New in my Shop~The Curvy Clutch

I really had fun making this bag. Its a pattern that I got on Etsy from Hyperart. I couldn't wait to get home from work today to make it.

Etsy Seller Spotlight...Perry's Art Studio & Handbags by Dsenyo

Wow! That's the first word that comes to mind when I look at Marissa Perry Saint's shop. Marissa is a self-taught painter and fashion accessory designer who hails from Lafayette, Colorado. What fabulous textiles~such bold colors and patterns. Learn more about the artist and her ties to a community in Malawi, Africa by visiting her website - http://www.dsenyo.com.

New in my Shop...Hair Bud-dies

I've been working on some new hair accessories. I think these are just precious. I hope you like them too.

Bags and Buds Holiday You Tube Video

Holiday Give-Away Time

It's time for my first give-away. Over to the right of my blog there is a link to take a Bag Survey. Once you have taken the survey, go to my etsy shop (just click on the yellow flower bud to the right below "My Etsy Shop") and convo (email) me that you've finished the survey. You will be entered into a drawing for a free zippy bag. The winner will be chosen on December 15. Good luck!

Holiday Season Special Gift Wrap

How nice is it to get a present in the mail? I just love it! And, how much more special is it when that gift is beautifully gift wrapped? Fabulous! Well, I'm offering free gift wrap during the holiday season in my Etsy shop. Here are some images of what you can expect.

Holiday Etsyfest Blog

Here is the link to the blog for the Holiday Etsyfest. I am taking you straight to the page for Clothing & Purses/Bags & Totes. There are so many talented people with beautiful products. We are all offering specials for the duration of the sale, so check it out.

Very Productive Day

I'm feeling pretty good about all the items I posted today.  Check out my Etsy shop to see more views.

New in my Shop...A Sack Bag

I just love this bag!  I call it a sack bag because the shape reminds me of a paper grocery bag.  It's roomy and stylish.  Better yet, I can get all my essential items in it with room to spare.  The red fabric lining makes it easier to find things.  I always think a black lined purse makes it too dark and cavernous.  There is a zipper pouch and a trimmed cell phone/sunglass pocket for easy access.  

Holiday EtsyFest...After Thanksgiving Etsy Sale

Time for holiday shopping and what better place to do that than Etsy. Many Etsy shops are having special promotions during the weekend following Thanksgiving. Just search Etsy by using the tag "thanksgiving sale". My shop will be offering free shipping from Friday, November 28 thru Monday, December 1.

Promote a Sister Day...Blackbags

Here is a shout out to Leslie Ann Black of Blackbags on this, our first Sister Thursday.  My very first purchase on Etsy was from her shop.  Check it out.

Fall Fashion Color Trends

Every time I make a new bag, I wonder if I'm using the most popular and best fashion forward colors and patterns. One of the resources I like to use is the Pantone website. I've added the link so you can download their Fashion Color Report for Fall 2008. "Best described as a season of change, fall ’08 is defined by rich, elegant hues that offer a vibrant selection. New York's fashion designers emphasize cooler blues, greens and purples in the top five tones used in their collections, followed by variations of warm red, orange and yellow."

Very Pretty Collection

Thanks to Uniquelynancy of the Etsy Bag Team ~ Carried Away for including my ID Pouch.

Treasury...Christmas Stars

What a Talented Group of Young Actors, Singers and Dancers

Purse Party

It's been a few days since I've posted anything because I've been preparing for my first purse party.  I've made samples of 7 different items.  I have a purse, messenger bag, tote, wallet, zipper pouch, wristlet pouch and key fob.  I've prepared sample fabric cards and order forms.  I figure I'll take orders for purses and deliver them once they are made.  I've also been busy making items that I can sell at the party.  I've also composed a purse questionnaire to help me understand what features women really want in a bag.  Strap length, zippered pockets, key fobs, size, etc.  I'll post the results after the party.  Here are a few of my samples.

Carried Away- The Etsy Bag Makers Team

There are some wonderfully talented people on our team.  What do you think?

Treasury...Rustic

I never tire of these beautiful collections. I am a very visual person and these combinations just inspire me. Hope they do the same for you.

Proud Mom

Please forgive my bragging today, but I must share some very cool pictures.  My daughter Kate is a senior in college studying Musical Theater and she just got her headshots taken for senior showcase.  The college takes a group of seniors to Chicago every year to perform for casting directors and agents.  Keep your fingers crossed for her.  

Carried Away: The Etsy Bag Makers Team: Welcome new members

Carried Away: The Etsy Bag Makers Team: Welcome new members

Check this out...

Here is a Treasury that includes one of my newest bags-top right corner. Hope you enjoy.

Treasury...Rust

Treasury...Another Fun One

Yay! I got another Treasury spot. I stayed up until nearly 1:40 am for it. There is so much talent on Etsy. Hope you enjoy.

New in my Shop...Pumpkins, Indian Corn, Cider...

I absolutely love the fall season.  Things are starting to cool down and the landscape becomes all my favorite colors.  Orange, yellow, rust, red, brown...beautiful.  My bags are starting to reflect the season as well.  I'm working with a new palette of fabrics and colors.  See what you think.

Officially Jealous...

I am just drooling over the sewing and craft rooms on this site. http://www.sewing.org/html/my_sewing_room.html
You have to go check it out. I must admit that I am an organizer. I love to buy containers and drawer units and shelves and boxes. These rooms really inspire me to rethink my space. Here are a few pictures...

New Treasury...This is Fun!

Well, this time one of my pieces was chosen to be in a Treasury. I have just joined the EtsyFAST team-Etsy Fiber Artist Street Team. This is a very talented group of fiber artists who have amazing items on Etsy. You should check them all out by entering EtsyFAST in the search box. Can you guess which piece is mine?

Treasury...So Cool

There is a really cool feature to the Etsy website. It's called Treasury. "The Treasury is a member-curated gallery of short-lived lists of 12 hand-picked items each (plus four alternates). It functions as a high-demand (and pretty!) promotional tool that many devoted Etsians fight to get. Members can feature their favorite items, items selected on a theme, or just however they like. The Treasury is not intended for self-promotion, but instead to acknowledge and share the many cool things for sale on Etsy. Admin often choose an exceptional Treasury list to promote on the home page and occasionally make them to tie into Storque articles or special events and occasions."

Here is the Treasury I created...

My Sewing Room

Well, it's not perfect yet, but it's getting there.  

I just need some storage shelves with bins for product.  And some additional lighting over my cutting table.  I love the fresh green color on the walls.   This room has two windows with great lighting during the day.  I have a table in the corner for my television -gotta watch my HGTV.    

Some New Things

I'm starting to think about fall.  Pumpkins, football, changing leaves, cool breezes, hot cider, sweaters.  What a lovely season!

IMA

We went to the Indianapolis Museum of Art today.  We got there early so that we could walk through the gardens before it got too hot.  What beautiful landscaping.  There were chairs set up in the formal gardens for a wedding and a bride and groom were having their picture taken by the Lily House.  We walked through the greenhouse and found some absolutely beautiful begonias. There was a white flowering vine on the fence that surrounded the greenhouse.  It had beautiful small white blooms and the aroma was absolutely fabulous.  The gardener who was watering for the day told us it was a late blooming clematis.  The vine was full of buds.   Lucky for us they were selling the same vine.  We bought two.  Now we just need to build the trellis to support them.  I think we'll just put them in the ground this year and let that be a spring project.  After the museum we went shopping in some local shops.  I must remember to do this more often.  It gets my creative juices flowing to see art and local handcrafts.  It was a very lovely day!