Stitch Wrap Up!

So it's finally over - the biggest show of my year, Stitch. This year the show was fun as always - lots of shoppers, tons of fabulous vendors from all over the US, and I had a great time.

At left is a (somewhat grainy) picture of me from the Alist! Section of the Austin 360 website. Click here to see a LOT more pictures! Photograph is by David Weaver.





I was super proud of my new banner - I wish I had been able to hang it up higher - but I trust it will be used for many shows to come!









As part of my new display I bought a few pieces of gridwall to hang my bags on. I had a HUGE booth - this is just one of the display sections :)




















Here is a shot of my most popular product - the Mini Wallet! I have sold thousands of these in Austin, and lots of people at Stitch sought me out to find them. I could never have made so many without my fabulous assistant, Kat!














Lastly - a shot of my newest bag style - the Lily - she is curvy and very large indeed!

As always, the show was very well produced and I met a lot of vendors who I will be featuring on my blog in the weeks to come. Right now I am hard at work on getting my Etsy shop open in time for the holidays!

Thanks to everyone who made Stitch such a fabulous success :)

Happy Halloween!

Things got a little spooky around the iTaggit Offices this Halloween.... see our scary pictures in the iTaggit Halloween Gallery of Freaks!!! (or just look at them below!)

What kinds of creepy, crawly things do you have? Post them on iTaggit!

Maker Monday: Ballistic Sweater Girl and Kailo Chic

Ladies night is always fun - and last week I had the pleasure of spending an evening with Wendy Irwin, owner of Ballistic Sweater Girl Designs, and Kara Whitten, owner of Kailo Chic.

These two girls are super fun, laidback and very talented. Today's Maker Profile will feature a little bit about both of them - and can you guess, they will both have a booth at STITCH!

Wendy is the daughter of a custom car upholsterer - what a cool job for Dad to have! She knows all about sewing on tricky materials, and has access to some awesome industrial machines. I am sooo jealous! Her handbags are so amazing - almost all are one of a kind, and she uses materials ranging from vintage auto upholstery and decals, glitter vinyl, and unique found objects. Wendy also makes a fabulous line of wallets for men and women.

Kara comes from the opposite end of the spectrum - she is completely self taught! She started out making a few simple bags, and quickly honed in on her signature style - bold retro inspired fabrics in classic bag shapes. She offers a hobo, a tote, a few

clutch options and wallets. In addition, she makes skirts, printed acrylic jewelry and hair accessories. Check out her new Laptop bag - an exclusive design by Kara for Pacific Design - premiering this Thursday at Parts & Labour in Austin, Texas.

Look for these two fabulous women at STITCH on Saturday, November 10th in Austin, Texas.

Blog by Anne Marie Beard

Sewing with Stilettos!

Did you know that Wednesday night is my favorite night of the week? My assistant, Kat, comes over on Wednesdays to help me work on my bags. She has been great to have around for the past year and a half, and I don't know what I would do without her!

As STITCH approaches, her help is especially important. I love my full time job at iTaggit, and it takes a lot of drive to come home after work and start sewing purses for 4 to 5 hours every night! That's why Wednesdays are so great - I have someone to help me out, chat with and have fun.

Last night Kat brought her roommate for some extra help - as she came in the door I said "welcome to my sweatshop!" I think I am a pretty laid back "boss" - but you'd have to ask them...

I had Kat working on some cosmetic bags last night, and proudly pulled out my new double needle for her to use. I finish off my seams with a double row of stitching - all that drop in lining mess is too much for a cosmetic bag!

Then we ran into a problem - all I have is cone thread. I buy everything SUPER SIZED - thread by the armful, interfacing by the bolt, velcro by the 50 yard bolt, zippers by the dozen - you get the picture. What to do when we didn't have another thread holder for the cone thread?

"We could just use my shoe..." volunteered Kat - and I said, "huh?" "The heel of my shoe - I do it at home all the time!" She pulled out her Stiletto Heel, placed it heel side up on the table - and VIOLA - it worked! She is such a genius, that Kat!

Seeing as how I don't own a pair of stilettos, I never would have thought of this. She finished the cosmetic bags, and her roommate did a superb job ironing on interfacing, and the "sweatshop" closed up at 10:00pm... I can't wait to see what new ideas Kat will have for me next week....

Check out some of the fabulous crafts and jewelry I've made in my iTaggit Collections! And mark your calendar for November 10th - STITCH! I promise to take oodles of pictures of my new bags this weekend!

blog by Anne Marie Beard

***check out my blog for a list of great craft and sewing suppliers if you need to buy in bulk too!***

Treasure Tuesday: Husak Design Fine Jewelry

Many designers don't spend their lives saying, "I am going to design xyz." For the most part, they are creative from an early age, experiment in lots of materials and techniques, and end up discovering their calling along the way.

This is certainly true of Courtney Husak, owner of Husak Design, a line of Fine Jewelry with a focus on Bridal Jewels. Courtney studied Studio Art at the University of Texas at Austin. She embarked on a jewelry line when her sister needed stylish and affordable pieces for her wedding. After apprenticing with an Austin based Jewelry Company, Courtney founded Husak Design.

My personal twist - there is always one, you know! - I went to school with Courtney and her sister, and found out about her Jewelry line from a friend. I have since had the pleasure of doing a few shows with Courtney - and we are teaming up for another fabulous Holiday Shopping event in late November!

Courtney is my featured artist today in the lead up to Stitch - the awesome Indie Design Shopping event and Fashion Show in Austin, Texas on November 10th. There is no way anyone will be able to miss Courntey's booth - her display is always AMAZING, and her smile is so infectious that it will radiate across the entire Convention Center.

One of my favorite pieces of jewelry is this necklace. It has this fabulous hammered metal pendant, and gorgeous white beads very elegantly graded by size. I get lots of compliments when I wear it, and it actually started my obsession with white clothing. I figured that I can wear white now that I am all grown up and don't spill on myself anymore (yeah right, that's what stain remover is for!)

Courtney has ALL KINDS of jewelry - I know her website already looks amazing, but I also know she will have a ton of new stuff at Stitch.

These GiGi earrings are so elegant and bold in this color combination. The stones are Amethyst and Cape Amethyst in a chandelier setting.

Be sure to check out the Husak Design website, and come see us at Stitch on November 10th in Austin, Texas! Check out more of my jewelry collections on iTaggit!

blog by Anne Marie Beard

Maker Monday: The Glam of Glitzkrieg

She is glamorous, luxurious, gorgeous, sexy, and one of the most talented women I know. She is Leslie Bonnell, owner of Glitzkrieg - the Austin, Texas based line of handbags, jewelry and accessories. I first met Leslie in while I was studying Costume Design at the University of Texas at Austin. I had just landed my first professional design gig with Zachary Scott Theatre, and she was the Costume Shop manager.

Leslie has worked as a Costume Designer, Milliner, Jewelry Designer, and Chantuese for over two decades. She has won many awards for her designs, and her knowledge of design and construction techniques just blows me away. A few years ago, Leslie left her full time Costume Shop Manager role, and started her own business.

She now teaches sewing, jewelry and design element classes in her studio in Austin, Texas. I have had the pleasure of watching Leslie grow into an even more fabulous artist - and participating in shows where we both had booths. Having her right across the aisle from me makes me nervous every year - and makes me want to step up my game and make the coolest stuff I can! The fact that she has purchased some of my handbags is one the best compliments I've received.

This year, Leslie will be joining the fabulous line up of designers at STITCH - an indie fashion show and designer craft fair on November 10th. I can't wait to see all the new stuff she has been working on. These earrings are right up my alley - big, bold, and a fabulous mixture of materials. I think it's czech glass and vintage beads mixed together.

This glamorous purse features one of Leslie's signature handmade silk flowers as the main design element. She makes tons of these flowers as pins that can adorn anything you own!

I hear that Leslie has been taking silk screening classes, and she has some great pictures of new bags featuring her own designs, hand screened onto fabric. See more pictures of her work on Flickr.

Leslie is really a master of her craft - and her background in Costume Design really shows in her work. Who else do you know that can create clothing from any time period from her own pattern, design jewelry, make handbags, teach classes, AND sing? If you're in Austin - be sure to check out her class schedule, and I will see you at STITCH on November 10th!

Fashion Friday: Men's Clothing by Rural Rooster

Rural Rooster Clothing is an independent design label based in Austin, Texas and owned by J.J. Campbell. I found out about him a few years ago when I was looking for a designer to create custom t-shirts for my family. Working with J.J. on this project was a pleasure - he was professional and his design ideas were right on target.

J.J. is also a very talented graphic and web designer. Today I want to focus on his men's fashion. In just a few weeks - STITCH will take over downtown Austin for one day...it's a huge shopping event featuring independent designers and is capped off with a fashion show. Men's fashion is not the majority of the work for sale - but J.J. represents some of the best that will be there!

This "Guitar Angel" shirt features an intricate design and an asymmetrical placement on crisp white dress shirt. Here in Austin a plain white shirt just won't do. For the fashion forward guy, you need something like this! It's very hip and masculine at the same time.

J.J. studied Studio Art at the University of Texas at Austin (GO HORNS!), and "believes that studying and responding to the world around
you is necessary to create innovative art and communication.

This "Albatross" Dress Jacket is sure to make a statement. Men look good in jackets - they really do - and I know I would be impressed with a man who left such a lasting impression as he walked away. The graphics put a fresh twist on a classic piece of clothing - and the birds remind me of a traditional crest.

If you need a fresh look for fall, check out J.J.'s website, and get yourself a shirt! In Austin? Come to STITCH on Saturday, November 10th, and bring lots of shopping money!

blog by Anne Marie Beard