Preparing for the Museumsuferfest!

Today I’m preparing for this weekend’s ‘Museumsuferfest’ that actually starts tomorrow afternoon.  I need to label and price up all the bags, then pack them. Well, firstly I need to choose which ones I’m taking with me.  There are always a few that I never take and therefore never sell.  I’m thinking of having a few cheaper/on sale ones…  Do you think that’s a good idea or will it look silly. I mean, they might not be my favourite but I’ve noticed with other bags that they simply need to find the right person, there is someone out there that might think they are great. Hmmmm.  I really don’t know what to do.

Anyway, other than that I need to prepare and pack all the stand.  I’m still at somewhat of a loss about the display though.  My whole idea went out the window last weekend when we went to the hardware store and found out that the type of board that I wanted to buy doesn’t even exist here in Germany.  The problem is that simply renting the 6 square meters for the weekend is costing a small fortune, so I don’t want to spend too much on the display.  But at the same time if I don’t present the bags well, they wont sell.  So it’s a difficut situation all around. I have few more ideas.  So, we’ll be going to the hardware store again tonight after my husband comes back from work. The poor guy, he hates these desperate trips to the hardware store :-) Hopefully one of these ideas will actually be ‘do-able’.  Whatever happens I’ll take some pictures and post them next week so you can to see how the display turned out. 

Other than that I need to think about all the small things like getting change, packing bags, receipts, etc, etc.  Plus I still have loads of little bags and moblie pouches that I want to make, so that there are smaller bits too, not just big bags, for little presents.

So wish me luck…  I might not have a chance to write again until next week so have a nice weekend!

DIY & Film Crews

It’s been a rather busy time and these last few days have been no different.  I have continued the improvements in my workshop as I wanted everything tip-top (as they say here in Germany) for when the film crew came…  Yes, you heard right. I did say film crew, as in people who film and then you are on TV!  Cool isn’t it.  Well, it didn’t feel cool when on Sunday afternoon I wanted to hang all my new posh IKEA hooks but I needed a drill and my neighbor from whom I had planned on borrowing one from wasn’t home.  So I had to do it all on Monday evening after work plus I also had to prepare bags for the different steps of bag making for the filming on the following day.  It was a very long evening. 

I had been planning on changing the hooks for ages, as the ones I did have could only really properly hang two maxium three bags comfortably but I was piling them on.  So when people came here to buy some, which is quite regular the bags often fell, making them a little uncomfortable.  So as I said, I had been planing on doing this for ages, but hadn’t done it yet.  Now I had a good excuse to make everything look perfect. 

My DIY skills aren’t as great as I thought they might be though.  It always looks so easy and quick when you watch those shows on TV.  I started drilling these holes for the plugs in the walls only to find that I couldn’t go deep enough…  Don’t ask me why, it was like there was a metal rod or something, maybe there was for all I know.  Anyway, there was no way I could hang my hooks where they were, so I had to hang them all on the other side of the room, which meant that I had to fix all the holes on the existing side plus move ALL the furniture.  let’s put it this way, I thought it might take me an hour to hang 16 hooks, in the end it took 3 and half hours!  My hands were aching from the screw driver, there was dust absolutely everywhere too.  But enough complaining because is does look great now!  And I must admit I’m a little proud of having done it all on my own.  Power tools are fun!

I know that I have promised pictures for ages and I shall post some up soon, but I want it completely finished.  I was to paint a little something on the walls and then I shall show you the new improved workshop.  Deal?

Anyway, back to the filming.  The show will be aired on Sunday the 31st of August at 8:00am on Sat 1 on the ‘Weckup Show’. It’s all about people who make handmade things.  The filming started at ‘designe, kleine’where I rent a little box to sell my bags.  The concept of the shop is great.  Basically anyone who makes stuff can rent a little box to present their work to the public and obviously sell something.  I’ve had a box there for almost a year and love it.  Basically, they will be presenting the whole process from the creation of a bag to them being sold in the shop.  It was loads of fun though I was very nervous.  And afterwards and throughout all of the night I kept on thinks, oh, I should have said this or that…  But it was too late.  I only hope that they have enough material to cut something resonable out.  My German isn’t the best and I had the feeling that I was waffling on and on but not really saying anything of value.

I shall try to get an up-loadable version of it to post here.  I’ll keep you posted.

A Special Treat

I’ve decided to actually keep one of my new bags for myself. I’ve been using my one, the first one I ever made with my sister for ages now.  It’s survived everything, from hundreds of trips to the super market and being totally over stuffed, to a night at the Oktoberfest in Munich soaking up all the beer off the floor. So after being used everyday for ages and ages now it’s starting to look rather dirty and worn, which isn’t the best advertising considering I make and sell bags.  So out of the new batch I picked one.  It was funny to be in the customers’ shoes, now I understand why some people find it so hard to choose just the one.  I would have loved to pick more than one, and to be totally honest, I might still keep more than one. There has to be some sort of advantage to making bags.

This is the old one:
     

Everything was a little crooked on this one. And it’s a little too patch-work like for my taste now. Though I still love the colours.

The new one:
     

I now make them a little larger and the flaps a little longer too. Though I must admitt that I’m surprised at my own choice, usually go for the bring colours but the one I picked is rather sublte…  Who would have thought. To be honest it’s because of the ribbon I totally splurged on that when I was in Canada.  I think it’s just fabulous, so I had to have a bag with it on.

New Shoulder Bags!

Yes, the list of new bags continue.  When I said that we had been busy, I wasn’t exagerating!  And there are loads more on there way.  Well, I might not put them on the site to start with.  As I will need many for the Museumsuferfest I mentioned yesterday.  Plus I will also be participating in a fair the week after that too.  I shall tell you about it more soon, but if you go to my Exhibitions Page you can already see some of the details. 

  

I love this red shoulder bag.  It’s so colourful and happy.  The lining is of the same funky material as the stitched on bits. Plus it’s super practical as it has a pocket on the back and inside as well.

 

This brown one on the other hand is much more subtle but certainly not boring. It’s decorated with brown satin ribbon and a colourful stiched one in tones of pink, blue, green and red.  Very cute.

                       

The grey one is my favourite though.  It’s strange as I usually go for the most colouful ones, like the red one.  But I love the combination in this one.  The forest-green ribbon with with the bird print on white and black material, feels very natural or environmental…  Maybe it’s just me being silly.

I hope you find something you like.  This afternoon when I get back from work I’ll be addedin some more shopping bags and maybe a messenger bag too, to replaced the sold ones. So be sure to visit my site again later for the latest additions.

Frankfurt’s Museumsuferfest

Next weekend, so from the 29th to the 31st of August, is my biggest fair of the year: Frankfurt’s famous Museumsuferfest.  This is a huge event, both banks of the river Main for more than a kilometer on either side will be filled with stands and stages offering music, arts & crafts, art, food, etc, etc. 

There will be hundreds or thousands of visitors if not millions and amongst all this excitement I have a little 6 meter square stand near Stadel Museum on the Sachsenhausen side. I’m actually very nervous.  Do I have enough bags? Are they are nice enough? Will people like them? Even more important if I want to continue doing this; will they buy them? Is the location of my stand good? etc. Everything is going through my head at the minute.  My mom would tell me now to start thinking positive thoughts and to stop worrying but that’s easier said than done.

I still need to think up a better display.  For last year’s Museumsuferfest and my first fair ever, I bought one of those tent/pavilion things but I think it looks a little like a flea market stand.  (You can see pictures of it from my entry about last year’s Christmas Market). Well, maybe it’s not that bad but it doesn’t show off the bags in the best possible way.  I will keep use the tent in case it rains but I need to come up with a better idea  to display the bags.  I do have a few ideas, lets just see if it’s doable

Anyway, I shall let you know how ít all goes and will even post some pictures soon.

Wish me luck!

New Messenger Bags

The list of new bags continues! As you can see Anne (my trainee) and I have been working like crazy!  Here are  my new Messenger Bags.  I hope you like them.
 .

 

This grey and pink one is very special, the ribbon is simply amazing!  It’s pink, purple and either/neither gold or/nor silver but somehow still shiny.  I love this ribbon, I got it when I went to Canada last month and I think that I shall make a bag with some of this for myself as well.

 

This one is for those who love colour. Retro blue material and orange ribbon!  Wow! 

 

The silk-screen bird print is by Kertin Lichtblau, on white and black material.  I used yellow thread to stitch it on though and added some reflective yellow ribbon. It’s simple yet very original. 

If you’ve not seen my New Website yet then you should definitely go and have a browse, I have added loads of new bags over the last few weeks and there are loads more to come. For example right after this blog entry I shall go and add some some Small Purses to the site as well.

New Triangular Bags

As promised here are my new Triangular Bags, with a promised of more to come soon… My first idea was to have 9 of each type on the new website but as every sinlge one is unique and original the more variety and the more choice the better, so my new aim is 12 of each type. Then surely everyone will be able to find something to their taste.  What do you think? Does that sound reasonable? It does mean that I have a lot of work a head of me though!  As at the minute I have anywhere from 3 to 9 of the different types, actually a big fat zero of the Men Bags still.  Each time I start one, they end up being too feminine… 

I am proud of these new Triangular Bags though, my favourite is this denim one:

                      

                            

I used a ‘puffy’ interfacing just for the blue centre of the flower then stitched it, so the flower has a 3D effect.  Cool! And the colours, well there’s not much to say about the colours they are all there!

   

Don’t get me wrong though, I love both of these too.  They are both more elegant in a way.  I love the polka dots on the left hand side. That brown tone does go super well with the denim.  I also just love the black and red material used on the right hand one. I guess that’s why I got it in the first place  The little white buttons also add a feminine touch. 

This shape is actually very practical; it’s large so you can get loads in, even an A4 folder.  But as the top is narrow it is very safe.  For example if you ride on the bus or underground to work, no one can reach in without you noticing as the narrow bit is right in your armpit…  I need a model really!

New Shopping Bags!

I finally added some more shopping bags or totes to the website last night.  I love this new batch of bags! They are all so colourful. Though my picture taking abilities leave a lot to be desired.  I really am struggling to get good pictures.  Each time I take loads and pick the best ones, changing the settings until they seem better, even adjusting them a little in photoshop.  Actually now that I mention it, it might be the lighting that’s the issue.  I shall read up on it all and let you know what I learn.  In the mean time I hope that you will have a look at the bags themselves and hopefully you can imagine how much better the bags are in real life. 

     

    

I simply love this Blue Bag, the material is just so fun and retro.  Actually it’s funny when making this one, I felt like it needed a little something else, either some ribbon or some colourful stitching but I just didn’t know what.  Anything I tried just didn’t look right. I’m glad I didn’t persist and kept it simple.  I think it’s just right the way it is.  Not to much but still not boring.  None of my bags could ever be called boring…

Here are a couple more.

       

The material I used for the Beige tote you’ve seen before, for example a few months back when some lovely girls came to pick some bags and got one for their colleague. It’s really pretty as it is, so I added very little else so that we could simply appreciate the material.  On the Grey shopping bag on the other hand, I went all out.  The bird print is from Kerstin Lichtblau a local artist, if you remember I made her a custom made bag a few weeks ago. Plus there’s matching satin ribbon and a pink material circle stitched on.  It’s definitely colourful and would make any shopping trip much more fun.

Well, I hope you like these.  I’ll post some Triangular Bags tomorrow…  See you then!

New Evening Bags!

I always tend to make very colourful bags especially when it comes to my little Day Bags.  So recently when I found this funky, retro silver material I though that it could possibly make great Evening Bags.  I just fell in love with it, as simple as that!

I made them and uploaded them yesterday and already my two favourite ones are gone.  (the all silver ones) I think that I will have to make more.  Obviously they are all one-of-a-kinds so they shall not be exactly the same.  But I think that they are perfect for a night out with a black outfit or dress.  What do you think? Would you wear something like this?
  

Also I think that the cords instead of bracelets for the wristlets might be something that I will make more often, as they fit any sized hands. So keep popping around to the site or contact me directly if you would like one of these too.

Also is there anything that you would like to see on my site? Any particular colours??? Any particular styles or shapes? Let me know suggestions or comments are always great.

Super colourful!

I simply love my new Day Bags and more are on their way!

Here is one colourful example, I named this the Flower-Power Day Bag and it’s already up on my new site. I almost kept this one for myself to be honest.  I simply love the bright colours and the patterns.  It would look great with jeans and t-shirt but would look just as funky with your favourite LBD on a night out.

On my list of things to do today in more day bags and wristlets, so be sure to pop back around tomorrow.