The Radster Lives

Finally, my newest design can be revealed! A top-secret project, the prototype was to be a surprise gift for the husband of a very dear friend, and the photos couldn't be released until the package was received. At last, the Radster lives!
(I'm feeling very Dr. Frankenstein here...) Now,
the prototype was actually custom-designed as a laptop bag, but the exterior is identical to the new diaper bag design. I realize that a few of you have already heard about this bag, but for those of you to whom this is new, here's the scoop:

"The Radster joins the Xander bag in my new line of diaper bags designed with dads in mind! Made of durable, waterproof cordura nylon, this bag is one tough customer! Dark gray with black trim, the bag has green (or orange) glitter vinyl eyes, and a toothy grimace - perfect for parents with an edgy, fun fashion sense! The Radster has all the same great features as the Miranda II, including the snap-out washable lining and backpack straps. Also a great laptop bag for computers 15" and smaller." And there you have it.

Special thanks to Mary Platz of Platz Photography for her beautiful work!

7 years ago today

My son turned 7 today. Wow. Where on earth did the time go?? Seven years ago today, I was hitting the 18 hr mark in my labor, when the doctor came in and said "Well, he has a giant head, and he's stuck. We can cut you open now, or we can let you push for another 2 hrs and then cut you open..." So much for my planned natural birth! Even so, we got the grand prize, and it has been a beautiful, joyful ride.

The birth of my children actually led to the work I'm doing today! Prior to motherhood, I was an artist - a painter and print maker featured in Seattle's top galleries. Well, Xander's arrival brought that to a screeching halt - too toxic! Three years later, I was ready to go back to it. Chris and I had tried to get pregnant a second time with no luck, and at 39 years old, menopause had started (yikes!!). Well, that was my cue to go back on birth control and hit the studio! I spent a bunch of money upgrading my studio's power so I could have lights AND heat at the same time, and had purchased cork tiles for the floor. The day the cork tiles came, I uncrated them and got sick from the fumes - turns out I was pregnant again!

With Miranda's birth came a mix of elation and depression. I loved my children, and was delighted to have a beautiful, healthy baby girl, but oh, I missed my art terribly! And then came the bolt from the heavens, in the form of Renee!

Renee showed me some darling tote bags she had made, and I was smitten. I eventually asked if I could help her start a business, and Boodlebags was born. To have a safe, non-toxic creative outlet saved my life! I felt like myself again, and I've been enjoying the ride ever since.

I should note here that my husband has been so amazingly supportive of me in all my endeavors, and I could not have done any of this without him! His faith in me has never wavered (at least, not that he would admit), and he has been my biggest cheerleader and helper. All wives should be so lucky!!! And as the father of my children, I can say that all children should be so lucky to have such a loving and devoted Daddy!

For the beautiful souls who have changed my life in such amazing ways, I am truly thankful.

The following is a re-posting from my shadow/duplicate blog (see previous "defective brain" post).

Happy New Year! Well, 2011 is starting off with a bang, to be sure! First, I’m back in the saddle again, and sewing up a storm. Good thing, because I opened the year with two new wholesale/ consignment accounts, and they cleaned me out of new inventory. Also, I’ve just re-launched my Etsy store, and it’s going great guns! And finally, Renee is back – yay!

Yes, it’s true – I’m sewing again. My doctor still tells me I shouldn’t, but I just can’t stay away! I’m so glad to be back at it, but I’m trying to be careful and rest my hands often, so hopefully I’ll not overdo it and reinjure myself. Tracy is still doing cutting and tracing for me, and Jennifer and Paula still help with the sewing, as I just can’t sew fast enough to keep up with demand! I’ve also moved my sewing area from the garage studio (so c-c-cold!!) into the office/bonus room upstairs. I must say, it’s way more comfortable, at least in the winter! It’s also not so crowded. I miss working in the same space with my helpers, but it’s worth the trade-off.

On the retail front, you can now find Boodlebags at Me-n-Mom’s (soon to be Hopscotch Kids) in Lynnwood, and Swanky Babies in Kennewick! Both are boutiques featuring gently used consignment as well as new, higher-end products. I’m delighted to see my products in such great stores.

My very first retail outlet was on Etsy, three years ago. I never did much with the store and let it slide. Well, with the encouragement and help from Angela Inman of Sweet Bobbins (an Etsy superstar!) I’ve re-opened the store! In addition to selling my bags, I have also opened another Etsy store for just my fabrics! I’ll do a new post for the grand re-opening, so check back to score your coupon code.

What’s this about Renee being back?! Well, okay – she’s not BACK back, but she’s helping out again with the social networking, research, newsletters, and all that other important stuff she’s so amazingly good at. Much to my relief, as I kinda SUCK at all that! In fact, she’ll probably be blogging a bit, too. So, give it up for Renee, folks!!

Defective Brain

I'd like a new brain now, please. One that works, if you don't mind. Yes, a truly functional brain - that'd be swell. Thanks.

See, my day started off by my not being able to find an address. It was rather important that I find that address, as it was for a package that I REALLY needed to ship. Couldn't find it, even though it had been together with the package contents just the day before. So, I called the intended recipient to get the address again...yes, that was embarrassing.

Later that afternoon I sealed up the package and got ready to head out to the post office with my son. Couldn't find my wallet. Xander and package waiting patiently in car, I'm frantically searching, when I had a sudden flash of insight. It wasn't a nice flash. I walked out to the car with a box knife and carefully cut open the box, pulled out the bag inside, and with a sigh, fished my wallet out of the bag. Why, you may well ask, was my wallet inside that bag? Well, since I had this new bag in my possession for a while longer than I had planned, and as it was a smokin' new prototype of which I'm extremely proud, I thought I'd carry it around to my usual haunts and show it off before sending it to its new home!

Xander watched as I carefully sealed the box again, thinking it was very funny that Mommy tried to mail her wallet to Portland. In addition to that package, I had another package, plus a bunch of bags and packaging materials that I intended to weigh so I can better calculate shipping charges on my website. At the post office, Xander kept up a noisy running patter that I had to keep shushing, grabbing for the boxes to mail before I was ready, and generally distracting me as I was using the self-service kiosk.

Next stop, Miranda's daycare. I had her bag with sheet and blanket which both Chris & I had forgotten to take on Monday. I carried the bag into the school with me, intending to put it into her cubby before signing out. Was nearly all the way to our next stop, when I looked over at the passenger seat and realized that I had brought the bag back out to the car. I groaned, but continued on to our next stop.

Got all the way through the self-check line at Fred Meyer when I realized that my wallet wasn't in my purse. Asked the very nice cashier to hold my purchases for me while we ran out to the car to get my wallet which I thought had fallen out of my purse. It wasn't there. Another unpleasant flash. Panicked, I bundled the kids into the car, and dashed back to the post office. Oh, the other thing I had to do at F.M. was GET GAS - I was down to like 3 miles to empty. Called my husband on the way and explained that he might have to come get us in Mill Creek, as I may be without my wallet and without enough gas to get home.

The post office was closed, and the clerks were doing a fine job of ignoring my banging at the glass door with my key and shouting. Finally, one deigned to acknowledge my presence, and was about to send me away, when the night janitor stopped him and said he had picked up my wallet. Bless him and his star-emblazoned, gold capped tooth!!!

Wallet in hand once again, we headed back to Fred Meyer with mere fumes in the tank. We found the sidelined groceries, completed our purchases, and got to the gas station with "0" showing on the "distance to empty" display.

Finally, I went to post to my blog, which for some reason I had been having trouble getting into earlier. Had to contact former partner, Renee, to reset the password, as she had set it up originally. Couldn't figure it out, though - I had posted over Thanksgiving, and had accessed it with my own email, but suddenly it appeared to be under her email. Odd. Well, we got that cleared up on Monday and I did a new post, but the blog graphic looked different. huh. Renee must've gone in and changed it! She's back and doing some stuff for me, so that didn't strike me as too strange, but I tried to look at old postings and couldn't find them. Curiouser and curiouser! When I went back to it this evening, I couldn't find my most recent post - WHAT??? I finally realized that I have TWO blogs! Gads.

So, I'd really like a new brain. Soon, before someone gets hurt.

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.