Mini Pip

Giving etsy some love

I haven't posted bags on etsy for awhile, because I wanted to post multiple bags at once. But this morning I finally sat down, edited photos, created titles and uploaded lots of bags!

Head over to my etsy shop to see all the new fabrics!

Also wanted to share what I have been working on. I posted this on twitter yesterday and figured I would post it here as well.  I've been making new bags with patchwork, and this is a "work in progress" shot. It's very time consuming, but I think it's worth it.

Monaluna has my heart.

Let's be honest, can it get much better than adorable prints in ORGANIC fabric??? I don't think so. Just ordered some bolts from the Havana Collection.

 

 

on my ironing board {03.22.13}

 

I'm on a purple kick lately and this fabric collection is gorgeous. Hoping to have these on etsy soon.

BAM: Bowling Bag

Earlier this morning, I had a "vision" for a new bag. This is how my designing usually happens. It's like my mind builds something up without me even knowing and all of a sudden, BAM: design. The vision I had this morning was of a bowling bag. But not a real bowling bag, a fashion bowling bag. So I've been doing some research this morning of different shapes and I thought I would share!

 

Vintage AMF Pinspotter Bowling Bag-from Etsy.

Christian Louboutin Panettone Small Studded Leather Bowling Bag

Marla London Canvas Mix Bowling Bag

Mint Bowling Bag-Topshop.

Shop Ruche-no longer linking, but on my pinterest.

From these, I'm getting ideas about hardware and shape, except I have never worked with this much structure in a bag, so this should be interesting. Further research will have to wait though.

This is my Saturday night.

Stitching and Certificates!

This is the "Keywork". I finished the stitching last night, and decided against filling it in with color. I think the outline works really well. I also think I'm going to add a dragonfly since there are still a few days to work on it.

In other news, I am officially a registered business in Morris County! And got my certificate for "Mini Pip"! It is a little step, but one step closer to getting my business off the ground.

"Lucky" Little Pouches

I love Lucky magazine and have been a reader for quite a few years.  What caught my eye with this issue was a little write-up that showed the accessory directors go-to bags.

I think it really got my attention because even though "big" is in, little is making a comeback! My favorite in the pack is Kate Spade's wallet. While I love the look of these little pouches, the price is a little too much for my budget.

If you love the "little" look, check out my mini-mini bags on etsy! Not only are they handmade, but they don't cost an uncecessary amount and are just as colorful!

I have some more to add to the shop, so hopefully by the end of the week they will be up.

on my ironing board {03.05.13}

I'm putting some new bags in the shop soon, waiting until I make a few more. I'm doing a little experiment with etsy and posting frequency. If you have tips on getting more views, I would love any advice.

Currently listening to:  Spectrum of the Sky by Break of Reality. I clearly haven't done a weekly "listening to" but this song really puts me in a thinking mood and helps me focus, so I wanted to share. This band is just plain awesome. No lyrics, but so much emotion in the sound. Check it out.

Concert Skirt

March 16th. This day is going to change my life. It is the day I am going to see my favorite band perform in New York. I have loved Coheed and Cambria for just about 9 years now, for reasons that could I could take pages to talk about. Anyway, there is finally a concert in my area, with seating (so I don't die in a mosh pit), and I wanted to show my support through my outfit. I had an image in my head to make a high waisted flare skirt and embroider the band's design on the side.

I wanted to make the pattern myself, because I couldn't find a suitable one online and I knew it would be a good challenge. I followed sweetmaterials tutorial on youtube to make my skirt sloper. I took flat pattern in college and had a textbook which helped me alter the sloper to make the skirt.

I bought vinyl on sale at JoAnn's because I thought it would be similar to an artificial leather. This vinyl was surprisingly easy to work with, but I really don't think it was meant to be a skirt. One of the reasons I chose this fabric though was because I wanted the strong shape that it formed.

The next step is to start the embroidery, which is also a new learning experience for me.

This band has gotten me through many ups and downs in my life. It has motivated me like no music has done before. But one of the best things Coheed has done for me is open up my ears to incredible music that I wouldn't have thought to listen to before. When I first started listening, I wasn't very interested in music. It was just there. But after a few months of listening to Coheed, I started looking up new music. I started wondering what other bands were out there and it opened my world to such amazing noise and creativity. I have this band to thank for all the music I listen to today.

Have you ever made concert clothing? Or clothing inspired by music? I would love to see some musically influenced designs! And check back to see the embroidery!