Where Do You Get Your Crafty Inspiration?Austin

Whether you knit, collage, scrap book, make pillows or any other number of DIY projects around your home, we're curious where you get your ideas from. Do you search for ideas on blogs and in magazines? Do you find inspiration for craft projects on television? Are you inspired by creative friends? Or do you feel like you need a little help and take craft classes?

If you fall into the latter category and live in Austin, we've rounded up three great options for local classes:

Leslie Bonnell’s Stitch Lab Leslie Bonnell started the Stitch Lab in a small studio in her South Austin home's backyard a few years ago to share sewing knowledge with those willing to learn. After two decades of creating costumes for the award-winning Zach Theatre in Austin, it’s clear Bonnell has plenty of knowledge to share. Potential students can choose from classes like basic sewing skills, pattern making, handbags, pillows, alterations, embroidery and more.

The Stitching Studio Opened by Ann Randall, a talented lady with over 40 years of experience, the Stitching Studio is a great choice for residents who live in North Austin or who are looking for classes on a budget. Also offering classes like basic sewing skills, handbags, quilting and more, you can take the knowledge you learn here and apply it to a whole number of personal and home crafting projects.

The WonderCraft A relatively new operation here in Austin, the WonderCraft is run by Beth Albrecht, Beth Hempton, Jenifer Bryan, and Kimberly Sae-Eua. Offering a different variety of classes than those at the Stitch Lab and the Stitching Studio, you can learn things like print making, book binding, photography, jewelry making, bath and body crafts as well as sewing classes and more. A mobile operation, they hold classes at various locations throughout the city, and will soon be offering classes out of a retrofitted Airstream trailer.

Still want more resources? Check out this Google map that local Austin crafter and blogger Rachel Hobson (Average Jane Crafter) created of Austin's best places to get craft supplies and meet other crafters.

Where do you go to learn crafts in your city? Are there any well-kept secret craft studios you want to share? Where did you learn your crafty skills from, a friend or family member? Let us know!

(Images: Flickr member [The Stitch Lab in Austin, Texas] licensed for use under Creative Commons)

I'm inspired by the fact that craft projects help me retain my sanity.

posted by clampers on September 25th 2009 at 8:32am
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i get a ton of ideas from magazines and blogs and websites. i have a massive collection of tear sheets that i do my best to keep very organized and filed for things that i am not putting into immediate use.

i find that most of the projects i take on are a combination or ideas or concepts i've read about, tweaked slightly to meet my needs or goals.

one of the projects i did last year was to reorganize my parents' kitchen to showcase all the interesting serving pieces they've collected over the years, rather than having them stacked and hidden away. i posted about it here:

http://honeyliving.blogspot.com/2009/03/inspired-by-recent-rash-of-exposed.html

posted by honey living on September 25th 2009 at 9:18am
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i agree with honey

a lot of my ideas are combinations of various things i see or things i want to change slightly. I started keeping an idea notebook and draw out all kinds of things in it, it's filling up faster then i can create them.

but a huge thing for me is video games. Vintage video games. I am a big geek and i just love the old games like space invaders, mario etc. Last night decided to make a giant lego mario and am currently working on painting a guitar in a 8-bit fashion to match my strap.

With video games all leads in to pixel art which i find fascinating like the lincoln canvas in the one home tour.

posted by jmorey on September 25th 2009 at 9:34am
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Blogs mainly... also etsy, and sometimes just a random image or description I come across unexpectedly will do it.

posted by Idril on September 25th 2009 at 11:07am
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Craftster is my biggest inspiration. Plus, it's great to get feedback on projects and see how other people problem solve. But also from Etsy, thrift stores, and magazines. And little kids...the total abandon of not having a "plan" or making something "perfect" is something a lot of adults should remember.

posted by stellato on September 25th 2009 at 11:40am
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My inspiration comes from the front page of Etsy, God and sitting in Starbucks!

posted by LulaSmith on September 25th 2009 at 11:43am
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It's funny that you posted that embroidery picture! I JUST taught myself to hand embroider about 2 days ago!
Usually I find out what sort of crafts my friends are into at the moment, and then just go out and do it! Although I have wasted a good deal of $$! But through the idea that I want a little knowledge in all areas of craft, I have taught myself: screen printing, block printing, painting, scrap booking, sewing, beading, drawing with Prisma color markers, crocheting, re-vamping antiques, book art, and most recently hand embroidery! I pick a new thing about every month!

posted by lexixd on September 25th 2009 at 1:09pm
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I try and quickly click through 1,000 blogs and sites a day. Then I choose the best crafts!

posted by Rachel@oneprettything.com on September 26th 2009 at 9:04pm
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I just make stuff up.

posted by charlenemcbride on September 27th 2009 at 7:45am
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