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.