SoCo in Austin

It is hard to believe one of the hippest art areas in Austin began as a rural road in the 1850's.  Last Sunday my camera and I (and Dory of course) took a morning stroll through the district to enjoy the quiet before the crowds.....

Art and Vintage are the name of the game on South Congress!
The eclectic store fronts draw you in
to peek at the treasures waiting inside!

Goody Two Shoes,  a trendy shoe and jewlery mecca!

Inside The Turquoise Door you can find a myriad of Southwestern

Folk Art

The Yard Dog Art Gallery shows both "old school and outsider," along with contemporary art!

Who wouldn't be drawn to the Uncommon Objects  as it blends

together the feel of an ancient general store and

retro treasure shop. Make sure to get a look at their awesome web page!

Every Texas shopping district needs a boot shop! SoCo has

Allen's. 

Whether searching for new boots, or a new western outfit to go boot skootin' in, you are sure to find it here!

New Bohemia is a great little store to find Vintage clothing and retro jewelery!

Another purveyor of Folk Art is the Tesoros Trading Company.

Looking through the windows of the Big Top Candy Shop had my mouth watering but my waist rejoicing that I decided to do a morning stroll before the store opened!

Full of every kind of "penny candy," this store brought back great memories of my baby-boomer childhood. Featured on the Food Channel, this is a must visit!

So much to shop for and so little time, make sure you give yourself at least a day, or 2 if you just love to browse, to meander through the

shops!

Next post, we'll take a look at the restaurants on South Congress.

01-09-12 Frosty With Scarf

01-08-12 Star Ornament

Another Attic 24 pattern!

01-07-12 Round Ornament

One of my favorite places to craft-wander is at Attic 24. She knows how to brighten up the rainiest of days...holiday season or not!

 Today's and tomorrow's, along what I am sure more than a few of my Christmas crafts to come will come from patterns that she provided. If you have never visited, drop by and visit her. A warning tho, be prepared to get lost in the color and beauty of the things she creates!!

01-06-12 - Oh Yes...yet another small ornament!

01-05-12 Another Small Ornament

Looks like this will be the trend this week.

This is from another package of ornaments that I purchased during the off season.

I chose to do the easiest first....the star ornament.

It took about an hour to complete.  I am learning, all be it by error, that I need to improve upon my running stitches and my outline cutting.

01-04-12 - Little Ornament

Due to having the "icks," because it just can't be the flu (because of the flu shot I received), the past...and future few Christmas crafts will be of the small and fast type.

I bought this little ornament on sale few years ago and am glad I go the chance to finally put it together! It only took about fifteen minutes!

01-03-12 - Snowflake

1-2-12 Dog Ornament

With 4 minutes to spare, 4 quick shots of my Doggie Ornament with promise to edit in the morning.

January 1, 2012 - Christmas Wreath

For Christmas this year my fantastic in-laws gave me the number one book on my Christmas list:

A fantastic book, Scalin challenges you to "make something every day and change your life". I am going challenge myself to make one

Christmas item each day for the next year. I can't guarantee that it will be an elaborate item....but I am going to do my best!

Today I went with the suggestion from the book and make something small and started with a small Christmas Wreath:

Using a bangle bracelet as a form...and 2 rows of single crochet, 1 row of double crochet, and a finishing frill of single crochet/chain 3 about 2 hours later I had the finished product:

Happy New Year!