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!
