Creating a New Design: the Caryn hipster

I just love the creative process...probably even more than the finished item. I've wanted to design a new hipster pouch for some time now, and received the final needed inspiration last week when talking to my good friend Caryn. Caryn actually embodies all the things I see in this pouch. My narrative for this product is "A free spirit, casual and practical with a distinctive flair." The Caryn pouch will feature three pieces of coordinating fabrics, usually discontinued upholstery samples, pockets on the back and inside, zippered top for security, and designed to be worn with a long strap diagonally across the body. Perfect for shopping, travel, nature hike or that memorable concert.

I always start with drawing out what the final item will look like, then cut templates for each pattern piece.

Then I look for fabrics that will coordinate...these all came from a store that had discontinued this pattern.

The first four of many Caryn pouches, I believe! They came out even better than I expected. Final size for this pouch is approximately 7 1/4 inches by 7 1/2 inches.

Thanks Caryn, for being so inspirational!

Funny and Absurd...thank you George Carlin

I was just scrolling through the forum posts on Etsy, when I saw the thread title "Don't tag stuff as Vintage that is from WALMART."

It made me laugh and reminded me of all the the wonderfully funny and absurd statements I love from George Carlin...here are a few of my favorites:

Why do you have to 'put your two cents in'... but it's only a 'penny for your thoughts'? Where's that extra penny going to?

What disease did cured ham actually have?

How is it that we put man on the moon before we figured out it would be a good idea to put wheels on luggage?

Why is it that people say they 'slept like a baby' when babies wake up like every two hours?

Why do people pay to go up tall buildings and then put money in binoculars to look at things on the ground?

If Jimmy cracks corn and no one cares, why is there a stupid song about him?

Can a hearse carrying a corpse drive in the carpool lane?

If the professor on Gilligan's Island can make a radio out of a coconut, why can't he fix a hole in a boat?

Why do the Alphabet song and Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star have the same tune?

Why did you just try singing the two songs above?

Rest in peace George...we will remember you!

Outdoor Markets Begin!

For the past two weekends I have had a booth at the Chesterton European Market in Chesterton, Indiana. This is their 7th or 8th year of the market, which they do every Saturday from the end of May through October....I do the market only a few times during the summer. Here is my booth as set up on June 14, 2008.

It has been a good season so far, with sales made to local people as well as some who were visiting the area from all over the country. I always say that every time I finish a purse, I want to keep it, and that certainly is the case with these purses, just some that were sold over the past two weeks.