2011 SHOWS...fast approaching!

Yes, it is that time of year where I can guarantee a proper phea jean blog update....
HOLIDAY SHOW SEASON!!!
I'm sorry you've all had to suffer throughout the year wondering what I've been doing...apparently too much sewing, not nearly enough blogging...

but I've been working, don't you worry!
The proof of my labors can be seen (and purchased) at any of the following shows in the great city of Philadelphia almost every weekend in December up until Christmas!

First up for the season:
December 4th, Sunday
Traveling Wares at Dirty Franks
347 South 13th St.
2-7pm

please note that I will NOT be at the TW Cantina date, so while I do wish for you to go and support all the other wonderfully talented local artists, if you are out for some phea jean goodies please choose another date to see me!

Perhaps at the next show:
December 11th, Sunday
South Philly Handmade Brigade
1241 Carpenter Street
noon-6pm
Are you on facebook? Great! There's an event page, so check it out and RSVP if you are planning to attend! This is my first year participating in this annual show, so I'm excited to see what this group of artists has in store!
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=102084869906786


And Finally:
December 17th, Saturday
Crafty Balboa at the Broad Street Ministry
315 South Broad Street
11-5pm

While you are on facebook, you might as well RSVP "hell YES" to this event too!! Here's the link:
http://facebook.com/event.php.eid=289915051030105
I know

that you know

that I am sewing up some sweet creations for this years shows, still a little taste would be nice, right?!

CAPES! It's gonna be cold. You can walk around with a small blanket to keep your shoulders warm, or I suggest opting for the more fashionable winter cape:

These capes debuted last winter and I'm jazzed on making them again this year. I'm using more vintage wools in plaid and houndstooth which are soooooo amazing I want to keep them all for myself! Oh and last week I uncovered three tubs of fabric I had stored away so I couldn't resist cutting about 10 more capes using these amazing vintage patterns that you know they don't make anymore!

I also got my hands on some cool Michael Miller housewife fabric and I was able to crank out a bunch of zipper pouches in various sizes!

The zipper pouches and these velcro pouches (pictured below)are both great gifts that look cool and can be used for in a variety of ways including: for eye glasses, as a wallet, pencil case, etc etc etc. This should make you happy!

Wait, I forgot to tell you...
I've got a lot of items in my etsy shop. No seriously, its true! 49 items, its crazy! Capes, headbands, hats, and more! http://www.pheajean.etsy.com/

And since I love you all so so very much, I've created a coupon on etsy...all you have to do is log in and find what you can't live without one second longer, add to cart, and during the checkout process enter the code NOVEMBER2011 to receive free shipping from the phea jean shop til the end of the month! Offer valid starting at 12 midnight, tonight! Just kidding, its available now!!! What are you waiting for?!

SEE YOU AT THE SHOWS!

xo, Amber

February Update!

Two summers ago a friend gave me some fabric he had saved from an old chair. I took that fabric and made it into a newsboy cap which sold at
Mew Gallery. I wish I got to see who purchased it!


Newsboy Cap A9

I wanted to somehow show my appreciation to my friend for giving me such cool fabric. I still had bits of the fabric in my scrap bin so I decided to make him a wallet and incorporate the fabric he gave me. I made the wallet pattern on a whim and it turned out pretty good, so I quickly produced 4 more. I thought this could be a good alternative to the goliath wallet which is larger and basically for women. This new mens inspired wallet is smaller and I'm calling it the Apollo Wallet.





And here's my baby Apollo...

Apollo Wallets are now available on etsy and at Mew Gallery.

More headbands! These are selling fast!
I will be listing new headbands on etsy over the weekend (Apollo is visiting and he doesn't let me get much work done), so for right now the new batch is available at Mew Gallery!


Mew Gallery and The Philadelphia Sewing Collective will be holding a supply swap on February 21st from 1:30-4:30PM! Hopefully I'll be able to clear out some of my old fabric and not take home too much.
BONUS: After the swap there will be an art opening at Mew, so it will be a jam packed day of fun. If you're smart you'll swing by!Oh and Channel 6 did a little piece on the swap...check it out HERE
I make a little cameo in the background!

Currently, I'm working on handbags for a party I have coming up.
I've also already signed up for the Trenton Avenue Arts Festival on May 16th. I did this show last year and it was a lot of fun.
Coinciding with the festival is a kinetic derby!
The spring shows are starting to be announced so I will keep everyone informed on the phea jean schedule as I sign up.

I'm getting better at sending these updates...
and I've got a lot of new things I'm working on which I'll unveil once the weather gets a little warmer!

phea jean joined twitter!
Follow me!

xo Amber

ps check out the upcycling post below this update if you haven't already!

2+1+1+1

so, as you should all be aware by now, i'm awesome and sometimes i even amaze myself...

upcycling, recycling, repurposing
-whatever you want to call it-
i'm sooooooo into this process of making something new from something old!

my latest upcycling challenge was to create a newsboy cap from 2 plaid button down shirts, 1 t-shirt, 1 polo shirt, and 1 pair of pants

BEFORE


AFTER







i used the pair of black and gray pinstriped pants to construct a basic phea jean newsboy cap, with the exception of the brim, which was made from the black t-shirt with the japanese writing. for the top detailing, i knew that i wanted to keep with a geometric theme because there are already so many straight lines to follow within a plaid pattern. first, i removed both plackets from the each of the button down shirts (plackets are the vertical center-fronts of the shirt that overlap, one side with the buttons and the other side has the button holes). i cut the plackets between each button/button hole and was left with approx 3" pieces. then i "buttoned" the plackets together with the opposite shirts (the button hole placket from the red shirt with the button placket from the white shirt). next, i sewed all the pieces together into a "diamond" shape. lastly, i lined the newsboy cap with the striped polo shirt.
tricky, tricky!

over 2008, onto 2009

another year and another holiday show season has come to an end...
as some of you may know, a mysterious injury left me on crutches for the month of december. i really thought that attending the holiday shows would be near impossible. however, with the rallying support of family, friends,& fellow vendors i(we) got through it.
sooooooo to everyone who helped me set up
and kept me company
THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU.
just another reminder that phea jean would not be possible without those people i am lucky to have in my life. those people are, of course, all of YOU.
i've still got one good foot, luckily my sewing foot, so that means i've been busy!

new phea jean hair accessories!
chloe
hair combs
and headbands
named after my pretty chloe!


last year around this time i made two knit hats: one for me and one for a friend. even though i'd been rocking the hat, i never made any more until a few months ago. i'm happy to report that the hats started selling and the
nix knit hat
was (re)born as an official member of team phea jean.



the hats have a vintage feel to them, especially when adorned with vintage buttons. can't really go wrong with buttons, i say!
while out in philly i even spotted a stranger wearing a nix knit hat that sold at Mew Gallery! it was a cool moment shared with my friends sondra and lis who i think were equally excited.


also a favorite this year are the
goliath wallets!
4 separate compartments in this puppy


and of course the newsboy caps are as popular as ever!
lots of new and fantastic newsboy caps just dying to be worn. guaranteed to keep you looking good and keep your head warm too!


with all the new accessories i know what you may be thinking,
and the answer is:
NO, i haven't given up on the handbags! this past year, it was nice to experiment with other aspects of phea jean and expand my repertoire. i found that the other accessories have a quicker turn around and are less labor intensive (yet no less special). and with each year, gaining more experience from doing shows and selling at Mew Gallery, i've found that customers like to see a range of items...shows i'm no one trick pony, so to speak. and for those who cannot afford my more expensive handbags, it's still possible to find the meticulous sewing and great many quirks of phea jean in something less expensive like a hair accessory. it's also nice to know that phea jean can be successful selling other items aside from the handbags.
as always, i am still committed to making unique, one of a kind items.

along with this blog update, i have also updated my official website pheajean.com so check out the gallery to see new items!
for everything available for purchase online at this time check out my
etsy shop!

PHILLY LOCALS: phea jean can be found at
Mew Gallery
906 Christian St.
Philadelphia, PA 19147
215.625.2424
Mew is a fantastic boutique featuring handmade goods by local artists.
really, there are about 100 things in there that i NEED at this exact moment!
if you are in town be sure to stop in, you may even find my shining face behind the counter, dancing, or just hanging out with owners and talented ladies i now call friends, lauren and carolynne! lots of my creative friends also sell items at Mew so even if you don't pick up anything from phea jean you'll still be supporting the local community and that rocks!

interested in custom ordering? want to host a handbag party in 2009?
rocking a phea jean and want to show it off on the website?
please don't hesitate to contact me: pheajean@gmail.com