Been Quiet..but with good reason ;)

So I've been busy. And by busy, I don't just mean no time for coffee dates with my girlfriends. By busy, I mean, I'm down in my studio at least 6 hours every...single...day! Oh, except Sunday...it's family day ;)

It may look like a mess to you...but it's piles of progress to me :D

It's always a good sign when the piles move enough for me to see a surface!

Starting to look like an end product. But this is only one third of them...*sigh

I've been praying that God would allow me to use my purse business to help support my family. And when God's will lines up with yours....POW!

about 1/8th of the orders I am filling right now!

I pray every night before I fall asleep, reflecting on all He has done for me. I have to pause, take a minute from the craziness of filling orders and realize that God has blessed me RICHLY with the ability to do what I love, and help pay for my two daughters tuition at their AWESOME christian school!

I know I wouldn't be able to keep this pace up if it weren't for the grace of God, so when it gets crazy, I look up and am reminded of how I got here in the first place, and how wonderful it is to be here.

My hardworking. lovely staff...my serger and sewing machine <3

Next post (when I can spare a minute!) I'll show you some finished products. It feels so good to utter those words...finished products!

Thanks for checking in!

Angie

How I Design My Bags

I'm realizing now that most people don't know where I get the patterns and designs for my handbags. So I thought I'd use this post to answer that question. Here it is.

My Head. That is the answer. I am constantly on the lookout for new patterns and handbag ideas. Then I lose sleep at night, trying to figure out how they will come together. Then I get up and try it on some scraps the next day. That's it :)

It is my "not so fancy, but works for me" design process. It is actually my favorite part of my business.

Some works in progress. Notice the sticky notes?
 I'd be lost without them! 

Designing my next product and holding it in my hands. Some things work beautifully. Some things are labeled "one of a kind". They are labeled one of a kind, usually because they were so difficult to put together that I never want to do it again!

OOAK: in other words, cute, but super hard for me to put together :)

But that's where my creative process gives me some freedom. Sometimes I will stop a design, only to pick it up with a new idea a few months later. When making one thing, it gives me a great idea for another. And so on.

I loved the ruffle I put on this wristlet so much, it inspired me to think bigger...

So I added a few more, and came up with...

THIS! Who says less is more?!?!

On Friday I will post how I actually document my patterns and re-create them. I'm not promising it will be pretty.... :)

Meet My Boss...ME :)

Now that we've gotten back into the swing of another school year, I am looking forward to FINALLY getting back into a regular work schedule . Work schedule??  Many ask why I have one when I work from home. Don't I sit around all day eating bon-bons and watching soap operas??? (ok, I do, but don't tell anyone!)

I think my "friends" in Salem would agree with my bon-Bon choice. He-he!
[ source]

Finding the motivation to work for yourself can be difficult at times, but here are a  few things that work for me:

Work hard, but also remember your REAL job, your family.

Most people think that since I work from home, I have a lot of "free" time.  I have had to learn to tell people that I am working. I have set myself regular work hours, and I try to schedule appointments, and even fun things around my work schedule. In that schedule, I allow myself one hour in the morning, after my daughters are off to school to get my house in order. (I hate coming up after working all day to a crazy, messy house!) I usually work until my kids get home. I also try really hard to adhere to "off" hours. When my whole family is home, I limit my computer time, my sewing time, even my phone time. I try to be as available to my family as I can. This allows me a balance of being Gathered and Sown by day, Mom and wife by night.

This, doesn't become...

...this, without a little discipline.

Acknowledge that your business is your job.
When you work from home, it is very easy to get sidetracked. I get those tempting "wanna go shopping" or "come on, you can work later calls" from well meaning friends. I also tend to get recognized as "that girl who is always home" who gets frequent calls  babysit/drive carpool/volunteer at EVERYTHING.  You have to learn to tell people that you are working. Then they naturally begin to realize that you are not sitting around eating bon bons and watching soaps all day long :)  

I have learned that while I want to be everywhere for everyone, if I don't work, the work doesn't get done.  Which brings me to point two...

Set your schedule

[source: http://jengrantmorris.blogspot.com]

I love what I do but I don't want to have my business be my entire life! I know when my standing commitments are, so I made myself a work schedule that is consistent from week to week. I know that I work best when I am home alone, so weekday mornings, when Ryan is at work, and the girls are at school, I WORK, WORK, WORK!  I am terribly unproductive on weekends, so I count those as my days off. If I so happen to feel like getting some work done while the family is busy, it turns out to be bonus time, which is always low pressure and relaxing.

Divide your time wisely

Over the last 4 months or so, I have realized the huge potential of marketing my business online. What I didn't expect was the insane amount of HOURS I would have to spend in front of my computer. That could be a problem, since my whole business is based on the bags that I create! I have learned to schedule a period of time to do my computer work. When that time is up, I have to turn it off until another scheduled time. That means I have to exercise an insane amount of self control. It is so tempting to just "check" my email or my blog stats... what I intend to be a minute will ALWAYS turn into 15 or 20. I've also started a list things I want to look up. That way, I can factor the web surfing in my computer time, and not allow it to take over my production time.

Here is the computer where I am sitting right now,
typing this post.
 I wish I were in the picture, so it could be like one of those
super cool infinity mirrors :D

Remember to LOVE what you do

When you are your own boss, if you don't feel passionate about what you are doing, it will be evident in your work. So let yourself have some fun! Take a few hours off to make a cool craft for your work space. Have a good friend over to chat while you  while you work. Take an afternoon to check out the competition and get inspired. Whatever it takes to keep you sharp, focused and in love with your job.  After all, isn't that what makes us "self employed geniuses " go to work each and every day?

[source: work is not a job via ashappyaskings]

I finally made my ruffle bag! (and I can't wait to make more)

So for about a year now, I've had this little picture of a ruffle tote bag hanging on my computer in my studio. I always thought it was cute, but never had a free minute to experiment with the design. Fast forward to about two weeks ago. I get an email from a friend that read something like this..."I love this (picture of cute bag) for it's straps. I love this (picture of another cute bag) for the fabric....and I love THIS BAG!" And what was it? Oh yes, the very same ruffly bag idea that I've been looking at for over a year! I took this as a sign. I needed to do it NOW! So I told her I was not only up for the challenge, but excited to give it a whirl. Here is what I came up with:

It makes me want to twirl around!

I kept the ruffles to one side...didn't want to get TOO crazy!

I put a magnetic snap on this bag. I wanted it to have a slouchy,hobo look.
But I do plan to design a double handle- tote style with a zipper for all of you zipper fans! 

Up close and personal with the ruffles :)

My 6 year old took these pictures to show the size of the bag on me.
She may not understand cropping and backgrounds but  you get a nice view of my garage.
Sparkly clean thanks to the hubs :)

I'll have to tell the hubs to get out and pressure wash the driveway. It doesn't look sparkly like the garage!
 But Spencer doesn't seem to mind. He'll sleep anywhere!

A few new bags I'd like to show off :)

I just finished listing a few new bags I made in my etsy shop. I love coming up with new styles, and this one came to me one afternoon 2 weeks ago when I was bored. I love it when that happens!

Today I got caught up on orders. It is raining a much needed rain here, so I am in comfy pants, and am working on another brand new design. One hint: It is really ruffle-ey! Now I only hope it works so I don't look like a liar. Off I go, I'll show pics when I crawl out from under all the ruffles :)

Crawling my way out from under 12 purses

So it is summer, I have two kids home all the time and I still have to work to earn money. So what does this all mean? I decide to make 12 purses, which on a normal day is easy-peasy. But when all of my attention can't be focused on my work, I have found that these summer days are not very productive! So I am crawling along at a snails pace, anxious to see these finished! Basically, I'm writing this to show MYSELF that I have, in fact, made some progress :)

To keep order and to help me track what goes where, I cut out all the "parts" I need for the outside of these purses. Then I had to label them, so I would know what goes where. Thank goodness for sticky notes :)

Yes, I had to make a chart. I never makes charts, because that is too orderly for a scatterbrain such as me! But it was the only way I would know which fabric pieces I already cut, which fabrics I had to find,match and cut, and finally how to put them all back together again. I will repeat, thank goodness for sticky notes!

Ok, so to the general blog reader, it might look like I didn't get very far, that I only moved piles around a little, but REALLY I got a lot sewn and ironed! You can't see it but I finger ruffled 12 outside pockets yesterday. I was really proud of myself.

Next time I post about these purses, hopefully they will somewhat resemble something you might like to carry!
 Wish me luck.
Hold on.... the kids are calling me. Ugh.

My Newest Bag Design :)

Yesterday I caught the design bug. So I got my room in order, found a movie for the kiddos and went to work. I love the whole design process, from picking a fabric to holding the finished bag in my hands. The further I get, and as I see a brand new design come together, it just keeps getting better and better.

I grabbed an arm at Chloe's softball game to model for me. Thanks,Audi :)
 I was not allowed full body or face shots,lol!

I made huge double pockets on the front, which are detailed with a cute little finger pleated ruffle.

The bag is 4 inches deep, so it has a TON of space inside.

I wanted handles that were more than just utilitarian....but cute! So I added the rings :)

I was in a yellow mood, so I used a cute vintage yellow fabric with a new, buttery yellow plaid.
The trim is chocolate brown.  Can anyone guess what my favorite color is??? Hehe!


I have to price this bag yet, but my best guess is $45.  I have fabric laid out to make about 6 or so more, in different colors/patterns, so I should get some on etsy soon.  I even have some prints/combinations that I haven't used before, so be on the look out!
Hint: One contains an animal print. I am NOT an animal print fan, but this one is too much fun! I had to do it.

Vintage US Army Fatigues Repurposed

So a good friend  and neighbor of my Dad called me to ask if I'd be up for taking her husbands army fatigues and recreate them into a purse for her. Duh! Of course :) The project was so much fun, and they turned out better than I had hoped. ( I love it when that happens!) When I finally got to meet her, I talked her into modeling her new/old bags for me, so here it is! Such a sport she was. She just may have a new career in modeling....:)

I was able to remove the cargo pockets and use one on the front. I put the name label she found on the flap,
so she can show off  Her Man :) I made the strap long and adjustable, so she can wear it as a purse, or cross body. To get a long strap, I had to piece together many cuts of the pants legs. The seams just give it cool character.

We came up with the idea to take some of the ties off of the pant legs to make a zipper pull.

This is her bags' mini-me. I used the other cargo pocket to make her a small cross body. Perfect for those scooter rides into town. (They live in a resort community in Egg Harbor WI, in the heart of Door County <3  lucky! )

This is the backside of the bag, I have to point out the stitching on the bottom center...I cut it out on purpose, it was a hole on the knee that he must have mended. I figured there was a story to go with it and HAD to include it in the design. Even if there isn't a story, she could probably make one up! Wink,Wink...

I would love to see things that other people have done with Army Fatigues...any ideas???