Stitch in the Beauty Bar Window

Last night the ladies of Stitch and I had our second to last in person Stitch meeting. This is not to say that we won’t keep sending 100’s of emails everyday through our google group until next Saturday, but yesterday was the last official meeting. You think running a fashion show is all fun and games and it is more about how many outlets are we going to need, are there enough bars, do we have a mirror for the dressing room type issues.

While we were out last night I swung by the Beauty Bar, which we currently have decorated, and snapped a few pictures. See the Beauty Bar rotates out the window display monthly and this month it is all about Stitch. We decorated it along with Prototype vintage. There are dresses by Hot Pink Pistol and Tina Sparkles and a blouse by Chia in the window. The jewelry is Naughty Secretary Club. Also in the window is a TV that Karly painted green and we have a looped video that shows a slide show of pictures from years past, our logo and vendors that you will see next Saturday at the Austin Convention Center. We will be taking over the Parts and Labour window this weekend!

Anywhoodle take a peeksie at our window styling action and if you live in Austin go grab a drink at the Beauty Bar and peep our handiwork in person.

Oh and happy Halloween. I of course have to stay home and work, work and work. I don’t even have candy to give out. I’m sure I will do my usual which is listen to Nick Cave and the Nightmare Before Christmas soundtrack and maybe watch a horror movie.

She's Crafty

Apparently my episode of She’s Crafty aired on Canadian HGTV yesterday. So technically Monday I was on HGTV in two different countries, don’t worry I won’t let it go to my head I just head generic brand macaroni and cheese for dinner after all. I wish I could see the episode I had tons of fun going to Vancouver and hanging out with host Wendy Russell. If you don’t get Canadian HGTV here are the instructions and some pictures from when my mom and I made the step outs for the episode.

MATERIALS
TV Tray Table (must have a ‘lip’ around the edge of the table)
Primer
Silver Paint
Green Acrylic Paint
Hot Pink glitter glue
Hot Pink glitter
EnviroTex Lite® resin
Disposable plastic cup or bucket
Workable Fixative
Sponge brushes, wooden stick to mix resin, embossing heat tool (a.k.a. embossing gun), latex gloves

DIRECTIONS:
Clean table well to remove any surface dirt. Apply one coat of primer, and allow to dry according to manufacturer’s instructions. (You could also spray paint primer).
Paint legs of table and lip with silver paint, until desired effect is achieved. (You could also spray paint the table.)
Paint the table top with green acrylic paint (2 coats).
Stencil on circles using the bottom of a glass or other household items.
Fill in stencil with plain glue or glitter glue.
Sprinkle hot pink glitter on top of glue while still wet.
When glue is dry, blow off excess glitter.
Wearing latex gloves, mix up resin according to manufacturers instructions in disposable cup and pour on top of table until even. Be sure to use in a well-ventilated area.
Use embossing heat tool to pop in bubbles in the resin.
Let set 24 hours to dry completely.

Stitch Blog

As mentioned before I seem to be blogging more on the Stitch Blog than I am here. The closer we get to the show, the more I have to chat about that is Stitch related. That being the case for my blog entry today I am asking that you go peep the Stitch blog and read all my fascinating posts there. Tidbits like the fact that we have 500 tubes of this so adorable it hurts Plain and Thimble Lip Balm to Give Away, Threadbanger is coming all the way from Florida to film a Podcast of Stitch, the window at the Beauty Bar has been Stitchamatized, Hope and her army of Tulip Fashion Glitter are making presidents sparkle and shine and more. I update every day with hot gossip.

Flaming Tiki Cocktail Garnishes and Vinyl Record Bracelets - This Week on Craft Lab and Stylelicious

Tomorrow begins another week of Craft Lab episodes on the DIY Network. This week has a running book theme for me. First because Matt author of Pad Parties is my guest on an episode. Second because Michael deMeng and Josie Cirincione are also guests and both of them have books out through the same company (North Light Publications) that is releasing Naughty Secretary Club: Jewelry for the Working Girl. It just seemed like a lot of book connections in this week's episodes. So anywhoodle here is the rundown...

First of all don't forget you can see Craft Lab in the wee hours of the morn on HGTV if you wanna set your DVR. Tomorrow morning one my friend Alyson Udell and I whip up some Ceramic Bisque magic. Alyson works for Duncan, one of my very favorite Stitch sponsors so I am super excited to get to see her on Nov 10th here in Austin in their super fun make and take booth!

Ok back to DIY Network Craft Lab....

MONDAY: As mentioned Matt Maranian shows how to make a Light Up Punch Bowl, but not only that for all you Tiki people out there we also learn how to make Garish Cocktail Garnishes that light on fire!

TUESDAY: My friend Josie Cirincione stops by and creates a one-of-a-kind story-box collage, using vintage images and memorabilia. I remember the day we filmed this all the network executives from DIY and HGTV were there watching me and it was just a little bit stressful.

WEDNESDAY: HAPPY HALLOWEEN! DIY decided to show not one, but two episodes of Craft Lab today to celebrate. First up learn all about the Day of the Dead with Kathy Cano Murllio and me. Later at At 3pm Central you can catch Jenny Harada and I whipping up a scary foam monster mask.

THURSDAY: The adorable Jon Fong and I make a spider and a bunny completely out of flowers. Seriously cute stuff. Also remember when I told you sometimes the crafters were crafty peeps you would know, well keep an eye peeled for Krissy of Bigger Krissy fame helping out in flower land.

FRIDAY: Guest Michael deMeng teaches Polaroid art. He uses Polaroid photos as the basis for building a project with multiple techniques of washes over a textured base, resulting in an elaborate antiquing finish. I just copy and pasted what was on the DIY Network page about the episode because really there is no other way to describe it.

Let us not forget Stylelicious also on the DIY Network on Tuesday and Thursday. I really wish that DIY would pick this show back up. If we knew then, what we know now about TV I would demand that show be shot a different way. If we look a little stressed and a bit like deer in the headlights, it's because we were.

This week it is all about the bracelet for me on Stylelicious. Tuesday the episode is called All in the Wrist and I am going to show you how to whip yourself up a bracelet from a vinyl record. I need to start selling these again they were a big hit for me. Thursday's episode is called That's Unusual and it is a Perkins family bonanza as I make a Tooth Brush Bracelet, my sister Hope is whips up a purse out of a glove and my mom Fredda stops by to cook records at my house and make them into record bowl purses. Apparently I inherited my urge to cook records from my mother.

So that should be enough crafty TV to last you this week. Remember if you love the shows and want to see more write DIY and HGTV and let em know.

Blogging about Beads with an Etsy Garnish

Hey Kids, today is Saturday and that means it is time for the weekly beading link exchange. However, I thought I would pepper this post with pictures of the new Crafty Curios I just added to my Etsy shop. Look for vintage charms, retro cupcake toppers and antique photographs. The crafty possabilities with these babies go on and on.

So without further udo I bring you the Bead Blogging links...

Art Bead Scene
Virginia Miska shows a step by step, easy and inexpensive way to remove tarnish from your silver beads and components, with common materials found right in your kitchen!

Bead Arts
There are lots of great lampwork and hot glass forums out there! Can you think of any to add to Cyndi's list?

Jewelry and Beading Blog
Tammy at the Jewelry and Beading Blog has spotted some adorable wire pumpkins from Wig Jig.

Katie's Beading Blog
Beading Daily spotlighted Katie's book, Hip to Bead, this week. Read her post for links to a fun Q&A and free project download and a sneak peek into Katie's crafty organic farming lifestyle.

Naughty Secretary Club
Have you taken the Handmade Pledge? Jen chats about how her girl gang the Austin Craft Mafia joined forces with the likes of Etsy, The American Craft Council, Interweave Press, Design Sponge and more to bring you Buy Handmade!

PearlEsq.
Are you a Perfectionist? Robin's got a quiz for you and some thoughts on not sweating the small stuff and to embrace imperfection in your art!

Savvy Crafter
Grab your skull beads!!! Dia De Los Muertos is right around the corner. Make some festive jewels for this mucho fun and special celebration.

Snap out of it, Jean! There's beading to be done!
A stunning Geisha polymer focal bead by Janet Farris was dressed up using lustrous coin pearls and tiny multihued spinels to express classic Japanese beauty. Take a look at Jean's latest offering in Beadwork Magazine!

The Impatient Blogger
Are you tired of playing by the rules and itching to break free? Guess what, you can! Check out this inspired post by Margot Potter that gives you the kick in the pants you need to follow your bliss.

So there you have it. All the beading news that is news. It's a lovely day today here in Austin, TX I really should not spend it working on my book, but alas I think I will. My new goal is to finish the book by Stitch so that after Nov 10th I can just breathe easy. I'm not saying this will actually happen, but a girl can dream can't she.

Jewelry Shopping at Stitch

You would think that since I make jewelry for a living, shopping for jewelry would be a bit of a bus mans holiday for me? Not at all, I LOVE buying and shopping for jewelry and that is one of about a million reasons I can't wait for Stitch.

Every fall 3 of my friends and I produce a fashion show and craft bazaar in Austin called Stitch. This year is our 5 year anniversary show and there are over 100 vendors, including oodles of jewelry! The show is Saturday Nov 10th at the Austin Convention Center, Doors open to the public at 4pm. If you are a jewelry person like me you just better hope and pray that I have not already beat you to all the good stuff. Let me give you a rundown of some of our jewelry designers who are coming in from around the country.

On the ladies of cOcO Couture look out for one of Austin's most amazing jewelry designers I RoK Gems. No website, so you have to see these baubles in person either on the runway at Stitch or in booth #419.

Do a little online shopping with some of our other jewelry vendors....

Booth #412 Gypsy Born Designs

Booth #102 Husak Designs

Booth #527 Figs and Ginger (the sterling deer necklace these kids from Massachsetts sent for the Stitch raffle is so awesome it hurts)

Booth #524 Freshie and Zero (Beth was the winner of the Stitch Indie Start Up Grant last year and we are so excited she is coming back all the way from Tennesse).

Booth #117 Lisa Crowder

Booth #316 M Squared Jewelry

Booth #429 31 Corn Lane (Remeber the awesome goodie bags at Stitch last year, um ya the ladies have come all the way from Brooklyn, NY to bring you bags and jewelry in person)

Booth #407 Maneki

Booth #318 & #320 Kailo Chic (not only did she just do a line of amazing lap top sleeves for Pacific Deisgn, and dontate 10 of our amazing free goodie bags, Kara also makes jewelry and some of the goodie bags will have free pendnats inside!)

Booth #103 Merchant Ship Collective

Booth #604 Vinca (Vinca and her cute enough to eat Ice Cream Necklaces was our Stitch Grant runner up last year)

Booth #503 myOlivette (Angie is coming all the way from Arizona)

Booth #210 Ornamental Things

Booth #216 Steel Toe Studios (Belt Buckles all the way from Seattle, WA count as jewelry right?)

Booth #312 Art Kat Studio

Booth #307 The Cherry Box (whoa jewelry, art, plushies and pasties!)

Booth #303 & #305 Glitzkrieg (Leslie makes jewelry and purses)

Booth #203 Pagano Design Works (Adorable felted jewelry all the way from Tuscon, AZ)

Booth #304 Swear Jar Designs (Amazing sterling all the way from Boulder, Colorado)

Booth #508 t8 Designs (Found object jewelry from Delaware)

Booth #607 Tasty Jewelry

Booth #422 & #424 Loyalty and Blood (Cut Acrylic and Brass Jewelry from Brooklyn, NY - get their early to score one of the 50 tote bags they donated as a Goodie Bag)

Booth #101 Moxie and the Compound

Booth #309 PenFelt (the cutest felted goods ever from Portland, Oregon. Look for free hair clips by them in the raffle and swag bags!)

Booth #411 & #413 Rebel Craft Alliance

During the runway segments you can see some Naughty Secretary Club strut down the runway on the Hot Pink Pistol Models. I am making custom Cha Cha Earrings for each of the girls that will be available on the website after the show.

Sublime Stitchmas

Will the contest insanity ever stop! This has been the week of new and exciting crafty gossip and contests and I am kind of loving it! My friend Jenny Hart of Sublime Stitching contacted me and asked if I would like to help her judge an embroidery contest called Sublime Stitchmas that she and Chronicle Books are having and I said sure. I may not be the worlds best embroider, but I know a good stitch and a cute project when I see one! The contest could not be more timely for a couple of reasons. First, everyone should have already taken the Handmade Pledge and this contest seems to go hand in hand with that! Second, just this past weekend at Maker Faire Jenny was teaching me how to do a slip stitch. Let me reiterate embroidery and I are not best friends, I am still learning. There is a touch of embroidery in my new book, Naughty Secretary Club: Jewelry for the Working Girl, and well let’s just say I’m not sure what Jenny would say about my work. Actually she tried to help me on a project coaching me through a blanket stitch at an Austin Craft Mafia meeting, but it was a little over my head. Anyway I don’t want to give away too much away about my book and what the project is so back to Sublime Stitchmas. You should totally enter the contest if you are an embroidering kind of guy or gal. As a judge I promise not to be to hard on you, remember like I said my stitching is sub par so I will either feel your pain or be easily impressed! Not to mention if you win you get tons of free Naughty Secretary Club jewelry!

Deadline for entry: December 10th 2007

CRAFTY JUDGES:
- Jenny Hart of Sublime Stitching and the Austin Craft Mafia
- Jennifer Perkins of Naughty Secretary Club, Stitch Austin, and DIY's Craft Lab
- Garth Johnson of Extreme Craft

1st Prize:
$100 Sublime Stitching Gift Certificate, $80 Chronicle Books Gift Basket,
$80 Gift Bag from Naughty Secretary Club

2nd Prize:
$50 Sublime Stitching Gift Certificate, $50 Chronicle Books Gift Basket, $50 Gift Bag from Naughty Secretary Club

3rd Prize: $30 Sublime Stitching Gift Certificate, $30 Chronicle Books Gift Basket, $30 Gift Bag from Naughty Secretary Club

AND: All winners will be featured on SublimeStitching.com and ChronicleBooks.com!

How to enter:
Email a photo (format: jpg or tif under or at 300 dpi) of your handmade gift along with a brief description to contests@sublimestitching.com
Please, no zip, pdf or psd files.

Rules / Guidelines:
Only one submission per person / email
Your project must be a gift you're giving
Your project must be finished (no 'this is what I'm working on' submissions please)
Using Sublime Stitching patterns on your project is encouraged ('cause we like 'em) but not required.

And remember: all handmade gifts are like babies. Each and every one is beautiful in it's own way.

Great American Craft Off - and woman on the verge of a nervous breakdown.

This has been the week of hot crafty gossip has it not. First the new Buy Handmade site and now today I get an email about the Great American Craft Off. This looks like a pretty fun crafting contest where you can win all kinds of awesome prize packages like sewing machines, Michaels gift cards, a feature in Adorn, A copy of Nifty, Thrifty and Kitschy Crafty by Craft Lab guest Leah Kramer. If you consider yourself particularly crafty you might want to check this contest out.

In other news I am officially getting to that point with Stitch where I lay in bed at night and ruminate due to the stress, even Forensic Files last night could not lull me to sleep. Picture planning the perfect party for 4,000 people every year, it’s a little daunting. Everything is right on track with Stitch planning and there is no drama, it is just that 3 week before point that every year I start to do this and dream about Nov 11th like a child dreaming of Christmas day. That is the day after Stitch of course. I get Sunday off, well not really because I have house guests, and then I immediately fly to Dallas on the Monday following Stitch to see my family and meet with a company out there for business. I fly back Thursday the 15th right after my meeting and have to go straight from the airport to one of our two Stitch after parties. Starting on the 16th I have to kick it into high gear and finish the manuscript for my book that is due December 1st. Two weeks is enough time right? Just kidding I have been sneaking in some writing in-between plugging Stitch I just finished up the Ravishing Receptionist and Whistle at Work projects last night. About the time I am done with the book my Christmas orders should really be in full throttle and keeping me up to my ears in jewelry. So I guess technically that nagging feeling will not pass until the first of the year. That’s only 2 months, I can do it right?

Buy Handmade

A couple of weeks ago I was chatting with Matt at Etsy about his trip to Austin for Stitch and he mentioned he wanted to talk to me about a new and exciting project he was whipping up called Buy Handmade. I immediately loved the sound of that and said sure give me a call. Matt explained that he and some other crafty companies were putting together a new website where people could pledge to buy and give handmade gifts for the holiday season. He wanted to know if the Austin Craft Mafia wanted to get in on the ground floor as a sponsor. I asked the ladies and went back to Matt with a resounding YES! The Austin Craft Mafia is all about the handmade and we are so excited and proud to be a part of this fun new website. You sign the pledge like a petition about buying and giving handmade gifts and then you can add the little “I Took the Handmade Pledge” logo to your website or blog. Last night when I checked out the website there was 36 people signed and now there are 451 signatures! Word is spreading like wildfire so head on over and take the pledge.

Altered Couture

Whoo-hoo the new Altered Couture Magazine is out. Well almost out, I got sent an early copy. Look for the magazine in bookstores in early November. Altered Couture is an awesome magazine all about embellishing and altering your clothing. There is a three page spread on my sister Hope Perkins of Hot Pink Pistol all about her hand painted clothing. That Hope is so rad. In the gallery toward the back there are two pieces of Naughty Secretary Club jewelry the Eunice Necklace and the Texas Gold Cha Cha Bracelet. This is my first time to be in Altered Couture so I am super excited. I am going to blog more about this later, but also the first page of the magazine is a full page ad for Aleene’s Liquid and Fabric Fusion Glues featuring a picture of me! I made all the jewelry for in the photo and you can too by clicking here. More details on the ad later. In the meantime here are the jewelry pictures from Altered Couture.


Also in the same issue of Altered Couture keep an eye peeled for projects by Craft Lab guests like Alexis Sadler and Claudine Hellmuth.


I also wanted to give you an update on Evie the poodle. Turns out Evie is named Ginger and she already has parents. Yesterday evening Chris decided to look through Craig’s List just to make sure there were no listings for any missing poodles. About a week ago there was a post about two missing dogs and one was a wee little tan poodle named Ginger. We called the number and his poodle just so happened to have a cataract in it’s left eye too. Turns out Ginger also had a big dog as a sibling who orchestrated their escape, but had returned home. This explains why she was fine with Lucy. I talked to Erin and Ginger’s dad went to pick her up last night. I was sad because she was cute, but at the same time if Lucy was ever lost I would want someone to call me. In the end I am just glad that Ginger went back to her real mom and dad. That just means Chris and I can still save somebody from the shelter.

Crafts and Poodles

Yesterday was Austin’s first taste of a Maker Faire. The best part of the whole thing for me was getting to see all my long distance crafty friends. The top picture is of Jenny Hart and Faythe from Art Vs. Craft and Handmade Nation. Good thing Faythe was there because I had not mailed off my pictures on Friday for the Indie Craft Documentary book like I was supposed to so I hand delivered them to her in person! The bottom picture is of my friends Natalie and Jenny. Nat writes for Craft Zine and runs Coquette. Jenny is also writes for Craft online and is the force behind the Felt Club. I also got to see my friend Bre who was a guest on Craft Lab, Patricia from Crafty Synergy and Tonia who was my acquisitions editor at North Light Books!


In other exciting news I came home today to find 5 huge boxes from Baby Lock on my porch. UPS just dropped off more goodies from Buffalo Exchange. Yesterday 40 new tote bags from Anne Marie appeared on my door step. Every day my house gets more and more cluttered with Stitch swag.

Today Chris and I had an interesting thing happened, we met Evie.

This morning Lucy was throwing up and since she had gotten into a bunch of my jewelry supplies we were worried. I called my best friend Erin, who also happens to be my vet and she recommended we make Lucy fast for 24 hours and see if she still gets sick. She didn’t seem to think it was anything major and that we should not worry. She then asked if we were still looking for a dog and I told her we had just been out scouring all the shelters this weekend. She said at her office they had a wee little caramel colored poodle dropped off that she compared to our friend Tim and Katherine’s dog that we love name Biscuit. Evie was the dogs name and apparently she had been hit by a car and someone brought her in that found her, but did not want her. The techs at Erin’s office paid to have Evie all stitched up, her arm is all torn up and in stitches and she will always walk with a limp. Erin said she was about 5 or 6 and just the sweetest dog ever. This is when the pictures from the cell phone started coming and Chris and I’s hearts started melting. Turns out Evie was up at the clinic today with her foster mother and Lucy was due for her monthly arthritis shot so we set up a meet and greet. Poor little Evie was shaking and scared to meet us. She is blind in one eye from a cataract which we can have fixed and all shaved bald because of her surgeries. She and Lucy had a little nose to nose action and Lucy seemed to think she was just fine. Even when Chris and I took turns holding Evie Lucy didn’t seem to mind and since Lucy is super duper jealous we took that as a good sign. So I just sent Erin the confirming text that Chris and I are going to adopt Evie. Its funny how these things happen. We go looking at dogs all day Saturday and then Erin calls Monday morning with one that fits the bill perfectly. We actually got our cat Georgie the same way, someone dumped her off at Erin’s work and they had kittens to give away. We can’t take Evie home for a week because she is swollen from her stitches and surgery and Erin wants to make sure she is healing up nicely before she sends her home. I will keep you posted on how everything goes. In the meantime any name suggestions are appreciated. I am currently voting for Carmel Corn (we can call her CC) or Carmella.

More Reasons to Score Stitch Tickets!

Stitch Tickets are on sale now and here are a few more reasons why you might want to score yourself a set in advance.

We just added hand painted earrings and purses by Alisa Burke to the raffle prize.

You get in free to our after party with a Stitch wristband and we just booked DJ Abominatron.

You can get your make up touched up for free in the Rae Cosmetics booth.

Have you seen the handpainted glitterlicious dresses that are coming down the runway from Hot Pink Pistol and Tulip Fashion Glitter?

New additions to the 500 free tote bags just arrived from Anne Marie - Style for the Individual and Flapper Girl

Shopping in over 100 booths including: Chia, Party Bots, Fort Cloudy, Queen Puff Puff, Ornamental Things and More!

Remember Stitch is Nov 10th at the Austin Convention Center Hall 1, doors open at 4pm and tickets are only $10!

Be sure and read the Stitch Blog to get all the latest host Stitch gossip.

Shopping for Puppies and Bead Bloggers

I have had a very full long weekend I must say. Friday night I went to the wedding of my friends Joey and Erin. Instead of a first dance they had a first bowl. Yip the venue just randomly had 6 bowling lanes in the back. This makes the 6th wedding I have gone to this year, whoa it was the water. Saturday Chris and I woke up and went to see Courtney at Barkitechture. She had a booth set up selling doggie treats. We perused the dog houses and looked in the stores. We have been talking about getting a new dog on and off for over a year and lately we want one more and more. Lucy is getting old and she can not go on walks everyday like she used to so we take her every other day. On her off days she is getting bored and starting to eat things on the floor. Have you seen my studio lately? She got into the red drawer the other day which of course was on the floor like everything else and ate a vintage plastic doll and some adorable millinery birds that were going to go into crafty curios. Our logic is we will get her a new best friend, someone to play with and a new playmate for us as well. After Barkitechture we went over to Town Lake Animal Center and perused through the pooches. I had never been there before and it was really pretty depressing. This is a kill shelter here in Austin. Sure I want to support the rescue groups, but I could also save a dogs life going through the shelter. I would love to adopt a big dog, because Lucy was 75 pounds when we found her, but Lucy does not get along super well with big dogs. We either want a puppy or a teenager dog. They had some adorable old dogs that broke my heart since Lucy is old and gray. After the pound we went over to the SPCA and ended up oohing and ahhing over the kittens more than the dogs they had. They had a littler of puppies that was cute and a teenaged dog named Daisy that we were petty smitten on. However, Daisy was in a room with a couple when we wanted to play with her and the ladies looked pretty smitten on her so I knew she was going to a good home. We will probably go back next weekend and make the rounds again looking for a dream dog. I also put in word with some rescue groups. I’ll keep you posted. I love my logic of getting a puppy to tire out my 13 year old dog so she won’t chew on things and the new puppy will chew 20 times worse. Oh well. Today Karly, Jen A and I are headed out to Maker Faire to work in the swap-a-rama-lama-ding-dong. It’s going to be a long day, but should be pretty fun and I am looking forward to checking things out. I’m hoping to see some of my long distance crafty friends that work for Craft and Make magazines. I’ll try and take pictures to post. So with this I leave you with this week’s bead blogger links….

Art Bead Scene
Several of the editors at Art Bead Scene have been collaborating on exciting challenges with other artists. Check out what happens when three sets of art beads artists are given to three different artists.

Bead Arts
Cyndi explores how to use wire crochet to give new life to some moonstone nuggets.

Jewelry and Beading
Even more fun than growing your pumpkin, you can make your own pumpkin beads with a little know-how from the Jewelry and Beading Blog.

Katie's Beading Blog
Have you heard about the public television show Beads, Baubles & Jewels? Now you can watch Katie's segments on your computer anytime.

Naughty Secretary Club
Look for a bracelet by Jen in a new series of Holiday Ads by Michaels. Can’t wait until then? Check out the Naughty Secretary Club blog to get a sneak peak at the Twinkle Charm Bracelet and how-to instructions.

PearlEsq.
Robin talks about what it is to work with Tim Holtz in prepping for Ranger U and she provides his fun link for Grungeboard(tm).

Snap out of it Jean! There's beading to be done!
Jean's third shot at spiral seed beading is fun!, with its butterfly clasp and its colorful Swarovski bicones sparkling like crazy on a deep background of emerald and sapphire!

The Impatient Blogger
Sometimes we make wonderful things and sometimes we make a whole lot of crap. Fret not! Join Margot as she shares her crafty mishaps and encourages you to make glorious mistakes! (Warning: This post is rated P for Potty Mouth Syndrome!)

Burt Reynolds

After a few years of blogging you start to forget what little personal idiosyncrasies you have shared with the world and what you kept to yourself. Have I mentioned before that my husband and I are big Burt Reynolds fans? Surely I have. When you are a child of the 80’s and you grew up in Texas it is pretty much a requirement that you love the Smokey and the Bandit series. Chris and I just sometimes take this love to another level. For instance I have a life size cut out of Burt Reynolds in my office with me at all times. You think I’m kidding, check out the picture of me in my studio that my friend Cory just took for the Handmade Nation book. You can see Burt in the background.



Please excuse the mess, but while the new studio is being built I decided to completely let my current one go to hell in a hand basket. Oh who are we kidding it is always messy.

You might be thinking “Sure you have the cardboard cut off secluded back in a spare bedroom/office, but as the Bee Gee’s would say: How deep is your love?” Well I will have you know that Chris and I have an extra large picture of Burt in the buff hanging above the fireplace in our living room. It is the first thing you see when you open our front door. Chris found the picture that had been shellacked to a giant piece of wood at the Goodwill down the street from our house, and he has never doubted why I spend so much time at thrift stores again. Thfirting is like gambling with all the intermittent reinforcement. Sometimes you don’t come home with a thing, but it is that one time you find a 3 foot long picture of Burt Reynolds on a bear skin rug that brings you back.



I wanted Chris to be able to wear his love of Burt out in public so last Christmas I commissioned one of my favorite Stitch designers Ramonster to make this cowboy shirt for him. Oh ya she embroidered Burt on the lapels. You can see where it says “Bandit” on the shoulder and on the back there is an embroidered Trans Am.



Speaking of Trans Am, this is what got me started on this whole Burt kick today. I just read my latest DIY Network newsletter and there looking back at me was Burt Reynolds. I had forgotten that DIY Network is doing a 3 part series with Burt called Celebrity Rides: Burt Builds a Bandit. Holy bad-ass-ical I can not wait. The series starts tonight! Just as I dream of a convertible suicide door Lincoln, Chris dreams of owning his own Trans Am. We are totally setting our DVR for this show, I have never been so proud of DIY Network. OH MY GOD what if the show is a total hit and they bring him on as a full time host and then I get to film Christmas specials with him and stuff. I would DIE. But what if Burt got mad or didn't like his egg nogg and then slapped one of the hosts like he did that reporter. That would be kind of hillarious, but sad.

Did I mention you can win the Trans Am?!?! Chris is going to be heartbroken because I am sure there is some clause about if you work for DIY Network you can not win the car. I have never been so sad and proud to work for the DIY Network at the same time. If someone came to me today and said: You can either have the Trans Am or you can stay the host of Craft Lab. Dude I love me the crafts, but I would take the car.

Twinkle Charm Bracelet in Michaels Holiday Ad

I realize Halloween is not even upon us yet, but it really is time to start thinking about gifts for the holidays. Especially if you are considering making hand made ones. My buddies Kathy Cano Murillo, Vickie Howell and I all participated in a holiday ad for Michaels. I made a charm bracelet called Twinkle. It was really fun to do. I made it entirely of stuff I found at Michaels and not just items in the jewelry aisle. The big charms are wooden discs that I covered with scrap booking paper and decoupage medium. They have all the instructions for HOW TO MAKE YOUR OWN TWINKLE BRACELET on the Michaels website.



This fall and winter you can see the ad in all sorts of magazines such as….
Country Home
Better Homes and Gardens
Ready Made
Family Circle
Real Simple
So when you are waiting in line at the grocery store and you flip through one of these magazines you might very well see this ad looking back at you and you.

You can also go here to find out how to make any of the projects in the ad.

Random Quote in Venus Zine Newsletter

Today when my Venus Zine newsletter came into my inbox there I was smiling back at myself. It was kind of surreal. My friend Tina Sparkles and I were interviewed for the winter issue of Venus. They think we are “Style Icons” and we were not about to disagree, maybe pinch ourselves to make sure it was real. I’ll keep you posted on when the interview comes out, but in the meantime here is a wee little baby quote. Oh and we did the interview with Marisa Meltzer who wrote How Sassy Changed My Life: A Love Letter to the Greatest Teen Magazine of All Time. Wowsers!

Also yesterday I was super excited to see that Make It Mine Magazine had posted a blog all about Stitch. Make it Mine is a new how-to magazine coming out this fall that sounds like it is going to be super fun. Tina Sparkles has a skirt in the gallery and I have a how to necklace in the issue. You can see it in their banner ad. Make It Mine comes out in November, but we are going to have free copies to give away at Stitch.

Speaking of Stitch as I mentioned I have not blogged much because we are in the middle of crunch time tying up loose ends, setting up after parties, doing extra promotion and more. Read the Stitch blog if you want more gory details on what has been going on with me. So far this week other than Stitch I have actually had an action packed weekend thus far. Monday my friend Cory Ryan came over and did a photo shoot with me for the Handmade Nation Book. I decided to not try and clean my studio for the environmental shots and instead we busted out the fish eye lens and got in every last bead lodged into the carpet. Brace yourself for these pictures. Today my pal Vickie Howell took me out to lunch for my birthday and we chatted about her new podcast series that I am going to be a part of and the Stitch webcast that she is hosting. I worked on jewelry for Stitch all afternoon while Hope put together orders. I ended up making 3 earrings to go with one dress. Tonight I need to think deep matching bracelet and ring thoughts.

Boys Are Crafty Too!

This week we have two dudes in the Craft Lab as guests and both of them come bearing rather interesting crafty gifts. First up on Wednesday Bre Pettis from Make Magazine and I make shadow puppets together. I still have the little girl and Godzilla like monster we made on the show. Later in the week Addi Somekh stops by and we whip up some balloon art. I know what you are thinking: puppets and balloon art, has this turned into a kids show? Seriously both episodes are super fun. We of course have some hard core crafting on this week as well like mosaics with Tiffany Miller, Soldered Glass Boxes with Kate Richbourg and Making Bamboo Paper with one of my fellow Austin Craft Mafia ladies Susann Keohane. Monday mornings you can see Craft Lab on HGTV and this Monday my friend Josie Cirincione and I make a gasket material book.

In other crafty TV news and speaking of the Austin Craft Mafia don't forget also on the DIY Network you can catch us all on Stylelicious every Tuesday and Thursday.

Stitch Tickets are on Sale!

Are you just dying to buy your STITCH TICKETS? Well guess what they are on sale now through Front Gate tickets. Don’t want to buy your tickets online? In Austin you can also buy them at places like Waterloo and Encore! Not to mention Saturday Nov 10th at the door of the Austin Convention Center.

A Few Reasons Why You Might Consider Buying an advance Ticket...

This is the Stitch 5 Year Anniversary Show!

500 free goodie bags supplied by Blue Q, Kailo Chic, 31 Corn Lane, Lollibomb Beauty, Harrilu, Ballistic Sweater Girl, Alissa Burke and More!

We sold out last year

Built by Wendy for Simplicity will be showing on the runway.

There will be $5000 worth of free Babylock sewing and embroidery machines in the raffle plus Dremel Drills!

Bradley Bradley Baumkirchner from Project Runway Season 3 will be there.

Prince Klassen, DJ Ian Orth and Bigface will be manning the DJ booth.

You can get free “runway hair” in the Birds Barbershop booth.

You might get interviewed by Vickie Howell for the webcast

Duncan Crafts will be there for the second year in a row doing crafty make and takes (they will also have a life size cut out of my sister Hope). Carlo Rossi will have a booth again this year too!

There will be craft booths by Etsy, Steel Toe Studios, Sublime Stitching, Super Maggie, My Imaginary Boyfriend, and More!

Excuses for not Blogging

Here is a list of reasons why I have not been blogging this week...

1) I have been working on writing the text for my book (Naughty Secretary Club: Jewelry for the Working Girl). I’m on page 39 now, whoo-hoo.
2) I have been blogging about our 500 free goodie bags on the Stitch Blog.
3) I was making Jewelry for orders.
4) I was at Polvos having a birthday dinner involving enchiladas with pecan cream sauce with my friend Erin.
5) I went to a Goodwill across town to peruse the Halloween (the only time they bring out the vintage) section.
6) I was at Lowes buying 6 four foot full spectrum florescent lights for my studio.
7) I have been setting up a photo shoot for the Handmade Nation Book.
8) I have been planning how Stitch should decorate the Beauty Bar Window.
9) I have been coordinating Craft Out Loud meetings with two different companies.
10) I was shipping out Naughty Secretary Club Orders.

Birthdays and Like Any Other Day

No I am not going to Medieval Times for my birthday today, but this is a picture of what I did last year on this same day. I’m not into jousting, but last year on my birthday Chris was visiting me in Los Angeles and I had missed his birthday so along with some friends we headed out to cheer for the blue team and drink a little mead. Today for my birthday I have no major plans. I need to wash my hair and use lots of conditioner to get the giant back combed beehive out of my hair. I did an interview for Venus Zine this morning. At noon I am going to the recording studio to do voice over work for Craft Lab. Later in the afternoon my contractor is installing a new attic door. I might make some jewelry if I am feeling really sassy. No big dinner plans or nights of going out scheduled. I might demand something a little better to eat tonight since we had spam and generic macaroni and cheese for our big meal yesterday. Birthdays are one of those weird anticlimactic days. My leo friends do it up royal, but maybe since I am a Libra I am lower key about it? Who knows.

Luche Libre, Puppets, Metal Clay and More!

Another week, another episode of Craft Lab. I'm curios what everyone thinks of the new show format? I personally like it better. I read on some random crafty blog different people's thoughts on why we now have "crafters" on set. Truth is it is just to spice up the show, just like the new set. It has nothing to do with me. I showed up to LA and the producers surprised me with the news. I love having the crafters on set, and sometimes they are super star crafters and you might not realize it. This week look for Laura from Charcoal Designs and Monica from Monica Burnett hats. Ok on with this week's line up.

MONDAY: Alexis Sadler from Duncan Crafts stops by the Craft Lab to teach us a few ceramic bisque techniques.



Over on HGTV at the crack on dawn you can catch more Season 2 episodes of Craft Lab on Mondays. This week is Kathy Cano Murillo and a little Lucha Libre. This was a super fun episode with my friend Susan Beal as a guest crafter!

TUESDAY: Mary O'Brien and I make a torched resin table together. One of the more complicated projects we have had on the show.



WEDNESDAY: Am I crazy or were these episodes on last week? Yup I said episodes plural, Craft Lab is on DIY Network 3 times Wednesday. At 11am Central we have Kathy Cano Murillo of Crafty Chica stopping by to teach us about Day of the Dead. At 11:30 Jenny Harada and I have a Furry Monster Mask party. Both are some of my favorite season 1 episodes. At noon we have a new and exciting Claudine Hellmuth episode where we make New School Puppets! Peep the set of my fam that Claudine made for me.

THURSDAY: Who dosen't love purses? Have you ever thought of wood burning one? Well my adorable guest Vani Sodhi Gundara did.



FRIDAY: Cathi Milligan is one perky guest and I love her for that. Plus I have always wanted to learn about Torched Metal Clay and this was my chance!

Stylelicious has an episode called Cut It Up on Tuesday and Thursday is Purse Snatchers.