New year, NEW a la mode website

I am so excited to launch my new website - a more streamlined and user friendly site.  The transition began at the most inopportune time...December, right in the middle of the busy holiday season.  But, I believe that taking action whenever motivated results in all things positive.

So, if you have a moment, please take a look around the site.  If you see anything that makes you raise an eyebrow, shoot me an email (or tweet, or fb comment, etc.).  I will be adding products (both new and old favorites) daily.  

I know many of you have exciting changes in store for 2011.  What are they?  I'd love to hear about them.

Inspired by moss

Photo taken by me in our backyard this week. It was the only
patch of color in a sea of post winter brown.

Appalachian Moon original painting by Focus Line Art
Moss earrings by Adorn Jewelry
The offering, photo by Still Memory Photography
Birch log kit by My Imaginary Boyfriend
Granny Smith skirt by Made with love by Hannah
Forest Dryad pendant SoN by Elysian Fields

Vote for me...bribes accepted.

I am excited to learn that Etsy chose my seatbelt messenger bag for their Eco Friendly poll. The winner will be featured in the Storque, their blog. Please consider voting for me here:

Please, please, please...and if you are not easily persuaded, let me know. I am not above sugary bribes.

HUGE Handbag Giveaway

My Carried Away Etsy Bag Team (CAB Team) is having a huge treasure hunt giveaway. Check out the details on our blog here.

Week of Humor while studio is closed

My studio will be closed for the week as I take a much needed family vacation to sunny California. I don't want to leave you hanging, so I've scheduled a week (excluding Sundays) of funny photos and quotes that I've found.

Enjoy and I'll catch up with you when I return on the 23rd.

A week in review - no taxes but great new bag!!

Okay, I still have today to start working on my taxes. So, I didn't accomplish what I had intended this week. However, I did make this awesome new bag (a design I've been working on for some time)!! Week not wasted!

the cut-out clutch - blue dot matrix

Promote a sister Sunday - Emma Gordon London

As a member of the Carried Away Team, an Etsy team of handmade bag makers, I am happy to promote a fellow team member, Emma Gordon.

I have actually been a fan of Emma's bags for many years before she was on Etsy. When I began my business in 2005, I researched and bookmarked a number of bag maker websites that I admired. Emma's was one of them. What drew me to her bags was their modern simplicity and unique style. I loved her use of colors as well as details. Her bags are feminine yet tailored, ornate but not "frou frou."

Lola silver clutch wristlet

Emma is from Derbyshire, UK. She started her business in 2003 and recently started selling on Etsy.

"My signature style is ‘ladylike with a twist’ using pretty colours, quirky detailing and delicate trims. As every bag is handmade, this achieves the unique ‘one-off’ style that has so far proved very popular with my customers. I take my inspiration from everything elegant, from the light-hearted glamour of Audrey Hepburn in ‘Breakfast at Tiffanys’ to the gorgeous pin-up girls of the 1950’s." - from her Etsy profile

To see more of Emma's bags, visit her websites at:
http://www.emmagordon.co.uk/index.htm
http://emmagordonlondon.etsy.com/

This just in...

big dot necklace - faux bois - blades of grass - $13.00

the go bag (medium) - winter white - $65.00

Only two left! the tote bag - aubergine quilted vinyl - $55.00

faux bois cufflinks in red - $16.00

redrum panelled necklace - $22.00

My first sale on Zazzle

Sometime last year, I opened a shop at Zazzle.com (a website that allows you to customize and sell tshirts, mugs, aprons, and more). I wanted a tshirt with my stylized Buddha photo on it. So, I figured that I'd set up a shop with some of my popular designs. I loved the idea of drinking my morning coffee with the words "no whining" on it (maybe it will remind the kids). And with some new babies coming into the family, I thought an "I'm not listening" onesie would be fun.

Zazzle is much like Cafepress in that one receives "royalties" from the sale of their designs on various merchandise. In other words, Zazzle uses my designs, the buyer chooses what they want it on (tshirt, mug, etc.), and I get the paid a percentage.



create & buy custom products at Zazzle
I had to check out the product myself and bought a "no whining" mug and a Buddha tshirt. I loved them both. I ultimately chose Zazzle because I liked the products they used. The printing on the tshirt is top quality and the mug is perfect (handle size is key). After my purchase, I sort of forgot about the shop. Mostly because it's a lot of work to promote and manage -- Etsy keeps me busy enough.

Much to my surprise, I received an email the other day saying I made a sale...my Buddha tshirt! What a buzz. I've done absolutely nothing by way of promotion, so now I feel I need to at least have it on my blog and minimally promote to see where this may go!

Black Friday - Cyber Monday SALE

Avoid the madness and shop online! Free shipping worldwide Friday - Monday!

http://alamodestuff.etsy.com

Monday Morning Madness - Black Friday Cyber Monday SALE

I ended last week on a very sad note. I learned that a good college friend died. She was 39 yrs old. Needless to say, I didn't have much to blog about on Friday.

Saturday, I worked like mad to get my Craftland items ready for delivery. Sunday I dropped my merchandise off and felt immediate relief, however short lived. Today, I'm onto my next deadline - the Foundry Show. I'll be sewing like crazy this week!
I have decided to participate in a Black Friday to Cyber Monday sale (November 28 - December 1). I'll be offering free shipping for those 4 days to the US and Canada. Take advantage and avoid the frenzy at the stores.

I'm also happy to announce that I finally have gift certificates available in my shop. You can purchase them in denominations of $15, $25, $50, & $100 (other amounts available upon request).
Happy Monday!

Keeping it simple

I'm working on my fall/winter collection. As usual, my mind is buzzing with ideas but I always come back to what has worked in the past. My designs are simple and tailored. My fabric choices are textural and rich.

The flat tote below is one of a series of "Winter White" pieces. While I will have a few new styles, this particular style never lets me down. It's basic, modern, simple, and classic.

Hump Day Humor

hardware necklace - loopty loop

Fashion Frontline

I love to play dress up! I don't really get to do it too often anymore. My uniform is typically a tshirt and jeans/shorts/A-line skirt (I have 2 boys, 11 & 6 yrs...enough said). I do try to jazz things up with my jewelry. And on those particular occasions like date night or dinner out with friends, I try to get creative and put a fun outfit together.

I don't shop as much as I used to (I'm sure there will be some gasps of disbelief). And I'm big on discount purchasing. Luckily, I've made some wise purchases over the years that can still be rotated into current styles. However, when I do find something I love...

So I get an email the other day from DSW.com (Designer Shoe Warehouse). They are having a big clearance sale and I couldn't resist peeking. I found, and fell in love with, these shoes by Farylrobin:

So retro 1920s. They'd be great with jeans or a pencil skirt. I know I could make them work. And, I can tell that they'd be comfortable. They remind me of a pair of John Fluevog shoes from I bought 20 years ago (that I still own) that are made of supple leather and form perfectly around your feet. Fluevog shoes also have a retro '20s to '40s feel. Hmmm, I see a trend.

My husband doesn't particularly like these shoes. I think he was a bit surprised that I liked them. But he did admit that I'd make them look great (or is he just being a sweet husband?).

So, 24 hours after initially seeing these shoes, I'm still thinking about them. Maybe I'll treat myself. After all, they are on sale. Or maybe this will pass. A girl can dream, can't she?!

Some new items I've listed this week:

the woven carriage clutch - convertible noir

the shoulder bag - aquamarine weave

the hardware necklace - ripple effect

the big dot necklace - ex libris

the hardware bracelet - OoOoOo

Hump Day Humor

As a mom who works from home, this sign pretty much says it all!

July Giveaway!

Win this adorable personalized outfit by Tiny Bubbles! This set includes a monogrammed t-shirt and polka dot shorts valued at $54.00 !

Contest Details:
Rules of the giveaway are simple.

1) Click this link, Tiny Bubbles, to the website.

2) Look around and see what you like.

3) Come back to this post and tell us what you found and why you like it.

Its that easy. A winner will be randomly chosen on July 13th (contest ends at noon on the 13th). You may comment as much as you like, but your name will be entered only once in the drawing. Please be sure I have your contact information, so that I can let you know you won! Good luck!

About Tiny Bubbles: Designer and founder Barbara Guglielmo began making children's clothing after the birth of her first child, David. Following her creative spirit, she began monogramming infant and toddler t-shirts. Barbara expanded her collection, with the encouragement of friends and family, and began creating a line of fun, fashionable, boutique-style children's clothing. What began as a labor of love, blossomed into an entrepreneurial dream as Barbara (affectionately known as "Bubbles" during childhood by family and friends) launched Tiny Bubbles in April 2005.

Original designs are inspired by premium, natural fabrics of 100% cotton and wool felt, in a playful variety of textures, patterns, knits and colors. Each style is named fondly after Barbara's own children and members of her extended family. The unique, whimsical styles reflect both Barbara's artistic vision and the spirit of today's child.

Tiny Bubbles can also be found at Etsy -- http://tinybubblesdesigns.etsy.com/!

Just listed!

I just listed these two new switch plates. One is fun and the other inspirational. We could all use a little of both!

Recent Etsy purchases

Buyers often say that part of what makes buying from Etsy so fun is the creative way sellers package and send their items. It's true, when you get an item that is cleverly wrapped it's like getting a little present in the mail.

Two of my recent purchases are below. They were both so nicely presented that I had to share.

Ebony and aluminum necklace, Mio Studio

Custom rubber stamp, Sweet Papery