $7.00 at the door, cash preferred
TREATS: Free Root Beer Floats & Drinks!

xo, Anne Marie
aka - One Curvy Lady!

ps - don't forget to mark your calendars for next weekend's We Make Stuff!

DIY Wednesday - Cover Up!

Today's post was inspired by Austin Crafter and blogger Chastity Gordon. She has a blog/business called Belle and Burger and posts DIY projects and info about her latest crafty creations.



I love the idea of recycling what you already have - and Chastity does a step by step tutorial on how to turn a vintage sheet into a fresh Iron Board Cover! How smart is that?

Make It! Read the full tutorial from Belle and Burger.














Buy It! Don't have the skills or time to make your own? Check out these offerings on Etsy.
















French Riveria Board Cover by Hestiahousworks
















Fruit Basket Ironing Board Cover by CityChicCountryMouse

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Make your Plans now - There are two amazing events next week you do NOT want to miss!


Thursday, September 17th - Retro Curves Fashion Show!

*featuring the designs of Austinite Savannah Red - details on Friday!































Saturday, September 19th - We Make Stuff... art, music, fashion.


Featuring *annemarie*'s handbags on the runway, live music, goody bags, and much more! Details on the blog next week :)

Austin is so hip...

It's just another Thursday night in beautiful Austin, Texas, and my oh my there is so much going on! Why don't you let me guide you through my picks of the evening?



We're gonna roll out from South to North, from Congress to 11th!

First off, make a stop at Birds Barbershop on South Congress as they continue to celebrate being named one of America's top 100 Salons by ELLE magazine!

From 5pm to 8:30pm they will have a cocktail party with special prizes. You only have a few days left to take advantage of their August special - 1/2 off the Ladybird with color.




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Next up join me at Parts & Labour for Dueling Glamazons - An Accessories Trunk Show! Just a few blocks north of Birds' on South Congress! I've teamed up with Leslie Bonnell of the Stitch Lab, and former Costume Designer at Zach Scott, to bring you an evening of Glamour, Sweets, Craft Demos and general fabulousness!

I'll be debuting some fabulous new clutch purses and Art Bags, and Leslie will be rocking your world with new jewelry! While you sip on some complimentary cocktails, enjoy sweet treats from Blue Note Bakery and Pie Fixes Everything... then head to the back of the store to relax with a 5 minute massage by Paul Drown, LMT.

We're also having Amazing Prize Drawings!

When you arrive you will be entered into a free drawing for some incredible prizes such as...

• Theater Tickets! Two tickets to see "The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee" at ZACH and two tickets to see Rude Mechanicals "I've Never Been So Happy" at the Off Center!
  
• Sublime Stitching Embroidery Patterns Goodie Bag!
  
• A gorgeous pair of Milli Starr millinery felt hair clips with Swarovski crystals from designer Laura Del Villaggio!
  
• Six different 1/2 yard cuts stack of Echino Etsuko Furuya Japanese print fabric!
  
• A mini wallet and cosmetic bag from *annemarie*!
  
• Yummy soap from Feto Soap!

OH, and if all of that madness wasn't enough for you, Leslie has wrangled three of her amazing teachers from the Stitch Lab to do craft demos!

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After Party! If you still have any energy left after these two amazing parties, head out to Austin's latest musical event - Souled Out.

Produced by Brandon Badillo of Bemba Entertainment, Souled Out is a bi-monthly Soul and Neo-Soul music series at the Historic and Funk-a-licious Victory Grill.

This week's line up includes an opening set by Tje Austin, followed by headliner Courtney Sanchez and Unified Theory. Cutie-pie DJ Aquaman will keep you in the mood in between sets. $5.00 cover.

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Well - if you don't have a reason to get out tonight - you just must not be alive! Join me for a night out on the town, and wear your best accessory - a fabulous smile!

xo, Anne Marie

Celebrate All things Austin!

This weekend will be the culmination of a year's worth of work and planning. Back in March of 2008, my sister Allison and I decided to start an event production company - The Lone Star Ladies.










I've been making and selling purses around Austin, Texas - and even in Georgia and California, for many years now. I attended and sold my first items at craft shows when I was about... 6. This crafty life is just in my blood!






One of my favorite things about Austin is the huge crafting, design and arts community. There just aren't many places for artisans to showcase their work in the Spring. The Christmas Season is full of shows, but what about Spring? What about shopping for Mother's Day, Father's Day, Birthdays - or just getting yourself some fly new earrings, cosmetic bags or clothes to strut around in the gorgeous weather?



So we started The Lone Star Ladies to promote Austin Artists - and set about creating an event that showcases the best in local craft, art and design. We had an intense juried application process, and hours and hours of planning, promoting and fun!





The result is The Lone Star Ladies Present: Shop Austin! A family-friendly day of shopping, relaxing, and being supportive of the local Austin Community. Spending money where you live is extremely important in our current economy - Austin has always been supportive of it's local businesses - and we hope to extend that support to our local independent artisans.




From the choice of venue - Saengerrunde Hall, built in 1879 in downtown Austin, to the selection of vendors - over 35 of Austin's best, to the wide support of the Austin Community - Rare Austin, The Onion, Greenling, Birds Barbershop & Sublime Stitching, just to name a few - our event encompasses the Spirit of Austin!

Shop Austin will take place this Saturday from 11am to 5pm at Saengerrunde Hall in downtown Austin. Tickets can be purchased in advance for $8.00 or at the door (cash only) for $10.00. Children 12 and under are free.

With your entrance fee you get to attend a fabulous event that includes free mini-facials in our Beauty Lounge, inexpensive Chair Massage - and Austin's most famous cupcakes from hey cupcake! The FIRST 30 Shoppers in line will receive a Goodie Bag stuffed with gift certificates, jewelry, accessories, coupons, swag and amazing items from over 30 local businesses, and worth over $300!

Take some time this weekend to do something fun - and Celebrate all things Austin!

www.TheLoneStarLadies.com

xo, Anne Marie