ESSENTIAL EVENT // Sturbridge Antique Textile and Vintage Fashion Show

Something like a thrift shop on steroids, the Sturbridge Antique Textile and Vintage Fashion Show hosts 140 vendors from around the world. On September 5, everyone from museum buyers to crafty sewers with a taste for the old school to fashion editors flying in from Japan converge upon Sturbridge, MA (three hours north of NYC) to admire rare couture and pick up quilting scraps.

“My favorite thing about the show,” says organizer Linda Zukas, who founded the event 20 years ago, “is that in one stall, you’ll have something selling for $12,000, and then at the next, people will be under a table, digging through bins for fabric. We have a lot of the stuff from the 1960s and ‘70s that’s come back in style, but a lot of our stuff is much older.”

Zukas says in addition to clothing and fabric are fashion magazines and ads, wallpaper, rugs, fans, lampshades and, for the budding seamstress, patterns. Admission is $10.

--Layla Schlack

MEMBER PROFILE // Jewelry Designer Bernice Kelly's On Fire

Irish designer Bernice Kelly works on small-scale pieces, but she dreams big. Her jewelry brand Macha—named for her Northern Ireland hometown (named after an ancient Gaelic mythological figure) is sold at Earnest Sewn in New York and select shops in cities worldwide.

At 3rd Ward’s jewelry studio, she’s found resources to match her vision. “I use it for all the projects that require bigger and better equipment than I own myself,” she says. “3rd Ward has some super big old oxy acetylene torches that aren't safe to have around the house. I do love to melt stuff!”

After working in corporate fashion design for nearly a decade, Kelly launched Macha in 2009 as an expression of her laid-back, non-fussy attitude and style. “I like to challenge traditional ideas about jewelry so am always experimenting with techniques to make metals appear more organic.”

Kelly, who shares tips with 3rd Ward’s “very approachable” jewelry instructors, wants to take classes across all different mediums. “Just throw yourself into the deep end, and don't be afraid to try something you have no idea about,” she advises new members. Her latest venture, a web design class, means exciting updates are coming to www.machajewelry.com. Stay tuned!

-- Cara Cannella  

NEW MEMBER WELCOME // Say Hello to Shana Schnur, Fashion Photographer

We're thrilled to introduce one of 3rd Ward's newest members, Shana Schnur!

A professional photographer working on fashion and other commercial projects, Schnur graduated from the School of Visual Arts last year. She collaborates with partner David Manning, and you can take a look at some of their work at shanaschnur.com.

Schnur is currently putting together a lookbook for the upcoming Fall & Winter Collection of NYC-based jewelry brand Auden Design. "Right now we're working to pick the right model, and will be holding a go-see at 3rd Ward with Auden in a week or two," she says.

"One of the biggest things that drew us to 3rd Ward is that it's a local community, not a big anonymous photo studio that exists to pad their bottom line," Schnur says. She's also excited about the possibilities that a 3rd Ward membership will open up, including the freedom to pursue exciting projects that may not have immediate financial payoff. In addition to her work with Auden, she has plans for a couple avant-garde shoots, as well as one that "combines themes from old sci-fi, high fashion, and contemporary cultural trends."

Sounds awesome.

Meanwhile, here's some of Schnur's work:

-- John Ruscher 

Shot at 3rd Ward // Behind-the-Scenes with Burdastyle

We've been loving all the shots Burdastyle took in Studio B the other week, including this wild cardi and this Pendleton cape. There's always so much energy in their photos, and now we know why -- they have fun! See below for a behind-the-scenes video of their 3rd Ward shoot and how Burdastyle brings their fashion to life.

Wanna get sew-savvy? Sign up for one of our Sewing Classes (Level 1 here and Level 2 here) -- taught with Burdastyle's beloved patterns.

Make This // Turn a logoed bag into something yours

Banish logos for your own custom floral design.So you need a new spring bag? 3rd Ward Instructor, Kat Roberts, has a great way to spruce up an old tote with some easy and pretty flowers you can easily make at home (no sewing experience necessary).

1) Start off with a sturdy bag. This second-hand American Eagle was perfect, from the color to the shape to the size -- it's just a matter of concealing the words. Thrift stores tend to be packed with cheap logo-ed items, so look there for materials! 

2) To make the flowers:

-- Choose contrasting fabrics and cut them in shapes of varying diameter, from 2" to 4". If you want, use a circle template, or cut the flowers freehand for a more oblong bloom.Sew a running stitch around the perimeter of each circle.

-- Sew a running stitch around the edge of the circle edge, making sure to leave a couple extra inches of thread when the stitch comes back to its origin point.

-- Finish the flower by pulling the thread tight so the circle bunches in on itself. Tie it off and there's your first flower!

-- Repeat with as many flowers as you like and hand sew them onto the tote in a cascading pattern, trying to conceal the stitch marks as much as possible.

3) Finishing touches:

-- Replace any uninspiring straps by Have fun with colors, textures and shapes -- it's your bag.just cutting them off and replacing with strips cut out from an old leather belt.

Congratulations! You've made your own custom tote. Learn some more smart, fashion-forward up-cycling techniques at Kat's website here.



Shot at 3rd Ward // BurdaStyle's Wild Cardi

Last week, Burdastyle dropped by Studio A to shoot their latest projects. Check out just one of the looks below and stay tuned to the blog for more images from the shoot!

Inspired to get out your needle and thread? We don't blame you. Learn more about our Sewing classes here, and you'll be making your own custom creations (with Burdstyle patterns) in no time.

Photos by Victor Castro - Wet Paint Photography 

A fun and versatile cardi that knows how to move!Great details!