New Shoulder Bags

Here are a few of last week’s new production of Shoulder Bags.  As usual I can’t say which is my favourite, each one has a little something, in my opinion at least.

For once I also think that the forest-green one could be for either a man or a woman; what do you think?

What I feel they all have in common is that they are all rather wintry.  The colours aren’t as bright as my usual creations, so they might suit a winter jacket better.

I hope you like my new shoulder bags; I would love to know which you like best or if you have any suggestions for example are there any colours you would like to see.

All packed and ready to go

Well, I’m all packed and feel ready for this weekends fairs.  It’s still early; about 14:00 now, but I’m working this evening so I had to pack and get everything ready before hand.  The fair tomorrow ‘Kunstwerk & Lifestyle Christmas Market’ is near Stuttgart, so about 200 km away. We need to be there for 8:30 to build the stand, that means that we have to leave at about 6:30. So I really needed to prepare everything today. At those early hours your brain, well at least mine, isn’t quite as switched on so there was a good chance that I would forget something.  But now I can relax, all we have to do before driving off is to make a lunch and actually load the car. I always try to bring a packed lunch at fairs as it’s easy to spend too much and on top of that it’s not always healthy treats you can buy there.

For Saturday’s ‘Designmarkt’ we wont really need to do as much, we will simply leave all the stuff in the car over night.  All I will need to do is pick out some more bags to replace the ones that were sold on Saturday, hopefully that’s many   What is great about this fair is that it’s not as far, it’s in Wiesbaden only about 50km from here. On top of that it’s with loads of friends. I participated last year as well, click here to see last year’s entry. Although it wont be all of the same people many will be there again, and a few new pople will be joining.  The café ‘Drei Frauen Zimmer’ where this will be taking place, also offers a really relaxed atmosphere. Plus this year the actual Christmas market has already started so there should be many more people in town than last year.

Next week I shall tell you all about it.

Christmas Markets

It’s definitely starting to feel like Christmas! It’s not only cold but yesterday the Frankfurt Christmas Market started. This coming Saturday also starts the traditional Christkindlesmarkt in Karlsruhe.  And Sunday is the first Advent.

Karlsruhe is a little less than 150 km south of here.  And why I’m mentioning this market in particular is quite simple, someone will be selling my bags there.  It might not be the biggest or the most famous Christmas in Germany, but it’s still a Christmas Market.  

This all came about when a few months ago I was contacted by some girls who wanted to offer something a little different than the typical Christmas decorations and sweets.  They wanted to offer the public all sorts of handmade gifts made here in Germany.  I thought it was a great idea. 

To be honest I had even thought of applying to the one here in Frankfurt myself, but the costs involved and the opening times put me off.  First of all, I don’t know if it’s the same in Karlsruhe but here you need your own hut or shed.  You can buy one, but they don’t come cheap, plus what do you do with it the other 11 months of the year? I live in a flat, we do have some storage in the cellar but nothing big enough for a whole shed.  You also have to get it on location and build the thing… The other option is to rent one of course, but that’s like paying double the rent. So much per meter width at the market plus so much per day for the shed.  And where to you rent one of these things from, I mean it’s not like picking up a DVD for the night…  The second issue was the opening times, it’s open everyday for a month from early til late.  So I wouldn’t have time to produce for a whole month.  So for me it simply wasn’t an option as I make all the bags and sell them myself.  

Jennie and Katrin will be able to share the chores; even maybe take the odd day off. Plus they will mostly be selling other people’s products, so production doesn’t become an issue.  Still I think that it will be a lot of work.  They will certainly deserve their Christmas holidays after a whole month. As much as snow makes it nice and Christmasy as well as gets everyone into the holiday season, I’m sure that they are hoping that it’s not too cold.  I wish them a good month and I hope they sell all my bags! In their sortiment they have my small purses, make up bags and messenger bags.  Why not go and see them for yourself, they will be on Lammstrasse.

Stilblüten # 7

The list of designers participating in the 7th Stilblüten has been announced. I am really please; even a little proud to say that I will be participating again.

Actually you should take a few minutes to check out their new and improved website: Stilblüten #7.  It looks great!  And of course you should also come brows and discover all the cool stuff on either the Saturday or Sunday.  Many of the designers are from Frankfurt but to find them all under one roof is much more fun. You might even manage most of your Christmas shopping in one trip.  There will also be a DJ to make your shopping experience that much more fun.  The music last time was super too, really funky and original.Hope to see you there.  Please come and introduce yourself if you’ve read my blog.  It would be great to meet you!

It’s starting to feel like Christmas

We actually had snow here in Frankfurt at the weekend!  It’s the first time since I’ve been here, so since January 2007. I’ve been really sick recently but on Sunday we bundled up warmly and went for a long walk, it felt really good to breath in some fresh air and be outside for a while.  It’s really starting to feel Christmasy too, which is a good thing.  The Frankfurt Christmas Market starts in only 2 days, it will be on until the 21st of December. It’s well worth a visit.  At the weekend my fairs and markets start too.  Basically this was my last weekend off until Christmas. I hope that if you live near here you will come and see me at one of my many fairs; check out my Exhibitions page for dates and locations.

Custom Made

A special Christmas present for mother and daughter. 

These were actually ordered by a friend of mine for her sister in-law and little niece.  I thought that it was a lovely idea.  And such a personal touch; to have something custom made is so much more special! (hint, hint to all the men out there! )

I hope they will like their new matching bags. Mom obviously gets the Round Handbag as she will need more space.  The strap is also nice and wide so it sits nicely on the shoulder.  The daughter gets the little rucksack, the straps can even be shortened if it’s too big at the minute, then let out later when she gets bigger.  The lining of the handbag matches the straps of the rucksack, so they really do match. They’ll be the envy of all the mothers and daughter in the park!

New Shopping Bags

So, as promised here are the new Shopping Bags or Totes that I’ve made so far this week. I’ve just added these to my online shop actually.  I’ve not gotten much done this week to be honest, as I’ve had a really bad cold and have been feeling rather under the weather.  My ‘to do’ list is getting longer rather than shorter at the minute. 

    

I quite pleased with these though, just wish there were twice as many to share with you.  I hope you find something you like!

Custom Made

Last week I was contacted by a very considerate guy who wanted something special for his girlfriend’s birthday.  (very sweet!)  He asked if I could make a smaller version of my Shoulder Bags in the same tone or style as the brown messenger bag for sale on my website.  He reckoned that she would prefer this shape as it’s original and different, but that she preferred small bags.  I’ve made it smaller before, so that wasn’t an issue. But I didn’t have any more of the brown polka dot material, I did have this pretty flowery one instead, which suits my new brown material better anyways.  So I sent him a picture to see what he thought. When he agreed I started on the bag and sent it off straight away, as yesterday (Monday) was her birthday. 

Lucky for her, or rather him  DPD were very quick as she got her present in time. 

I personally really like the effect of the flowery material on the striped tone on tone one.  I even got a matching brown polyester strap as I thought that it would look better than the standard black one.  What do you think? Do you like it?

I’ve asked them to send me a picture to add to the ‘Happy Customers’ category…   If you’re a happy customer it would be great if you sent me a picture too. 

Or if you would like something custom made, why not contact me?!?

New Round Handbags

The production continues…

I have now moved onto Round Handbags.  I don’t plan on making as many of these, as I wont be delivering any to Karlsruhe. Actually the delivery is done, we went at the weekend, so I can relax a bit…  Well not really, if you look at my ‘Exhibitions’ page you will see that I will be participating in quite a few fairs between now and Christmas so I still need to produce enough.

So last week I was working on Round Handbags and I’ve added a couple of these to my site (bottom two) and a couple to my Dawanda shop (top two).

  

Today I will be working on another custom order and will start work on some Shopping bags or Totes.  So be sure to come back and see those.

Christmasy Site

I know it’s a little early but I was in the mood make my site a little Christmasy…
I need to get in the mood a little more.
Do you like my decorations?

Ok, ok, so it’s nothing major, just a few bits of holly, but I like it.  I hope you do too.
I also added a couple of new Round Handbags and plan on adding some more Shopping bags next week.