A ticking stripe and waxed canvas tote

I just love this new bag. It reminds me of summer, the beach, linen dresses, long evenings on the deck... Aaahhh*....

* happy sigh...
Check out this tote in my Zakken shop on Etsy and at Bag du Jour on Cargoh.

Snow Storm

The weather had been unseasonably warm, and I was already planning my vegetable garden. Sometimes I forget where I live... It has been snowing for hours now and we are experiencing blizzard conditions. 

There is a three foot snow drift in the front yard, and we can't even see the Adirondack chairs on the front porch.
Time for a cup of tea and a good book...
Stay warm~

Listening to classics

I have been spending quite a bit of time in the studio lately: new orders, new ideas, an urge to create...
I don't know if you are like me, but when I work with my hands, my mind wanders, and I often start thinking about things that I shouldn't be thinking about: things that happened at work that annoy me, what somebody said that was not very nice, the fact that I will eventually HAVE to go food shopping... You get the picture...
I get tired of listening to the radio (I love music but the ads and the chatter really get to me), so I was trying to  think of a different solution to "entertain" myself while working. Then I got it : audio books!
Following my instinct, I did a internet search on audio-books. Many companies offer subscriptions, but well, I really did not want to pay for anything just yet- I wasn't sure I would love it-, so I searched for free audio-books.
I came upon this really cool website : librivox.org. This organization has volunteers record public domain readings (so, sorry, no New York Times best sellers...), and they are free for anyone to download.
I was thrilled to listen to Treasure Island, The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, and Tom Sawyer while sewing during the last couple of days.
I love to read and this is the next best thing!

In the meantime, these came out of the studio - infused with literary thoughts, no doubts:):

iPad Messenger in Organic Brown Cotton with Organic Yellow Cotton Lining

iPad Messenger in Bedford Cord with Organic Cotton Lining

Waxed Canvas Tote with Leather Handles and Detachable Strap

The bags are available at Zakken on Etsy, and Bag du Jour on Cargoh.
Have a wonderful week.
Genevieve

A Kir recipe and a Happy New Year!

Happy New Year! May the Year of the Dragon bring you Health, Happiness, and Love!

I wanted to share one of my favorite drink recipes. It's called Kir, it's French, it's lovely! And best of all,  it's very simple to make.
You will need:  current liqueur (Creme de Cassis), or current syrup (for the taste and the sweetness without added alcohol) and your favorite dry white wine (I like a not-too-oaky Chardonnay or a nice Chablis).
               - Pour about one tablespoon of Creme de Cassis in a stemmed glass.
               - Pour 4 or 5oz of chilled, dry white wine into the glass. The wine will turn a lovely shade of pink.
               - Taste and add a tad more liqueur if you like a sweeter drink or more wine if you like a drier drink.
               - Enjoy with a bowl of "biscuit sales" (crackers), chips (potato chips), or cacahouettes (salted peanuts). Oh, and put on Edith Piaf on the CD player, and Voila! You are in Paris without even leaving your home!

For a totally decadent drink, make a Kir Royal: replace the white wine with a dry champagne...Out of this world!!!!

 Aside from making- and enjoying-  French cocktails :) , I have been busy in the shop. Here are the two latest additions to Zakken (zakken.etsy.com):

The Holdall in canvas and leather

The Slim Tote in brown waxed canvas and leather

I absolutely adore the Holdall. It's simple, stylish, sturdy and a bit rough. I could see Indiana Jones, or some adventuress on the back of an elephant, carrying the bag around... 

I made a gray version of the Slim Tote for a friend, and it was a total hit! The Slim Tote is also available in tan waxed canvas ( it is sitting on my workbench right now, ready to come to life).

Well friends, that is all I have for tonight.

Take care of yourself, spread the love, and have a wonderful year!

Genevieve

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

New in the shop: Leather!

I have been toying with the idea of making leather bags for quite some time now. Nothing complicated, totes and clutches that are simple, but stylish and elegant. I came upon a couple of pieces of leather that I couldn't pass up: one half-hide in the  softest, most luxurious black leather I have ever seen, eco-friendly too (came from South American cattle that were NOT raised anywhere near the rain forest, and the hides were processed using only natural extracts and oils, no metals in there- yay!). The other piece of leather is  a gorgeous brown, oil tanned leather that feels like silk.
So after a couple of hours in the studio, I came up with a couple of clutches. I think I am in love. Tell me what you think:

Maybe it was the turkey, maybe it was the whole week at home, but the creative juices were flowing; I also made another waxed canvas tote, in graphite gray with black leather this time- I really like it :)

All three pieces are available on zakken.etsy.com as well as cargoh.com/store/bag-du-jour
Have a wonderful week!
Take care,
Genevieve