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.

Not On Top of My Game

So, I'm not the most "with it" person I know.  There are others who are worse, yes.  A friend from grad school just posted a picture of her PhD husband who had opened a resealable bag of shredded cheese from the wrong side.  She "Doc shamed" him.  I couldn't stop laughing, but perhaps I should have, because friend?  The mighty have fallen.  

There are also those who are better at being on top of their game than I am.

Enter: Handsome.

He has a system.  Many systems.  He keeps his wallet either in his back right pocket, or beside the sink.  If its not in his pocket, and its not beside the sink, it is legitimately lost.  Truck keys go front-left or on top of the microwave.  The system may not seem to make sense, but he has a system and always knows where stuff is.  Compare this to him asking me where my keys where.  Which is a regular q&a that sometimes has an answer and often ends with big sighs on his part.

This last time it went like so: "Where are the keys?"  "In my purse" "Where's your purse?" "Uhm... I think its in the car.  Yes, in the car, passenger seat.  The keys are in the inside pocket of my purse that is in the car, on the passenger seat.  The purse is also full of peaches." "I hate you."  He doesn't hate me, of course, but our ways of keeping track of stuff are a wee bit different from each other's.  And his is right.  I admit it.

I have other problems, though, besides keeping track of stuff.  Like literacy.  Sometimes I think I know what something says, so I don't really read it, and then I end up sewing the ends of a boxy pouch together the wrong way.  Hypothetically.  Or, I see an adorable little purse pinned on Pinterest, and see that there's a sew-a-long, and that she's going to post the pictures on Monday, so I do my darndest to sew one up this weekend.

Giveaway (sur)prizes for the fabric survey winners!

I didn't really take much more away from the pin I saw, other than the roundness, the fold-over-ness, and the ruffle.  I made it, though, and it looked like what I saw in my head, which is the ultimate success of any project.  And I got on today and looked for that sew-a-long so I could post my ruffly clutch.

I couldn't find it in my blogroll (that list at the bottom of this page), which was weird, since I knew it was recent.  So I went to google and searched a couple of links, and then I found it!

Linked Here

Do you see what I see?  Or rather, what I didn't see?  Yes, dear gentle reader, this sew-a-long took place over 2 years ago.  I'm a little late to the party.  So late that I can't even comment on Kate's post and admit what a dummy I sometimes am.  "Precious" as I would call a student who did the same.  Sometimes I am just precious.

<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.

Details :: The Derby Bag

Details.  Sometimes, I'm not great with them.  Things like exactly what time the party starts.  Or whether it's a casual or business-casual or business meeting.  Luckily, I've been early, or too dressed up, or whatever side caution falls on.  

But when I'm making stuff?  Then its all about the details, baby.

An extra stitch around the edge is something that separates things that are "done" from something that is "finished".  Adding some hardware, even if its not a necessity, lends a professional air to a creation.  Garnishes?  Finishing touches like a sprinkle of parsley or a quick wipe down show extra care.  

I've recently had the opportunity to finish up 3 bags lately, and my oh my, these finishing touches really threw them over the top, if I do say so myself! ;)  And really, if you must know, the details make it so fun!

These Derby bags (so named because of the popular leather color, Derby Brown, but it seems to have stuck, and so I'm just rolling with it) have gotten some good attention.  After the first Derby bag, I realized there were a few problems with both the design and the materials.  The handle design needed some updating from the original round, and these new & improved handles have reinforced attachment areas, rectangular rings, and well-padded handles.  Really, the leather should turn to dust before these handles break.

I don't know what it is, but I love the proportions of this bag, in purse size.  It can be sized for laptops, but I'm partial to the purse size.  It holds plenty, but doesn't allow me to cart around too too much.  Handsome already calls my purse a black hole, making it huger (yes, that's a word) makes it that much more of a problem.  This 11x13 size gives me just enough room for my chapstick collection, my phone, wallet, sunglasses, and even a diaper & wipes, if RG and I are headed out on the town.  The inside zippered pocket keeps my keys separate from the rest of the black hole, allowing me to at least make it back home!

I've got big plans for more design additions for these bags.  I am still excited to be making them, although that doesn't mean that I'm not making other stuff, too!  Want a teaser?  Stay tuned!  Its not even up in the shop yet, although it should be soon... unless I decide I just can't part with it ;)

And now I've got to take a break from the making.  Because laundry.  And because vacuuming   And because PhD.  So cinderella has to see to her chores before she can go to the ball.  And by "ball" I obviously mean sitting in our spare bedroom sewing by myself and eating Cadbury solid chocolate eggs by the fistful.  That's the same thing, right??   

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

 <3 M.