Handmade Steel Furniture Made from Old Cars

Still a little high on hair wax, neck tattoos and the smell of grease from Austin's Lonestar Roundup a couple weekends ago. I came across this must have table made from a car hood. I would give anything for this in my living room (and so would my husband).

Handmade Steel Furniture Made from Old Cars

Written by Allison Boyer

Published on April 25th, 2009

1 Comment

Posted in Autos

I came across The Weld House today, and love the concept - new furniture made from reclaimed sheet metal. Joel Hester’s studio makes furniture from 20+ year-old cars, and the products are beautiful.

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Cool. He’s located in Texas, and for handmade piece of art, the prices are actually quite resonable. Check out the website for more information.

Tags: furniture, reclaimed metal, recycling, tables

Tarts in Doggy Fashion Show

	SCOOP: Wine on the Roof Texas Tarts will be creating a one-of-a-kind outfit to help benefit the East Lake Pet Orphanage.
	Canine couture and fine wine combine at the Eighth Annual Wine on the Roof, an elegant evening in celebration of homeless pets and East Lake Pet Orphanage. Pair with your fellow Fido-lovers and peruse a dazzling silent auction and enjoy fine wines paired with a delightful seasonal menu. Featuring a “Project Runway” themed fashion show with pets modeling Canine Couture and Feline Finery by local fashion designers. East Lake Pet Orphanage, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization, is a no-kill shelter that places dogs, cats and other animals into permanent, loving homes. In cooperation with both public and private like-minded organizations, the shelter educates the general public on the importance of spaying/neutering and responsible pet ownership through classes, media and public activities. It’s fabulous furry philanthropy. When: Saturday, May 9th, 7 p.m. Where: East Lake Veterinary Hospital 10101 East Northwest Highway, Dallas, TX 75238 Cost: Attendance is limited. Tickets are $55 in advance & $60 at the door. Call: 214.349.3576 Visit: www.ELPO.org

Dallas crafter gives jewelry a rock 'n' roll edge

This was just posted from DFW.com

Old record albums never looked so cool, thanks to Dallas' Texas Tarts.
By ERIN WHITE

If we say "crafts" and you think "macaroni necklace," you’ve got the seriously wrong idea about Jacky Sylvie, owner, crafter and mastermind behind Dallas-based handmade jewelry company Texas Tarts.

Sylvie’s chunky, bold jewelry, made of vintage vinyl records, has a decidedly tough edge — it’s whiskey on the rocks, not cherry Kool-Aid and animal crackers.

We chatted with Sylvie about how she makes her unique pieces, what it takes to make a living at making your own jewelry and what it means to be an indie crafter.

How did you get into using records to make jewelry? Do you have an art background?

I have absolutely no background in art, but I’ve got a ton of artistic friends and family who inspire me. I’d been looking for a creative outlet, and I was messing around with a box of old records I didn’t want to throw away. I’d seen a lot of people making record bowls. Eventually, I figured out how to make the cuffs. For a long time, I only did the cuffs. (Sylvie now does all kinds of jewelry. Price range is $5-$50.)

How do you make the jewelry?

I heat the records on low heat . . . (long answer edited so other crafters don’t bogart her style — it has to do with searching the entire known universe for awesomely colored vinyl), then I cut them, shape them and finish them.

So you need a way to heat the records . . . do you work in a kitchen? Or maybe use a blowtorch?

I actually have a small section of the garage where I do the heating. I do all the finishing in my laundry room, where I work on a really small desk. I have to be super organized. (Note: She does not use a blowtorch.)

You say you’re an indie crafter. As we’ve long associated crafting with our grandmothers and ugly crocheted things, we’re fascinated by this concept. Please explain.

Indie crafting is all about doing things locally and having it be handmade. Recycling is really big, and so is being conscious about where things come from. It’s about finding something that’s really quality and one-of-a-kind.

Is it also about attitude and sex appeal? The photos of your jewelry, what with the licking of things and occasional bit of underwear without pants, are pretty sexed up for, you know, crafts.

(Laughs) It is for me. I changed my look this year to go a lot more rock and roll. I like the sassy part of it and the attitude. Some of my stuff is a little bit racier. Not all of it. But a friend of mine did that photo shoot, and it got a little crazy.

We discovered Sylvie’s stuff at the super cool Coffee Haus in Arlington, but you can find her whole line at www.texastarts.com.

Article: http://www.dfw.com/entertainment/story/120998.html

Pin Up and Tarts

The beautiful Heidi Van Horne wearing a Texas Tarts cuff at Lonestar Roundup in Austin. Awesome!
http://www.heidivanhorne.com/

Funky Finds Spring Fling This Saturday

This Saturday come see the Tarts at the Funky Finds show at the Will Rodgers Memorial Center in Fort Worth from 10a to 6p. So much goodness in one place it should be illegal. Over 100 indie/handmade vendors, food, a raffle, and so much more. Also, come out and see the new necklaces and earrings from Texas Tarts.

Lonestar Roundup

Finally, Lonestar Roundup has arrived. I can't wait for the smell of oil, hair wax, and tires burning on the asphalt. In it's 8th year this show just keeps getting bigger and better. If you want to see the best the South has to offer in hot rods, rat rods, customs, bikes, pin ups, bands and vendors then head to the Austin Travis Fair grounds this Friday and Saturday. In the evening don't forget to check out Congress St. for car cruising, people watching and the great bars. Need to burn some cash? Well, check out this line up up of vendors: Texas Tarts, Poisoned Creations, Tara to the T, Amy's Kitch and Stich, Vanity Flair, Trophy Queen and so much more. This is what Texas is all about!

New Soap Old Bottle

i wanted to share these fun new cleaning products called ‘new soap, old bottle‘. NSOB sell brand name liquid soap packaged in old plastic soda bottles, plastic water bottles and glass beer bottles for. each bottle is cleaned, sanitized and processed for reuse as packaging for your favorite brand of liquid soap. this is something that many of you could (and might already) do on your own, but for those shoppers who’d prefer to buy rather than make, this is a fun alternative to the heavy plastic packaging you get with major brand soaps. click here for more info and to shop online.

Kudos Kelly Repa Gettin Green

Spring Greening
Electrolux!

You tried planting a garden for Earth Day, but all your green thumb produced was a whole lot of grass stains (and no budding foliage to show for it).

This year, clean up your act with Electrolux’s new Kelly (as in Ripa) Green washer and dryer.

The limited-edition shade, an upbeat green that packs a visual punch, hints at the machines’ abundant ecofriendliness: Electrolux washers use up to 83 percent less energy¹ and 56 percent less water² than your old-school model, with an optional ecofriendly cycle that slashes energy usage by 43 percent.

And don’t abandon that garden yet. For every virtual flower you plant at electroluxappliances.com, the company will donate $1 to Global Green USA to support green schools initiatives across America.

Plus, you’ll automatically be entered to win a Kelly Green front-load washer and dryer.

One hand washes the other.


For more information and to plant a virtual flower, go to electroluxappliances.com.

Funky Finds Spring Fling

Texas Tarts will be rockin out April 25 at the Funky Finds Spring Fling. This Fort Worth show is going to be awesome. Hosted by Funky Finds in the historic Will Rodgers Memorial Center there will be over a 100 vendors, a raffle and so much more.

Lonestar Roundup

Yes, it's that time again. Spring and the smell of rust and oil. What, you say? Yes, Tarts will be heading to Austin for the South's largest car show April 17 and 18. This is the 8th year The Beatniks will be hosting Lonestar Roundup at the Travis Fair grounds at our states capital. Come check out 100's of hot rods, rat rods, customs, pin ups, food, bands and unique vendors. Texas Tarts will be there along with Tara to the T and Poisoned Creations. It's a show you do not want to miss!


For more info go to: http://www.lonestarroundup.com/

Recycle Your Old Cosmetics

As if I couldn't love Origin's anymore now they go and recycle your old cosmetics. Check this out from Daily Candy:

RECYCLE
Old Cosmetics
What: Take your used makeup and toiletry containers to any Origins shop and select department-store counters and the skin care co. will recycle ’em for free, regardless of brand.
Why: Show some inner beauty.
Where: Store locations at origins.com.