An Ode to Etsy...

An adorable video about my dear sweet Etsy!

A new Keely...

Here is a Keely made from some more of my scores at that amazing fabric store. This is a fantastic Mircosuede with this circle detail stitched in a gold thread. Gorgeous. It is lined in a stone colored Linen. Fab. I also set the magnetic snap in a delicious rust colored leather. I am loving this bag and am off to make a duplicate to keep for myself! Meanwhile this one is for sale in my shop.

The Story of The Gwen...

Soo...I found the most amazing Fabric Store about 30 minutes from my house. It is seriously the size of a Costco or Home Depot...But instead of being full of hammers or vats of Mayo....It is full of Fabric!!!! On Sale!!! It was almost all Upholstery weight (which is exactly what I need) and I almost cried when I walked in. Thousands of bolts of fabric. In every possible color.

I was sure they were going to tell me It was only for "the Trade" and I would be turned away. But No...They let me in and ignored me like proper discount warehouse employees! I must have been completely overwhelmed...I couldn't decide what to buy. I was there for hours and only bought a few yards of a few different fabrics...

This, The Gwen, is my first bag to be made from what I managed to purchase that day. It is not in my usual blue/green/brown color palette and I like that. It has this beautiful Persimmon colored Leather combined with a warm woven floral. It is my first time working with leather and I am in love. Not scary at all.

I have a few more to share...stay tuned.

Playing with Patchwork...

Introducing . . . . . The Melanie.
I have been playing around with piecing bits and strips of my favorite fabrics together. This bag makes me think of spring soo much. Tomorrow IS groundhog day...maybe P. Phil will be nice and tell us spring is just around the bend...

Meet Stella....she's a sweety. I am really liking this new bag shape. I love the exaggerated classic shape with a modern, clean look. This bag is larger than this style is usually done in. It is large enough to fit a full size legal note pad . She's over in the shop right now.

A gift...

For my sweet Mom-in-law's (hate that phrase, sounds like you are obligated by law to like each other) Birthday I made her a framed piece of art using my boys' silhouette's.

What I thought was going to be a quick, fun project turned into quite an undertaking. The main issue was our little photo shoot to actually capture those scrumptious little profiles. They could not figure out why I was telling them NOT to look at the camera after all those time I have told them TO look at the camera. They thought it was a joke, a really funny one!

So, like a dork, I didn't take a photo of the finished piece. I will soon.

Below are the Photos I began with...

I just used photoshop to outline them, then filled the background in white and the boys in with black. Easy peasy. In retrospect I would have used a white background for Kai because his hair blended in too much and it was hard to find that contour. Next year I'll know.

Be Well.

I am so excited...

The darling Brandy over at Indie Obsession featured my Lucia Bag today. I am amidst very good company. How flattering is that.

Head over and check it out .......

My 'Studio'...

I thought I would show you some photos of the space where I create my purses, my 'studio' if you will. It is in the rear of our large great room space. It has fantastic light with huge south facing windows.I also set up an easel for the kids to do their 'art' on while I am essentially neglecting them.
This is the view I have of our Great room from my Chair. I am right behind the couch tucked in the corner. I love it because I am always a part of what's going on. Also, when Chris is at work I can sneak a bit of sewing in while the kids play or watch Sesame Street. We had talked of moving the boys into one room so I could use Luke's room as my studio. We decided against it because I would actually end up with much less creating time if I had to be apart from the family.
My fabric stash...which is a bit depleted currently....I'll have to get on that soon.
This is where I keep/display my in progress and finished work. The top two shelves have things which are sold or for sale and the bottom two have custom orders, future shop inventory in progress, and 'ideas' in various stages of completion.

More of the same...
A cool view from my sewing desk.

So, there you go...a peek at where Plumm happens.