Fashion Friday

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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

DIY Wednesday - Tiffany Bag Class!

So what are you doing this Saturday?

You know you want to make your own bag! I personally can't think of a better way to spend three hours - you get to sit around with other crafty ladies, and make a purse from start to finish.





My most recent bag class is the Tiffany Pattern. She is a sleek shoulder bag with lots of style. This class is appropriate for beginners and advanced students alike.



This Saturday's class is at the Stitching Studio in North Austin. Owner Ann Randall recently moved her diggs to a FABULOUS new location - it is huge, beautifully appointed, and the air conditioning works amazingly well. Click here to register for the class.



Check out my sewing class page to see all available class dates. Don't forget that a sewing class also makes a great gift for the DIY Diva in your life!



xo, Ambie

Maker Monday - The Flashbulb

Maker Monday is Back! When I first started my blog I was blogging a lot more, and had a theme for everyday. Maker Monday is when I feature a fellow artist/crafter that I like.









Today's Maker is Stephanie Friedman of The Flashbulb. I first ran across her work while shopping at PlantEscape Gardens last year. I was in the beginning stages of contemplating doing more artsy/quilty/applique fabric work, and I really liked what I saw.















Stephanie makes fabulous Sewn Art Wall hangings that feature recurring themes of birds and trees with linear accent stitching. They have a really retro mod vibe that I love. We're going to have to talk about a trade so I can hang one of her beauties in my apartment!









After earning a degree in Photojournalism from UT Austin, Stephanie bought a sewing machine and started taking classes. She is a natural art quilter who just took the techniques she learned and went to town! There's a tangible fearlessness in her work that makes it so appealing to artists and non artists alike.

Some of Stephanie's Favorites:

Favorite Piece - Always her latest - shown at left is "Saturday we go to Saturn birds"

Favorite Blogs - Angry Chicken, A Dress a Day, Hello my name is Heather - and many more can be found on her "About me" page

Visit her Etsy Store to see more art!


xo, Anne Marie

Summer Fan Drive - Beat the Heat!

It's officially HOT in Austin! With temperatures at 100 everyday this week - I know I am so grateful that my air conditioning works. Every time I hear it kick in, I am relieved to know I won't be sweltering inside.

Every summer in Austin a local organization hosts a Summer Fan Drive for the elderly and mentally disabled who don't have air conditioning. Can you IMAGINE no A/C?!?

Family Eldercare teams up with KXAN, ME Television, The CW and AMD to help spread the word. As part of my commitment to community philanthropy, I donate 5% of my sales each month to a local charity or non-profit. I am so happy to be able to donate money to purchase a few fans this month.

Over the past few weeks I had the opportunity to do some temporary office work for a local organization that serves the elderly in Central Texas. I talked to lots of people on the phone, many of whom were in desperate need of food or medical care. One lady just about broke my heart with her story.



I count my blessings that I have a wonderful Grandmother who is 92 and still mentally sharp as a pin - and an Uncle who takes care of her full time. The elderly are often invisible to us - especially in our young media saturated generation.

$25 can save the life of someone without A/C - literally. $25 can purchase two fans, and help these members of our community - and us - sleep better. Even if you can only donate $5.00 - please do.



If you know of an elderly person that needs assistance - below is a list of local resources:

• Area Agency on Aging
• Austin Groups for the Elderly (A.G.E.)
  
• Family Eldercare
  
• Meals on Wheels Austin

xo, Anne Marie

Get your CRAFT on

This weekend in Austin there are two fabulous events - one all about crafting - and one all about Austin!

First off, the acclaimed magazine Craft is having a magazine launch party here in Austin! Hosted by Rachel Hobson of Average Jane Crafter and Leslie Bonnell of The Stitch Lab - it's going to be a rockin' event! The cool craft-and-take space The Work*Shop is where it will be, and where I will be!

It's this Sunday, June 1st from 1pm to 4pm. There will be Mini Wallet door prizes from me, Jenny Hart of Sublime Stitching & cookies from Anna Ginsberg of Cookie Madness. In addition to all that coolness, Rachel and Leslie will be helping you make your very own crafts - a surprise project that will be fabulous, I'm sure.

Wanna go? RSVP to Rachel Hobson at averagejanecrafter at gmail dot com, and tell her I sent you.













So what else is going on this weekend? Well Austin's own RARE magazine's last issue featured reader's picks for the best of Austin. To celebrate the magazine is having a huge extravaganza on top of the parking garage at The Monarch. It's one of those fancy new condo towers in downtown Austin.







There will be free food, music, drinks and seriously sweet shopping. I will also be set up demonstrating how to make crafts from paper - most notably - from back issues of RARE! Publisher Matt Swinney has started featuring custom artwork from a new artist in each issue of the magazine. The art is super fabulous, and makes GREAT paper crafts! To purchase tickets, visit their website.





Whew - in addition to all this craziness - it's my Birthday this weekend - and you KNOW I will be celebrating by going to see Sex in the City. Uh huh - busting out my cutest shoes for this event!

xo, Anne Marie

Treasure Tuesday: PlantEscape Gardens

So last year I wrote a blog about how to paint your own pots. I went a little overboard on painting pots and collecting planters - and in my first year of trying to have my own container garden - I now have 23 potted plants! (And most survived through the winter).



The key to keeping my plants alive has been starting with *great plants*! I like to shop locally in anyway I can, so I found a local plant shop in Austin, Texas.



The place? PlantEscape Gardens, 3507 S. 1st Street, Austin, Texas. Owned by mother and son Sandra Diaz and Adam Diaz, the little oasis on South First has a lot of plants in a tiny space.



I run into Sandra every time I stop by. I tell her what I am looking for, and she walks me around the grounds and helps me pick out my plants. She is very knowledgeable and helpful, and definitely earns her dues by working out in the heat so much.



When you finish picking out your plants you get a chance to go inside the nicely chilled shop - they have a small art gallery and feature locally made soaps by So.A.P. (South Austin People!). I have been a fan of their products for several years, as I been a vendor at some of the same shows they do.



If you need help finding just the right plants, soil and fertilizers - I highly recommend PlantEscape Gardens. As summer approaches with high 90s and surely - well over 100s here in Austin, nothing is nicer than having some beautiful green plants to decorate your home or porch.

Keep it green - keep it local!
xo, Anne Marie