Product Review- Flip Video Camera

A lot of you have written to ask me about my little video camera which I bought last fall for the express purpose of trying my hand at a little video blogging... and of course, for taking a few movies of my beautiful grandson!

It's a FlipUltraHD Video camera and I LOVE it!

It's lightweight and small, not taking up any more room in my purse than my phone and it was so easy to use that I literally took it out of the box and used it, which is a big deal for me.

You can watch your video right on the camera immediately after you take it, complete with sound and you can store several hours worth of video right on the camera.

It's also got a built-in USB connection so you can easily watch the playback on your computer screen or on your TV if you have a USB port. This is also the way you charge the batteries, so how easy is that? No cords to carry around, (or LOSE IN CANADA....)
just plug it into the USB port and it charges up quick and easy!

When I got my Flip camera, I also picked me up one of these handy-dandy flexible tripods. I can take video of myself really easy with one of these without ANY assistance.
I just wrap the tripod legs around a light pole or stand it up on an ironing board,  and I'm in business! This is what I used when I did my bias tape video tutorial.

The Flip camera is so easy to use that I can actually take video with my left hand, and snap a picture with my right, which is what I was doing in this picture. 

The only drawback I have found to this little camera, is that it doesn't do a great jog at picking up audio from a distance. You pretty much need to be within 8-10 feet of your subject in order to get good audio quality. Most of the time this is not a problem for me, but for some of the videos I took from the Quilt Market floor, the background noise, coupled with trying to take video from more than 10 feet away, gave me a few audio problems. I'll remember this in the future.

This is really the only drawback I have found in using this little camera. But having said that, I still LOVE this camera. The video quality is REALLY good and remarkably steady, even when I'm moving. I use video editing software to splice together various segments. If you're interested in what I use, I can share that in a separate post, just let me know.

So there you have it. If you're in the market for a little video camera, the Flip UltraHD is pretty hard to beat! I'm really looking forward to taking it with us on our trip to Canada TODAY! That's right.... TODAY! (ok- so I wrote this post 2 weeks ago, before I left, but here's the deal, I DID get some OUTSTANDING videos on my trip and I'm going to share one with you in my newsletter next week- so stay tuned!

And Congratulations to Mary Ann R. of Ontario, Canada, and Laura G of Leesburg, IN! They were the lucky winners of 3 patterns each as a result of free giveaway from our last post with Margaret Travis of Eazy Peazy Quilts!

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PPC4 - Catkin

(This post is part of a continuing series focusing on the development of a new handbag pattern from its initial conception to it's release.)

We were just about ready to pack it up at the Spring Quilt Market in Salt Lake City, when a friend came running up to tell me she found the PERFECT fabric for me. And when I checked it out for myself I had to agree... she was RIGHT!

I fell in love with this fabric immediately and knew it would be PERFECT for a handbag. As a matter of fact, I was even envisioning this being just right for the cover bag for this pattern, but we'll talk more about that in a bit! It's called "Catkin" and the designer is none other than Julie Paschkis, who in my estimation is one of this country's most brilliant and creative minds. Not only does she dabble in fabric design, but she's also an award winning painter and illustrator of children's books, of which my favorite is, Where is Catkin? But more on this later.

Here's the final look I came up with, and the reason I phrased it that way, is because I ended up totally ripping the sections of this bag apart and remaking it not once, but TWICE, in different combinations of print and solid. And here's the disappointing deal... as much as I still LOVE this fabric, and as much as I really adore this final look, I know in my heart that it's just NOT destined to be a cover bag.  That's because this print just overpowers these features. You can't see the details in all that busyness. The flap almost disappears. The bag seems to lose it's shape. And let's face it, that is NOT what I want to happen on the cover of this pattern. I tried making the Phone Pockets solid black, but details tend to disappear in black fabric as well, so that was of no help.

Oddly enough, the fabric is much less overwhelming on the back side of the bag. The Phone Pockets are clearly outlined and the back pocket is obvious. After seeing this, I was so determined to use this fabric on the cover, that I insanely even toyed with placing this photo on the cover, but then I came to my senses. I was being foolish and letting emotion cloud my judgement. Why is it so hard to let go of an idea sometimes?

So... This is a very striking bag, and it will have strong value at the Fall Market, because folks will love this fabric as I do, but it's just not the best choice for the pattern cover.

So with that settled, here's a peek at the curved pocket underneath the flap. It hides another handsome cat. Did I mention that I LOVE this fabric? Oh, I'm sure I did.

I've had a lot questions about these Phone Pockets. Folks are obviously skeptical about whether a phone is secure within. But I have honestly had ZERO problems in this regard. As a matter of fact, it's quite impossible to get my phone out without zipping the pocket open. I really think they might be the most secure pockets I've designed to date!

And I included this picture because I want you to see how cool the Zipper Caps look for this bag.

And here is a closeup of the area just about the Flap Pocket zipper. Check out the eyes on the trio of cats on the lower level! Their eyes are all looking a different direction and it cracks me up. I know it's a minor detail, but it's probably my favorite part of the bag.

And here's a look at the most of the panels (believe it or not, there are two other blocks that aren't pictured!).  I got my fabric at Hancock's of Paducah and here's the links you will need to get it from them. 

• 'Catkin', small panel- 24" X 44"
• 'Catkin Kitty Sprinkles Grass'
• 'Catkin Morris' Woodcut Cat Black
  

Am I nuts or isn't this fabric just wonderful? The only thing that would have made it even MORE wonderful, is if I could have used it for my cover bag! And speaking of cover bags, stay tuned for our next post in this series when we reveal the bag and the fabric that actually WILL be on the cover!

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Do you know someone who would enjoy this design series? If so, please feel free to re-tweet it, or pass it on to others via Facebook, Twitter or StumbleUpon and stay tuned for our next post in this series, where we'll unveil the cover sample in Purse Pattern Chronicles 4.

Meet and Greet- Margaret Travis with 2 FREE Giveaways!

This is another post in a continuing series called "Meet and Greet". We'll be sharing the results of interviews we've conducted with fascinating folks in our niche, that you either know of already, or will want to know more about. 

Margaret Travis

Margaret Travis is the creative mind behind Eazy Peazy Quilts, an up and coming pattern company. 

She has created an exciting, feminine and fun line of patterns for handbags, purse and travel accessories and items for the handicapped that you can make yourself.

And here's the deal... Margaret is so excited about this feature that she is generously offering TWO free giveaways. We'll give you the details after we talk to Margaret a bit... I know you had a career prior to starting your on-line business. What was your former job like and how did you get started in business on your own?

That's Margaret on the left at the Quilt Market with a friend!

Margaret started out as an elementary school teacher (back in the day) perhaps that’s what gave her insight into taking complicated things and breaking them down into little understandable "bites". She says can't remember a time when she didn't sew, embroider, or knit...always had a needle or two close by.

She started Eazy Peazy Quilts as a partnership 2 1/2 years ago, but early on she found herself on her own when her partnership dissolved.  She forged ahead anyway, and by the Fall of 2010 she was displaying her products in her very own booth at the Houston Quilt Market.

Her goal was and still is, to write easy to read and follow directions with good illustrations. Many of the patterns are written with the beginning sewer in mind. She’s a  blond and loves a good blond joke, so she likes to say that her patterns are written by a blond for blondes!

The Mee-Wow Bag Margaret's new pattern for Fall 2010

2- What inspires you? What do you do or where do you go to seek inspiration for your work?

My inspiration comes from thinking about what people might need to make their lives easier. I did the Eazier Livin' line for the handicapped. And, each handbag pattern and accessory is designed to be fully functional and of course, they have to be cute!

I like to find the new products in the marketplace and design something that uses them. I've used Texture Magic, as well as Soft and Stable by Annie Unrein who "discovered me" at last year’s Fall Quilt Market in Houston. I’ve also used the Double Diamond Ruler and I have just done a tote using the Creative Grids Sweet 'N Sassy Rhombus Templates.

A person who inspires me is designer Julie Creus of LaTodera. Julie has modeled for my pattern covers, but soon my daughter Julie will be a new face on my patterns.

3- Tell us what a typical day is like for you.

Here's Margaret's studio area.

I sometimes feel like a beach ball...bouncing from one thing to another during the day. There are e-mails to be addressed, corrections on patterns, and sewing (and yes, even re-sewing) the samples and prototypes to be done. My secret "weapon" is a husband with an engineering background who does the desktop publishing and all those complicated illustrations. It's amazing what he can do with ovals, squares, and rectangles using Microsoft Publisher. He also has a background in publishing and is a great editor...he's learned to sew without even going near a sewing machine!

4- What is your work space like?

I don’t have a studio, just some corners and this is what my cutting area looks like on a normal day.

5- What are you most excited about right now?

Today I'm most excited about the latest pattern, "Twist 'N Shop Tote" using the above mentioned templates. My favorite patterns are the ones that come together easily...some just "fight" me every step along the way.

6- Do you have a secret hobby or pastime?

I like to ride my bike every evening when it's cooler here in Florida. I devote enough time to go 5 to 6 miles. I've lived in Ohio, Upstate New York and have been living just outside Disney World for 15 years and love the lifestyle. It's great to have "Mickey" in your backyard when the grands come to visit.

 Margaret's booth at Quilt Market

Website Features-   Eazy Peazy Quilts- shop for patterns  Eazy Peazy Freebeez- check Margaret's FREE stuff!  Eazy Peazy Newsletter- read Margaret's newsletter  Eazy Peazy Blog-  Read Margaret's Blog  Facebook- Find Margaret on Facebook

Flash Card Questions

1- Who is your hero?  My heroes are the independent quilt shop owners who keep up with new products and trends while trying to balance inventory, rent, utilities, etc. They do a tremendous job for all of us and I try my best to support their efforts.

2- What is your favorite color to design with? Eazy Peazy's main color is pink, which I use in its various shades plus I'm loving the new white and black patterned fabrics hitting the market right now.

3- Something or someone who can make you smile, even on the worst of days.  My 100 pound yellow lab, Arnie (named after Arnold Palmer, seriously) makes me laugh. He's such a clown, when he's feeling neglected, he stands and barks for me to play. That puts life in perspective!

4- Do you care to share a secret with us?  I'll share the little known fact that I lose sleep and have nightmares about making a mistake in a pattern. I've been known to get up in the middle of the night to check a dimension.

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And now for THE FUN PART.... 

 

Margaret is offering TWO generous giveaways!  (how cool is that?)

TWO lucky readers will receive her THREE newest Eazy Peazy patterns!

So what do YOU have to be a winner?  It's SIMPLE!

Just leave an answer to the following question in the comment box below.

  If it were possible for you to choose, what ONE thing would you like to have LESS of?

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Did you enjoy this post? I'm sure Margaret would love to hear any feedback 

you might have for her along with your giveaway answer, and please feel free to pass this post along  to friends and family in anyway you see fit.

PPC4 -Sunset Strips

(This post is part of a continuing series focusing on the development of a new handbag pattern from its initial conception to it's release.)

So I've gotta tell ya, by the time we finished with our last sample, we were more than just a little bit discouraged, BUT, it is great pleasure that I tell you that after a couple of INTENSE days of study and testing, that the problem with the zipper panel is officially OVER.

And here's the best part of having that problem behind us.... it means that now we can finally concentrate completely on fabrications for this new bag, and what better way to start than with the magnificent hand-dyed fabrics of Vicki Welsh?

 

You might remember that Vicki supplied the marvelous tie-dyed fabric that we used in a Quattro sample earlier this year. It was such an enjoyable experience that one of the first things I did in the early phases of this design, was to get back in touch with Vicki to see if she wanted to collaborate one more time, and here is the result!

When I opened Vicki's package and saw the beautiful gold and burgundy shadings, all I could think of was a magnificent sunset. I didn't really want to use straight angled templates as is my norm, opting instead for these softly curved edges which I feel gives it a more organic look.

Here's a closer look at the curved pocket (which is hidden under the Flap) as well as the unique colorations of these fabrics.

And I chose to not do any piecing on the back side of this bag simply because this portion of the fabric was so incredibly beautiful all on its own! I used our black & white zippers for this bag and I love the way they look. Given the subtle color changes throughout the fabric, I can't imagine a colored zipper looking any better... can you?

So... if you'd like to acquire some of Vicki's fabulous fabric to add a one-of-a-kind touch to your next project, you can see it in these colors and a host of other combinations by clicking here. And stay tuned because our next post in this series will feature some of the most spectacular fabric for cat lovers that I've EVER seen!

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Do you know someone who would enjoy this design series? If so, please feel free to re-tweet it, or pass it on to others via Facebook, Twitter or StumbleUpon and stay tuned for our next post in this series, where we'll unveil the next sample in Purse Pattern Chronicles 4.

On Competition

For some reason, I've been getting a lot of questions about competition lately.

"Are you worried that "Designer X's" new product will compete too directly with yours?"

"Why would you want to collaborate with "Designer Z"? She's your competition?

photo by fusionbposervices.com

Questions like this catch me off guard every time. Maybe I'm naive, but I don't tend to view competition as a bad thing, or as something to be feared. Actually, here's FIVE really good things about competition:

1. It keeps me on my toes. Without competition, it's very easy to become complacent, even lazy. If my customers have no alternatives to my patterns to choose from, then I may not feel the drive or incentive to be innovative or creative.

2. It helps me grow my market. I know I'm on to a good idea when other people are coming up with similar products. As more handbag designers market and advertise their products, it  brings more customers to the table. And every new customer is a potential customer of mine.   :)

3. It reminds me to define and focus on MY target customer. Without competition, it's very tempting to lose sight of my target customer. My focus could become too broad, too diluted to appeal to my loyal customers anymore.

 
4. It can motivate me to a higher level of customer service. Great customer service is an excellent way to differentiate myself from the competition. I want to always remember that nothing will drive my customers to the competition faster than poor customer service on my part.

photo by iamsassychic.com

 
5. It provides an alternative for customers who aren't a good fit for my product.  
Much as I hate to admit it, my products are not for everyone, and you know what? That's OK. But hey- if that's the case, why wouldn't I want them to buy a handbag pattern from Designer X? I want my competition to thrive because it keeps our industry strong, vibrant and diverse, and in the end isn't that the atmosphere that we can ALL grow in?  So I say...

Why should I be afraid of the competition? 

OK, so Designer X has 20,000 Facebook followers, I'm glad.  She showed me it could be done and I'm grateful for that.

And if you choose to to buy a handbag pattern from "Designer Z", even though you looked at patterns from both of us, I'm glad. If "Designer Z's" handbag patterns can meet your needs better than ours can, then you made a great choice and you saved us both a lot of trouble. 

Because here's the deal. I couldn't possibly compete with "Designer X" or "Designer Z", because I'm incapable of doing what they do. Just as they are incapable of doing what I do!

That's not to say that I don't want to do well, because I'm working as hard as I can to make sure that I do. And I have some clear goals for myself too, because as far as I'm concerned, that's where the real competition comes from now....     from ME!

Does this make sense or am I the only one who thinks this way? 

I've been very fortunate indeed to be able to collaborate with some amazing women, many of whom have products that compete DIRECTLY with my own products.  I can only hope that our association has been as helpful and inspiring to them, as it has been to me! Here's a partial list (in no particular order):

Linda McGehee of Ghee's Bags

Joan Hawley of Lazy Girl Designs

Vicki Welsh of 3 Creative Studios

Pat Sloan - writer, designer, and radio personality

Henrietta Timmons of Henrietta's Handbags

Dianne Springer of Dianne Springer Designs

Susa Glenn of Susa Glenn Designs

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Did you enjoy this article? Please feel free to re-tweet it or pass it on to others at Facebook or StumbleUpon, and feel free to  share your own thoughts in the comments section!

PPC4- Seems Like Deja Vu...

(This post is part of a continuing series focusing on the development of a new handbag pattern from its initial conception to it's release.)

So in our last post we pretty much had all of the "bugs" worked out of this design... all that is, except that pesky zipper panel, and I've got to tell you, trying to work this out may be the most frustrating design issue I've yet faced. But that only means it will be that much more satisfying when I fix it, which I will...if it kills me!    :)

But unfortunately the problem was not yet solved with this sample. As a matter of fact, this may have been the toughest zipper panel installation to date. Because here's the thing...instead of getting closer to the solution, we went backward...Oh I know it looks fine, but that's only because over time I have learned to pretty much salvage ANYTHING, but I sure am glad there wasn't a hidden tape recorder in the studio that sunny afternoon.

But- hope springs eternal, or so they say...AND, I really think I know how to handle it now, and we'll find out, with the next sample, so stay tuned!

And in the meantime, let's talk about this fabulous fabric which once again, I got at Equilter.Com. (Have I mentioned that there isn't a decent fabric shop within 40 miles of my house? Oh, I'm sure I have.  LOL)

Both of these prints are thanks to the brilliant mind of Paula Nadelstern for Benartex. This particular line is called Deja Vu (but not the lavender print, it's an el cheapo fabric I picked up at JoAnn's).

Of course I always recommend that you check with your local independent fabric dealer, but if you have trouble locating this beautiful fabric, here's some links to a good online source.


Deja Vu- Tiffany Lavender/Gold
Deja Vu- Tiffany Stripe Rivulets- Sky Blue/Gold

So there you have it. Stay tuned in for our next post, because we have some really spectacular hand-dyed fabric to work with for that sample. Joba really LOVES it and as you can see, he's giving you a little sneek preview of it here.  :)
(It really is fabulous!)


So, let's have some fun.... I think I'll let YOU play designer for a second and tell me...
"which of these samples so far YOU would choose to be on the cover of the pattern?"

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Do you know someone who would enjoy this design series? If so, please feel free to re-tweet it, or pass it on to others via Facebook, Twitter or StumbleUpon and stay tuned for our next post in this series, where we'll unveil the next sample in Purse Pattern Chronicles 4.

What's On My Heart

See if this sounds familiar to you?

I was having a great day yesterday.
I was working away in my little studio listening to satellite music, insulated and isolated from the outside world.
Business was brisk
orders were coming in
I had visited my printer earlier in the day and picked up the new tags for my sew-in magnets, our very first product we're introducing in our own line of sewing notions! It's kind of a big thing to us. A little risky, yes, but a risk we think is worth taking.

So at 5pm, as is my habit, I took off my apron and went upstairs to fix dinner and watch the news while we eat (I know its a naughty habit, but thats the kind of thing you can do when there's no kids at home anymore!)

and that's when it happened...
I heard Brian Williams saying, the stock market had another rocky day....
at no time in history have we seen such turmoil on the stock market...
analysts saying this could be the start of another recession....
no one sees an end in sight....
this is just the way its going to be for another year or two...
our legislators in DC fighting and blaming and yes I'll say it, acting like CHILDREN!
spontaneous interviews with folks on the street who are scared, uncertain, depressed...

It made me sick.
I mean literally sick.
I couldnt finish my dinner.
and that's when the second guessing started....

Maybe we shouldnt be launching this new line of products....
Maybe we shouldnt be going on our wonderful vacation on tomorrow...
maybe we should just stay home and not go to the Fall market in Houston in October, it would probably be a waste of time and money, right?...
Maybe we should just hunker down and play it safe....

It reminded me of a time right after the 911 attacks. The gloom and doom of the whole week or so was really getting to everyone. The news was inundated with the same depressing talk. It felt pretty similar to the way it is now in that regard.

And then George W, (our president at the time) got on the TV and gave s a jolt. He reminded us that this is America. We live in the most wonderful country on the earth. Sure, it has its faults. Sure there are things that need to change. But this is still America, and regardless of what the news tells us, the majority of folks around the globe would give their eye teeth  to live here. You can say what you want to about George W (and there were good and bad things), but he was the right man to have, in that spot, at that time, because deep in his soul, George W is an optimist, he LOVES America and he's not afraid to show it.

He encouraged us to get out of our houses, go to work, if you're not working he suggested we go VOLUNTEER someplace, in short, LIVE OUR LIVES. We may have been down, but we were NOT OUT!

I remember how good it felt to see American flags everywhere. The unity of that time was inspiring. For a spell, we quit playing the blame game. And you know what, it worked. We pulled together and we came out of those horrible dark days stronger and wiser.

So I'm thinking...
where is that voice of reason today?
Who's gonna be the brave one who stands up and says ENOUGH!  STOP IT!
Enough fighting!
Enough gloom and doom forecasting!
Enough bickering over who's to blame for where we are!

This is America, and you know what? Last I checked, all things are still possible here.

So this is what I'm going to do...

First and foremost, I'm going to turn off the dad-gummed news. I'm going to quit reading that depressing newspaper. And I'm going to live my life in the most positive, optimistic way I know how!

I'm going to launch this notions line...
I'm going to take this vacation & for a week, I'm going to forget about it ALL...
I'm going to release our new pattern in September...
We'll be headed to Houston for the Fall Market no matter what the naysayers say between now and then...
And I'll be sending a copy of this post to my congressional and state representatives just for good measure...

Along with that, I'm going to tell them that in order to make America strong again,
I am willing to make sacrifices... whatever they deem appropriate...
I won't give in to the belief that only one person or one party is responsible for our situation...
I'm going to do more listening, in an effort to gain more understanding, AND I want and expect them to do the same!
and I think I'll also send them this quote that I ran across the other day which couldn't be more applicable to this situation. It's by an unknown author, which come to think of it, seems kinda appropriate as well, and here it is,

"A lot of good could be accomplished in this world if nobody cared who got the credit."

What do you think?
Could it hurt to try a little optimism?
Could it be that the power to break this cycle is within our control and that it could begin with this little change in the dynamic.

And sure, you can call me a Pollyanna, or accuse me of having my head in the sand, but here's the deal. If the last 2-3 years have proved anything, its that the air of gloom and doom sure isn't working!

So until then,

I choose to be optimistic...
I choose to go outside right now and fly that beautiful flag on my porch...
I choose to quit listening to negative, bitter people playing the blame game...
I choose to believe we can pull ourselves up out of this mess and come out the better for it...
Because this is still America, the country that I love.
We are a blessed people. Nations all over the world are looking to us to set the example. And I for one plan to live my life in a way that shows the world that I still believe that!

How about YOU?

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Do you know someone who would enjoy reading this post? It would suit me fine if you re-tweet it, or pass it on to everyone you know via Facebook, Twitter or StumbleUpon (including YOUR congressional leaders!)

PPC4 - A Garden Diva

(This post is part of a continuing series focusing on the development of a new handbag pattern from its initial conception to it's release.)

So in our last post  we showed you the very first "show-quality" sample of our new pattern design, which we are calling.... wait for it.....

"The Baggalista"

because it will feed your inner fashionista!

I'm very happy with all the components of this bag now. All the working parts feel like they're in the right proportion to each other and the bag is a lot of fun to make.

As you can see, the bottom of the bag finishes in a much more appropriate spot now and I really LOVE the sew-in snaps that hold this flap in place so well. Have I mentioned that we will be selling these snaps under our OWN label? Yep! We're really excited about the prospect of adding these new snaps to our already very successful black & white zipper line. Currently we're working with our printer to develop our label and as soon as we finalize the look, you will be the first to see it!

And you might recall that in our last post, we were still struggling with the curved installation of the main compartment zipper, but we made a few changes and even though I STILL feel like I need to tweek the design a bit to resolve some persistent bulkiness, this installation was much easier & I feel like we're ever so close to getting it perfect!

So... all that left now is to find some terrific fabrics with which to make up 4-5 more show samples, and speaking of fabrics, I would be remiss if I didn't tell you about the fabric we used in this post!

The beautiful Iris-featured fabric is from Jane Sassaman for Free Spirit and it's called "Iris & Bleeding Heart". I combined it with "Funky Christmas-Spatter Dots" by Michael Miller, and a non-descript pink fabric I picked up cheap at JoAnn's.


      Iris & Bleeding Heart- Jane Sassaman
      Funky Christmas-Spatter Dots- from Michael Miller

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Do you know someone who would enjoy this series? If so, please feel free to re-tweet it, or pass it on to others via Facebook, Twitter or StumbleUpon and stay tuned for our next post in this series, where we'll unveil the next sample in Purse Pattern Chronicles 4.

August 2011 Handbag of the Month Contest

Hurray! It's time for another 'Handbag of the Month Contest'! But first join me in congratulating Donna Petruso  of Monroe, MI, the winner of our July contest. She wins a $20 virtual gift certificate and her winning Boho Baguette will  have a permanent place of honor on our website.

We've got a terrific lineup for you to choose from this month and if you'd like more info about any particular entry, check out our newsletter (available HERE on  8/7) So... without further ado, here they are, in reverse order from the way they are displayed in the voting center. When you've made up your mind, click this link, or use the link at the bottom of this post, to be taken to our official voting page!

Kicking it off, here's MaryAnn's exquisitely embroidered Gadabout

Rita Keiser's worldview Encore Purse Insert

And this jet-setting DittyRoo was also made by Rita

Here's Geraldine's Hummingbird embellished Quattro

This is Lee's graphic DittyRoo.

and this floral Harmony Handbag was submitted by Robin.

And if you like patchwork, you'll love Becky's Boho Baguette.

here's Janet's eclectic Quattro

And rounding out our group this month, 

we have Debra's functional Encore Purse Insert.

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So there you have it... 
Are you ready to cast a vote for your favorite?

Click here to vote.

Do you enjoy our monthly handbag contests? Please pass this post on to others at Facebook, Twitter  or StumbleUpon, & feel free to leave a little applause for these ladies in the comments section below!

On Letting Go

People often ask me if I ever get concerned that I’ll run out of ideas for handbag patterns. They want to know if I’m afraid that my ‘well will run dry’. Do I worry about it?...And what will I do if that happens?

And the truth is, I really don’t worry about it at all. Partly because the possibilities seem endless right now, and partly because I know just what I’ll do if it does….

I’ll LET IT GO…. I’ll just try something else….

And let me tell how I know this…

Most of you know I had a career in City Government before I started this business, and you know what? There was a time that I thought I’d never leave my job in that wastewater lab. Did I love everything about that job? Of course not. But there was SO MUCH that needed to be done that was right up my alley. Enough to last me many years as it turned out. And for the most part, I was satisfied working for the City, developing programs, working with state agencies, organizing and planning. But let’s face it, I was basically happy because I’m a problem solver, I love a challenge. Not only did I plan on working a full 30 years for the City, but I figured I might just stretch it further than that. 

But you know what they say about the best laid plans....

About 24 years into a 29 year career, I started to feel restless… bored… uninspired. I sat down and looked at the long list of items on my To Do list, and came to the disturbing realization that I wasn’t excited or intrigued by ANY of them. It was terrifying.

I had succeeded so completely in training, and delegating and optimizing, that I had all but rendered myself unnecessary. To my dismay, all I could see was a long future of directing resources…scheduling…adjusting…correcting mistakes…finding errors… 

Here's a picture of me & my best bud Mary in the Lab.
(Please ignore the 80's hair!)

So I took some time off to assess my situation, sharing my concerns with a trusted confidant. And he advised me to write down every answer I could think of to the following question…

"What would happen if I just let it go... and tried something else?"

I had done this exercise a few times in previous years, but my answer had always been, “No way! I’m not finished. There’s still a lot I want to accomplish!

But this time it was different. I found myself thinking how nice it would be to not have employees and all that responsibility.
I wrote how nice it would be to get away from the regulations, the deadlines, the budget problems, the endless redtape and in particular, the increasingly complicated political landscape of working for a local government. 

And here's the deal...I came to the conclusion that my lack of enthusiastic vision was really a disservice to the City and to my employees. It would actually be better for them if I put the lab in more motivated hands. In short…  I was DONE.

At first it was just my delicious little secret. It felt great just thinking about it. But just as with any breakup, I could feel myself immediately begin to disconnect emotionally. It was like I was already in my car with my little box of stuff, with the City in my rear view mirror, never to be seen again. 

Unfortunately, it took another few years before that final scene could play out. My daughter had a few more years of college, then the wedding, and our new house needed to be finished, and of course I knew that the minute I let that cat out of the bag, the naysaying would begin. “You’ll never leave.” "You’ll change your mind.” “You’re making a BIG mistake.” “You’ll never be able to let go”. If only they could have understood that I was ‘already gone’. It was a moot point point now. If only they could have known that the decision was made on that one introspective day a few years earlier. 

I left the City completely unconflicted & unemcumbered because I knew that it was absolutely the right decision for me. I went to bed that night (November 18, 2005) and slept better than I had in months (maybe years).

The reason I’m telling you all of this is because I’ve been asked the question SO MANY times, by more than just a few people. “How do you know when it’s time to let go, and move on to the next thing?” And my simple answer is, “You’ll know”, but I hope this detailed story helps illustrate how it feels.

So how do YOU know when it's time to let go?
Can you relate to this story?

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PPC4- I Dream in Color

(This post is part of a continuing series focusing on the development of a new handbag pattern from its initial conception to it's release.)

In our last post in this series, we told you we ready to begin making up our Fall Market show samples, and we kicked that process off with a fabulous collection of fabrics from Dianne Springer for Timeless Treasures, which I had so much fun playing with.




The size of these little fishes was just about perfect to do a little Rockstar Peacework with. Doesn't this effect do wonders for the Flap of this bag?


I'm happy with the general silhouette now,  & any modifications we make from this point on, will be minor and basically undetectable to the eye.











Can you see the design change we made in the strap attachment area? The zipper doesn't "run up the strap" near as much as it used to. This change made it a little easier to install the zipper panels, but I still think I can make it just a little bit easier still in the next sample.













I'm loving the look of these Phone Pockets and I also like these little cord ends that we're using for zipper pulls. It's a fun way to add a little functional pizzazz to the look!

And here's your first peek at the inside of this bag. It's easily big enough to accommodate the small version of our PortaPockets Purse Insert (because I can't live without mine now!), and it also has two small pouch pockets in the side wall of the bag. I like to drop my keys into one of these little pouches for quick access.









Here's the look from the back side. I added the Rockstar "treatment" here as well and I love the way it looks here too.

And if I can direct your attention to the very bottom of the Flap, maybe you'll be able to detect the change we made here. Can you see it? We shortened the length of the Flap by ~3/4" and I'm much happier with this. The bag looks more balanced now.

And here's a change we made that I purposely do NOT want to be too obvious. We added a small stitching line just above the invisible sew-in magnets in the curved pocket (under the Flap), so that the items that are placed within the pocket can't come between the magnets, interfering with the snap function.

So now, let me tell you a bit about this fantastic fabric collection! Diane Springer was our next-door neighbor (Yep, she & her daughter were the ones dressed up as witches!) at last year's Fall Market, and that's when I first saw these designs. I told Diane that if & when they were manufactured, that I would LOVE to work up a bag sample, and sure enough, her collection made it's debut in Salt Lake City in May.

The name of this fabric line is appropriately called "I Dream In Color" and Hannah's Quilts is offering the entire line at 32% off the retail price right now. (The yellow fabric in this picture is not part of the collection).

So stay tuned as we continue to fine tune our design in the next post where we'll be featuring fabric so beautiful that it could be used as art! And in the meantime, if you have any comments or suggestions about this beautiful fabric or about our design, we'd love for you to leave us a message in the space provided below!

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Do you know someone who would enjoy this series? If so, please feel free to re-tweet it, or pass it on to others via Facebook or StumbleUpon and stay tuned for our next post in this series, where we'll unveil the next sample in Purse Pattern Chronicles 4.