Victoria Black Rose Pocketbook

I've had so many requests for "just one more" of this Victoria Black Rose Pocketbook that I just had to see what I could do. I have enough fabric to make 3 more, but not enough of the fabric I used for the lining and upper band on the original. So, I've decided to offer to make 3 more, each will be a genuine one-of-a-kind even though they will all have the body made from the gorgeous (and extremely, if not impossibly, hard to find) black rose linen textured cotton decorator fabric.

I will create each with a different contrasting fabric for the band, lining and pockets, and quite likely each will have a different flat braid. I do have the same tatted-look lace. Buttons may also differ. Each bag, however, will be just as beautiful as the original.  For more details and ordering info visit the Victoria Black Rose page at  Mama's Pocketbook

It's so exciting to create something different each time and fun to mix the fabrics and see how they turn out. 

Will you be one of the lucky 3 who gets one of these? I guarantee there will be no more than 3 bags made with this material ever. It is no longer available and I'll be using all that I have on hand. 

 

Now I'm a Purse and Shoe Girl!

Everyone knows I'm passionate about purses. I love creating them and working with all the beautiful fabrics I can get my hands on. But lately I'm really diggin' these very special kind of shoes!  Altered art shoes! WOW!

My adorable, crafty, embellishment-crazy friend Inka, of Inklings Designs has created some awesome jewelry display shoes that are fabulous fun!  I want one of these for my vanity counter to keep my rings and earrings handy. How fancy would that be. But I can see how these would be great as store displays too!  

Tuffets! What Luxurious Treats!

I'm so lucky to be able to call Sharon Wollman my friend! Not only because she is one of the most giving, fun, funny, and smart ladies I know, she's also a very talented designer and seamstress extraordinaire! She is very inspiring!

Sharon is the Tuffet Queen and owner of C'est Chouette! She rescues incredible needlepoints and lovingly turns them into the most gorgeous tuffets and pillows you ever laid eyes on (or your pretty head!). 

 

Just look at these fabrics and trims! Heavenly!!

She uses only the best silks and trims, each matched to perfection to the colors in the needlepoints. 

Her work has been featured in many of our favorite magazines like Romantic Homes and Romantic Country. I could go on all day about Sharon and her tuffets, but I'll just encourage you to visit her website and see all the beauty for yourself! 

Beautiful Brocade Custom Carpet Bag

Oh How I LOVE Brocade!

A friend of mine asked me to make her a custom carpet bag for traveling. Now I've made a few of these bags before, but I'm particularly proud of how well this one turned out. I put a good bit of hardware on it, and found that the twist lock on the front tab worked out really nice. I will definitely incorporate that on future bags! 

I think if you click on the photo you will see a larger version of it so you can see the finer details and the intricate design of the fabric. 

This fabric is one of the most beautiful fabrics I've ever found. I hoarded it for well over a year before finding the perfect project for it. It is a gorgeous heavy textured brocade with beautiful shades of sage, gold and black. The silver and nickle hardware accents are perfect.

 I also included a couple of little accessories, a matching card case with a silver and rhinestone pin and a tissue cover that matches the quilted gold lining fabric of the bag.  I always like to give my customers little extras and I'm happy to say my friend was very pleased with her carpet bag!  

If only I had time to make one for myself. Maybe if I ever actually get to travel somewhere I will!

Inspired Vintage Renewals

Maybe I'm late to the trends, but ever since I got my Anthropologie and Free People catalogs for Christmas, I've been head over heals in love with the avant-garde designs I'm finding. I crave the unexpected frills and asymmetrical lines, the mixture of heavy wools and delicate gossamer fabrics. It's exciting, because it's fantasy dressing for real girls!

I'm very inspired by those who explore deconstruction, recycling, and taking cues from fashions from decades ago to create completely new and fun designs. Today I found this book

and that's what set me to work on this blog!

Of course everything I see translates into purse making, but I'm thinking after the holidays I want to try my hand at making some interesting jackets and blouses. You never know what I might come up with!

One things for sure though, If I decide I want to wear my new creations with "boyfriend" jeans, I'll definitely look to local thrift shopping for them, as I'm blown away that anyone could (or would) pay the $250 to $300 pricey price tag at the Free People site for them. Puleeze!