Exciting Announcement: YazBerry is Expanding; Now Offering baby berry

Now introducing baby berry, the little sister of YazBerry! 

It happened on a whim, I made a pair of leather baby booties for a surprise gift for a pregnant friend. Like I always do, I posted a picture on facebook of my latest creative project and had amazing feedback right away and several requests for custom orders! So far I've sent off 2 pairs of custom leather baby booties and have a couple more custom pairs on the design table.

I will be making variations on the leather baby booties pictured and baby booties with vintage Japanese kimono obi fabric in a few different styles and shapes. Stay tuned, lots on the design table this month. Gathering supplies; brainstorming ideas; surveying my mom friends. I will also be making baby leg warmers from recycled sweaters! 

My goal is to offer fresh color combinations and looks you won't find in stores or online today. Also, many looks will be gender neutral with the thought that they may be used for many babies! True heirlooms. 

Do I have your attention? Need an heirloom quality baby gift? Contact me and we can discuss the almost endless options. Vegan choices available too! 

ArtScraps; Recycling, Thrifting & Art Supplies. Heaven!

I spent the afternoon at a true St. Paul, MN treasure (which having grown up in MN I am shocked, appalled and totally bummed and I hadn't heard of before this month). ArtScraps is a self described "reuse store". It stocks industrial seconds, scrap, samples, donated supplies, bits and bobbles intended to inspire and supply the artist. Part brilliant recycling plan, part treasure hunters paradise, entirely great, economical place to find unique art supplies. I am in love!

If you live anywhere in driving distance from the Twin Cities, and like to make things, ArtScraps is not to be missed. The prices can't be beat. For someone like myself that scours antique shops, junk shops, flea markets and other dusty confines, this is a great place to shop because chances are most of what they stock may be what I'm looking for.

ArtScraps is run by ArtStart an arts education organization. Here are some pics of my loot. Thrilled and looking forward to creating.

Upholstery samples. Leather samples. Vintage buttons. Jewelry making bits.

Mine Eyes Crave Green!

Either I'm itching for spring or my favorite green beer holiday, St. Patrick's Day, either way I've been into green items on Etsy.com recently. In fact, so into green that I curated two treasury collections featuring predominantly green items.

Please take a peek, leave some love and spread the word.

PRESS RELEASE: 500 Division St. S., One of the Greenest Addresses in Northfield

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

500 Division St. S., One of the Greenest Addresses in Northfield

Lisa's Alterations & Tailoring and Buttons, Bows & Baby Doll Clothes offer green solutions and products for people of all ages.

Northfield, MN - December, 10, 2010 - Lisa Emery of Lisa's Alterations & Tailoring has served the Northfield area out of her home for many years. Now located on the corner of Division St. and 5th St., 500 Division St. S. (the former Downtown Dancewear store) is home to both Lisa's Alterations & Tailoring and Buttons, Bows & Baby Doll Clothes. This holiday season owners Emery and Eileen Seeley have invited Designer, Virginia E. Berry of YazBerry Handmade Fashion to showcase her clothing and accessories line. Emery, Seeley and Berry all offer green products and services to diverse clientele.

Emery has been a Seamstress and Tailor for many years in Northfield. She ran her workshop out of her home until three months ago when she opened up shop on Division St. in Northfield at The Shops at 500 Division St. S. location. Emery's service of alterations and tailoring allows customers to give a second life to their clothing, stretch those wardrobe pennies a little further and obtain garments that fit properly that may otherwise end up in the donation piles; a frugal and green option.

Seeley is a Jane of many trades and has put her skills to work designing and sewing handmade doll clothes for American Girl and Bitty Baby sized dolls, 15" - 18" tall. The clothes are often made from scraps of fabric used in other projects, fabric that makes its way to her through many channels and is recycled into beautiful, heirloom quality doll clothing.

Both little girls and grandmas enjoy browsing the racks in Buttons, Bows and Baby Doll Clothes. By recycling scraps of fabric, Seeley is creating green toys for children and keeping textile waste out of the landfills. She mixes recycled fabrics, scrap fabrics and new fabrics to create the doll clothes. Also available are handmade dresses by another Seamstress out of Farmington, and specialty manufactured shoes and career wear such as nurses’ uniforms.

During the recent Winter Walk event in Downtown Northfield, Emery & Seeley invited Northfield native, Virginia E. Berry to display her handmade, artist made clothing, purses and jewelry. Berry has an independent design label which she sells predominantly online, YazBerry Fashion. Her full collection is available on www.yazberryfashion.etsy.com, her shop on the online marketplace, Etsy.com.

Berry also works with recycled and repurposed materials. Many of her pieces include recycled textiles, found objects and vintage items mixed with new components. Berry considers her green creations "sustainable fashion"; by reusing and giving a second life to materials, they are kept out of the dumps and don't require the need to manufacture new materials, depleting our available resources and often adding to the pollution problems.

Emery and Seeley have invited Berry to showcase her designs throughout December. Be sure to stop in to see what shopping local and shopping green looks like in The Shops at 500 Division St. S., Northfield, MN. Don’t be confused by the pink walls, these ladies are green and armed with sewing machines.

YazBerry Fashion
Virginia E. Berry
http://yazberryfashion.etsy.com
berry @ yazberry.com
500 Division St. S.
Northfield, MN 55057
507-664-3890
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