Golden Ticket

UPDATE:

The store was impressive, but somehow it wasn’t for me. I thought they would’ve catered to a more expansive crowd of crafters/designers and would have a decent selection of bag/purse supplies, but sadly this was not true. There were buttons by the hundreds, crystals by the thousands, tassels as far as my eyeballs could see, and a VERY tall and impressive shelving unit of ribbons and cords. The staff was pleasant enough and helped politely when I asked where the cotton webbing was located. But when I saw the price ($2.98 per yard) I promptly put it back because I could get it cheaper elsewhere for $1.15 a yard. I would recommend this store though to anyone who wants to add some pizzazz to their fashion creations, but as a bag maker it didn’t fit well into my craftdom.

Side Note: They had an ultra cool spinning display in the window that looked like a wedding cake made up of pearls, ribbons, buttons and sequins. That was worth going into the store to see it up close and personal.

So all that being said, I’m going to stick with buying my stuff online as I get what I want without having to leave the comfort of my home or office, and having it delivered for a minimal delivery fee. Less stress for me…and that’s always a good thing.

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After work today I will be heading to M&J Trim. Who or what is M&J Trim you ask? Well according to most New Yorkers in the fashion industry it is THE BEST place to shop for all things trimy and buttony, sparkley, and zipper. The owner of the store describes it as “the Willy Wonka of trimming since 1936”. Nuff said. I've got my Golden Ticket a.k.a. My Metrocard and I am going to this notion Disneyland.

Here are a few pics of what the store looks like for you guys not living in New York.

Say a prayer for me and my debit card. This will be my first time going to this talked about store, and I must say that I am excited. I don’t think my brain and eyeballs will be able to keep up with all the glorious trinkets. My fellow crafters know what I'm talking about. I will update you guys later on my "finds".

Clutch of the Week

Tory Burch is a name I first heard about on Oprah. And everyone knows that once Oprah mentions your name you’re given the Golden Ticket to life and subsequent riches.

*Note to self: Send note to Oprah with name printed in bold and 72 font size*

Tory is known for her bohemian, clean-lined clothing and eye-catching accessories, and this week’s Clutch of the Week does not disappoint. This multi-tone leather design with a croc-print leather flap and signature logo tag has a leather wristlet strap that drops to 7”. The flap closure comes with an adjustable buckle, and the inside id lines with canvas. There is also an inside zipper under the flap and a back zipper for chicks like me who tote around more than they should.

Of course, all this chicness and the prestige of having Oprah say your name does not come cheap. Be prepared to shell out $450.00 plus tax and a few tears to covet this gem.

Inspiration

I've always admired the craftsmanship of clutches made by Judith Leiber. They're like a piece of treasure from a king's vault. Flawless, awesome and oh so shiny...and they cost just as much as treasure in a king's vault. One purse can cost as much as a mortgage payment. But for the 1% who can afford to buy a Judith Leiber accessory it is a status symbol.

Some background info on Judy:

Judith Leiber was born and raised in Budapest, Hungary, where she trained with the Hungarian Handbag Guild during World War II, and was the first woman to become a Meister(means master in German).
Wait a minute. Handbag Guild? Man I miss the old days. Because you all know if there was such a school still in existence I would immediately go sign up for some Financial Aid and go take some evening classes, no questions asked.

More on Judy……

In 1947, Mrs. Leiber immigrated to the United States after meeting and marrying Gerson Leiber, a U.S. soldier stationed in Budapest. After many years of working for the leading New York handbag manufacturers, the Leibers launched the eponymous company in 1963. In the ensuing years, the Leibers built the business into the only company of its kind – providing the highest quality, most well styled and unique product available. “I was determined to make my bags as beautiful as possible in line and shape, without ever compromising on materials and workmanship. I have never swerved from the goal,” says Judith Leiber.
You go girl!

Mrs. Leiber earned accolades including the Coty American Fashion Critics Award and the Council of Fashion Designers of America Award. The couple sold the company and retired in 1998. They opened The Leiber Museum in Springs, New York in 2005 to house their respective creations and works of art.

Here are a few samples of Judith’s clutch purses, and might I add that the prices start at $1,595 all the way to $5,995. Like they say in Trinidad “Good ting doh come cheap.”

$3,495

$5,795

$4,295

$3,995

$4,495

Girl, You So Crafty

Last weekend I decided to make my own miniaudiere. Why? Because I’m a craft nerd, and I wanted the pleasure of customizing my own clutch rather than buying one in the store which would mean that there would be a HIGH possibility that someone else would be/could be walking around with the same clutch as me. No thank you.

So I ordered my cases and chains, bought the fabric glue and an awesome pair of scissors. Next, I headed to my favourite store, Purl Soho, to look for some cute fabric to cover my purse with. It was torture. Why? Because there were so many beautiful fabrics. How could I even pick just one out of twenty? Note to self: Do not go to Purl Soho without $40.00 in “fun money”.

Finally I got down to assembling my “magnificent creation”. I downloaded the instructions from http://www.tallpoppycraft.com and settled in.

Estimating how much fabric I needed and cutting it out was the easy part. The next part however was a true test of my patience: The Glue.

Side Note: I hate glue. Especially glue that I’ve never used before.

After a couple of disasters, wherein I put too much glue on the cases and it seeped through the fabric, I FINALLY got it right. The instructions said to clip the fabric in place with some clothespins (I used a combination of clothespins,binder clips..and anything I could find that clipped), and let it dry for several minutes. Okay.

I then decided that I needed to distress myself from the Glue Horror before I even proceeded with the rest of the project. Shout outs to my Ipod, Evanescence, Sean Paul, Busta Rhymes and Justin Timberlake. Oh and a cup of Seagram’s Ginger Ale.

By the time the pieces were dried my stress-level was waaaayy down and the rest of the project went off without a hitch. The final result?

TA-DA!

How they hang:

I must say that I'm pretty pleased with myself for doing so well on my first try.

I will be making more of these in the near future.

Look out for the Spring 2012 line.

Miniaudiere

The Minaudiere was the innovation by Van Cleef & Arpels. In the 1930's, when Charles Arpels caught Florence Jay Gould slipping her lipstick into a white tin box, he was astonished that such a fashionable woman had nothing in which to store and carry her cosmetics. As a result, he invented this ultra-sophisticated version of the vanity case that allows the cosmopolitan woman to tuck away her lipstick, handkerchief and powder puff without being encumbered.

Today, miniaudieres come in all shapes and sizes, and is a staple accessory at cocktail parties and in the hands of female celebrities around the world.

Today’s Clutch of the Week is:

Alexander McQueen’s Studded Knuckle-Clasp Clutch.

Edgy does not even begin to describe this evening bag. Not only can you look like you’re a confident, sophisticated woman of the world, but you can also slip your fingers through the rings and punch anyone who thinks otherwise. My kinda bag.

This Italian made masterpiece is constructed of black leather adorned with gold and silver brass studs. McQueen’s signature hinged brass-knuckle clasp with skull, floral, and crystal embellishment tops off the hard-shell casing. The price for this opulent creation? $2,480.00