I'm so Excited!

I've decided to start my own craft night workshops. It's something I've wanted to do for a long time but kept thinking it would only work if I owned my own storefront. I put those thoughts aside and decided to go out and find a location that I could use to host the craft nights. It's a huge step, tomorrow I have to go leave a deposit for the space. I'm scared that no one will show up, but I'm also scared too many people might show interest. I'm a bundle of nerves, but I can't let them bet me. I have to give this a shot. So from today until the 26th I will be prepping not only for some upcoming shows but for my very first workshop. Wish me luck :)

Crafts & Coffee

I'm thinking of starting a Crafts & Coffee night at a local coffee shop. Cost will be $25 per person, this is to cover materials and instruction. I'm hoping to hold the first class later this month and offer a Dia De Los Muertos craft. Anyone interested please contact me for details.

Etsy817 1st ever Artist Spotlight

Originally from the Etsy817 blog: http://etsy817.blogspot.com/

Etsy817 is proud to present our very first Artist Spotlight. Our Artist Spotlight hopes to bring you the inside scoop on our very talented Etsy817 members.

Meet Etsy817 member Andrea Doss of Andralynn Creative Designs

What are your Etsy shop name(s) and link(s)? 

Andralynn http://www.etsy.com/shop/andralynn

What do you make and sell in these shops?
Whimsical storybook style art

Where else can we find you online or off?
http://www.facebook.com/andralynncreativedesigns
http://twitter.com/andralynncd

http://childsphilosophy.blogspot.com
Howe Unique – Denton, TX

What inspires you to create your art?
There’s nothing more inspirational than a child’s imagination. In one afternoon, my daughters will hunt monsters, host a tea party and build a tent city. The stories they come up with while they’re playing are priceless. So, naturally, when they ask me to tell them a story, I have to invent something just as fantastic. My paintings are a visual interpretation of these imaginings. 
 

When did you start your business and what inspired you to do so?
I’ve always been a painter, starting way back when I was a little girl finger-painting pictures on my bedroom wall (my mom didn’t appreciate that very much and I eventually had to move on to paper and canvas), but it’s been on the back burner for a long time. Discovering Etsy and online selling has allowed me to follow that dream while still spending time with my girls.


New Printable Party Sets

I just started designing printable party/wedding sets. This is the first set I've designed, it is a Dia de los Muertos wedding set. My wonderful neighbor came over and helped me stage the table for my photos. Considering we used scrap fabric and my little kitchen I think the photos came out awesome. I have 2 more sets waiting to be printed so I can set up another table. The kids loved walking in to the kitchen after school to a table decorated and full of goodies. I'm trying my best not to eat everything myself, but the pan dulce was way to tempting to leave for my hubby.

You can order your set here : http://www.etsy.com/listing/82264990/dia-de-los-muertos-printable-party
More pictures after the jump.

Sneak Peak

More to come :)

Custom Printed Fabric

For the past few months I've been printing my own fabric for the dolls I design. Last night I finally took the leap and ordered a yard of custom printed fabric from Spoonflower.com . I can't wait to get my fabric in the mail, it should be here in 7 days. I think I'm as excited as the kids were when they counted down until we left for Disney World. Maybe I'll even make my own count down calendar. I'll post pictures when the fabric gets here.

Hispanic Heritage Month

by longoriagirls

longoriagirls $85.00	arribachica $35.00	AidaCoronado $78.00	mexicoarts $95.00
aymujer $18.00	KeelyMarieDesi... $35.00	RanchoRomantic... $59.99	EmbroideryEver... $13.99
Shrinefairy $49.00	Tabooisland $60.00	zuppaartista $15.00	annesmithstudi... $45.00
moosaka $15.00	PauletteAvila $255.00	WinkingOwl $48.00	tesoromexicano $49.95

Treasury tool by Red Row Studio.

In honor of Hispanic Heritage Month I've put together this treasury full of tradition (at least my families traditions).

Keeping Busy

Next week I have two show booked back to back. I've been working like crazy to get ready. I'm still working on new displays as well. I wanted to share a sneak peak of part of one of my new displays :)

This is so Exciting

I woke up this morning to see that my interview for the Dallas Examiner had been posted :) I'm so excited! Take a look:
Discover Cowtown Indie Bazaar Artist Stephanie Longoria

The Mr. Gets Crafty

 

I'm so proud to see my husband getting crafty. This weekend he made some really beautiful crosses. All of them are one of a kind. He plans on selling them at this weekend's show. I can't wait to see what people think. 

Check out the rest...

10 minute Necklace Holder

 

It's craft show season again, YAY! I've been busy not only designing new products for my upcoming shows, but working on creating displays too. This season I've designed some new jewelry pieces. I have wire jewelry trees, but they take a lot of room on my tables and usually are not tall enough for my necklaces. I researched different jewelry displays but couldn't find anything that met my needs. I needed something that didn't take up a lot of table space (jewelry is only a small part of booth), it had to be tall enough for my long necklaces, and finally it had to be inexpensive. I also wanted something I could easily store in my studio since my closet is bursting already. That's when the idea hit me, all I really needed was a small strip of wood and some nails. I could leave the nails sticking out a bit from the wood and hang the necklaces from them. I could attach the display to the metal shelves that I use in my display and I could also hang it on the wall in my office to store it. This project was so quick and easy I was able to make two in around 30 minutes.

Learn how to make your own here.

Goodbye Disney World, We had a Blast

We're back from our week long family vacation to Disney World in Florida. We had a great time, but it's nice to be back in our own beds. Time to get to work on some new projects :)

A Little Patternless Sewing

When I finished my new tank tops I had a skirt in my mind that I wanted to make to wear them with. I know the look isn't for everyone, it's even bolder that I tend to be, but I love this skirt tank combo so much I can't wait to wear it.

The skirt was super simple to make. I'll add some pictures to the tutorial later for now here is a step by step to make your own.

New Tank Tops

I've had a lot of time on my hands since I graduated earlier this May. I've been trying to keep busy as much as possible while I job hunt. I recently read Miss Scarlett's School of Patternless Sewing  by Kathy Cano-Murillo, and I was inspired to make some article of clothing with a Carmen Miranda feel to it. As many may have noticed t-shirt design is kinda my thing. I started sketching and ended up with a whole collection of tank tops. These will be up in my shop soon, limited editions. I can't wait to wear them, especially the Carmen Miranda one. I'm thinking cheetah print or maybe a bright red circle skirt circle skirt and my wonderfully fabulous new platform, sling back, peep toe, ruffled cheetah print shoes. Hair wavy and loose with a huge red flower in my hair, now I'm feeling like Miss Scarlett :)

Magic Shirts Tutorial

The excitement for our summer Disney trip has been building. I had been trying to come up with an idea for some one of a kind tshirts for my kids to wear on the trip over to Disney World, but was having no luck coming up with the perfect magical shirt. Then while picking up some trims for another project I came across Tulip Color Change fabric paints. These 3D paints go on white, but once you step into the suns UV light colors appear magically. What better shirts for their first trip to the Magic Kingdom than "Magic" shirts. After some trial and error I finally figured out how to make the magic paints work on dark colored tshirt.
Want to make your own?
Here's how:

Hand Beaded Sugar Skull

When I was little I remember watching my mom sit with a stack of cut out felt shapes and a box full of sequins and beads. She would make big beaded broaches in the images of Santa, Poinsettias, valentines hearts, and pretty much everything else. Every now and then she'd let me help with one, half way through I'd get bored and give up. Last year I bought some fabric that I loved, and wanted to make some throw pillows with. After the first couple of pillows were done, they were cute but I couldn't help but think they were missing something. I dug through my craft closet and found a package of sequins and seed beads and knew that was exactly what was missing from my pillows, some sparkle.