It was a Lovely Party - Haute Event Recap!

Austin is all abuzz with the wrap up of Austin Fashion Week - and while I take a few days to rest myself - I thought I would treat you to a look back on an amazing event from just a few weeks ago!  Austin is always chalk full of fun things to do - and here at Handmade Happenings we strive to bring you coverage of the coolest Handmade Events!

Event Recap-
Lovely Boutique Grand Re-opening party, featuring designer Anne Marie Beard of *annemarie*
Happened: July 31st, 2010

Lovely Boutique is a quintessential Ausitn Boutique - part Vintage, part UpScale Consignment, part Local Artisan - the mix of items curated by owners Jane Broumley and Danielle Tatro is nothing short of exquisite.  I was proud to finally bring my collection into this South First Standby and celebrate their move to a pedestrian friendly stretch of "SoFi" right across from long-time favorite Bouldin Creek Coffeehouse.

One of the owners' friends, Ray Pena, put together a beautiful video of the evening!  There was music by the Whiskey Shivers, Popsicles from GoodPop, and a keg of Lone Star!  


Lovely Austin Grand Re-Opening Party from Ray Pena on Vimeo.

A fabulous example of the fine mixture for sale at Lovely Boutique.

From Lovely Grand Re-Opening

Another shot of the boutique in the amazing "Dress Room" (well that's what I call it anyhow!)

From Lovely Grand Re-Opening

Local Designer and Sweetheart Anslee Connell of SavannahRed (also available at Lovely) volunteered to paint faces on all the munchkins who attended the party! What was supposed to be a few minutes kept her busy - and the kiddos thrilled - the rest of the evening!

From Lovely Grand Re-Opening

Owner Jane Broumley "ohh la la-ing" over one of *annemarie*'s eco-chic totes - made with vintage fabric!

From Lovely Grand Re-Opening

From Left to Right: Owner Danielle Tatro, Handbag Designer Cathie Hutchins of Austin Yarn Co., Handbag Designer Anne Marie Beard.

From Lovely Grand Re-Opening

Samantha Hlavaty of Nepenthe's Bathtime, with Husband and awesome guy Eric Hlavaty. See that KILLER necklace she is wearing? It just happens to be by another local Austin Artist - Debbie Carroll!

From Lovely Grand Re-Opening

Art Curator, Embroidery Guru, Stitch Lab Employee and fun gal Niku Arbabi with partner. Look at the cute felt doll they purchased! Just proving how much Austinites love to keep it local - Niku is carrying a JNADesigns Handbag!

From Lovely Grand Re-Opening

Just remember - if we post it - you're INVITED! And if you make it - you might get Happened! Keep on supporting local Austin Boutiques, Restaurant, Designers and Crafters - hey - it's only 3 months and some change before Christmas!

xo, Anne Marie Beard

Hip Event: Cupcake Smackdown This Saturday!

Cupcakes are sooo.... pretty, little, delish, delectable - dangerous?  Well - how would you feel if a cupcake was shot out of a canon at you?!?  I am not sure I'd like to take a cake in the face... but I might like to shoot one at my friends!

This weekend you can eat cupcakes from Austin's finest bakeries, participate in the crazy activities above, shop some cool handmade vendors - all at the Cupcake Smackdown 2.0!  Handmade Happenings is a proud sponsor of this event - especially since part of the funds raise go to support Lights Camera Help , Mobile Loaves and Fishes and Keep Austin Dog Friendly .

Hosted by Austin blogger and Social Media Award Winner Jennie Chen of MisoHungry - this Austin-tatious event is quickly becoming an annual favorite.  It's a family-fun day - with a kiddie train, sweet and savory food vendors and attempts to break world records!

When: Saturday, August 21st, 11am to 3pm
Where: Le Cordon Bleu, 3110 Esperanza Crossing and The Westin, 11301 Domain Drive
Cost: FREE! (Food vendors will be charging for their goodies)

The Hip List: Stitch Lab Website, Thread Painting, Sticky Competition, Local Sales, Weekend of Events!

This week's Hip List is all about craftiness, local sales, and the hippest events to attend!

FEELING CRAFTY??

We're SEW in love with the Stitch Lab and their new website - have you seen it?  What a eye-pleasing transformation and they have a new website address: http://www.stitchlab.biz/.  The new site is very user friendly with a snappy way to register for classes by creating your own account and each class has pictures and descriptions, such as this one on Circular Knitting.  You can sign up for the Stitch Lab Gab, peruse their FAQs, Shop or find great Resources! They even had a professional photographer come in and take pictures of all their teachers, check out Anne Marie's!  SEW stop in to their new website next time you are up late at night roaming the web and then go check them out in person the very next day!

Some exciting news from the Stitch Lab is their all new tower of DMC Embroidery Floss, but if you also like machine embroidery, you might want to check out this Bernina video tutorial on Thread Painting from The Quilt Show.  I have some beautiful thread paintings from our Grandmother Maryann that she did herself by hand many, many years ago, but it is nice to know you can do the same thing with your machine.  I cherish these paintings and every time I walk by them I think of her and all the wonderful memories I have of being with her.

Speaking of good memories - do you remember your prom?  Mine involved a hot pink and purple dress, handmade of course with matching pink shoes, and I got engaged.  (Kevin and I are still married almost 21 years later, but it was still crazy to get engaged at prom).  These kids just might have my memory beat:  Sticky Competition - Stuck at Prom.  First look the article over and the amazing pictures and then come back and have the discussion/thoughts...  Did those outfits even look like they were handmade out of DUCT TAPE?  Wow!   I would love to have a "normal dress" made like the one the winner is wearing this year.  It seems this competition has been going on for 10 years - who knew?  Did you know?  Next year will be my oldest daughter's prom - can't believe she will be graduating - but maybe I can get her to think about entering this sticky competition!  And the winning couple wore their outfits to prom - priceless!


TIME TO SHOP!

Two great stores in Austin are having sales...

Jerry's Artarama is having a Back-to-School Sale with some items up to 95% OFF!  We love Jerry's Artarama for supporting our Frontier Scholarship and offering great supplies at great prices.

If you're not into making handmade items, but you like to buy them, check out the 20-40% sale at Sanctuary.  Sanctuary has many local designers in the store, so shop local this summer!






SO MANY PLACES TO GO...

E.A.T. and Starving ART's First Friday East! (map)  Tonight from 6-11pm and don't forget The WonderCraft will be there at their new location!

Austin Bead Society Bead & Jewelry Bazaar at Palmer Events Center. (map)  Saturday and Sunday, all day!  Admission is $5.00, but bring two cans of food and save $1.00.

Artisan's Market at Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf locations all over Austin.  From 11am-3pm on Saturday, all locations.  Support your local artisans at this intimate handmade shopping markets.

Gallery Black Lagoon is having a Jewelry by Artists Exhibition (map) with some of our favorites, including adaptive reUse!  Saturday, 2-7pm.

XO,
allison

Sponsor Spotlight...

Shop Austin was a huge success and our 2010 Sponsors made it a possibility.  It's now time to remove them from our blog on the left so we can start promoting Shop Crafty, but we don't want to let them go without one last "THANK YOU"!!  And we are looking for sponsors for Shop Crafty - click here for info!