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Happy New Year!

Regrouping after a successful Blue Genie Art Bazaar, a show I’ve been lucky to participate in since way back when it was in the original Blue Genie Art warehouse on the eastside (back when the Goodwill Blue Hangar was a neighbor, pre-Canopy days.) Next year will be the 20th anniversary of the show! Pretty amazing, many other shows have come and gone in that amount of time.

Time for some housecleaning in the studio, and preparing to get back to work. Thankful for Austin Creative Reuse, a great creative resource that keeps art and creative materials out of the landfill, sells them to other creative folks that can use/re-use/repurpose them. In Japan, where storage and space are at a premium, the neighborhood convenience store/grocery is referred to as your ‘other refrigerator/kitchen/apartment’; Austin Creative Reuse is my ‘other studio’, both a source and an outlet for extra supplies.

Also on my list:

  • reopen my etsy store, listing some new stuff, and clearing the way for making new stuff. Converting materials into finished items is my way of sharing my joy of making things with others!
  • in my little studio, space is a challenge. I will be culling through my materials stash and taking things to ACR.
  • I have been putting together a collection of imperfect makes, I’m a perfectionist and have pretty high standards, I’ve been thinking a studio sale would be a good way to pass those on.
  • I’d love to do a trunk show this year too, its been a while since I’ve had one.

I’ve started a new planner, this year it’s the Maker’s Yearbook from the Maker’s Business Toolkit and a bullet journal/notebook in the hopes of being more efficient/productive/organized, and revisiting the practice of Artist’s Morning Pages. It’s hard to keep the momentum of January goals/resolutions from fading out.

Hope your 2020 kicks 2019’s ass! Balancing work/creative life/family, etc. is such a challenge, I’d love to hear what works for you.

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Nerding out on materials and tools

For the first time in my many years of working in vinyl, I came across a seam in my rolled vinyl. A seam in the backing knit, you can see a little bit of the impression on the front side of the material.

Trims back just fine, I’m using these cut pieces for linings so no biggie.

Also, I’m getting lots of use with the utility blade razor cutter I got from Tandy, great for cutting piping cord and notching curves and corners through multiple layers, etc. and the blade switches out with a couple screws. It came with an angle template which I haven’t used yet.

Not as quick-change as my American Line utility knife, which just opens and you can switch the blade out easily. My favorite knife for ease of changing blades!

Everything is easier with the right tools!

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Blue Genie Art Bazaar Nov 22-Dec 24 2019

I’m participating in the 2019 Blue Genie Art Bazaar! It opens a week earlier this year, Friday November 22nd, so its very soon. I’m sewing like the wind, trying to make as much as I can!

The event is free to attend, free to park and open 10am-10pm everyday until December 24th, when it’s open 10am-6pm.

Location: Blue Genie Big Top at 6100 Airport Blvd

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New bigger Star Flap bag!

Made a bigger Star Flap bag, purple measures 7”x8”x2 1/2”, new blue one is 11”x9 1/2”x3 1/2”. Blue bag has an extra interior pocket. Both have adjustable webbing straps so you can wear them crossbody if you wish, pen pockets on the gusset and back shelf pocket, and interior pockets, magnet snaps and snap tabs. There’s a change or two I want to make on the next one I make, but overall pretty happy with it, ready to road-test it, taking notes. I make all my own patterns and have been meaning to make a bigger version, got it done today!

I’ve been sewing like the wind in preparation for the Blue Genie Art Bazaar 2019! It’s a great show, starting a little earlier this year November 22nd thru December 24th, you should check it out!

#handmade #austintexas #vinylbags #sparklevinyl #flapbag #bluegenieartbazaar #bgab

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Making sesame green beans!

Making sesame green beans http://nakatsudesign.com/2008/08/yum-green-beans-in-sesame-dressing-ingen-no-goma-ae/ (can be made vegan by using kombu dashi instead of the traditional fish dashi.) It’s been SO HOT! Hundreds every day. The Chinese long beans keep producing, little tomatoes have slowed to a crawl, everything else dying. This time of year it’s hard to keep anything alive. Mmm sesame green beans!