Here’s an image from another one of our excursions into Steampunk Land.  We had gotten a call from Tyler Hanson to provide some content for an event Google hosted during SxSW Interactive, 2011. It was held at the local club, Speakeasy,( a venue known to be haunted).  We showed up with our Time Machine and our troupe in costume, ready to play and encourage others to do the same.   When you play, you need a story, and our story was we were stranded in 2011 due to a malfunction in our Nasgar Wave Generator and were unable to locate out “portal”.

” Have you felt any odd vibrations in your extremities?”, we would ask the attendees, “Odd humming in your ears?  Strange smells?  any of those might indicate proximity to a portal.” It was so out of their norm, and the majority were So willing to play.  And of course the questions were meant to be taken more than one way, and that led to all sorts of funny responses.  Everyone was enjoying our tour thru the crowd, and having ridiculous amounts of fun.

When your shop sells clothes that frequently are over 50 years old, you find yourself with quite a bit of mending.  I have a wonderfully talented friend who has the skill, patience and technology to do the major reconstruction jobs, but I do the hand mending.  As boring and tedious as that sounds to most people, I really enjoy it.  Giving a stunning and unique garment a second, third or sixth life is truly one of the main reasons I love doing this job…it makes this little recyclers’ heart very happy.

Sometimes, when I find myself with a garment in my lap, that wonderful smell of attics and old suitcases filling my head,  I  will realize that my needle is following the path another woman made with her mending needle, so, so long ago.   Time fades and I am one of many women who have sewn for their families, or kept their own clothes wearable by the application of a bit of time and focus.  Maybe it was during a hard economic bump, or the desire to keep wearing something that was showing it’s use, or it was a favorite piece, and a stitch or 20 would give another season of wearing to her….because it was almost certainly a her.  And,  I am now connected with that woman, and her effort to give more life to this garment.  She and I are sisters, of a sort. I will never know her name or her story, but I can feel her with me, smiling.

Every day I show up to work, I am grateful; not only is my job something I find great satisfaction in, the place I go to do that job is a place that I adore.

I love the big, grandmother sycamore tree in the front yard,  and the grey rock squirrel that has taken up residence under the front porch. I love the sound of the bell tower marking the hours at the San Juan Church, and the sound of the parrots in their stick and twig condos on the cell phone tower. I love the herd of cats that actually own the whole Slackerville complex, and the fact I can usually find at least three of them lounging in various out-of-the-way spots in my sanctuary of a backyard. I love the happy turqoise color of this 1934 house, and the crazy mix of owner-run boutiques that fill other unique spaces up and down South 1st.  The street has changed over the years, and some would say for the worse….me, I couldn’t be happier.

Amelia’s Backyard is hosting some amazing art this Saturday, April 16th during the South First Art Walk!  Neighborhood Renaissance man, Tim Deagan is bringing in paintings that expand physical experiences into visual ones, frequently generated from “Ouch !” and “Wow!”; Rural vet and vivadora Ellen Hinds brings her lively, detailed and welded scutptures of critters; Jane Clarke unveils some recent assemblages and sculptures.  At 2pm til 2:45, Monica (Lil’ Mo)Passin, of Lil’Mo and The MonoCats, will perform and undoubtedly have us all swooning like she did on this same stage during NotSxSW 2010. She was one of my favorite acts that year, and is in town to perform at the  “Hey, Loretta!” show Terri Joyce is throwing at the Continental Club this weekend. 4pm-6pm we will be serving champagne cocktails and appropriate nibbles to celebrate the day!  Come join us!

I think Kate looks great in her Fedora!

 

We are so excited to be a sponsor for what will undoubtedly be an amazing Scene: Vintage Vivant  ( www.vintagevivant.com) is hosting a soiree’  at the dreamy new club, Swan Dive ( 615 Red  River) on the last  Sunday of every month. The Jan. 30th date is the inaugural event…join us, and you can tell your friends you were there at the very beginning!!

This is going to be so fun: free beginner dance lessons, vintage cocktails, live music and  a DJ playing 78rpms!  Lots of room on the dance  floor, too!

Each one will have a theme, and this first one is “Paper Moon”, a popular image of the times…check out the VV website for some wonderful images from the era.

Swan Dive is Our Movie Set, yall.  Gorgeous, with a bit of funky thrown in…. all creams and whites and greys; a satellite space created by the talented folks that have inspired us with Eastside Showroom. The perfect backdrop for your close-up!  If you haven’t been there yet, don’t feel left out!  It has only Just opened!

Wear 20′s, 30′s or 40′s attire, or attire inspired by those decades, and get in for only $3…otherwise, $5. But, why would you Not dress up???

To make it more fun, Amelia’s is offering a 10% discount to any customer mentioning the V V event on any purchase over $15.00. Also, check out our first V V tutorial on how to change your basic black dress into a respectable replication of the looks and preportions each decade  favored….more of Those to come!

And it came to pass, that some very cool,  smart women came together and created an amazing Happening in Austin Texas.

Biblical as that sounds, I have to say I am honored to be a part of what will surely become a “Must Do” event for a discerning slice of Austin culture…or should I say Cuhlt-cha, ala Betty Boop, a beloved icon of the slice of history said event will be celebrating.  See YOu there!!!

Awhile back, my lovely neighbors at ManaCulture contacted me to ask if I wanted to participate in a fashion show focused on showcasing the shops of our hood: South 1st St.  I think the world of these folks, love their store, and  love the way they do business.  Of couse, I said Yes!  It would be a great reason for me to up-cycle the fabulous cocktail wear that has shown up over the last few year; too far gone to sell, but too amazing to let slip past me.  All of the these dresses are incredible now, despite the damage, and no doubt made the original owner feel like the Queen when they arrived at their event, bedazzling in all their finery.Exclusively from the 1950′s, each dress has inspired me to use the damage to create a piece that shows it’s history, and revels in the evolution.  I am having so much fun, getting out of my own way, and letting the dress tell me what needs to happen…all in a very organic way.  If I am lucky I will have 5 up-cycled pieces walk down the runway this Friday, along with 5 other outfits from the shop racks.  Should be super fun…So, Friday, Oct. 1st, 8pm-11pm,  Hosted by ManaCulture 2214 S. 1st St, Featuring yours truly, Pangaea, Lovely, Schatzelein, ChyralisAustin,  hair by Shine.$10 donation at the door, benefiting ” Cause to Celebrate”….dancing, performance, complimentary cocktails for those over 21……….photos to follow!

Beyond all the fun of seeing the creative work worn and shown around Austin during our very own Fashion Week, Amelia’s is working with Deborah Main Designs for their presentation this Thursday at BoConcept Urban Design, 403 W 2nd St.

DMD was voted Best Home Accessories Designer for 2009, and from the beginning has used Amelia’s as a source for some of the  fabric, trim and jewelry that she uses to create her stunning line of designer pillows.  Amelia’s will have models and staff decked out in fabulous outfits from the shop and it looks like now we will also be adding accessories to the outfits provided by Cream Vintage. Want to get a close-up view of what those Mad Men are wearing?  Longing to know exactly how you are going to add a hat to that amazing Find you are determined to wear at the next Highball viewing party?  Here’s your golden opportunity!

Deborah will be doing a demonstration of how she creates these  useable works of art, as well as hosting a Q & A.  Following her,  I will be giving a short talk about the Vintage Jewelry that is part of  these luscious pillows. Fun!

Stop in  anytime between 5pm and 9pm for complimentary cocktails and hors d’oeuvres,and to enjoy the models,  but the talks start at 5pm.

See You There!