InStyling

As I'm prepping for my Spring 2012! line, I decided to pick up a copy of the new InStyle magazine("the magazine choice of designers" so says Rachel Roy) and flip through for inspiration.

Now, this book is almost as thick, and weighs almost as much as a phone book, but so damn worth it. My eyeballs and brain were trying to process all the fabulous colours and things in it but after 20 minutes I had to take a break.
New rule for reading this magazine: Only read four pages every two hours.



Look at how thick this thing is:


Here are a few pages I ripped out and hung on the Inspiration Board:

It's been 2 hours since my last page so I'm off to go delight my senses in some more fashion editorial deliciousness.

Measure Here...Cut Down There

So for the past week or so I've been perfecting my pattern process in order to make the most fabulous purses mankind has ever seen (Read: My mother). But the reality of situation is that sometimes things that work out perfectly in your mind gets all warped when it hits the real world.
But I am pleased to report that after fiddling with the patterns I bought from this wonderful Etsy seller http://www.etsy.com/shop/whilebabynaps , and making a few purses (yet to be unveiled) I got up the courage to make my own pattern.

Here is one of the patterns I bought. It makes a coin purse. So cute!




And here is a peek into my pattern making process. My measuring tape got a workout. Thanks to Dev and Enrique for holding down my mental while I experimented with seam allowances and perfecting the shape for the rounded frame.




Now the true test is cutting out the pattern on fabric, sewing it up and fitting it into the round frame. Eeep!
If all goes well look out for a slew of those coin purses in my upcoming Etsy shop.
I'll keep you guys updated and post pics (good and bad)soon.

Purse of the Week

This week's handbag candy is brought to you by Banana Republic, the store I always say I'm going to shop at but never quite make the effort to go patronize. But this handbag just might be the extra push I need.

Meet the Karlie top-handle leather bag. This bag screams "sophisticated working woman", or in my case "working woman trying to look sophisticated".

The Karlie is 100% leather and designed with a top handle as well as a detachable shoulder strap. It's approximately 15 3/4" tall, and the handle drop is approximately 9"; shoulder strap length is approximately 15". It also comes with a protective dust bag included which in my opinion is a must have for all your bags for the sake of maintaining the bag's appearance and longevity.

Okay. Less talking, more showing. Check it out.





Priced at $220.00 I say it is completely worth it. It comes in cognac, camel(shown)and navy. Go get it girls!

My Fabric Obsession

So in anticipation of making cute coin purses and fabric clutches I went on a fabric shopping spree. And according to my accountant (the ATM receipt from the Chase Bank across the street) this is going to be my last spree for a while.
It's safe to say at this point that I'm officially a fabric junkie. Are there support groups for that?
Anyway, here are some pics of my stash.

One of my purchases came from a seller on Etsy (shout out to fivemonkeyfabrics!), whom I will be making more purchases from.

Here is what I bought:



So damn gorgeous!

Next I bought a collection (read: waaaaaay too many) from Contemporarycloth.com.
Here they are:













Lawd! I am ready to sew!

Stay tuned to see what I'll make with all these goodies. Hopefully they won't suck because that would just be an insult to the fabric...and my debit card.

Come and Get Me Winter!

So with all this purse/clutch making going on it seems I haven't crocheted in a looooong time. So after a bout with some insomnia last week I FINALLY finished the scarf I started to make for myself after the busyness of the Christmas ordering season died down. I must say that at first I wasn't too sure how the colours would look together, but as I worked up the scarf I was pleasantly surprised. It's a very chunky scarf, and can double as a hood for those extra windy days we've been having lately in NYC. I love it :)

Take a look for yourself:



The middle colour is actually a beige yarn mixed with a pale pink and purple yarn. It gives the scarf some added dimension, and anchors the solid colours quite nicely.
I wore the scarf last Friday and guess what? I got an order to make one in pastel colours :)
Man, I guess I was really rocking the hell out of my scarf.
But there's just something about wearing an accessory that you made that just puts an added swagger in your stride. It's like you're saying "Look at my talent bitches." *Z snaps*

Workspaces and Such.....

So today I decided to clean up my workroom in anticipation of the hectic week ahead I predict I'm going to have. Now, my workroom is actually a portion of my bedroom that I converted. It's a small space, but I've managed to maneuver my worktable in a way that makes the most of the space.

The round shape of the table gives me a 360 degree access that I've come to enjoy mainly because I'm not bumping into edges as I move from my sewing machine to the cutting space at the back.

I love the bench also as Bran usually keeps me company when I'm sewing(he's usually engrossed in his DS). I find this oddly calming. But I'm weird like that. A few times he's fallen asleep on my lap as I sewed. I guess the whir of the machine was his lullaby :)

Here's what the space looks like:


Notice the colourful window border? It's a collection of fake autumn leaves and glittery star-shaped ornaments. It never fails to put me in a good mood.
On the table I have my Inspirational Swatch board, and at the back are my patterns for my fabric clutches and coin purses. At the bottom right is my little flowerpot of some Kalanchoe (a succulent that provides consumers with a durable flowering pot plant requiring very little maintenance in the home or office). I'm don't have a green thumb, so let's see if this plant can survive living with me and my plant-killing ways :/


I converted a tall coffee mug as a holder for my scissors, brushes, spatulas and clips. The pattern on the mug is exquisite. So much so that I wish I had some fabric in that pattern *sigh*

So there you have it. My workroom. Mind you this might be the last time you see it looking so pristine. I'm in the midst of some downtime until most of my supplies arrive from my vendors. But as soon as I have everything on hand it's gonna be pace to get the Spring 2012 line together by the May deadline I gave myself.

*Note to self* Calm down with the overachieving