New Bags: Tiny Trash = Creative Juice

What is it about small bits of fabric and yarn and beads that make a crafty queen's heart go thump?

There is just this insatiable pull towards using someone ELSE'S cast offs that excites me (and many others) to the core!



My mom has a group of ladies that she sews with, and they love to give her little scraps of fabric. They all share little scraps, but my mom is typically the one who actually does something with them.



So a few weeks ago she got a bunch of scraps of vintage fabric from one of her dear friends, Maxine. Like a true crazy crafter, she took them home and immediately made 40 crazy quilt pieced basket blocks. FORTY in just a few hours.



She also made me an adorable wall hanging decked out with vintage buttons sashed in a gorgeous brown linen. So I wanted to see all the other blocks she made, and I started drooling. I asked if I could have a few - and the generous lady that my Mom is, she gave me almost all of them!



Back to the beginning - this circle of small bits of trash = love. I took her blocks and made some bags. I have been playing with Yarn applique on bags lately, and trying to "free craft" - make bags without a plan. Just make and design as you go.



I am pretty pleased with the result! But the best part is the history behind the bags. The lucky lady who gets one will have the result of many generations and families of women hanging from her arm. Maxine's stash included fabrics from HER mother's stash; fabrics saved from dresses, quilts, aprons and all kinds of crafts. Two families, four generations, tiny bits of fabric = love, art, craft - the true beauty behind sewing.

xo, Ambie
Etsy
AnneMarieBeard
TheBeardedLadiesPresent

Anne Marie is Teaching Bag Making Classes!!!

For years now, people have been asking me if I teach sewing classes, and the answer has always been no. Starting next month, the answer is YES!

Last fall I decided that I wanted to release a line of sewing patterns. Designing bags is my favorite thing to do, and to date I have over 90 original patterns under my belt.

I can't think of a better way to share my love of making bags than by teaching others how to make them. Each month I will release a new pattern and accompanying class. The patterns will be "homegrown" until I can get all that fancy software to publish them like a rock star.





My first pattern is my Erin Hobo Bag. I developed this pattern a few years ago, and have made and sold hundreds of them. Almost all commercial patterns with a zipper closure instruct you to attach the lining by hand sewing - "yeah, right!" - is what I said to that! I based the zipper technique off of a pattern I found from 1945, and modified the shape and construction to be a modern bag.


Look for my classes in May at the following locations:



Located in South Austin, The Stitch Lab is owned by Austin's own Leslie Bonnell. You may remember that I blogged about the fab Miss B back in October - click here to read that post...

Class Dates (click to register)

Saturday, May 3rd
Tuesday, May 6th





The Stitching Studio in North Austin is owned by my good friend Ann Randall. A few years back, Ann responded to a post I made about needing an assistant. She faithfully worked for me for one year, and blew me away with her awesome attitude and fast sewing abilities. One day she announced her desire to quit her job and open her own Sewing Studio - and I couldn't have been happier!

Ann has been a key player in making my pattern and teaching dreams come true - she lets me experiment teach on her friends!!!

Class Dates (click to register)

Tuesday, May 13th
Saturday, May 24th

...and don't forget to check out the new goodies in my etsy shop!

DIY Wednesday: Makin' my own Luggage!

I recently got accepted to participate in a neat shopping event called Appel & Frank. They do shows in California - and this is their first one in San Diego. Lucky lucky me, my sister lives there, so I have a free place to stay!

So, I have recently invested quite a bit of dough in new, pretty, fancy display equipment! I have gridwall, waterfall arms and now shelving for the gridwall too. I decided to make my own travel case for this equipment, as show season is about to kick off!

The plans so far are to make a big envelope style bag, with foam sheets laid in as padding. Here is the GENIUS part of it - I bought a collapsible dolly, and it will go in the bag on the plane, then come out and become the bag's own method of transport! Lots of sewing of webbing, velcro and hooks tonight folks - you'll see the results soon!

As a special treat, folks I want to share one of my best wholesale resources - Ralston Cunningham (425) 455-0316 - they sell webbing and hook and loop tape ("velcro") VERY inexpensively. Super nice sales guys too - I've been using them for 6 years. They don't have a website - so just call them up and ask for samples!

Anne Marie Beard

Thrift Thursday: That Tablecloth Becomes You!

The other night I was smiling over a new bag pattern I had created, and immediately started to tear into my stash to find new fabric combinations. When you've been designing handbags and collecting vintage fabric for a little over 5 years - your stash just seems to grow and grow - in fact, I always claim that my fabric has babies while I'm out.

Looking through tub after tub of fabric, I smile as I remember the shopping adventure that led to each purchase. My fabric is like a solid group of friends - and making it into bags to be enjoyed by lovely ladies is a really neat way to share my love of textiles!



Today's Thrift Store Score focuses on a HUGE 1970s tablecloth I purchased a few years ago. I remember my heart pounding as I spotted the fabric - a bulky pile amidst the fabric bins. The bright army/olive green shouted at me - Anne Marie! Do you see me? Come and look - unfold me - I am HUGE and you can make dozens of bags out of me!

The tablecloth was a large oval shape, and the fabric a nice plain weave cotton - kind of nubby and woven with thick yarn. The edge of the tablecloth was decorated with quite possibly the ugliest trim I've ever seen, and that HAD to go.



I have been making a few bags out of the fabric each year - trying to extend the life of the tablecloth as long as possible. I find it satisfying to make many different styles of bags out of the same fabric - it brings out new sides of the fabric's character. I have often admired designers like my friend CHIA, who can cut an entire piece of vintage fabric at once, and then be done with it.

I tend to hold onto them like bestest friends - we're not through with each other until every kind of bag possible has been created from it. This style is my hugely popular Wendy Zipper Tote. It's big and roomy but very lightweight - and it holds a LOT. Check it out in my etsy store - and stay tuned for more thrifting, crafting and sewing adventures.

Anne Marie Beard