Author Archives: DIY Del Ray

Warm Thanks to Our April Sponsors

Posted on April 17, 2013 | Leave a comment

This month we’re excited to welcome two new sponsors to DIY Del Ray, realtor Jen Walker and azure b llc.

Jen Walker, Realtor, McEnearney Associates
Website | Facebook | Twitter

If you don’t know Jen Walker personally, then surely you’ve seen her name on for-sale signs in front of Del Ray homes or attended one of the many local events she sponsors every year such as Cinema Del Ray, the Del Ray Music Festival, or the annual Alexandria Turkey Trot, to name a few.

Without a doubt, Jen is dedicated to the community and one of the many reasons Del Ray is such a thriving and fun place to live. If you’re looking to sell your home or are considering a move to the area, give Jen a call!

azure b llc
Website | Facebook | Twitter

In a post earlier this month on kitchen composting, you may have seen mention of the compact composters available through azure b llc. A great addition to an eco-friendly home of any size, these hard-working composters will turn your vegetable scraps into valuable nutrients for your garden.

Heidi, the owner of azure b llc and inventor of the product, is now offering $10 off composters for DIY Del Ray readers when you use the promo code DIYDELRAY during checkout at her online store. There’s no better time to start composting at home!

And of course, we also want to give a shout out to our continuing sponsors fibre space ^TM and Amalgamated Clothing and Dry Goods.

Very soon, fibre space ^TM will move out of their shop on Fayette St. in Old Town and into a new and much larger storefront right on King St. We can’t wait to visit and see all the updates. Follow them on Facebook and Twitter for the latest.

If you’re looking for a little spring pick-me-up for your wardrobe, pop into Amalgamated on Mt Vernon Ave. in Del Ray for vintage clothing and accessories, including some unique homemade pieces by the owner herself, Shelley White. Shelley posts new finds and vintage inspiration every day on Facebook and Twitter.

Thanks again to our sponsors for your support! If you are interested in sponsorship, please give us a jingle! We have a wide variety of options available including advertising and event partnerships.

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Posted in Del Ray Life

Tagged advertising, amalgamated clothing and dry goods, azure b llc, fibre space, jen walker, local business, sponsors

Our Marvelous March Sponsors

Posted on March 18, 2013 | Leave a comment

This month we say thank you to four incredible local businesses as our March sponsors on DIY Del Ray. If you’d like to feature your business on this site, we’d love to talk to you. Read more about being a sponsor or contact us today.

fibre space™
Contact: http://www.fibrespace.com | Facebook | Twitter

Danielle Romanetti got her start running Knit-a-Gogo, a business that hosted knitting classes around the metro D.C. area, often at St. Elmo’s coffee shop in Del Ray. She thinks of her fibre space™ store in historic Old Town, Alexandria as an extension of Knit-a-Gogo.

It’s been fun to see how successful her business has become, so successful that the store is bursting at its seams. Danielle is planning a move to a new space at 1219 King Street in May where they’ll have tons more space to do what they do best: sell unique yarns and fibres from hand-dyed, independent, local, and U.S.-made sources for knitting, crocheting and spinning, and host classes, yarn tastings, movie nights and more. We can’t wait to knit and crochet in front of a roaring fireplace in their new lounge.

Amalgamated Clothing and Dry Goods
Contact: http://www.amalgamatedclothing.com | Facebook | Twitter

It’s no secret that one of our favorite shops in Del Ray is Amalgamated Clothing and Dry Goods. They carry well-kept vintage clothing for men, women and children, as well as an assortment of accessories and homewares which make great gifts.

From time to time, the owner Shelley White will host special events such as swing dancing for First Thursday, retro hair and make-up styling and private shopping and champagne parties.

We love how Shelley keeps her Facebook page well-stocked with the latest merchandise as there is always something new and fabulous coming in the door each day.

Number 1 Sons
Contact: http://www.number1sons.com | Facebook | Twitter

We first heard of Number 1 Sons when they were doing a pickle tasting in Del Ray last summer. We instantly knew we wanted to learn more about this local brother-sister run business and set up our own private tasting with some neighbors.

Though they don’t have a storefront on the Ave, you can find them at local farmers markets and hosting periodic tastings at Planet Wine in Del Ray and Port City Brewery in Alexandria. They currently sell their sweet Acapulco kraut and zippy kale-chi at Let’s Meat on the Avenue.

Number 1 Sons’ fermented foods are simply vegetables, salt, water, and spices — the fermentation process creates the good bacteria lactic acid which is great for digestion and makes them naturally delicious.

Del Ray Cakery
Contact: http://www.delraycakery.com | Facebook

Rebecca Underley deserves all the praise and accolades she receives and more for her remarkable and beautiful cake creations, truffles and cake pop designs.

When you follow her on Facebook, like we do, you’ll get a thrill every time she posts a photo of yet another ingenious cake design. One of our recent favorites was her perfect depiction of the Angry Birds game in fondant.

Rebecca makes her treats in Del Ray using only natural ingredients. Although she was once the head pastry chef for the Blair House, the President’s guest house, and baked pastries for presidents and heads of state, she now only makes her sweet treats at home by special order. Send Rebecca an email to order a wedding cake, birthday cake, cookies, cake pops, cupcakes, truffles, you name it.

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Posted in Del Ray Life

Tagged amalgamated clothing and dry goods, del ray cakery, fibre space, number 1 sons

Thanks to our February Sponsors

Posted on February 11, 2013 | Leave a comment

A HUGE thank you to our February sponsors on DIY Del Ray. Here’s more about these locally owned and operated businesses. If you’d like to feature your business on this site, we’d love to talk to you. Read more about being a sponsor or contact us today.

The Natural Source
Contact: http://www.suehenry.lifemax.net

Sue Henry has a beautiful studio where she prints on textiles using her hand-carved linoleum blocks. Lately, she’s undertaken a small business venture as a distributor of a raw food, a chia-seed blend called Mila.

Once you get to know her, you’re sure to get an invitation to one of her inspiring Super Food luncheons as I did last summer, where you’ll enjoy smoothies and soups, enriched with one of “nature’s perfect food.” An entrepreneur and artist, Sue is also a mother, wife, baker, traveler and yogi, dedicated to changing the health and wealth of people across the globe.

Markitecture Consulting
Contact: http://www.markitectureconsulting.com

When local Del Ray resident Chris Denby launched Markitecture in 2009, he was mixing two of his passions — marketing and architecture. Markitecture, a full-service consulting firm serving the DC region (and beyond), caters specifically to the architecture, engineering, construction and property development industry.

Whether you’re looking for help with branding, social media, advertising or other communications strategies, Markitecture’s team of designers, project managers and industry experts can help you make the most of your marketing budget and efforts.

In his free time, you can find Chris with his wife and two kids somewhere between the trampoline, the soccer field and ballet class.

Bellies & Babies
Contact: http://www.belliesbabies.com

We’ve known Dawn Luepke, the owner of Bellies & Babies consignment store, since she opened her store in a 1920s Del Ray farmhouse three years ago. We quickly became frequent shoppers in search of gently used clothing for our own children.

Dawn gave us a tour of her space soon after we launched DIY Del Ray and put us in touch with one of the local artisans who sells her homemade soap in the shop. Dawn sells upscale maternity and children’s consignment clothes and baby gear. When consigned clothing doesn’t sell after a set period of time, she donates it to United Community Ministries.

On any given First Thursday in Del Ray, you are bound to see Dawn strolling the Avenue or greeting friends and customers in front of her shop, often with her husband and her three adorable children by her side.

*An added bonus, if you shop at Bellies & Babies, mention you saw their ad on this site and get 10% off consignment toys and clothing.

Tidy Up Professional Organization
Contact: http://www.tidyupnow.com

It’s a pleasure to have Laine Hardman of Tidy Up Professional Organization as both a sponsor and an blog contributor.

As a mother of four, Laine understands all the clutter that comes along with having kids and will work with you to develop and maintain a system to restore order and have a more peaceful and orderly home.

Laine also has great ideas for using items you may already have in your home in new ways to keep closets, drawers and all those nooks and crannies organized and clutter-free.

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Posted in Del Ray Life

Tagged sponsors

We Heart Yarn: Win $50 from fibre space

Posted on February 8, 2013 | 86 Comments

We’re so excited to announce our first giveaway on DIY Del Ray — a $50 gift certificate for fibre space^TM in Old Town Alexandria, VA.

fibre space^TM owned by Danielle Romanetti (whose home we featured a while back), specializes in unique yarns and fibres from hand-dyed, independent, local and U.S.-made sources for knitting, crochet and spinning. In addition to yarn, they offer a wide selection of classes, designer workshops, yarn “tastings,” movie nights and more.

PRIZE: One (1) $50 gift certificate to fibre space^TM in Old Town Alexandria, VA.
DEADLINE: Wednesday, February 13 at 11:59 pm EST.
WINNER: One lucky winner will be chosen by random.org and notified on Thursday, February 14 by email. We’ll also announce the winner on this blog post and our social sites — make sure you like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter for additional notice. Winner will have 48 hours to respond or else another name will be selected.
PRIZE REDEEMABLE: The gift certificate can be used in store and in person only.
TO ENTER: Comment on this post with the words “I Heart Yarn” and tell us how you’d like to use the money if you are selected. (One comment entry per person please.)
WHO’S ELIGIBLE: This giveaway is open to anyone who will be able to use the certificate in store in Alexandria, VA.