Custom Backpack

I recently had the pleasure of working with a customer to create a backpack. She picked out this great fabric by Richloom called Emily Garden. And I found a cute butterfly pendant for the flap.

Inside is a nice and simple solid red, which matched wonderfully with the floral print.

Choosing the fabrics and doodads for custom orders can be a long and often daunting process,but I love the results :)

Dusty Blue Floral Backpack

I've been super busy with the new job, the Rust Belt opening preparations and the wet basement, that sewing pretty much ground to a halt recently.

But I was able to squeak in this backpack. There are about 6 more cut out & ready to go.

I really like the bright yellow surprise inside. Although, if whoever gets this is as hard on their bags as I am, it will only stay so bright & new looking for so long :P

And because the lighting was so poor - here's a better idea of what the fabric looks like:

Backpacks are Coming Back

A while back I sent all my backpacks to a shop in Wake Forest, North Carolina - The Lemon Tree. Last month I decided to make some more for my shop. I know, it has been a long time coming. But my production has been sporadic at best recently. This is the first of the new batch. I am so glad I started making them again...they are so fun :)

This time I tried something different with the straps. Instead of 2 separate straps, I made it into one long strap going through a loop at the top. This way there is some versatility in the way you wear it.

I just love the exterior fabric. It was given to me for a custom clutch a while back and she told me to keep the leftovers :) Didn't it turn out cute?

It is rather soft and pliable, so I made sure the interior was sturdier. I went with a solid red denim. Gotta love red!

Peggy Handbags

I finished up some of the more recent bags I cut early last week. There were 6 Peggy's, 6 Karen's and I think it was 8 Anna backpacks. As I may have mentioned, most of my bags are named after their original "owner".

So the Peggy is based off this bag I first made for my mom:

The Karen is for my sis-in-law. I made a 6 pack for her.

Actually, the Anna was for her too, well, her daughter. Originally these were a pack also. They were the goody bags for my niece's birthday party.

And for the first 2 of 6 Peggy's:

A great red floral fabric that I have leftover from a custom clutch some time back...

And for those who like a little feminine floral...

What I Have Been Up To...

...vacation, photos, listings & sewing. The usual. Except for the lack of blogging....and the vacation. I rarely vacation...I went down to Nashville area to visit my brother & his family. It was the 1st time I have been there since they moved a year ago. The place is gorgeous. But that 9 hour drive is a killer.

And I usually blog more - lots more. It seems like most of my time at the computer has been for editing photos and listing. If only cameras snapped square shots *sigh*. The first round of pics had 313...the second had only 180. And all for 25 new bags and a couple re-shoots.

I made some collages on Picnik of some newer bags. I will add links as I list them...
clicking on some of the collages will bring you to that section of my shop at either Etsy or Artfire.

clockwise from top left: cherry red & pink floral, fuchsia & black,orange vintage & blue, Nicoise Spice & burgundy Venus handbags

Raisin berries & sprigs, Pink Kelso Paisley, Jelly Bean Fireworks, Burgundy corduroy floral

Chocolate squares, Tabasco Kaleidoscope, Rose Dotted Leaves, Galaxy Ginger


Pink Bad to the Bone, Red Ironworks, Black Bad to the Bone, Nicoise Spice Becki clutches



Shadow Gold, Pink roses on chocolate, Mauve Garden Wall