I recently acquired new craft supplies in the form of yarn and fabric. I found some beautiful fabric, including laminated fabric (similar to oil cloth but thinner), from The Stitch Lab on So. Congress. I made darling daughter a re-usable lunchbag, lined with the laminated fabric and closable with a velcro tab. If you look closely, the fabric got caught in my feed dogs on the lower right. It's a reusable lunchbag, I am not worried enough about it to rip it out and risk tearing this fabric. Apparently there are tricks to sewing with laminated fabric and oil cloth that I am unaware of. There is a book out there that has some reportedly great techniques for sewing with this type of fabric. The author's bio is quite interesting:
Kelly McCants is the go-to girl for working with oilcloth. Known online as both Oilcloth Addict and Modern June, Kelly stays busy running her blogs and operating her online stores where she sells handmade housewares, accessories and oilcloth yardage.

Kelly has been sewing and making patterns since she was a teenager. After a career in costuming for films and theater, Kelly opened up Modern June in 2005. Kelly put her BFA in costuming to work by redesigning her favorite vintage aprons for the modern woman. Kelly quickly discovered oilcloth and created a line of housewares and accessories with the slick stuff. Kelly and her Junies make the handmade housewares for Modern June in Richmond, VA.

Kelly McCants, believes that there is still a bit of a 1950's housewife in all of us, even if we have left the days of June Cleaver behind--we all want a comfy place to call home. After all, our homes are where we make our memories, and it's where life's celebrations begin. Her Modern June goodies, Oilcloth Addict tutorials, and her new book "Sewing with Oilcloth," are all meant to help you create a bright and happy home that's easy to care for. Oilcloth, laminated cotton and chalk cloth items are her specialty, but helping you to make special memories is her goal.

If you have experience with this type of sewing, leave a comment. I would love to hear your experience, good and bad. I hope to conquer this fabric as it is beautiful and so practical.

Now, off to my next adventure! Pictures to follow, in about two weeks;P

Craft On!

Drop by 608 E. 3rd Street Austin, TX on Sunday, August 7 · 11:00am - 5:00pm for the Studio Downtown Trunk Show & Courtyard Event. You will get a chance to check out the great letter press of Austin Craft Riot team member Inviting, you can also see Feto Soap and make your own soap on location.

The Burnet Road Farmer Market, at 6701 Burnet Road Market, is doing something that we really love, providing a consistent space for local business to meet and sell to their neighbors. You can find fresh produce, dairy, and meet the people who who own the farms. On Saturday July 30th you will also get to meet Inviting and check out some of her impeccable letter press. Please stop by to shop local, and support your neighbors.

Tribe Comics, at 2919 Manchaca Rd, Suite 102Austin, TX 78704, will be hosting the Summer 2011 Indie Comic Book and Art Show from 6:00pm-9:00pm. As you might expect there will spectacular graphics work from Austin Craft Riot member Robo Roku, great art from Jenny Hearts Art, and fun comic art from Crab Apple Designs. Join some of Austin’s finest independent comic book creators and visual artists for a one-night exhibition and sale.

Have you been to Austin Flea at the Highball yet? Well why not? The Highball, at 1142 S Lamar Blvd Austin, TX 78704, has cool dripping down the walls with plush banquets, bowling lanes, a bar, and private rooms for karaoke. Not to mention you can grab a good meal, and hear tunes from some of the best musicians Austin has to offer. The icing will be put on the cake on Saturday July 23rd from 11:00 am- 5:00 pm when you will have the chance to check out some amazing Austin Craft Riot artists in the AC, if the ambiance is not cool enough for you. You will have the chance to see the screen printing skills of Robo Roku, the Stunning housewares of Craft Chi, amazing letterpress by Inviting, and the lovely art of This Creative Life. Baby Bolt will keep the kids in stylish threads, and Sew La La will have just the right frock just for you. Head on out to see all the amazing artists and crafters.

Out and About

This Friday July 15th from 9:00am-9:oo pm and Saturday July 16th from 9:00 am - 6:00 pm you can see the fun and functional bath products of Nepenthe's Bathtime and the metal work of Hammer It Out at Christmas in July. There will be two model homes at 1105 and 1103 Walsh Trail in Cedar Park, Texas filled to the rafters with great gifts to help temper this summer heat.




Come out and celebrate with Renee of This Creative Life and Robo Roku at the Artists Screen Printing Cooperative (ASPCO) 1st Birthday Party & Member Exhibit on Saturday, July 16 from 7:00pm - 10:00pm.

There will be home-brewed beer, sangria, birthday cake, and minimal funk music spun by Missy Lektro & Daniel Allen. The festivities will take place at 1109 Shady Lane Austin, Texas. Come by to see some amazing screen printing skills!

Staying Creative

When you're an artist/creator/crafter/maker it's all about being creative. It's about expression and stepping outside the boundary box that you OR society has placed on your head. It's about sticking with it, pushing yourself, having fun and trying to stay inspired.

Sometimes that last bit about staying inspired gets left behind in the creative rubble. When you have daily jobs, families, pets, aspirations, school, volunteering and the rest of life to deal with, working to stay creative isn't at the top of the priority list. Sometimes it takes a little nudge to remind us what is important.



29 Ways to Stay Creative is the nudge you need. Being awesome isn't about luck, or ideas lightning-strikin' your head out of nowhere. It's about work, and perseverance and staying on your toes. It's about failing, and learning that it's okay to fail while pushing forward.

Read, lap up, IMPLEMENT.

{ via ManMadeDIY.com }

LPF Designs' 4th of July Pinwheel DIY

Bridget, the illustrious and ever-colorful lady behind LPF Designs, blog-posted a super cute and fun 4th of July tutorial to brighten up your holiday gathering this year! (It would also be a superb host/hostess gift!)

Pinwheels = rad. Buntings = RAD. Put 'em together and you get amazingly-awesome-crafty-fun-radness!