Redecorating, a pouf pattern, and two new totes

Hard to believe it is almost the end of the year...and the end of the holiday break for me...
Well, I have been quite busy in the studio in the last week or so: new furniture, new room design, new bags, in other words, a very dynamic end to 2011!
First the re-decorating: after a very fruitful trip to Ikea in Denver last week, I have re-designed my creative space downstairs. Gone are the Home Depot plastic shelves and the queen size futon. I now have a new cutting table, a wonderfully soft and cozy armchair, a wooden step stool (very useful as a side table for coffee cups and wine glasses ...), and two tall bookcases to store my fabric. My space feels so much more organized and brighter than ever before.
Joe installed a shelf and a 2'x4' peg board above the cutting table; great to store shipping supplies, tools and other necessities. Another shelf is coming, above the sewing table this time.
In between filling orders and working on two new leather bag designs, I made a pouf (ottoman) to go with my new chair. I found a pattern online here:  http://projectsbyjess.blogspot.com/2011/10/diy-faux-leather-pouf.html
The pattern was great and very easy to follow. Here is the result:

The hardest part was to decide which fabric to use for the project. I finally decided on a simple navy canvas to compliment Amy Butler's Bali Gates. I just love the end result.
I used  a kitchen trash bag full of fabric scraps, five old sweatshirts, and three old pillows to fill the pouf. I thought I would never be done. It is HUGE, but oh so comfortable...

  Here is a picture of the pouf with my new favorite armchair:

The sewing room is not quite ready to be photographed. I really want it to be just so before I take pictures. I do expect it to be ready by the end of next week. Be prepared to be amazed :)
I have been "playing" with a couple of leather pieces this week and I came up with two tote bag designs for Zakken on Etsy: a gorgeous black leather tote with a very cute and unique denim and leather detachable zippered pouch, and a simple but elegant vanilla leather bag.

I just listed both on Etsy. Take a look and let me know what you think.
Take care,
Genevieve

Busy times...

Life has been very busy on the home front. I have made and sold a bunch of waxed canvas totes, that is until I ran out of waxed canvas- so sad. Poor planning on my part, I guess. I never thought the tote would be so popular. I am expecting a waxed canvas delivery tonight- YAY! I did make the time to sew a very cute iPad messenger in waxed canvas.

I also have plenty of ideas for a large piece of vanilla leather I bought last week.
It's going to be so nice to be home for the next two weeks...
On the agenda today: a visit to Ikea in Denver. I have decided to reorganize my sewing room. This will involve removing the futon and replacing it with a comfy chair, adding a cutting table, and maybe replacing the plastic shelves with white matching bookshelves.
I have been mulling over the idea of re-organizing/re-decorating the studio for a couple of weeks now, but coming upon the Ikea catalog on Saturday morning clinched the deal. I actually was up between 2 and 4 am yesterday searching for sewing room ideas.... sheeeshhh..... Good thing I did not have to go to work...
I will post pictures when the redec is done. If I feel very brave, I will post before AND after pictures - it's the before pictures that will be scary :)
Have a fabulous Monday!
Genevieve