Rose Totes

Working on a couple custom bags tonight, and trying to stay warm in my workshop. Its sooo cold. I've got my little floor heater which seems to work really well; wouldn't be able to work without it. I left the house this morning to do some shopping and it was -2. OOOh I have never seen it so cold here. The snow is pretty though; the trees all covered. I don't mind driving in it. I guess I am getting use to it:)

New Yellow Leather Daisy Handbags

I just finished a custom order this morning and also added a fun new size handbag to my shop. I will be focusing on making more in this mini version in different colors along with the laptop satchels in the next 2 months.

Custom Work Today

I finished up a small coin purse this morning and am now working on a large bag for a custom order. I am in the process of sewing on the petals to the foundation and giving them the detailed stitching with my machine. Some news, I will be participating in the "Arts and Flowers Luncheon scheduled for Thursday, November 5, 2009 at Harrah’s Hotel and Casino in Reno. The “Artisan Mall” begins at 10:30 am and will continue throughout the luncheon until approximately 2 pm.

Custom Wristlets

I just completed 6 new custom zippered wristlets for a shop in Portland, Oregon. Now I can put all my focus into getting ready for the Candy Dance in Genoa. I am so excited about participating in this event! I have so much work to do.. I will be sharing each new item with you here as I create it.

Many of my wristlets can be viewed in a slideshow here.

Custom orders!

Working on custom orders tonight. Seems like I got everything done today except for what I wanted to get done. Blading, grocery shopping, picking the kids up from school, made dinner, cleaned the kitchen, made a leather painted cuff and planted some flowers. Now its almost 9pm and I am finally getting to work. This has been happening far too much lately! I am not really complaining, I am just noticing that I need more hours in the day.

After this round of custom orders I will be focusing on getting ready for the Candy Dance in September and taking on less custom work.















Here are a couple pictures of the wristband/cuff I just finished today and listed in my shop

Large Custom Shoulder Bag

Here it is.
Ready to deliver tomorrow.

Custom Work

I'm playing with the new machine today. Its so much fun. Making a custom order for a customer at LaBussola. I love these colors she chose! Final completed bag and photos coming later tonight.

Black Red and Gray Flower Bag

I finished this black red and gray custom leather bag last night. I added flowers to both sides so it doesn't matter which side you wear, you always see them. The inside has pockets all the way around so items can stand up vertically. This bag is included in my portfolio slideshow on the last page at this link

New Messengers

I just finished up the last five messengers for this big order I have been working on and created a slideshow on my website here. I have 2 more zippered pouches to make for this order and then I will be moving on to another custom job:) I have 5 more orders lined up so I imagine I will be quite busy for awhile. Not getting as much blogging is a I would like.


I will be in Sacramento on May 2nd at the May Market, Indie Sacramento, Sacramento's largest trunk show & craft bazaar with Paige Warner of PursenallyByPaige.etsy.com ~ Come by and see our work and also browse the work of 60+ vendors that include many talented artists and crafters. Support and Buy Handmade!!

Click on the link for more information
http://www.indiesacramento.com/


When & Where:
The IndieSacramento May Market is happening:
May 2, 2009, 10am-3pm
Fremont Park
1515 Q Street
Sacramento, CA 95811

New Custom Bags in a slideshow

It's been forever since I have posted anything on my blog. I have been busy busy! Here is part of what I have been working on for the last week . I am making good progress; and still have 5 larger bags to finish. I love the color combinations of all of these. This is a nice application that I found online through a friend. Its a flash viewer that is free to use on your website. All you have to do if replace some of the coding with your own graphics and text and upload to your server. I love playing around with this sort of thing. I always learn something new. Today is going to be another beautiful day. Its suppose to be around 60, yay! I have been so so cold. I'm really done with the snow. One day I am wearing my bathing suit and then the next day I am wearing my jeans and scarf and down jacket. You never know with Reno!

Custom Bag for La Bussola

Today I am finishing up a bag for Meredith, the owner of La Bussola. She is so awesome and I want to make sure she knows how much I appreciate all she has done for me. She is going to love this bag. It is made with my special layering and fusing of recycled dryer sheets and I am now personalizing it with the shop name among other things.

An Inspirational Custom Bag

I know that I already mentioned that I was working on a custom bag that a client requested. Well I finally finished it and wow that was a challenge. She provided a photograph and I did my best to create a similar style in the closest colors and materials I could possibly find. This is what I came up with and it was a challenge for me as I had to construct my own pattern for this bag with nothing but a photograph which I have never done before. She wanted it to also be slightly larger. I usually make my own patterns but this one was different as it was not out of my head, rather from a picture. My client expressed that she wanted me to use the design for inspiration and make it my own and that is what I did with this piece. It came out gorgeous and I am very proud of it. I hope to take the things I have learned from this job and use them with future creations. I think that if you want to become a better designer at anything it is necessary to study how the pros do it. This is true with anything, even drawing and painting. So I am very glad I had this opportunity and can apply what I have learned to all my future designs. The most exciting part for me is I learned how to put in a top zipper!!! And I have more confidence than I had before.

Custom bags in progress

Here is a little peek at the colors on one of the custom bags that I am working on. I am using a blue leather in ostrich print. The upholstery I am using is a linen looking fabric which I am using the reverse side of instead of the right side which is a taupe brown stripe. It looks much better and has the look that I am trying to achieve. The other one will be blue with white leather an so far I am really happy with them. I think I may have to make one for myself.

Mini Messenger Bag

I get to mail this custom bag out tomorrow. I had fun making this one.
Its nice to mix things up a bit and do projects that are new. This one has a splash of purple inside per request.
Its very soft. The whole outside body of the bag and strap is in microfiber suede like fabric and the inside is a satin type material.

More Leather Folio Progress

More progress. Wow! I never knew that sewing through so many layers of leather could be so tough. So the solution is to use some rivets for reinforcement. Things are getting there. Hope that it comes together the way I am planning it to. I am not using a pattern so its 100% creative.

Today is a good day to catch up on the art quilt that is due on Tuesday. Yikes! I haven't done anything else to it. Better get busy!

Custom Leather Folio

I am working on a custom leather folio for one of my alchemy clients. I am having a lot of fun with it which I am surprised. I wanted to take the job because it would be challenging for me. I knew I could do it. I like to figure out how things go together. For the frame I took 1/16 inch sintra and I cut it and the spine to form the shape of a binder. After duck taping the whole piece I then took the spine and cut it into strips and taped them back together to form a soft rounded edge.

I used super spray adhesive to then line it with cotton batting making the tape un noticable through the leather which will be surrounding the outside.

Right now I am on the paper holders for the left hand inside section, which will be constructed today. Last night I finished the pen loop and the paper insert slit which is reinforced with a contrasting leather. My client liked a similar design I had on one of my iPod Cases and requested this pattern for the front cover. Its coming together a little at a time, but am very happy with it so far.