Etsy Craft Party 2011

Last year, I along with Renee of Robo Roku planned and hosted the Etsy Birthday Craft Party. I should note that several Etsy Austin (now Austin Craft Riot) members and officers also helped to make sure the event went off without a hitch. While I was both sad and relieved (I have a terrible tendency to over-commit, like woah) to have my involvement be limited to attending this year's Etsy Craft Party, I'm happy to report that the event was a blast.


This year's party was hosted at Starving Art Studios, a laid back art gallery on the east side that hosts drive-in movies and is home to the airstream boutique, The WonderCraft. The atmosphere of the event was very relaxed and the night consisted of free crafts for Austinites and Etsy Craft Riot members alike. From start to finish, attendees were busy as bees crafting upcycled t-shirt produce bags, duct tape jewelry, buttons, and screenprinting everything from embroidered handkerchiefs to bbq aprons.

If you weren't able to make it to this Austin Craft Riot affair, stay tuned for details on the holiday show happening in November. If you did stop by, what was your favorite aspect? Be sure to check out more great snaps from the par-tay on Baby Bolt's flickr and the Austin Craft Riot flickr pages. A big thank you to everyone who helped plan this year's event and to Tara George for sharing some good pics with me for this post.

Action Jackson out.

Keep Warm, Stay Crafty!

Brrrr. It's officially cold in Austin (as if it hasn't been off and on for the past few weeks/months); I'm taking the liberty of declaring it so because it snowed today at home and work for me...oh, and because work is opening a few hours late tomorrow. With the arctic winds set to full blast and me being on my third sick stint (yep, third) in less than two months, I'm not taking any chances. The heater is on and I'm only venturing outside for work and emergency trips at the convenience store (hot cocoa, etc.). This, of course, allows me more time to do a few things: read, watch everything on Netflix instant/Amazon Video on Demand that I instantaneously want to veg to, and craft.

For starters, I whipped up some bejeweled feather clips and bling earrings for The WonderCraft's Grand Opening Party, which is going on this Thursday at The Art Pad from 6-9pm. The Cupcake Bar, Blue Note Bakery, and Apothecary Cafe and Wine Bar will be providing the delish dishes, the WC ladies will be teaching screenprinting and embroidery mini-classes, and a few of the lovely Etsy Austin ladies will be selling their fabulous wares all night. And, if you're in the market for some DGAJ gems, don't fret! There are several crystal-encrusted Diamonds and Guns pieces available in The Wondercraft's boutique airstream trailer! Also, be sure to get there early so you can snag one of the goody bags (and subsequently a DGAJ feather clip or bling earrings) reserved for the first 25 attendees.

Stay tuned for more ways to keep warm and crafty (and reading) with DGAJ!

~Action Jackson out.

Currently Listening: Give Me Convenience or Give Me Death- Dead Kennedys