Simply XSBaggage

Working through a migraine

The other day I had a migraine. Nothing new. Those of you who know me, know that it is a regular occurrence for me. Sometimes I can work through them, sometimes I can't (like when it feels like someone is sticking a knife in my head. All I can do is try to sleep through it.) The other day I just wanted to keep working. All of this is to say, that I have new wristlets made.

I didn't feel like starting a big project, so I started looking through my scraps, and with migraine and all, I got inspired to put some different combinations together. And I actually like how they turned out! Who knew: inspiration in the midst of pain! 

I needed to take photos of them but the re-chargeable batteries would not hold a charge. So I set the wristlets aside and decided to work on some new handbags. And that's when my iron died. Was this God's way of telling me to slow down? lol

Well, if it was, I guess I wasn't listening. I was determined to get some work done and not waste another day to a migraine. I started designing a pattern for a new product that I've been wanting to make and managed to finish it, but I couldn't make the prototype without an iron to do the pressing.

Well, I went out to the store yesterday and bought a shiny new iron and new batteries and I am (thankfully) back in business. And, I'm happy to report that I've been migraine-free for two days now. Thank you Lord!!

Do you want to see my migraine-made wristlets? Here they are:

What do you think? Which one is your favorite?

What's going on in the shop?

Well, I had my last outdoor show a couple of weeks ago. And, I don't have another event on my calendar for a couple of weeks. So I've been spending my time sewing and getting ready for the fall/holiday shows that I'll be participating in, and which, by the way, will be here before I know it! Sometimes I feel like I'm always playing catch-up to get ready for the next 'thing'. Which not only includes 'making' but also being sure that I have enough supplies to get me through the next season. Keeping track of, and ordering in my supplies is a constant juggle. I've already started ordering some of the things I'll need to keep my production going through the Christmas season. Like this ginormous roll of interfacing:

That's 125 yards of interfacing. I feel sorry for the UPS man. He had to haul this and 2 giant boxes of pre-cut interfacing up my (approximately 20) front steps to deliver it to my front door. I felt like I should have at least offered him a protein bar or something.

Anyhoo, as usual, lots of sewing going on here.

And I unloaded all of the inventory from my van that I've been hauling around all summer, and brought it up to the studio so I could really figure out what 'holes' I needed to fill in my inventory. 

I like having it all hung up in my studio again. It's a feeling of accomplishment to see it all together. I made all of this!

I listed this new Bella Bag in the shop today:

I'm hoping to get more new items listed in the next few days.

Sometimes I'll do custom orders

It's not very often that I have time to accept custom orders, but I recently worked on a couple for some special friends and customers and it was really fun! I had to special order the fabrics for a customer in Missouri that comes back to my online shop every year and orders multiple sets of Tote Bags, Handbags and matching accessories. One set was done in a Christmas themed fabric, and the other was a playful animal print. I love her taste in fabrics! Bright and whimsical! 

The Bella Tote Bag that you see in the bottom right-hand corner, in muted blue, ivory and terra cotta, was for a local customer. She's in my Creative Collective group and a hard-working teacher and artist. This will be perfect for hauling home papers for grading. I really love this print! It also comes in a terra cotta background and I bought that print as well. So look for new items in my shop soon made with those fabrics.

I'm busy working on some other new winter items that I hope to have listed in the shop by the end of the week. The weather has been sooo nice here this week that it's hard to stay focused on production!

Promote A Sister Sunday

I recently joined an Etsy Team called 'Carried Away Bag Team'. It's a great resource for promoting the work of it's members (like me!), offering each other advice and sharing marketing and bag making ideas. On Sundays we're encouraged to promote another bag maker from the team, so today I'm happy to feature a fellow handbag creator from Georgia. 

This resourceful designer sometimes recycles sweaters and turns them into the most gorgeous bags! 

How great are those?! I am constantly astounded at the amount of talent these ladies on the Team have! Here's a link to Karen's shop. You really need to go have a look, because you won't believe some of the beautiful handbags she's made with sweaters! Might make you re-think sending those old sweaters to the Goodwill!

Thank you + New 'Stuff'

First of all, a huge thank you to everyone who has been praying for my recovery from Bells Palsy. I am so happy and grateful to report that I am almost completely healed! Can you believe it?! Last week I started feeling like my mouth was starting to work a little better when I was eating. At first I thought that it was just me adapting to the new 'normal'. But the next morning I tried drinking right out of my coffee cup (without a straw) and I was able to master it with very little drippage. (I made up that word). :D That's something I hadn't been able to do in two weeks. Amazing!!

I have been improving daily since then. In fact, this morning I feel almost completely back to normal. I was able to put my eye make-up on without having to hold my eyelid closed. woohoo!! My smile is still a little asymmetrical, but I'll continue doing my facial exercises and massage with hopes that it too will return to normal. And even if it doesn't, I can live with it. 

Also, I have been pain-free for about four days. I am really, really thankful for that! And it shows in my productivity in the shop the last few days. I am energized and excited about getting stocked up and ready for the Christmas shopping season. New fabrics have been arriving almost daily, and I have been sewing as fast as I can!

Here's a peek at some newly listed items:

The Emma Handbag In Bloom

The Emma Handbag in Fall Dots.

(This was the fabric that started my handbag obsession business.)

The Cleo Handbag in Paprika

The Emma Handbag in Spade Damask

And, finally, The Emma Handbag in Modern Bud

So, see, I've been sewing up a crafty storm! And that's not even all of it - I made some cute little gift sets too, just for Christmas. They're right here if you'd like to see them. 

That's it for today! 

My Love of Brown

I'm not sure when it started. I think it was not long after I started making handbags three years ago. I started sewing with combinations of brown fabrics and the more I used brown in my products the more I loved it! It's a rich, versatile color that can go with almost any other color.

I find myself having to be careful when I'm choosing new fabrics because if I were just sewing for myself it would be all brown, all the time. But, I'm not just sewing for myself. sigh. At the fabric market in Seattle last week where I order my new fabrics, I tried really hard to 'think outside the [brown] box'. I ordered fabrics in greens, turquoise, pinks, navy blue, blacks and grays, and well, a couple of blue/brown prints that I couldn't resist. 

You must admit though, brown is a great fall color! And always sells well too, I'm not the only one that *hearts* brown! And so, I'm able to justify making more handbags in my new favorite color. Let me show you what I've been working on:

New handbags and wristlets. By the way, my website is still down, so I've listed these in my Etsy shop.

I call that wristlet up there, 'Coffee at Tiffany's' because the velvet ribbon that I used on it reminds of the famous jeweler's color.

This one has gold sparkles in some of the flowers!

I made some new handbags too! And have more in the works:

I'm using some vintage buttons with the velvet ribbon on these. They should be in the shop later today or early tomorrow, depending on how my afternoon goes. So there you have it - lots of brown to keep the boss happy! 

Speaking of my afternoon: I'm so excited! I'm going to be going to the hospital to see my daughter-in-law's ultrasound, and we're going to find out if Isaac is getting a little brother or a little sister!! I can hardly wait!! I'll report back here with the exciting news!

Catch-up (not Ketchup)

My intention is to blog at least every other day, but truthfully, when things get hectic, blogging gets put on the back burner. And when I'm running around like a nut trying to get everything done in this 'one woman business', trying to write something interesting becomes a challenge. So, anywhoo, here I am, back after oh, about two weeks, (not even close to blogging every other day). I thought I'd show you what's been going on over here at XSBaggage & Co. HQ. 

* Arts In Action on the Port Angeles city pier was a success. It's fun meeting up with vendors that I only see at this show. And of course, lots of familiar faces and friends that stop by. Although I could have seriously done without the wind on Sunday. I was genuinely surprised at how many people came down to browse, despite the winds. Yay Port Angeles! Oh, and the CEO of XSBaggage & Co. stopped in long enough to crunch the numbers:

Oh-oh, he doesn't look happy. "You're going to have to work a little harder Grandma." :

Hey Isaac, how about if we use the profits to buy you some marshmallows? (his favorite!):

Yay!!

* Okay, moving on, last Friday Amy, from Sassy Java Baby was kind enough to feature my Fresh Brewed Zip Pouch on her beautiful blog. Thank you Amy!! Just click on the link there and go check out her fun coffee-themed blog. 

* This week I completed and delivered an order for a new children's boutique in Sequim, called Dungeness Kids Co. I was so excited to see this new store, and it is lovely! Beautiful (and very reasonably priced) clothing, toys, books and shoes for your little ones. I can't wait to go back and do a little shopping. I highly recommend a visit to this new store. And don't forget to have a look at the handbags from my line and the tote/diaper bags and changing pads that I did especially for this new store! 

* I've been working with the ladies in our Creative Business Support Group planning our first event! It's called 'Opulent Art Show', and it will be held Saturday, September 13th at The Cutting Garden in Sequim. We are putting out a call to vendors, so if you know an artisan who might like to participate, please have them contact me at xsbaggage(at)gmail.com and I can get them the information they'll need. It's going to be so fun! There'll be some beautiful items for sale as well as wine and snacks, and in a gorgeous setting!

* I've designed a new handbag! This is one that I've had on my mind for quite a while, but finally sat still long enough to put it to paper, and then to fabric. I started out by sketching it out until I was happy with it, then onto the pattern paper:

Then, onto the fabric. This part is always hard for me because I don't want to waste fabric, but I have to make a prototype, that I can then 'tweak'. 

The finished product:

A pleated bag, big enough to hold a magazine, a bottle of water and off you go to the park to enjoy the day!

There will be a couple of these (in different fabrics) listed in the shop later this morning. 

All caught up now (I think!). I'm spending the day sewing - I know, big surprise - and I'll be out at the Sequim Open Aire Market tomorrow. The forecast says rain, but I'll be praying for sunshine!!

More Handbags Please

I swear I'm making handbags in my sleep these days. For the last several weeks it seems like I've been in 24 hour production mode. I wake up sometime around 3:00 a.m. to start working, and usually go until 7:00 or 8:00 p.m. Then have a little dinner, get some sleep, and start all over again. (Did I mention that I never set my alarm? I just wake up on my own, because I'm so excited to get started again!). 

Part of this madness was due to the fact that I knew I had two events back-to-back. Last weekend was Lavender Festival weekend in Sequim. It draws a huge crowd from all over the world. I didn't have a booth at the actual festival, but chose to participate in the Sequim Open Aire Market, for two days. The Market is just two blocks from the Lavender Festival Street Fair, and we had a great turn-out from the over flow crowd. 

Here are a few pictures of my booth:

(You'll notice I had some 'lavender-colored' handbags!) 

There won't be much slowing down yet, because I start Arts In Action in Port Angeles today. It's a three day event down on the City Pier. I'm pretty sure my sewing machine will be running right up until the time I need to leave to go set up. 

I'm definitely not complaining, though! I love what I get to do for a living. 

If you're in the Port Angeles area, you should make a trip down to the Pier this weekend. They have a Sandcastle Competition that is really impressive! I'll be at my booth the following hours:

Friday 2:00 - 8:00 p.m.

Saturday 10:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m.

Sunday 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Stop in and say Hi! 

Cherries on Sweet Figments

Such a busy weekend that I'm a little late sharing this sweet blog that featured one of my handbags on Friday:

Thank you Sweet Figments! Connie is the writer and she does a wonderful job of featuring handmade sellers. She is also an artist/crafter and her online shop is super fun!

I am loving these little cuties:

But those are just one example of the super cute items in her shop. Go check it out! (And, pssst! She's offering free shipping right now!) Yay!

Four beautiful days

Last year was my first year as a vendor at the Juan de Fuca Festival. I was a newbie to craft fair selling and booth set up and I learned a lot at that festival. The wind all that weekend was horrible and the top of my canopy kept blowing off. I'd have shoppers in my booth and a big gust of wind would come up and shake the whole booth, scaring away the potential buyers. It was kind of a miserable weekend, and I was exhausted half way into it.

So I was bracing myself for this year's festival. I've added better weights, clamps for my canopy top, better side walls, and just a much sturdier, better thought out booth. I really hate the wind, but I felt ready for it. 

Friday morning brought overcast skies and a little rain. And then--the skies cleared up! 

And the shoppers, browsers and festival-goers came out. The music started up and it was such a great weekend! Warm sunshine and barely a breath of wind, for which I am very thankful!

Look at all of the families enjoying music and lunch on the lawn behind my booth:

I really enjoyed watching all of the little kids dancing to the music! 

The one thing that I'll try to do different next year is have more stock! I only have 6 (!) Handbags left in stock! So on that note, I'm off to get busy sewing to get my inventory back up. 

If you'd like to see more photos from the festival, you can go here.