A Public Service Announcement about Glitter from The Crafty Chica

Secretary's Delight Resin Bracelet How-To Video!

The Naughty Secretary Club Secretary’s Delight Bracelet video is finally done. The video shows me traveling from craft stores to thrift stores and back to Naughty Secretary Club headquarters whipping up a casted resin bracelet. This is a project in The Naughty Secretary Club: The Working Girls Guide to Handmade Jewelry. The back of the book will have all the cute secretary pictures my sister Hope illustrated for you to scan in and make your own bracelet with! There are two other resin projects in the book, but I’ll let those be a surprise.

*NEW* Naughty Secretary Club Resin Bracelet

Stitch on Current TV

The lovely Rachel Youens just debuted the video she did of the 2007 Stitch Fashion Show and Craft Bazaar on Current TV. Rachel is the woman behind Austin Style Watch and was part of our double dutch entertainment at Stitch. The interviews were done at my house so you get like a mini home tour too!

Oh and in case you missed it don't forget to watch The Threadbanger Video of Stitch!

Big time Stitch news!!

So I'm sure all of you have been wondering where the $%^$^&$*&%^* we've been... I know, I know... we've been a bit mum over here. Quite simply Stitch 2007 was awesome and amazing and wiped us out! We just needed a little break. Well, we're back and we're gearing up for our next show. When will that be you ask?? Well, we're changing things up this year...or next year to be more precise. The next Stitch will be held in April of 2009! Maybe it's the dreamy Texas spring, maybe it's exhaustion from 2007... who knows. But we're very excited about this change. We're hoping that with the spring weather on our side this will open up the possibility of an indoor outdoor venue. We also have a ton of other ideas up our sleeves and as our plans get nailed down we'll bring you all of the latest news. Until now, sit tight... we'll be back soon with tons more Stitch news.

Administrative Professionals Week 25% off Sale!

Clothes Swap on Saturday!

Start cleaning out your closets, it is time for a clothes swap! Get rid of things you haven't worn in ages, that skirt that doesn't fit you, or that blouse you just don't like anymore. I betcha someone will fall in love with your unwanted items or will be able to use them in some way. I'd say probably 50% of my current wardrobe was acquired from clothes swapping and I've gotten some real gems over the years. According to the Environmental Protection Agency about 11.8 million TONS of textiles were wasted by Americans in 2006. Clothes swapping is a good way to help the environment by putting those unwanted clothing items back in rotation. If you are interested in recycling and re-fashioning clothes, attending a clothes swap is a good way to start a palette of items to use in your recycling projects. And it is totally FREE! If you would like to participate in the clothes swap, you just need to bring some items to add to the pile. You can then take as much as you want home with you! Here are some guidelines to keep in mind as you spring clean your closet and make your clothing swap pile:

1. Anyone can participate in the swap as long as they bring clothing to add.

2. Please be sure that clothing is clean and wearable (nothing terribly stained, please).

3. NO UNDERGARMENTS!!! Please.

4. Shoes and accessories will be accepted.

5. Any clothing not swapped/ claimed by the end of the event (approx. 1 p.m.) will be taken to a local donation center.

WHAT: Clothes Swap

WHEN: Saturday, April 19th, 9am-1pm

WHERE: First Samples (1101 Music Lane #303)

WHY: Reduce --> Reuse --> Recycle!

First Samples - March Fabric Bazaar

Fabric Bazaar:
Date: Saturday, March 22
Time: 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM for general public 8:00 - 9:00 for Sewing with Style Meetup Members
Where: First Samples sewing class room -120 Academy Dr. #103

Come out to First Sample's monthly fabric bazaar this Saturday. There are new fabrics to choose from including some organic & designer overstocks and sale priced items from last month's bazaar. You won't find fabric like this anywhere else in town. There will also be patterns and lots of cool sewing room items.

First Samples Fabric Bazaar

Fabric Bazaar
The first First Samples Fabric Bazaar will be:
Date: Saturday, February 9th
Time: 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM for general public 8:00 - 9:00 for Sewing with Style Meetup Members
Where: First Samples sewing class room (120 Academy Drive #303)
The First Samples Fabric Bazaar will play matchmaker between local Austin designers who have fabrics to sell and seamsters on the prowl for unique and high quality apparel fabrics. There are so few places in Austin to buy fabric aside from the usual big box craft and sewing stores, and even fewer places that offer unique and fine apparel fabrics. We have a large handful of designers participating in this first event and if it goes well, we will hold this event monthly and bring in more and more consignees-for-a-day. More fabrics, more selection, more fun!

When the Fabric Bazaar is in full swing, we will be able to accept fabric, trim and notion consignment for a day from anyone. For example, right now we have a friend in India who says that she can get the most exquisite silk fabrics for about $.50 per yard but just doesn't have a reason to buy alot of it because she can only sew so much. So... if she does end up buying more than she could use, she can utilize the Fabric Bazaar to share her surplus. She makes money, we get access to exotic fabrics.

Seamsters! Let go of your fabric stashes that stymie you and curtail your fashion progress and update your fabric inventory at the same time. Meetup members! Join us for the first hour of the sale, open only to you from 8-9 a.m., to preview and buy before the general public arrives. We'll greet you with tasty breakfast goodies and plenty of fresh coffee to start your Saturday right.

Craft-o-Rama Super Sale!

Super Sale at Austin's own Craft-o-Rama!

Wednesday, Feb. 6th, 11am-8:30pm
20% off all locally handmade wares and art
30% off the rest of the entire store!

Thursday, Feb. 7th, 11am-8:30pm
20% off all locally handmade wares and art
30% off the rest of the entire store!

Friday, Feb. 8th, 10am-7pm
25% off all locally handmade wares and art
40% off the rest of the entire store!

Locally Handmade Wares includes knitting kits by Vickie Howell, Embroidery Patterns by Sublime Stitching and Charm Bracelet Kits by Naughty Secretary Club!

Happy Birthday Parts and Labour

Stitch Craft Bazaar - Now in moving Pictures!

Lookie here, the stitch fashion show video is all polished up and ready to watch! Thanks Vickie for being such a lovely host, and to you too Cory for mixing it all up and putting it together. Enjoy!

Seibei Reps at my Christmas '07

Sorry for the radio silence, kids, we were all taking a big long nap after all the hard work we did putting together STITCH 2007. Then we were awoken by some dude named Santa and next thing I know, poof, there's all sorts SEIBEI of stuff in my living room... sweet! My husband and brother BOTH got the awesome shirt pictured above. Everyone's stocking was adorned with my favorite seibei pins:"I like to say things and eat stuff" or "Kill as many zombies and vampires as you can" man do i love dry humor.

David from Seibei was at Stitch this year and we couldn't have been happier, I think we all bought one or twelve things from him, and he was sweet as pie to boot. We hope to see him again in '08.