People are having a great time with this!

Treasure finders are finding a necklace and replacing it for another person to find. Very cool! My intention was for the finder to be the keeper...but, what fun! I almost like this idea better. Do as you will...take a picture and pass it on or keep it. Here is another treasure finder...

Another Treasure Found

I just got another "Thank You" post from a cool couple that found a gumdrop necklace...keep um comin!!

First CoreyDylan Treasure Found!!

Well...I went out today to see if my other pieces have been taken and it appears that they have. I put a couple more pieces out today and received my first email response with pics of three cool Austin locales that found one of my necklaces. So...here they are! I hope more people send me pics of them with their found treasures. Very cool!

Gorilla Art CoreyDylan style!!

My husband and sons love doing street art (look for Tim2ade) around the city of Austin and I decided to get in on the action. So...I packaged up some of my fish necklaces with notes and left them at various spots at the Barton Creek Greenbelt. Hint...I put three to right of Gus Fruh, and one to the left. Let me know if you find one and where you found it!

Handmade Nation Weekend Review

Well, here I am at Domy in Austin,TX for the booksigning of Handmade Nation. I am proudly standing behind the author Faythe Levine and one of the artists featured in the book, Kathie Sever based here in Austin and who's company is Ramonsterwear. She makes beautifully embroidered one-of-a-kind and limited edition cowboy shirts and kids clothing. Very cool!!




This is me and Whitney Lee of Made With Sweet Love...awesome hook latch rugs and kits and super-cool woman. I was her first autograph EVER....SWEET!!!



And lastly...here I am with one of the co-founders of Knitta Please based in Houston. They take there crafts to the streets and hit otherwise dull things like street signs and lamp posts with a colorful piece that was knit by a group of like minded knit bombers. Also here is Jennifer Perkins of Naughty Secretary Club based here in Austin as well. Her jewelry is fun, creative and bitchin.
Let's talk film. I went over to the Alamo Draft House to catch the premiere of Handmade Nation on Sunday and was not disappointed. I was inspired, captivated and let's face it...jealous. That is what all us crafters aspire to, at least me, to be able to make a living off of our art and craft businesses. At least that is what I was thinking through most of the movie, hell, until about an hour or two after the movie. But then as I thought about the movement and how much this has done for my life and brought me back from the creative dead, I realized that is the point. I love what I do and I love to inspire others, most importantly my kids. I thank the women and men who have made me want to create and become my own person. I thank the people who make me want to succeed in my own right. I am thankful for being part of this movement.

Handmade Nation Weekend

So...
I am so excited for the debut movie of Handmade Nation at the Alamo Drafthouse South Lamar this Sunday,Sunday,Sunday! The movie is showing at 1:30 and 4:10 with a Q & A to follow with director, Faythe Levine, and several of the films' crafty ladies. There will also be a Craft Bazaar noon-6pm at the movie premier and my very own EtsyAustin team members which are the owners of The Wondercraft, http://thewondercraft.com/, will be doing craft demos. This event is free to the public. I got my tickets today and I am going to the book signing at Domy Books Sat. night. There is also a Swap and Sew Saturday from 12-6 pm at space12.org. For a really good calendar of events, check out naughtysecretaryclub.blogspot.com.

This brings me to how I got started with my own craftyness. When I started roller derby, I needed a way to embellish my dress and make it my own. I went to an art show at Gallery Lombardi, (I think...as it is now defunct, which sucks, because it was a great space), in which Jenny Hart was showing her work and selling some patterns.
Amongst her patterns were roller derby girls! BAM! I was hooked and rekindled my love of being crafty and creative.






As you can see, this was my first go at embroidery and not very clean... (especially on stretchy fabric). I am a jewelry artist by trade and love it, but honestly, I have more fun doing my crafts a lot of the time. With my jewelry, I am very type A and very hard on myself. With my crafts there is freedom. Freedom to relax, freedom to make mistakes, freedom to just make. Since then, I have gotten a bit better and have even taught a class.
This is a custom embroidered leather motorcycle seat with a Mexican wrestler mask applique. Getting a little better.





Anywho...go, create, see the movie and be inspired. I know I will!

MY NEW WEBSITE IS UP!

The new www.allshedoes.com