Bags in the Shoppe :: Version 2.0!

I lined mine in the text print.
I'm pretty much in love.
I pet it.
Don't tell Duke.

Last week I shared this gorgeous little photograph on Instagram last week, my long-time-coming Framed Tote 2.0.  Everyone was so kind with their comments!  It took me a while to wrap my head around how to keep the "framed"-ness of it, but then a solution occurred to me!  Its a panoramic!  Boom, solved!  I'm still figuring out how to incorporate other designs into the panoramic style.  I think the sunshine burst might work quite well, and perhaps some arrows...?  Ideas are welcome, I love a challenge!

However, that is not all I have for you today.

Oh, no.  There was to be no "2.0" release for one until there was a "2.0" release for all!  And so here we are:

These ones are not yet lined, awaiting someone's preference of the gorgeous Indelible set...

These bags are the same size as the originals (approx. 11"x14"), but instead of the seamed portion being attached, it is separate from the body, creating an exterior pocket!  For me, this exterior pocket is perfect for keeping my phone, keys, and mail.  Inside, well, I find all manner of items to store inside my "black hole" of a bag, as Handsome calls it.  

The bags are now listed in my Storenvy shop, feel free to brows around!  I'm super excited for this next step in the shop.  Designing and manufacturing these bags is so enjoyable to me, and I'm so glad to get to share it all with you!  If you want one for Christmas (I know, its not even Halloween, but its coming all the same!  And if you wanted one for Halloween, well, you're too late.  Sorry.), there will be a cutoff in mid/late November for all Holiday orders.  Just to put a bug in your ear about it ;)

<3 M.

Makers Gotta Make - The Shop Is OPEN!

Want to know the most disconcerting feeling I had while packing for our move?  When I finally boxed up my sewing machine.  I'm sure it should have been when I packed the medicines away or when RG had no more toys to play with or photo albums or something.  But no.  It was the sewing machine.  Crazy thoughts raced through my head, like "What if a seam tears and I can't mend it!?  What if I want to make something, I get inspiration and have to act right. that. moment. and I can't??"

Cue slight hyperventilation.

Ridiculous, yes, but I've come to grips with the fact that I'm a maker.  I have to make.  Give me a 2-hour naptime for my toddler, and its off to the sweatshop - its where I unwind.  Making things helps me feel calm and creative, productive (one of my favorite feelings) and satisfied.  If I felt the way about exercise that I do about sewing things, I would be much more impressive physically, but whatever.  As I've found out, a maker has got to make!

And so things have slightly settled down in these parts, and I've gotten back to making.  Yes, I'm in the process of both a Laura Ingalls-Wilder dress for my niece (birthday request - from a to-be-7-year-old, no lie!) and a Land of Nod inspired baby quilt, but mostly, its been leather, all leather.  My upstairs smells so good, y'all!  I've been working on the exteriors of purses so that when I re-opened my shop, I would be able to have faster turn-around time, and also so that the bags would be more uniform, having all been made at the same time.

I posted this picture on instagram the other night, because it was just so happy for me to look at, bad lighting and all!

So now the shop is re-opened, and I'm taking orders and all that business.  I'm still working out some smaller items for people who don't need a whole new purse, but would like some quality leather accessories, so I'll be sure to update you when that's listed!  But in the meantime, want to know my favorite thing thats new this season?

The Framed Lonestar Tote & The Framed Sunshine Tote

These two.  And specifically, Mr. Sunshine there on the right.  I've had dreams of a quilt that is along those lines for a few years now, and when I realized I could make it into a framed tote, I was so excited!  Now I'm just trying to keep myself from trading my current bag (the framed chevron tote) in for Mr. Golden Sun... but I can always make more... ;)

And in case you need some size reference, I submit to you a nearly in-focus, husband-turned-photographer picture :)  

If you have any questions, feel free to ask away!  And if you want to check out more information, follow the link to my store on the right (or right here)!  Big huge thank you to all of you for your support and for waiting so long for me to get my feet under me again!

<3 M.

Details :: The Framed Tote

 Today, friends, I want to tell you about my current favorite bag from the G&M Things shoppe!  It's called the "Framed Tote" and is named that because, well, it's kind of tote-ish, and there's always going to be a frame around whatever prettiness is going on in the middle.  

The first design I came up with is a cute little chevron number.  So far all of the designs have been done in same-color leather, making the design more of a subtle thing than an in-yo-face thing.  I like it, but I'm thinking about trying something a little more striking as well.  I mean, I wouldn't ask you to disguise your awesomeness, I think the same goes for the things you choose to carry!

The other framed design so far is a fancy little feather!  I love the feather made out of leather.  I can't really even explain why, except that something so delicate being made out of something so sturdy, it speaks to me.

These bags are approximately 16" wide and 14" tall, making them the perfect size for carrying a laptop, files, or even as a diaper bag.  Why shouldn't you have a swanky bag for keeping diapers in?  I can't think of a reason!

The inside has two pockets, one on each side.  One side has a large open-top pocket, big enough to hold 8 1/2" x 11" paper without folding it.  The zippered pocket on the other side is smaller, and better suited to phones, chapsticks, and keys.  Wouldn't want the necessities to get lost in all that space!

Although not shown in this here example (^), there is also a magnetic snap closure to help keep everything under wraps!  This example above is the first one I made, and it's what I carry every day to the office.  I feel so fancy, walking past those kids in their backpacks, knowing that I've also got all of my stuff, and its in a gorgeous bag!

Shoulder  [Derby] Bag (L), Framed Tote (C), Cross-Body Bag (R)
Interested in a custom order?
Contact me via my shoppe!

Here's what I need to know, though.  I've got an itch to make some more framed designs, and I'm not sure what to make.  I'm planning to look through some classic pieced quilt blocks, see if anything speaks to me, but do you have an idea?  Some shape that you're loving this spring?  Tell me about it!  No need to order, I'm just looking for ideas ;) (although you can order if you want to...)

<3 M.

The Shoppe Is Open! (again)

Hey y'all!

I've been making things again.  I have been making progress on my actual "work" work, but after I put in a good day, I unwind with a little leather crafting.

Yes, leather crafting.  Don't you?

No?

Weird.

Anyhow, I've decided to re-open my shoppe, only instead of an Etsy shop, it is a Storenvy shop.  Because (1) Storenvy people are super nice, (2) they let you customize and tweak (not twerk) all different aspects of the display, and (3) they don't lift a little of your profit from your pockets while you're not looking.  Not that Etsy does that.  No.  I'm just sayin'...

Plus, I like their look.  They seem so... hip.  Thats it.  Totally hip.

I wanna be hip.  I want a hip place to sell my bags.  So its Storenvy for me!

I meant to wait.  To make a whole bunch of the same thing because it is my grand theory of design that anything looks pleasing, aesthetically, when it is presented en mass.  For example.

I'm not saying its the prettiest thing ever, but you're drawn to it, aren't you?
There's just something about repetition that makes you like it.
Don't deny.
If you feel more comfortable, imagine those toilets are purses.
Or kittens.

So I wanted to wait and to have a whole bunch of inventory ready to go.  So that they would look super nice all stacked up together, even if they didn't speak to you individually.  But they do.  Oooo they do.  They speak so loudly.  And so I decided to jump the gun and re-open my shop with only two purses in stock.  I'm getting new leather hide today, and so there should be new purses in the shop soon.  But for now, there are only these lovely two.

They speak to me so loudly that I very nearly decided to keep one.  I took it out for a day trip, just to try it out.  We drove around a little, saw some sights, etc.  It was a grand old time, but, well, the purse & I are not meant to be.  

I promise, it will look this lovely on your seat.
Take it some nicer places than I did, mkay?

So if you like leather crafts, and purses, or just small businesses in general, check out my new shop!  Share it, pin it, tweet it to your friends.  Or just look at it and then think, "Hm.  Those are nice."

<3 M.