50% Off Jewelry Sale Now - September 30, 2015

Hello YazBerry lovers, I am having a rare handmade jewelry sale - 50% off select items!

To shop visit this album on my facebook page.
 

I am having a rare sale on some of my handmade jewelry. Checkout my Facebook page yazberryfashion for an album with all of the available sale items. Thank you for your support!

A photo posted by Virginia (@yazberryfashion) on Sep 21, 2015 at 6:28pm PDT

Handmade Purses and Clothing Auction 75% Off Starting Bid, Most Under $20, Auction Ends 11/9/14

To participate in my liquidation auction, simply type your bid in the comments on the photos in this facebook album. 

Dear friends, I am drifting away from designing and making one-of-a-kind purses and clothing. I will be focusing my creative efforts on jewelry and baby shoes, hats and leg warmers.

Now is your chance to own one of my original designs before I donate them to charity. 75% off retail price is the starting bid. Nearly everything is $15 - $20 with the exception of a few larger, more extravagant pieces.

These are my babies. My ideas turned from a floating thought in my head, to a hunt for the right fabric, drafting a pattern, cutting the pieces and stitching the designs together with my own two hands.

I want more than anything for my creative works to find homes out in the world; to brighten peoples' days; to spread beauty and creativity throughout your life.

Love,

Virginia

To participate in my liquidation auction, simply type your bid in the comments on the photos in this facebook album. 

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! 

5 Reasons You Need a YazBerry Purse

I'm having a 30% off sale through August 11, 2014 on all of my one-of-a-kind handmade purses and vintage purses. There are some one-of-a-kind handmade clothes in the sale too!

Flash summer sale through August 11. 30% off store wide!! Use SUMMER30OFF code at checkout.

shop --> yazberryfashion.etsy.com

I want you to own at least one of my creations. Here's why:

1. Wearable art: each purse/clothing/jewelry piece I design is a piece of wearable art. It's like walking around with a priceless sculpture or painting on your person. It is my creative vision, translated through my hands into something tangible you can use.

2. One-of-a-kind: YazBerry purses are one-of-a-kind. Because of how I source my materials, I typically have limited amounts of fabric to use, which allows me to make singular pieces. This ensures that you won't show up to your next big event and your best friend's sister has the same bag. It just won't happen!

3. Sustainable fashion: I use a lot of recycled/repurposed and found materials in my creations. I consider it sustainable fashion. I am keeping useful materials out of the landfill, breathing new, beautiful life into them.

4. Solid construction: I make sure my straps are securely attached and reinforce them inside about 1 billion times. I chose fabrics that are durable yet lovely and feminine. My zippers, buttons and snaps are all carefully applied too with the goal of long lasting durability.

5. Utility: I hate purses that are big, dark and empty inside. By this I mean no pockets, no way to organize your stuff and impossible to find your keys when you are in a rush to get out the door. All YazBerry bags feature bright, surprising liners and multiple organizational pockets for small treasures like phones, lipsticks, pens and keys. Each bag is a little different. Find the one that's right for you!

YazBerry is on NTV with the Water St. Variety Community Market

Check out our story on Newfoundland Television (NTV) starting at 16:20 minutes. Virginia Berry-Phillips is pictured and YazBerry Jewelry appears during the story as well. Don't want to wait 16 minutes to view the story? Here is the exact clip of our story.

This month YazBerry, along side other artisans, crafters and purveyors of fine vintage and new goods, has been selling handmade and vintage jewelry at the new Water St. Variety Community Market. This is a new weekend market in downtown St. John's, NL. We will be taking a break in January, hosting a Valentine's gift buying market in February and hope to pick it back up full time in March. YazBerry will likely participate 1 - 2 weekends per month in the new year. Check in in March to see when YazBerry will be at the fair.

Screen shot of me in the upper left hand corner with a customer.

Screen shot of some of my original jewelry designs. Available for purchase here.

New Water St. Variety Flea Market Opens in St. John's

Lucky you, every weekend from now forward, you can poke for treasures at a new flea market in St. John's. Water St. Variety is hosting a Saturday & Sunday weekly market upstairs of the store. They are accepting new vendors too so if you have cool loot to vend, contact the store (more info on their facebook - linked above).

Even luckier you, if you are in St. John's you will be able to shop for YazBerry live and in color at the December 7-8 market. YOU ARE INVITED (join me on my Facebook event page ;) ) Depending on how this goes YazBerry may be at more future markets too! Of course you can always shop online or at my home studio near the Village Mall by appointment.

Still not convinced on how lucky you are? Feast your eyes on this handmade in Newfoundland, outport desk! I scored this at this flea market on Saturday. There are some treasures to be had. I've warned you ;) And it expects to grow each week! So keep coming.

YazBerry Little Shop Studio Tour

Enjoy, a narrated and guided tour through The Little Shop. Open by appointment most days. Simply contact me for a visit at shop.yazberry@gmail.com or just knock on the door!

Shopping for YazBerry

Right now YazBerry is residing in multiple postal codes. Accordingly...shopping for YazBerry is doing the same thing.

For YazBerry jewelry ->shop directly from my facebook photo albums. I update them every time an item sells. Contact me to make a purchase and I can invoice you via PayPal (where you can pay with a credit card without having a PayPal account) or you can pay in person.

For YazBerry handmade & vintage purses & scarves -> for a limited time only, September 22 - October 22 (because I have access to this inventory) you can shop from my etsy site. Shipping will start October 1. After October 22, the etsy shop will go on vacation again until further notice, or magical inventory management solution.

Apologies for any confusion. I really want you to have access to everything I offer, so I am working out logistics the best I can for the moment.

PRESS RELEASE: YazBerry Fashion, LLC Launches New Website, YazBerry.com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:


YazBerry Fashion, LLC Launches New Website, YazBerry.com


Booming sales and higher profile driving force behind YazBerry Fashion, LLC's new look and streamlined web presence, YazBerry.com.


Northfield, MN – May 25, 2012 – Booming sales from YazBerry Fashion, LLC's brick and mortar retail presence, have brought greater exposure and the need to streamline and rebrand YazBerry.com.


YazBerry Fashion, LLC (YazBerry) is a Minnesota business featuring handmade purses, jewelry and clothing by local Designer, Virginia E. Berry, a native of Northfield, MN. YazBerry also sells a carefully curated collection of designer vintage scarves, purses, home decor items and kitschy vintage treasures with a lean towards Mid-Century decor, kitchen and linens. YazBerry can be found at the brick and mortar vintage and handmade cooperative, The Local Joint, 310 Division Street South, Northfield, MN. Some of Berry’s collection is also available online at www.yazberryfashion.etsy.com , her shop at the online marketplace, Etsy.com, occasionally during the summer at the Riverwalk Market Fair and most recently on the newly launched http://www.yazberry.com/.


YazBerry's new website http://www.yazberry.com/  offers a sleek, modern, stripped down aesthetic of a soft white background and clean simple product photos. This rebranding of the YazBerry look is intended to bring visual attention to the fine details and colors of the products themselves and eliminate background distractions. YazBerry.com is now a one-stop-shop for access to all of the brand's web presences; quick links to Berry's portfolio on Facebook.com, her newsfeed on Twitter.com, her blog for current news and articles on YazBerry, and her Press Kit for media contacts. Thanks to the operating system hosted by Craftlaunch.com, a product geared toward small artisan businesses with storefronts on Etsy.com, shoppers can now easily purchase from the site and contact the designer.


Women with an eye for the unusual and well made, functional item, gravitate towards YazBerry, a brand boasting a guarantee that investing in YazBerry treasures "will leave people asking you where you got it!" Handmade YazBerry items are sustainable in nature and constructed from a mixture of recycled, found and new materials. Bold colors combine with sculptural details in YazBerry's clothing and accessories. YazBerry Vintage specializes in fine crafted European wearables, Mid-Century wearable and decor items, kitschy vintage from many eras and hand stitched linens. Available online at http://www.yazberry.com/, http://www.yazberryfashion.etsy.com/ and in store at The Local Joint, 310 Division Street South, Northfield, MN. YazBerry is also available for home trunk shows; contact Berry to book a show.


Contact:
YazBerry Fashion, LLC.
Virginia E. Berry, Designer & Owner
http://www.yazberry.com/
shop.yazberry@gmail.com
Northfield, MN 55057

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(414 words)

YazBerry Fashion, Juried into Riveralk Market Fair 2012

Exciting news! YazBerry is now available for purchase in two physical locations in Northfield, MN as well as online. I recently received the exciting news that my handmade work has been juried into the Riverwalk Market Fair 2012.

I will be showing as part of a coop booth from The Local Joint store, open daily (!!!), where you can now find my handmade work, vintage wearbles (emphasis on purses and scarves) and new to the YazBerry offering: home decor and kitchy vintage goodies!

I will be showing my work at Riverwalk Market Saturday, June 9, 9 am - 2 pm. Stop by, get your shop on and chat me up! I will be there for sure 1 additional Saturday this summer and possible a couple more. Stay tuned for announcements of my schedule.

Shop the YazBerry Collection 24hrs a day from the comfort of your computer (in your pajamas ;) (or your birthday suit) ) at my newly launched website www.yazberry.com.

YazBerry Vintage - Now Available to Buy in Person

YazBerry Fashion will be one of the collaborators at the new handmade and vintage marketplace in Northfield, MN. The Local Joint boasts to be as awesome as Etsy and I will say, on my first visit I was impressed. So impressed that I immediately inquired about getting involved! This week I will move all of my handmade clothing, table linens, some of my handmade purses, a selection of handmade and vintage jewelry and for the first time ever a selection of my fabulous vintage purses! Be sure to stop by regularly: collaborators are bringing in new vintage and handmade daily and our awesome organizer, Linda Schneewind, Owner of Digs (formerly of Northfield, now in Minneapolis) restyles the store every Monday!

For more info check out the blog: thelocaljointnfld.blogspot.com
Also, here is an article with a great slide show for a taste of what's in store: http://northfield.patch.com/articles/not-another-digs#photo-9072694  

What does this mean for YazBerry's online shoppers? A cleaner, more streamlined, more attractive online store. With the shift a bunch of inventory into a retail space, this allows me time to focus on fine tuning yazberryfashion.etsy.com Expect fresh images, exciting descriptions and an easier to navigate shopping experience!

FREE Handmade Gift for 150th Sale

Help me send 2010 out with a roar and reach 150 sales before the end of 2010. In honor of my 150th sale I will be giving that customer a free handmade gift with their purchase.

I will carefully select a piece of jewelry from my collection that coordinates with your purchase to thank you and to celebrate my 150th sale.

I am confident that we can reach 150 in the next few days. I am giving a 15% discount until January 7, 2011 off of your total purchase. Use it wisely, YazBerry discounts are very rare. Discount code endof2010sale15off at checkout on yazberryfashion.etsy.com.

Honeysuckle: Pantone 2011 Color of the Year

"A Color for All Seasons
Courageous. Confident. Vital. A brave new color, for a brave new world. Let the bold spirit of Honeysuckle infuse you, lift you and carry you through the year. It’s a color for every day – with nothing “everyday” about it." - Pantone.com

I love this color, have been wearing and designing with it for years, and am pleased to share a few pieces from my collection of handmade & vintage goodies that are honeysuckle. Admitedly, I've always wanted to call this color salmon, or coral, but honeysuckle is a charming way of describing it as well. Here are links to the above featured honeysuckle YazBerry.
1960's Mod Scarf
Leather Necklace
Shoulder Bag
Ocean Artifact Pendant
Embroidered Statement Necklace
1960's Hot Pink Scarf
Hoop Earrings
1960's Triangle Scarf

My vintage floral mod scarf is featured in an Etsy.com treasury of honeysuckle items:

Please note: quote found on http://www.pantone.com/pages/pantone/Pantone.aspx?pg=20821&ca=4 12.22.10

For the official Pantone Press Release visit this link.

YazBerry Obi Belt Makes Front Line Treasury

Thank you euphorbiadesigns for including my handmade obi belt in your lovely Etsy treasury, the Front Line. Please check it out so we can try to make the front page. Here's the link.

My obi belt is available in my Etsy Store: yazberryfashion.etsy.com

50-75% OFF SALE! Many Items $10-20!!!

50% OFF SALE original handmade YazBerry skirts and men's shirts. Vintage purses, dresses, skirts, jackets scarves and more!

75% OFF SALE vintage purse and clothes including a pair of crimson red Versace Corduroys!!

Be sure to check it out!

yazberryfashion.etsy.com

TUTORIAL: Handmade Christmas Stockings!

Steve & I decided to make our own Christmas Stockings for our new apartment!

Steve likes classic designs and I have a serious taste for vintage. He wanted a fur trimmed red stocking. I wanted an over the top, Victorian looking, feather clad creation. So, we set off to make two very different stockings. Here are two sets of instructions, one for a lined stocking (which can be applied to any shape) and one for an unlined stocking.

I'm proud of Steve, he made most of his stocking on his own. *High Five*

MATERIALS:
-Sewing Machine
-1/2 yard fabric (plus 1/2 yard lining fabric for lined stocking)
-Embellishments of choice
-Matching thread
-Scissors
-Paper (newspaper & a marker work great)
-Iron
-Pencil or Marker
-Pins

Takes about 1 hour.

UNLINED STOCKING:
I recommend using upholstery fabric. This is the only fabric I would use for unlined stockings as it is rigid. If you want to use a printed cotton, or other light weight material, I recommend the LINED STOCKING, see instructions below.

1. Draw your pattern on paper. Be creative! It's fun. Make the opening wide enough to fit the type of gifts you expect to receive in your stocking. 6" minimum is advised. 8" is probably average.

2. Once you have your outline, you need to draw a second line 3/8" minimum outside of your first line. This is your seam allowance. Your first line is your 'stitch line'. Cut out your pattern.

3. Cut out 1 stocking out of your heavy weight fabric. This is your front. Flip the pattern over and cut out a second stocking. This is your back.

4. Turn in the top edge twice so you have a clean edge. Iron. Stitch.

5. Finish the raw edges either by serging, zigzagging or using pinking shears.

6. Cut a piece of fabric about 4" by 8". This is your loop. Fold in ends, iron. Fold in the raw edges, fold in second time. Iron, stitch open edges.

7. Fold loop in half, pin loop to inside edge of opening of back piece. Stitch. Reinforce a couple of times. Be sure you sew it to the corner you intend to hang it from.

8. Place the two stocking pieces right sides together. Pin. Stitch around edges leaving the top open and back stitching at ends.

9. Clip rounded seam allowances up to stitching. DO NOT cut the stitched line. This is so your curves are crisper when you turn it right side out. (If your design has pointy areas like mine, clip off the corners as shown).

10. Turn and press. Your stocking is ready to decorate. I found the feathers at JoAnn Fabrics and added a little tulle bow.

11. Hang, enjoy and fill with lots of presents!


LINED STOCKING
This is very similar to the unlined stocking, however it is intended to reinforce lightweight fabrics such as cottons. You will be much happier with the final look and functionality if you line your light weight fabrics. There are various ways you can line your stocking. These are details for just one variation.

1. Draw your pattern on paper. Be creative! It's fun. Make the opening wide enough to fit the type of gifts you expect to receive in your stocking. 6" minimum is advised. 8" is probably average.

2. Once you have your outline, you need to draw a second line about 1" outside of your first line. This is your seam allowance. This is wider than the unlined pattern as you will be turning it twice and have 2 stitch lines to hide your raw edges (further explanation below). Your first line is your final size. Cut out your pattern.

3. Cut out 1 stocking out of your outer fabric. This is your front. Flip the pattern over and cut out a second stocking out of your outer. This is your back. Cut two of liner. If liner is plain no need to flip the pattern piece. If it is printed or there is an obvious right side, flip as you did with the outer. You will have 4 pieces after this step.


4. Pin liner pieces to right side of both outer pieces. Stitch around all edges leaving a 4" minimum hole for turning.

5. Clip rounded seam allowances up to stitching. DO NOT cut the stitched line. This is so your curves are crisper when you turn it right side out. Turn and iron.

6. Fold in opening edges, pin. Pin front to back right sides together. Stitch around edges leaving the top open and back stitching at ends.

7. Cut a piece of fabric about 4" by 8". This is your loop. Fold in ends, iron. Fold in the raw edges, fold in second time. Iron, stitch open edges.


8. Fold loop in half, pin to inside of back piece. Stitch. Reinforce a couple of times. Be sure you sew it to the corner you intend to hang it from.

9. Your stocking is ready to decorate.

10. To trim with fur (optional) cut a piece 2x the width of the opening plus 1" for seam allowances on either end. Cut it the height you wish. Mine is about 4". Please note, this is not the only way to decorate with fur cuff, it is simply the variation I chose. Right sides together, stitch the short ends together. Turn. Fold under raw edges, pin around opening of stocking. Take care not to pin the front & back of the stocking to each other. Stitch around both long edges of the stocking. Be sure to put the 'arm' of your machine into the opening of the stocking so you don't stitch the front to the back.

11. Hang, enjoy and fill with lots of presents!

Handmade Card Holder Giveaway!

FREE GIVEAWAY!!!

I promised you giveaways all month and all December too! Here is the next one, in time for the holiday for giving thanks. I love these because they are very sustainable in design. I keep all of my scraps 1 inch and bigger and use them in projects all the time. These super useful card holders are made completely from scrap fabric. Talk about reduce, reuse, recycle!

Crazy quilts were the first thing I learned how to sew when I was a child. My grandmother had a delightful scrap fabric bag (favorite toy) which she would let us kids rummage through and she taught us to assemble crazy quilts!

Three lucky winners will be mailed a handmade card holder. I actually carry one in my purse all the time as they are perfect for business cards. I've also used them when I go out dancing and don't want to carry a purse as they are perfect for ID, Credit Card and a little cash!

(Click on the pictures to view them larger)

The first is: Crayon
Plaid shorts, super hero stripes, t-shirt trimmings and jeans. Mix them all together in a crazy quilt and you get a wallet or business card holder!




The second is: Superhero
Super hero stripes, cape, t-shirt trimmings and jeans. Mix them all together in a crazy quilt and you get a wallet or business card holder!




The third is: Blue
Some curtains, upholstery, t-shirt trimmings, table linens and a cable knit sweater. Mix them all together in a crazy quilt and you get a wallet or business card holder!




Not a fan of the card holders I'm giving away? I can make card holders in any fabric, crazy quilt, not crazy quilt, with lace, buttons etc. Please send me a message at berry {at} yazberry {dot} com if you would like to place a custom order. These retail for $14.

TO ENTER THE FREE GIVEAWAY:
Do any 3 of the following and comment below which you have done :)

1. Visit yazberryfashion.etsy.com and list your favorite handmade item in your comment.
2. Visit yazberryfashion.etsy.com and list your favorite vintage item in your comment.
3. Follow yazberryfashion on twitter.
4. Tweet about this giveaway! Be sure to @yazberryfashion
5. Become a fan of YazBerry Fashion on Facebook(that's where I keep my portfolio).
6. Leave a comment on YazBerry Fashion's Facebook page or in one of the albums there.

Be sure to mention which handmade card holder you would like.

Good luck and have fun :)

A winner will be selected at random at 1:00 PM EST Wednesday, November 25. I'll notify you by e-mail if you win and will pay to ship your gift to you!

Tutorial: Homemade Braided Rag Rug

I've just moved into an awesome new apartment and want to do my kitchen in Plum and Lime. I have some lovely dishtowels in this color palate that I based my window treatment choice on (vintage curtains!) and signature antique bottles filled with colored water to match the room they are in.

These bottles are one of my favorite decorating items as each has a story as to where I salvaged them...the river bed in the town I grew up, an abandoned house outside of Rome...They make great decorative items with colored water and unique vases to break up a bouquet of fresh flowers.

To my dismay, I'm the only one into plum and lime today as I was not able to find any decorative stuffs in pretty much every kitchen decor store I looked in. I desperately wanted a little rug for in front of the sink. So, reflecting on what my mom had in her kitchen while growing up, a large, circular wool braided rug, it occurred to me that I could make a rug! To my further disappointment, google yielded very few to no useful braided rug tutorials.

Yes, they tell you to braid a long continuous 3+ strand braid. That to me is a given. No one really seemed to be able to suggest how to assemble said rug. I tried the hack job way (which I thought would be quickest) of zigzag stitching it on a machine; to find that this resulted in a bowl!

As a result...I present you...a step by step, photographic tutorial!

Materials:
-Several yards of cloth (colors to your choice, yardage will vary depending on size. My rug is about 2'x 3' and I used about 3-4 yards. This is a great way to recycle old clothing...hence rag rug)
-Flexible feet, heavy object or helpful friend
-Strong darning needle
-Heavy thread
-Thimble
-Scissors
-Iron (optional)
-Large flat surface
-Time


1. Cut fabric into 2" minimum width strips. I cut mine on the bias (diagonal) because this ensures minimum (often none) fraying.


2. Stitch the ends of minimum 3 strands together. I read that it is common to make 4-6 strand braided rugs as well. Three strands are plenty :)

3. Begin braiding! You'll want a place to anchor the braid; if you are flexible, use your feet, if not, place it under something heavy, have a friend hold it etc.

If you are unsure how to braid, the best suggestion is start with all three strands laid out next to each other. Grab the left most strand, cross it over the center strand (it now becomes the center). Then grab the right most strand, cross it over the new center strand (it now becomes the center). Repeat until desired length.

Note: if you don't like raw edges, you may want to iron under the edges before braiding, also, I would cut your strips a bit wider if you intend to iron. Otherwise, you can do as I did and simply tuck under the edges as you go. The back will show some raw edges...but to me, it is simply the back :)


4. Once you have a couple feet of braid, begin laying it out flat in the desired shape (circle, oval and square are the easiest). I selected oval, as my mom thought it would fit best against the cabinets.


5. You will need a large darning needle, heavy thread and a thimble to start assembly. Start at the center and use a basic stitch to catch one side than the other. I suggest you stitch from the back side so you won't see the stitches from the top. (As the stitches are small, click on the picture to view it larger).


6. Alternate between braiding more length and assembly the rug. I find it is helpful to assemble as you go because you have less length to negotiate and you can control your color placement better should you wish to make it stripped etc. Be sure to always stitch on a flat surface, otherwise your rug will become bowled or lumpy. (Pardon the project cat, she felt this was the best place for her to be).


7. To finish, simply tuck in and under the loose ends and stitch to the rug.

8. Enjoy!

Here's mine so far.


P.S. What I really love about this type of rug is that it is a frugal choice, can be perfectly tailored to your design colors, is relatively easy to do, allows you to recycle fabric should you wish and thus is a sustainable choice! Love it!

Is it a Tunic or a Dress?

TBD. Sometimes a design requires the hunt for the perfect fabric, other times the fabric inspires the design. That is the case this time. I had a piece of leather I had cut one of my leather corset leaf bodices out of that wants to be turned into either a tunic or a dress. My initial thoughts were tunic...but upon playing with some fabric around the house last night and today I am wondering if it might be a dress.

Here are the first peeks of an idea:




The lovely mauve and off white fabric you see is an antique kimono obi. The delicious giant buttons are vintage! I love recycling and repurposing fabric and buttons. To use the kimono obi fabric, I need to take it apart.


When I exposed part of the liner I discovered the makers mark (no not the whiskey), does anyone read Japanese characters? I'd love to know who made this as all kimonos and obis are meticulously and precisely hand sewn and this is the first stamp or label I have come across! This one, like a couple others I've worked with, had a lovely hidden silk lined pocket as well. I love the discovering little treasures like these. As the silk is in pristine condition I think it will find it's home in a purse in the near future.


Here is what it looks like day two. Part of the process is taking apart the first draft, which is simply pinned fabric and actually starting to tailor and assemble the item. Right now I am working on some organic, raised darts along the front waist. The idea is to cinch in the waist a bit, so it looks less sack like when the obi belt is tied around it. More later as the design progresses.