www.mashulu757.com

*Whew*  I'm finally done with the main site AAAND I have some items in my Etsy shop.  Of course the main site is basically a fancy link to my Etsy shop.  I just didn't want to fool with all the shopping cart stuff.  I am thinking about adding a la carte custom bag designing capabilities at some point.  That way Etsy can be for the items already made and mashulu757.com could be for custom orders. We'll see.  I still have a few things to photograph and list.

After laboring over quicker, cleaner ways to create the handles on my HONEY style bag, I have found a solution! I am pleased that it now takes a lot less time to make them than it did to find the right method! Here's an example of what the original handle looked like:

As you can see, the opening was square and I found the handle to just be overall kind of bulky...hard to sew, too!  I think I used two layers of vinyl, two layers of PELTEX, and two facings...PER HANDLE. Leave it to me to make life more difficult.  Now it looks like this:

It keeps its shape like I want it to (meaning, it doesn't get bent out of shape when you put stuff in the bag) and its a lot less thick looking.  I love the colors in this bag. Of course I'm a day late and a dollar short of Halloween, but for most folk, skulls are in style every day!

Slowly But Surely...

On a personal note, this week has been pretty crappy...I lost my jump drive, my favorite pair of glasses, AND my BlackBerry (grrrr).  After a bit of moping, I'm back at working on newness.  I have a bad habit of changing patterns right after I finish a project, so that's slowing me down.  I really want to have a lot of pieces to show for the re-launch, but I don't want to wait forever. I'm eager to see what response I will get.  I will just continue to add 2 or 3 pieces a week for a while until I beef up my Etsy Shop.

 It's supposed to be kinda warm today, so  I was hoping for some good picture taking sunlight, but alas it is cloudy.  As a sneak peak I would like to introduce my latest clutch bag.   I wasn't sure what to call it, but I think I'm going to go with "the Sugar" clutch because I want to make a wristlet version and call it "the Cupcake" or "the Muffin" or something like that...we'll see. Enjoy!

Custom Made

I recently had my first custom order experience on Etsy. A buyer fell in love with a bag I had made a looooong time ago (before I discovered the joys of magnetic snaps, lol) and wanted one for herself. Of course it was a remnant and I had no more of the fabric. I began to look through my stash and take pictures of fabric combinations that exited me...then I had to step back and realize that EVERYONE does not want their bag to scream, lol. I tend to gravitate towards very "on purpose" colors and patterns. So when I found a combination that fit my customer, I was initially disappointed at how "regular" it would be. However, after I finished the bag, I was surprisingly pleased and satisfied with how it came out: The bag she originally liked has been modified into my WHIPLASH style. The addition of pleats at the bottom make it deceptively roomy. It has two flap welt pockets on the outside, perfect for carrying a cell phone, metro pass, MP3 player, or other small items that you need quick access to. Inside there is an ample zippered pocket and a key holder strap. It closes with a magnetic snap.

I love how classy it looks and will be opened to creating other "toned down" styles. I will admit that the flap detail was my contribution of "flair". She absolutely loved the bag, which gave me such a relief (I am a worry wart, what can I say). This was an awesome custom experience and I want to thank Dana in NC for helping me explore my "less loud" side!

It's been a long time...

I hate posting without really good pics...hence why I haven't blogged in a while. My computer never recovered so I'm using my daughter's laptop. I will have to see if i can make it work with my All-in-One printer. *sigh*

The Biz...
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I am currently working on some new bags and things for my July 3rd trunk show at
Eklectik Funk Boutique in Downtown Portsmouth, VA. I'm having a hard time focusing, however. As I'm working on one thing, I'm thinking of developing something else. I'm really interested in perfecting my patterns to help with my speed in contstructing them. I spent a LOT of time trying to develop a more clean and efficient way to make handles for my SOCIALITE bag and I am VERY satisfied with the results:



After I get done with the trunk show I have GOT to get to work filling my Etsy shop...it is shamefully empty! Of course I'll keep ya posted...
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Personally. . .
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When I was younger I was a Michael Jackson FIEND! Very few things stick in my mind like how I would get all giddy and weak-limbed whenever I saw his image. I remember rare times when my whole family would actually sit together watching television...one time was for the premeir of "Thriller"on MTV and MJ's performance on the Motown 25th Anniversary show. I remember just the joy and exitement that I felt, as well as my family. Great times! And personally, that's what I want to think about.

I just wanted to say that much and leave a link to of one of my favorite Jackson songs/videos.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xW1fXL3s7bk