The day after Thanksgiving may be my favorite day of the year! I finally have the green light to take all the storage bins out of the attic labeled “Christmas decos”, Bing Crosby croons away White Christmas throughout the house, and the long hours slaving away over the stove on Thanksgiving gift me with a »
Posts Categorized: Amanda
Amanda’s Favorite Deals of the Week
With all the late-night feedings, I find myself surfing the web a lot more than usual. The first few months of motherhood were filled with online shopping for baby clothes. But now that Lilee is fully outfitted to 24 months, I’ve decided to be more productive and philanthropic with my lactation time. So, here ya’ »
West Coast Book Tour Recap
In mid-April, the Spruce book and I ventured out to visit crafters and upholstery enthusiasts on the West Coast. This leg of the book tour was short and sweet and started with a visit to Creativebug‘s headquarters. Creativity oozes out of every nook and cranny in this place; take a look at the craft jewels »
Spruce West Coast Book Tour
After a fruitful November book tour through the South, I’ve decided to hit the road once again to visit the lovely folks on the West Coast! In just a few short weeks, I’ll be doing hands-on workshops, demonstrations, and book signings for Spruce: A Step-by-Step Guide to Upholstery and Design in San Francisco, Berkeley, and Portland. Baby Lilee »
Spruce Happenings: Triple Birthday Bonanza!
We have a trio of Pisces ladies in the house! This month we celebrated three Sprucette birthdays. Yes, both Clar and Amanda share a birthday on March 11, and my birthday is March 21 (so I’m technically an Aries, but I’m right at the cusp). As per tradition, we organized a special lunch involving delicious »
Welcome Baby Sprucette!
It’s been a while since I picked up my pliers and stapler or shared my two cents on the Spruce blog. As many of you know, I’ve been on a baby vacation for the past six weeks, which means lots of memorable, challenging, and amazing moments. When I started Spruce, one of my main priorities »
Spruce Featured in Citygram
Citygram paid Amanda a visit at her home in December, just weeks before she was due with baby Lilee. Little did we know our story was going to be January’s feature piece! Veronica Meewes wrote “The Unsinkable Amanda Brown” and the magazine’s founding editor, Chris Perez, took some luscious photos of Amanda in her abode »
Upholstered Headboard Tutorial and Giveaway: Win a Creativebug Class!
Amanda’s Upholstered Headboard tutorial was just released on Creativebug! This is the second of a series of online upholstery tutorials we’ve partnered to do with the craft workshop website. Students will learn how to make a cool, custom headboard like a pro from this in-depth workshop. Amanda guides students every step of the way, from »
Inspired Before and Afters!
Christmas is near! Christmas is here! We’re almost there everyone! One of my favorite things in (blog) life are our “before and after” posts. It’s been a while since we’ve seen a round of makeovers from Spruce, no? In the spirit of unwrapping all your favorite gifts on Christmas, unwrap these lovelies with your eyes »
And Baby Makes Three: Spruce Hosts a Shower for Amanda
Last week we celebrated the anticipation of a Lilee Ann Brown with a sweet baby shower. In case you missed Amanda’s announcement that she’s expecting, dear readers, Amanda will be giving birth to a baby Sprucette very soon! The shower was held at Amanda’s house and hosted by former Sprucette Meredith Carmichael, our friend Mel »
Best (and Worst) Moments of Book Tour!
If you were online at all in November, you know that Katherine and I were zipping across the country for three weeks promoting the new Spruce book and meeting so many enthusiastic designers and furniture rescuers. 10 cities, classes, and book signings, 105+ students, and 3600 miles later, I’m still reeling and recouping from the »
Spruce Lampshade Video is on Creativebug!
You can now learn how to do more upholstery projects by going to Creativebug! Yes, this week the website, which curates a variety of video workshops focused on crafts, launches Amanda’s tutorials. The video featured this month shows Creativebuggers how to make a lampshade from scratch ($9.99). Eventually, the site will have instructional videos of Amanda’s upholstered »
Book Tour Stops: Atlanta
On Monday, we’ll be in Atlanta, and we couldn’t be more excited! Atlanta is nationally recognized for its interior design showrooms, and there’s a lot of great shopping and beautiful architecture. Our week starts with a book signing on Monday, November 18 (7pm) at Eagle Eye Books, and on Tuesday, we’ll be presenting our Upholstery »
Book Tour Stops: Tennessee
Early this year when the book tour idea was sprouting, I pulled out my paper map and began plotting our driving route. Knowing the tour would be in November, I shied away from the Northern states. Wintry weather and pulling a trailer don’t mix! And heading west is better left for airplane travel than driving. »
Book Tour Stops: Texas
Only three weeks until the Sprucettes load up and hit the road for our November book tour! As I’ve been booking accommodations, it has inspired me to get to know each city a little better and dig up the best places to eat, shop, and play. Thanks to a handful of friends and the thoughtful »
Spruce Happenings: Behind the Scenes with Creativebug and our New Website!
Hi there! Long time no talk! Are you all as busy as we have been? Here are just a couple reasons why things are so exciting and hectic for us lately! Last month we teamed up with our buddies at Creativebug. Spruce is contributing a few instructional videos to their curriculum, which will soon be available for your subscribing pleasure! Three »
You’re Invited to the Spruce Book Launch Party!
Spruce is ready to make this book launch official, and what better way than to celebrate with a Southern party at Mockingbird Domestics in Austin! Join us as we enjoy Southern-style foods and libations, DIY goodies, and a book signing in honor of Spruce: A Step-by-Step Guide to Upholstery and Design by our very own »
Get Ready for the Spruce Book Tour!
Book tour classes are now open! We’ve been working our buns off planning the most exciting road trip in Spruce history, the book tour! Thanks to Storey Publishing, our phenomenal hosts and hostesses, and future book tour students (we hope that’s you!), we’ll be packing our bags and loading up the Sprucemobile for three fun-filled »
Photographer Mel Cole
Hope everyone is off to a great start in this new school year! It seems that we have been just as busy here at Spruce gearing up for our fall season of bookish work. Lots of things to plan and study for, which includes an upcoming new website for Spruce, as well as our exciting »
HGTV Project: Geometric Upholstered Door
In January, one of my many fruitful encounters at Altitude Summit SLC was meeting a lovely lady from HGTV. Liz took our lampshade class and was so excited by her DIY experience, we decided to team up and produce original upholstery projects for the HGTV website. First up is this showstopping Geometric Door.
New Retail at Spruce!
Hi! Clar here, keeping you abreast of all our goings-on. We’ve been working on some new projects here at the shop, doing a bit of shuffling, rearranging, general “Sprucing” like we do! It seems that you have been hungry for Spruce fare, so as we’ve sold a chunk of our goods lately, we must create more »
Altitude Summit San Francisco
A few weeks ago, I hopped on a plane and headed to San Francisco to partake in round two of Altitude Summit (check out round one in Salt Lake City). Not only did I enjoy the fall-like temperatures but two packed days of rubbing elbows with the most fashionable ladies (and a few gents) in »
A Sprucette Was Born…
We had a big birthday this week! HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU, MEREDITH!
Upholstery Basics: Camping Chair
As Father’s Day quickly approaches, I’m reminded of my annual pilgrimage to the department store in search of that perfect gift for dad. But thirty-something years later, I’ve exhausted the “Best Dad Ever” boxers and accompanying mug, and I’m pretty sure he has two of every grill accessory made. This month on Upholstery Basics, we »
Spruce Upholstery Tip: Using a Hole Saw for Button Tufting
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Upholstery Basics: Garden Cart
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Upholstery Basics: Circus Tent Kennel Cover
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Important Happenings This Week!
Here are the weekly alerts from the Spruce Calendar. TOMORROW, February 28: Ruby Collaborative Gathering 5-6:30, Icenhaur’s Private Room, 83 Rainey Street Get a frosty beverage and mingle with some smart Austin ladies (including me and Meredith!) and the Ruby Collaborative. FRIDAY, March 1: Altitude Summit NYC Registration Opens 11 AM Central Liked what you »
A Quick Trip to Portland, OR
Sorry to disappoint, but I’m not here to share eye candy from Katherine’s latest pastry extravaganza. Though, she did make the BEST chocolate pie I’ve EVER had last week! These are just a few of the tasty and beautiful treats I encountered on my last visit to Portland. Banana cream pie and chocolate truffle cake »
Altitude Summit Adventures, Part II
I’m back from Salt Lake City followed by a trip to Portland (more about that later). Wintry weather is great for hot chai, layering clothes, and wearing all my vintage coats shoved in the back of my closet, but I am so glad to be back to Austin and our warm, sunny weather! Last week, »
HP SpectreONE All-in-One Desktop Video
A few weeks ago, we shared our favorite features of the HP SpectreONE All-in-One. Take a look at the video to see it in action! httpv://youtu.be/e8UEhtrq3J0 For additional specs and information about the HP SpectreONE All-in-One, visit the HP website here and here. I wrote this review while participating in a program on behalf of HP »
Altitude Summit Adventures, Part I
Hello! Amanda and I have just returned from our adventures at Altitude Summit, the most killer blog conference, period. Our week was full of non-stop sessions learning all kinds of things from Photoshop, to how to monetize your blog, to creating great work-life balance. Not only was the content amazing, but it was seriously one »
We have a new arrival at Spruce!
Last week, we received a rather large package in the mail from Hewlett-Packard, a new HP SpectreONE All-in-One. For Christmas, the Sprucettes asked Santa for a new computer since Clar, Meredith, Alejandra, and I communally use one desktop for checking out customers, reading blogs, looking up fabrics, etc., etc. Meredith and I bring our own »
December Upholstery Basics is Live on Design*Sponge!
This month, I wrote my first Upholstery Inspiration blog on Design*Sponge and upholstered this antique chair using my mom’s crewel art. Check out the complete transformation and story here.
Fresh Face at Spruce!
It is my pleasure to announce to you all that we have been graced with a new intern. Allow me to introduce Alejandra! Alejandra hails from Ciudad Juarez, later moving to El Paso, and has been in Austin for close to two years. (Entonces, ella es bilingüe.) Amanda and Meredith met Alejandra at Design Camp, »
BIG ANNOUNCEMENT: Get ready for the Spruce book!
I’m back! I know you’ve been wondering where the heck I’ve been this past year with little to no action on the blog and limited time in the shop. Believe me, I’ve been missing you guys and the Sprucettes, as well as being involved in the happy and funny moments that happen every day at »
Our 5th Annivarsary Party In Pictures
Thank you friends, family, loved ones, clients, Austin, and all of those who visited with us last Friday evening! You made it a warm and blissful 5th Annivarsary party. Below is 2/3 of the Spruce crew…Frank left early with his brood and evaded the papparazzi. (Katherine made the fringy festoons from our scrap fabric and »
Inspiration: The West Texas, Mexico Border!
Gritos!!! I had such a fun time recently in Marfa, Alpine, Fort Davis, Presidio, TX, and all points in between. I took a road trip! There was a last-minute invite for me out west a couple of weekends ago, and Amanda kindly took over my Saturday post at Spruce so I could hit the road. »
Grommet-Top Shower Curtain on Design*Sponge
October Upholstery Basics is live! Click HERE to see how to make a grommet-top shower curtain on Design*Sponge. For a wide variety of other Spruce DIY projects, check out these other Upholstery Basics tutorials. Photography by Mel Cole.
Calling all Designers, Join us at Design Camp!
An exciting event will be coming to Austin from October 24-26! It’s called Design Camp, and if you’re an interiors fanatic, like we are, you’ll feel like a kid in a candy shop! This three-day workshop is the brain child of celebrity designers Lori Dennis and Kelli Ellis. Both have spent years mentoring interior designers »
Design*Sponge September Upholstery Basics is Live!
Check out Amanda’s September Upholstery Basics column on Design*Sponge and learn how to create custom slipcovers for those unattractive folding chairs you own! Take a look at more exciting projects here!
Back to School and New Retail At Spruce!
Hope all is well with everyone and that you’re getting back into some school spirit. We certainly are! This year the return-to-school season puts me in such a nostalgic and playful mood, which seems to be the feeling overriding at Spruce. I recently joined Meredith and her roomies for some killer kid-like fun at Jumpoline, »
Adventures in Cushion Stuffing!
If you’ve ever attempted to stuff or un-stuff a seat cushion by yourself, you know what a difficult task that is. Readers if you’ve never tried this, go find the largest seat cushion in your home and take the foam out. Then put it back in. Take it out again, and then you shake it »
Spruce Night: At Long Last…!
Greetings all! Summer has kicked into full gear and we have been busy! Thank you all so much for your support. We finally took a break from the shop to get together for a much-needed Spruce evening this Tuesday last. It has been some time since we all collected to indulge in great food and »
Poolside Roll Up on Design*Sponge
Check out Spruce’s Upholstery Basics column on Design*Sponge and learn how to make your own poolside roll up! Click here for more upholstery basics. Have a great weekend!
Spruce: In the Press and Around Town!
We are so pleased to toot our horn about being included in the current issue of Austin Monthly Magazine! We are listed as number 5 in the article, “112 Fun Things to Do in the Summer.” HOT DOG! Awesome sauce! We hope you’ll include us in your to-do list for summer and take a class, »
Wall Upholstery on Design*Sponge
Check out this month’s Upholstery Basics column on Design*Sponge! We’re transforming spaces wall by wall. Click HERE for other Upholstery Basics posts.
Before And Afters: Crazy Custom Edition!
In this episode of “Before and Afters,” Spruce brings you some pointedly unique creations. We have had a slew of client-designed furniture that speak to the designer/clients’ personal vision and individuality. We applaud you! If you’re going to spend the money on a project, why not do it big and bold and fearless as these »