ABOUT OUR PRODUCTS

Each piece is a one-of-a-kind original made from a combination of materials that are either remnants, re-purposed, vintage or new materials. I try to use mostly cotton and linen base materials although some synthetic's are incorporated when working with remnants which mostly come from upholstery and home decor pieces. Each piece is designed, hand built and completed in my shop in West Tisbury on Martha's Vineyard by myself.

My herbal heat packs and Eye pillows are filled with 100% organic seeds, berries, and herbs a percentage of which come from my garden on the island. I work with cotton and muslin only and there are no synthetic materials used in any of these pieces. This allows for them to be safe for the microwave and the people who are using them. The heat packs and eye pillows are also safe for children and babies and I feature a children's line.

I also have decorative throw pillows which are all handmade using remnant and re-purpose materials and are one of a kind pieces. Some pillows are stuffed with poly fill and are completely sealed and some are stuffed with pillow inserts with removable covers. The small throw pillows have lavender sachets in them from our garden. 

I also feature closet and drawer sachets and stuffed ornaments made from my scrap cottons these are filled with basic scents such as lavender and rose, and woody scents such as cedar, balsam, and sandalwood.

ABOUT RACHEL

After 20 + years working in the building trades on the island of Martha's Vineyard and running my own Hardware Store for 5 additional years I now find my self reuniting with my childhood dream. I thought that I had lost the ability to fulfill my dream but I just had to learn to live first. As a child I was always at the sewing machine making the next best thing for my dolls then it was costuming actors and actresses in the summers at Children's Theater summer program, where my mentor the director Mary Payne suggested that I continue in the art of costume design. I studied costume design for two years at SUNY Purchase but found that it was not the right fit at the time. I finished my degree at Hunter College in an entirely different field, graduated and moved to the Island permanently. I found that I had a talent with a paint brush and with the guidance of my painting mentor Robbert Schweir I was on my way to a new career path. After 20 years of painting homes inside and out all over this beautiful Island I decided to make a career change. I opened my hardware store in 2008 and closed it in 2012 as the economy hit us hard. A year of soul searching photography, gardening and healing I found my dream again.

Many people are curious about the name of my company Austin Designs and usually assume that I am from Austin Texas, but I am not. My middle name is Austin and it was my grandmothers maiden name, I named the company after her because she was a huge inspiration to me. She was an amazingly talented and strong women who raised six amazing beautiful children my mother being the first, and I carry her in my heart every day. So I hope that when you think of Austin Designs you think of strong talented creative women and men and not just the capital of Texas.

I take great pride in my work, and use the utmost care in each item that I make.  I work directly from my home in West Tisbury, on the island of Martha's Vineyard, in my basement shop.  I am currently running a one women show in two work spaces with 5 sewing machines and countless yards of amazing fabrics.  My works are sold primarily in open markets and festivals, but I have a few locations where some of my work can be found.  

Please take this rare opportunity to shop one of a kind products on line and enjoy these quality hand made items.