Fabric Junkie? Shop at Thread-Bare, the DIY Thrift Store!

Oh oh oh - there is nothing I love more than vintage fabric - and cheap vintage fabric is even better.

Ann Randall, owner of The Stitching Studio and co-creator of The Charity Craft Volunteer Network, recently opened Thread-Bare in her North Austin Studio.

I got a sneak peek last month when I went up for a Ladies' Night Out Sewing Extravaganza! Ann opens up The Stitching Studio for ladies and provides soup & salad - for only $10.00 you get to craft and sew in a gorgeously appointed space and have fun with like-minded ladies.

Well, the front of the studio is now a Thrift Store! There are bundles of fabric for ridiculously cheap - about $1.00 a yard, vintage buttons, fabric stamping supplies, holiday decorations - just all kinds of craft goodness!




I walked out with two trash bags full of awesome fabric - and made some cool purses out of it already! The best part is that all the proceeds go to support The Charity Craft Volunteer Network - an organization that "provides comfort to those in need through gifts of handcrafted items."



So not only do you get to shop at amazing prices, you get to support a great cause - and check out one of Austin's nicest sewing studios - who knows - maybe you will be inspired to take a class!

xo,
Anne Marie

*annemarie* launches Eco Chic Home Decor Line!

That's right, folks. Starting this week, my new line of Eco Chic Home Decor is available online. I am calling the line Eco Chic, and putting a spin on my tagline to be "Style for the Home."

Since 2002 I have been making bags out of vintage and recycled fabric. I just LOVE to use old fabric and give it a new life.






I recently decided to get rid of all paper napkins in my house, and use cloth ones instead. They feel so much better, and I can use them over and over again.

Now, you can replace all of your paper napkins with cloth ones too! They are sold in sets of four, and are reversible! Did I mention that they're made out of vintage fabric?




In addition to the napkins, I make coaster sets. The fabric coaster sets are cushy and absorbent - sure, the tile ones are cute, but they just leave pools of liquid lying around.

These sets of napkins and coasters are very limited edition - check back soon for more colors! Looking for a great Mother's Day Gift? How about some napkins!

xo,
Anne Marie

Thrift Thursday: Velvet Tulips, Anyone?

I have got myself on a little schedule this year - I am posting at least one blog a week and posting new bags for sale on Etsy every Tuesday and Thursday. I am so bad at keeping to a schedule of any kind, so the fact that this is week three of the schedule is amazing!

As a child, I spent lots of time at my Grandparents' house. They had the biggest backyard ever! There was a covered porch, a cool paisley shaped pool and a sloping yard that went on forever and ended in flower beds. It was odd to swim right by banana and peach trees in Texas! I am talking about their yard because my Grandfather was a great gardener - especially handy with those tricky bulbed flowers like tulips.






Today's Thrift Item is a lovely 60s or 70s short nap velvet print that features - TULIPS! I just love large, crazy fabric prints - especially florals. I've got pics of two bags I made out of it. Looking at this fabric reminds me of Pop (aka George Louis Boswell) in the yard with his jumpsuit on and working on his flowers. He worked in the yard until he was 92 - with horrible arthritis and all. I hope I will still be sewing at 92 and just growling through the pain of arthritis - eff stopping what you love because of aging!

A bit sentimental today :)

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