Date: June 22nd 2005

Hello, purveyors of craft --long time, not talk! So, what have you been up to? How are things? Good, good, glad to hear it. Seen any good movies lately? No? Us, neither. What’s been going on with us? Well funny you should ask, because so far this year has been an exciting one for us gals at ACM HQ, so we have loads to tell you! Here’s the hot gossip…

Austin Craft Mafia (http://www.austincraftmafia.com) Group News:

WE BE STYLIN'
After months of planning, cutting, sewing, gluing, drilling, writing, shopping, painting and prepping, we finally flew out to Los Angeles to shoot 39 episodes of our new TV show, STYLELICIOUS. It was a lot of hard work, but a fantastic experience that resulted in a project that we’re all super proud of. We can’t wait for you to see it! It’s scheduled to air next spring but it’s never too early to jump on over to http://www.diynetwork.com to see if your cable company carries DIY. If it doesn’t, then it’s time to call said cable provider and demand, “I WANT MY D-I-Y!”

CUCKOO for CRAFT MAFIA
We are absolutely thrilled that Craft Mafia groups are popping up all over the world! If it’s true what they say, “United We Stand”, then we’re on our way to being one tall, crafty mo’fo! Los Angeles, New Orleans and Nashville are just a few of the cities who’ve recently joined the family, with more and more signing on every day. Check out our new and improved Craft Mafia site (http://www.craftmafia.com) for group listings, guidelines and coming soon, an events calendar!

RENEGADE CRAFT FAIR
For those of you heading down to the Brooklyn area this weekend, stop by the Austin Craft Mafia booth at Renegade Craft Fair. Naughty Secretary Club, Amet and Sasha, All Dressed Up and Shy, Sublime Stitching and Sparkle Craft will all be there representing la familia. Check out their wares and pick up our new “Craft Mafia” t-shirts, while you’re at it! For more info on the fair, go to: http://www.renegadecraftfair.com.

STITCH
Stitch Austin is gearing up for year three! As if that wasn't exciting enough, Jen Perkins of Naughty Secretary Club has joined forces with Karly Hand (Identity Crisis Clothing), Jesse Kelly-Landes (Amet & Sasha) and Tina Sparkles (Sparkle Craft) as a 4th producer for Stitch. This year the fashion show & guerilla craft bizarre is guaranteed to be even more fabulous than previous years....did you happen to see the article in Women's Wear Daily? Well, if you'd like to get involved in this action - that means your designs on the runway or your goodies in the craft fair - go to http://www.stitchaustin.com. Applications will be available July 1.

TRUNK SHOW
In Austin? Naughty Secretary Club & Sparkle Craft are doing a trunk show thing at Blue Elephant (4001 N. Lamar ) all day on July 16th.......AND will also have a booth at the Austin City Limits festival September 23-25. Both events will also feature Sweet Tooth handbags by Amy Barber. Come out and say hi!


Austin Craft Mafia Member News:

AMET AND SASHA (http://www.ametandsasha.com)
Jesse's been hard at work designing a whole new crop of summer styles. If you haven't been to
AmetandSasha.com lately, go see what you're missing! In the meantime Jesse's stocking up for Renegade Craft
Fair and dreaming up ideas for the fall.

NAUGHTY SECRETARY CLUB (http://www.naughtysecretaryclub.com)
Naughty Secretary Club is in the current issues of
Alternative Press and Venus Zine. http://www.naughtysecretaryclub.com/about/pressandtestimonials.shtml
If you happen to have been flipping through a Lucky Magazine, Teen Vogue or Elle Girl issue over the past couple of months (and really, why wouldn’t you have?), you may have noticed NSC featured in fully accessorized glory. We heart magazines that heart jewelry!

IDENTITY CRISIS CLOTHING (http://identitycrisisclothing.com)
Are you down with I.C.C? Well you should be, because this summer Identity Crisis Clothing wants you to save your pennies for Pina Coladas by the pool. That’s why, starting June 22nd, Karly will be picking up the shipping bill on all orders for an entire month! Remember, don’t drink and shop.

ALL DRESSED UP AND SHY (http://alldressedupandshy.com)
Summertime is here and I'm sure you're out and about with your IPOD in hand. Well, we have a new IPOD CARRIER that will keep your hands free. It attaches to your belt so you can strut around town in style. Free Shipping for the month of June, just use the voucher code june_free_ship.

SUBLIME STITCHING (http://www.sublimestitching.com)
Sublime Stitching has a whole new set of designs! Monkeys, Scooter
Babes, Mexican Wrestlers and more! You asked for 'em, you got 'em. Be sure to catch up with all of Jenny's happenings on her blog: http://www.sublimestitching.com/blog/html

VICKIE HOWELL (http://www.vickiehowell.com)
It’s a tee party over at VickieHowell.com with more sizes and styles of crafty t-shirts. Newest additions include “I heart Crafty Chicks” and “Crochet Rocks” versions.

In other news, Vickie’s in the current issues of For Me Magazine (http://www.vickiehowell.com/formemag.html) and Austin Woman Magazine (http://www.vickiehowell.com/austinwoman.html) and her first book, New Knits on the Block, is available for pre-order now on Amazon (http://www.vickiehowell.com/books.html). Yo, check ‘em out.

Like to knit? Love to party? Well then turn your TV on to the DIY Network on August 25th (12:30pm ET) to see Vickie’s guest appearance on the “Knitting Party” episode of WEEKEND ENTERTAINING.

SPARKLE CRAFT (http://www.sparklecraft.com)
There are gobs of new things brewing over at Sparkle Craft this summer including lots of yummy new belt styles and a crazy-terrific, super-fantastic, brand-spankin' new website!!!!!!! To celebrate all this newness, Sparkle Craft will be having a big fat SALE when the new website launches! Keep your eyeballs peeled on www.sparklecraft.com in mid-July!

Well that’s it for us but before we bid you ado, we want to give a shout out to one of our favorite local artists, Melinda Lawless. Several of us in the group own one of her kick-ass, cutting edge bags and oh, how we love them so! Check out http://www.lawlessrevowear.com/index.html to see some of her limited edition creations. Pssst….tell a friend.

Until next time, ciao!
xoxo,
Karly, Jennifer, Susann, Tina, Jen, Jesse, Hope, Vickie and Jenny
(aka The Ladies of the Austin Craft Mafia)




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