Happy Holidays!

Well, my family & I have been in beautiful NC for the last 2 weeks with my husband's parents for a much-needed vacation. The weather (up until yesterday) was glorious, we've enjoyed getting out and about, and the kiddos have had fun with cousins and grandparents. Thanksgiving was fun with the family, we're rested, and ready to go home tomorrow.

And when we get home, I'll be hitting the ground running! Did I say I was done with the show season for the year?? I lied! I'll be doing the Snohomish Holiday Market every Fri-Sun in downtown Snohomish until 12/19. Hope to see y'all there! If I'm not there in person, you'll probably meet my lovely assistant, Tracy.

Also in the news, a BRAND NEW BAG!! Yep, meet the Xander Bag, Miranda's big brother. Available in dark gray ballistic nylon, this is a great looking bag with the same features as the Miranda II, but with masculine appeal. Sleek lines and a single stripe of silver reflective tape add a bold touch, and safety, too! Once again, a lousy photo, but a great-looking bag (and yes, that is my leopard-print ottoman it's sitting on...).

The next chapter

Hey, look! I finally have a photo of the new Miranda II diaper bag! It's not the best image, but you get the idea. I'll soon have the rest of the bags photographed, as I now have some inventory to spare!

Well, here I am blogging from the very damp, but still fun Harvest Celebration at Bothell Country Village. The ground is too wet to risk an electrical connection, so I'm not sewing today. Bummed about that, but still loving the sights (kids in costume!), sounds (live music!), and smells (fresh kettle korn!)

So much has happened since my last posting! I always think I'll be able to update bi-weekly, but then life steps in with other plans...

First, the big news: Boodlebags has gone wholesale! I just sent my stuff to my first trade show, and the response was overwhelmingly positive! I got two good orders, plus lots of interested buyers want me to follow up with them after they return from the BIG west coast show this week. Also, just a couple of weeks prior to the trade show, I got a sweet order from a store in Florida! Look for my bags at Bootyland in Seattle, Mimi & Marc in Portland, and the St. Augustine Paper Company (just opened a storefront) in St. Augustine, FL. Also, Happy Delusions in Renton, and Lulu in Chelan, WA.

So, with all that new demand for my products has come the need to increase production. I've hired new helpers - welcome to Jen, Paula, and Lynne! They join veterans Tracy & Jennifer as part of "Team Boodlebags," and are doing a bang-up job! I also wish to acknowledge Mia, a delightful gal who was only with us for a short time, but whose great work and sparkling personality are missed. Good luck in Texas, kiddo!

Well, with all this new help, my studio is now a "hive of industry", and I am quickly being rendered obsolete! Jen & Tracy are my in-studio team, and do all my cutting and tracing. They also keep the place clean and organized! Jennifer, Paula, and Lynne are my sewers, and they work from home, bringing me bins full of beautiful bags every week. Yay!

I am looking forward to removing myself completely from the production cycle very soon. Doctor's orders - no more sewing for awhile! Hands are a mess from fingertips to elbows, and the pain is pretty much constant. Just started hand therapy, will probably be at it for about a year before I'm in decent shape again. Of course, I had always intended to pull back and let others do the sewing, but I didn't expect to need to do it so soon!

Hey! The sun just came out! Woohoo! Hopefully it'll dry us all out and bring out more people.

In other news, my winter show season is pretty much over. I may try to do a couple of last-minute shows, but I didn't get in to the Urban Craft Uprising this time around. Boo! I'm disappointed, I must say - it was my best show last year, and the most fun, too. I do understand that they like to rotate their artists so as not to get stagnant, but still...darn! Oh well, I'll definitely apply next year - still my fave show.

So that's it for craft shows, but I'm now looking to expand into home parties! That's right, you, too can host a Boodlebags purse party in your home, earn a hostess gift, and get discounted products! I've been working with a couple of gals who do home parties for other products, and we're hoping to be ready to go in November. I'm hoping to host my first party at Adore Salon & Spa - should be a fantastic time! I'll keep y'all posted, I promise.

Seasons are a'changin'!

Well, summer is nearly over...and weatherwise, it made a pretty poor showing. Even so, Boodlebags has had a terrific summer show season! But, fall is on the way, and soon comes the holiday show season.

I'm looking forward to the Urban Craft Uprising in early December (which I expect I'll be in, not confirmed yet). It's my favorite show of the year - not just because it's a moneymaker, but because it's so much fun! There are so many amazingly cool artists, and the art is so awesome! I always find way too many things I can't live without, and I can't recommend this show enough to anybody looking for unique, well-made, edgy hand-craft.

I'm also going to be in my first TRADE SHOW in October!! This is hugely exciting, and represents a major turning point for Boodlebags. For those who don't know, trade shows are not open to the public - they are for buyers to go and order merchandise for their stores. I'll be at the NW Baby & Kids Show, which, as the name suggests, is baby and kid-specific. All the area kid stores, from small boutiques to Nordstrom send their buyers there to scout out the newest trends from Northwest designers and manufacturers. This is the big time, kids!!

I'm also looking into doing home parties this holiday season. I'm talking to some home party specialists to see about having them promote Boodlebags. Sounds like fun, right? Moms-to-be will enjoy ordering diaper bags and changing kits; the new purse designs will appeal to the no-babies crowd. A little nosh, perhaps some wine, and stylish, fun Boodlebags - that's a party!

In order to do either of these new ventures, however, I'll have to make a lot more bags! And to that end, I am currently working to expand my production. I'm interviewing new in-studio assistants and contract stitchers tomorrow, as well as a really cool contract sewing shop in PDX. Keep your fingers crossed that I can find qualified helpers who will stay with me for a while!

The other reason that I need to find more helpers or a contract sewing shop is that I just can't make the bags anymore. My hands hurt. All the time. This last bunch of orders has nearly done me in - I'm having to stop and ice frequently, it's really slowing me down, and it's just too much stress on my hands. I still want to be able to design and prototype, but there's no way I can continue to be a primary sewer. And frankly, I never wanted to be! I got into this with the idea that someday the bags would be made by other folks, and I would just get to do the fun part of designing.

While we're on the subject of manufacturing, I'd like to say a few words about one of my pet causes: preserving and creating AMERICAN JOBS. And I'm not talking about anti-immigrant horse hooey. Anybody who comes here to live should be able to work. No, I'm speaking simply of keeping jobs here and creating new jobs instead of sending them overseas!

Boodlebags will always be made in America, and I buy as many American-made components for my bags as I can. Sadly, some items simply are not manufactured in the US anymore, and are only imported. I employ local people to sew my bags, and I plan to keep higher-volume manufacturing as close to home as possible. If not Washington State, then at least someplace I can drive to.

The point of my little rant? To encourage all of you to think about HOW you buy. Consider not only the quality of the goods, but also how and by whom they were made. Are your purchases supporting your local economy? Are they reflecting your principles? This isn't a call to boycott or anything extreme; sometimes convenience and price do trump our ideals, and it is increasingly difficult to find American-made products. I ask only that you be mindful of how your spending choices impact your local economy in the long-run. Every little drop in the bucket makes a difference.

Summer is here!

Yes indeed, summer is finally here. And so, finally, are my new fabrics! After numerous delays, the new laminated canvases are here and they're gorgeous! And they're inspiring me to design new bags.

First up is the "Miranda II", the new-and-improved version of my original diaper bag. The basic silhouette is the same, but with a few key differences. First, the exterior of the bag is now WIPE CLEAN-able, thanks to the phthalate-free vinyl laminate. Also new are the adjustable, non-slip padded shoulder strap, and adjustable backpack straps! Both are removable, and the backpack straps also double as stroller straps. The other major feature is the snap-out WASHABLE lining! I'll be selling spare linings separately so moms don't have to be without their diaper bags when the lining needs to be washed. I'm very excited about this new design - the response has been terrific! I don't have any photos yet; my prototype is in a fabric that's not from my line, and I don't want to generate any inquiries (or disappointments) about a fabric that isn't available for sale. Photos soon, I promise!

Next up, the "Sacha" bag - my first small purse! Named for a very dear friend, "Sacha" is a clean-lined, shapely little number. I finished this bag today, and I'm very pleased with it. This prototype has a velcro closure, but I'll probably do a magnetic snap instead. The photo really doesn't do it justice - I'm a crappy photographer. The fabric, "Breeze", is a refreshing turquoise/teal print on natural linen - perfect for summer! The shape isn't square, it's trapezoidal. The angled sides are nicely balanced by the curve of the flap closure. I love the shape so much that I'm planning to do a dressy version in dupioni silk with a rosette for the holidays!

I'm also working on a wallet and a couple more purses. The wallet and one of the other purses are nearly done, just need a few tweaks. I've so enjoyed designing these new bags! It's my favorite part of the job - making mistakes, learning new techniques, solving problems, and of course, pulling that perfect prototype off the machine and saying, "oh yeah - that's IT!"

In other news, I just got my bags into a fabulous, funky consignment store in Renton called "Happy Delusions." I'm so thrilled! It's in a terrific little area of antique shops and eateries. The owner is delightful (well she must be - she likes my stuff, right?); an artist herself, she features mainly independently crafted products by local artists. For Etsy fans, it's like an EtsyRAIN store! She also recommended a number of other places for me to look into that might carry my stuff - indie baby boutiques and the like. Very cool! Now, she's not carrying my new designs yet - she likes the older styles, which is just fine by me. It's a good venue for them, and I think they'll do really well!

On the horizon, I've got three big shows coming up in July. On the 10th & 11th, I'll be at the Urban Craft Uprising at the Seattle Center. The UCU holiday show last December was my best show to date, and I'm really looking forward to this one! There will be so many amazing artists and it is just a super-fun environment to be in. Don't miss it! On the 17th & 18th, it's the Mill Creek Festival in the heart of Mill Creek. A family-friendly show with plenty to see and do, there's even a big section for pets featuring a doggie dunk tank and lots of pet-friendly vendors! Finally, the BIG ONE - the Bellevue Art Museum Fair on the 23rd-25th. This is a venerable juried show with exceptionally fine artists and artisans. I was honored to have been invited to submit, and thrilled to have been accepted!

And on that note, I've got a lot of bags to build, so back to work!

First Show of the Season - Woohoo!!

Spring is here, tra-la, and the craft show season begins. I'm so excited to be joining the EtsyRAIN team for their spring craft show at the Seattle Center's Intiman Theatre! Come on down Saturday, May 8 from 11 am to 5 pm; what better way to spend a spring day? It's the day before Mother's Day, so don't forget a fabulous handmade gift for Mom! There will be booths indoors and out; I'll be outside with a view of the fountain...just hope the weather holds...but rain or shine, I'll be there, and I hope to see lots of you there, too! Check out the link for more details and to see who else will be exhibiting their fine wares:

Mother's Day Sale!

Chances are that if you're reading this blog you are either a new mom or you know someone who is. Well, have we got a deal for you! Announcing our Mother's Day SALE going on right now through May 16. Go to www.boodlebags.com, order one or more of my fun, functional, hand-crafted, machine-washable products; enter coupon code ILOVEMOM15 at checkout and receive 15% off your entire order! Because we love YOU, Mom.

New Assistants! New Fabrics! New-and-improved Boodlebags!

Well! Spring is in the air, and things are getting exciting here at Boodlebags - I just hired 3 new assistants today! Once we've all gotten settled, I'll introduce them.

I'm also getting ready to place my final orders for new fabrics, hardware, etc. Finally! It has take months of grueling research, countless samples, and much nail-biting, but I believe I have finally found vendors I can work with. Whew!

I'm so excited about the new fabrics - oh! such great prints! I do wish I could have my own fabrics printed, as I tire of seeing my prints on other peoples' bags. Sadly, it is prohibitively expensive right now, but I hope to be able to do so next year. Fingers crossed, y'all!

Anyway, once I order my fabrics, they'll be shipped out to another company to be laminated with urethane (a friendlier alternative to vinyl), then back to me. And then the work begins!! I'll be scrambling to get new bags ready to be photographed so I can post the new stuff on the new website and have my GRAND OPENING SALE!!

A Most Overdue Update

Wow - a most overdue update! So much has happened since my last posting. Well, let's just jump right in, shall we?

First, Renee left the partnership last Spring so she could spend more time with her family and pursue other interests. She did continue to help me out at shows and in-studio until the end of the summer, for which I am grateful! Renee's steady presence, outstanding color and design sense, and unmatched research skills are sorely missed. She was also responsible for most of the blog posts, and I can only hope to do half as good a job. As the sole owner, I now have far more to juggle, but I will try to update the blog at least monthly, if not bi-weekly.

Our/my first full season went extremely well, and ended on a high note at the Urban Craft Uprising Holiday Show in December - my best ever! I so enjoyed all the festivals and the farmers' markets, and I'm looking forward to the new season. I'm adding a few more shows to this year's lineup, which I'll post as I have more info.

More recently, I've been overhauling the current line, designing new bags, getting bids from new vendors, selecting new fabrics, researching hardware,...ooooh, my head. The good news is that the current line is better than ever, and the entire product line should be stellar! I'm so excited about the new fabrics - they'll be coated with urethane or acrylic, which will make them waterproof, wipe-clean, but still machine washable.

Other notable improvements include an adjustable, padded, removable shoulder strap on the Miranda Bag, as well as removable backpack straps, and an improved cell phone/pen pocket. The Baby Boodle will have a larger pad and be able to accommodate cloth diapers and larger wipes cases. The lining fabric will be a thicker, softer, water-resistant fleece. …and so much more!

New additions to the product line will include at least one small(er) purse, which I am SO looking forward to! My youngest is finally done with diapers, and I now get to carry a smaller bag – sweet. I also plan to add another diaper bag, a smaller messenger-style bag, a wallet, and an envelope-style clutch. Quick! To the studio, Batman!

In other news, I now have a beautiful new website! Same address, better view... And I owe it all to my friend and ace web designer, Joseph Gray of Grauwald Creative. Check out his awesome website and art! The new site is live, but still needs to be updated with new fabrics, photos, products, etc. I'll announce the official grand opening (and sale!) when it's finally done. Stay tuned!