Sommer Designs

Gorgeousness Continued

I'm talking about the weather, of course. It's another one of my obsessions, but you know this. After that killer hot weekend 2 weeks ago when the temps reached into the 90's, we had another extreme cool down and I was back in jeans, clogs & sweaters. Gradually, it got warmer last week, until Spring Fling day, which was in the mid-90's. I kid you not, I had to turn on the air conditioner in the afternoon, it was sweltering! And for the last three days, the a/c has run every evening, because the upstairs is unbearable (and we are heat wimps).

These are the Iceberg Roses that are in my front yard, and stopped me dead in my tracks yesterday when I drove by. I know, I have to drive by my own home to notice these things. I think they are the product of hot/cold/hot/cold/hot. There is an explosion of blooms out there, and the lavender hedge is right behind them, two months early.

It was the perfect backdrop for a quick photo for my email newsletter I sent out this morning. New Del Cerro Totes have been uploaded, as well as new burp cloths. Missed the email? It's right here!

With fresh eyes: show & tell - a design process

Yesterday Kelley came over to help me with a pattern. You know, the never-ending-I'm-beating-a-dead-horse-as-well-as-my-head-against-the-wall elusive bag pattern.

That one.

Kelley is so patient. And much better with patterns than I am. I'm trying to keep it simple. I have to keep it simple if I want to add it to the line because I'll be replicating it many, many times.

I showed her all the duds - showed her what I liked and didn't like about each one. Showed her a few patterns I had, and what I liked and didn't like about each one - mainly didn't like. She suggested taking one of my current bags and flipping it upside down and working from there, because that was the general shape I was looking for.

And we made a pattern. Then she went home. And this time, after she left, I only made a shell of a bag - which is what one would normally do when drafting patterns, right? Even the 'real' designers don't start out with everything in place (interfacing, hardware, etc.). They make a muslin prototype. I guess the reason I dislike making the prototype in the first place is that I'm always hopeful it will turn out right the very first time (HA!), and it will be useful and ready for me from the get-go. Wishful thinking!

Thinking out loud: It was a good call to make the prototype shell Kelley. Because, while I liked the overall shape, I wanted it to be just a bit taller/longer/bigger, so I redrafted our pattern and added the inches to the bottom, not the top. The only problem with the prototype shell though, was that it was just that: a shell. I didn't make the lining, and I didn't interface it.

 

So when I drafted the second prototype, I went for it - lock, stock, interfacing and lining. It basically worked, but I'm still not happy with the top. Making the first prototype didn't allow me to sew the curve of the top opening and I don't like sewing curves - my industrial machine doesn't have a drop-away panel and I don't like wrestling with bags.

You see that? I don't like that. It only happens when the bag is full, and really, I don't carry around a ton of stuff, but some people do.

Once again it's back to the drawing board, or worktable. As you can see, when I get a bug, I have a hard time letting go of it. The first incarnation of this bag was made 18 months ago. I put it away for a year, but have made at least 6 various attempts at this in the last 6 months. The vision I have in my head is not making it to the real product. I should probably just let it go, but I'm super stubborn like that. Just ask anyone who lives here.

The land of misfits.

Last night, I gathered all The Duds in a box. You know The Duds, don't you? They're that family of misfits you tried to master, only to sink lower and lower into the abyss of unfinished and abandoned.

Oh. You don't know The Duds? Well, lucky you.

I've boxed up my misfits and duds and I'm going to be placing them on a high shelf, or under a table for a while. I've spent too much time making and remaking, and wasting both time and fabric. I'm frustrated and annoyed. I am not a patternmaker, I'm just winging it here. {but first I'll strip them of their hardware - they won't know what hit them}

Damn Duds. Misfits.

Inept quasi-patternmaker {me...*shaking fist at the heavens*}

I'm not looking back.

Believe it or not, I was in The Zone.

I have a wee confession to make: I've been in the most fantastic slump since the end of December. You might have noticed, but then again, maybe not. It seems to happen every year after a season of shows and events, and invoicing and packing, and then January & February happen, and I flat out don't want any part of anything to do with business. And then I freak out.

I still keep working, because somehow, miraculously, January & February are busy [somewhat], but deep down I'm worrying about my next move. And I go about my day feeling uninspired and lazy, and with the Internet and all your wonderful, creative blogs out there, I begin to feel totally inadequate and ready to quit.

So, on Thursday, when I had the most unbelievable surge of creative energy, I couldn't let it fester and I couldn't be bothered to interrupt it. I figured you'd understand. Besides, this little blog isn't all that important in the whole scheme of things, and there are many more interesting ones out there in blogland.

I got a whole lot done! New wine bags, for one thing. Is anyone else getting a little bored with Toile (*gasp!*)? I can't believe I said that! Well, what happened was - I ordered a small portion of this fabric because I loved the color (it's Green, Gromet!), but when it arrived, it was darker and the background was a little more linen-colored than I anticipated. I still wanted to use it, so it became (several) Catalina Wine Bags. Which inspired me greatly!  Now, I want to revamp my whole Catalina line with fun fabrics, which is a huge "DUH!" on my part!

I suppose we can call this 'Accidental Inspiration'. But I'm all for it. I'll be tunneling deep into my fabric stash/archives to see what else I can come up.

I can't take credit for the production of these 85 Lavender Liner skeletons (thank you Estella!), but I do have to stuff them, sew them shut, roll & tie them, tag & package them. I just hope I have enough lavender!

I'm hoping everyone had a fabulous weekend - the weather was so gorgeous, and I could swear when I got up on Saturday and went outside to pick up the paper, I could smell spring.

Whoops. Almost forgot - New Products!

Well, not really. But new to the website - so that almost counts, right?

Perky Pouches: You knew that was coming right? After all the hoopla about finally figuring out zippers, etc. And I'm working on other sizes, so check back - they'll be there soon!

And what's with that silly name? Perky Pouches? It must stem from my need to name everything. It can't just be *pouches* - they have to be *perky*. They can be found here - and they are only $15.00.

Of course, having said that, I came up with nothing for the Key Fobs. These I have been selling since the very beginning at sales and events, and after countless inquires about why they aren't on my website, I've added them. They can be found here, and are $10.00.

Incidently, the key fobs are a great party favor. I had one customer at an event buy 30 of them for a tea party, and used them as the napkin rings; and then they were the giveaway afterwards! Smart cookie! I like that!

My son Colin is in his first year of Spanish at the high school. He comes home everyday speaking Spanish, which drives me crazy, because I can't understand a word he says. But he mutters "entonces" constantly. This makes no sense, because, [and I have looked it up] entonces means 'then'.

I'm just telling you this because now I want to start every paragraph with 'Entonces'. Just so you know. In case I do, by accident.

Entonces.

Getting productive with it, and packaging.

Packaging has become one of my least favorite activities. Why? I have no idea. Wait. I do. Because it's redundant. I used to love packaging. I love wrapping presents, and I like wrapping outgoing orders (because they're little presents in my mind. If you've received an order from me, you know this), but the packaging of products has become one of those things that I put off until my studio is about to explode and barf all over the house.

Okay. Not really.

But I can sure put it off for as long as possible. I can put it off until I can't see the surface of my worktable, and can't get any work done even if I wanted to.

There's going to be a website update very soon now. In fact, if you are on my email list, you'll be the first to know. I just have to finish this damn packaging, and then retake about 40 pictures and Photoshop them (okay, maybe there's something else I don't like more than packaging!), and get everything uploaded on my site.

And, clear the worktable.

Oh, and then there's this:

I know the secret to perfect meatballs. And it's here.

I never made it out of the house yesterday...

With the exception of picking up the big boys from school. I had such grand plans, and visions of Anthropologie pretties dancing in my head...alas, I ran a load of laundry and was violently brought back to earth by the sound of water pouring out of the outtake pipe during the drain cycle. Oh, God. All I could think about was, 'what if I had just turned it on and gone?', like I usually do? Major stoppage over here - on all accounts.

Don't you hate that? I won't even go into what happened in the bathroom immediately behind the washer, because that was worse. And I'm trying not to think about how the $500 check I wrote to the plumber could have been better spent.

The good news is that I finished some bags and got the site uploaded and updated! Really, that's what I should have been doing anyway...

They're just so springy-fresh, don't you think? They are available here!

I'm thinking today might be my day. And, I'm not turning on any cleaning appliances.

A super special Birthday giveaway!

Well, it's a giveaway, and the only reason it's super special is because MY birthday is in 5 days (that would be Tuesday, for anyone who is taking notes), and that, in itself, is super special. As you can see, I am setting myself up for the biggest letdown in the world - because to me, birthdays fall somewhere around the expectation of New Year's Eve and Valentine's Day. Neither of these holidays are really big for me (yes, it's true, I'm not big on Valentine's Day, can you believe it? And I can't stand red roses.), and my birthday, at this MID-LIFE point, is just another day.

I've been wanting to do my own giveaway for awhile, and this seems like the perfect opportunity! I was going to say, make a comment and tell me what you like - but I'm updating the site on Sunday and Monday, so you'd have to check back.

But it's no problem - just leave a comment and on TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 5 - I'll pick a comment. I was also going to only offer an apron or lavender liner, but I think I might open it up to handbags as well...how's that sound? Here's a preview of a new apron, made with super gorgeous Barefoot Roses by Tanya Whelan - doesn't it look like you can just reach out and touch those roses?

And, another thing: I think I might have screwed up the feed on my blog when I tried to add Dinner Challenge to the whole blog feed mess. So, if it's messed up in your bloglines I do apologize and I'm working on it. When I'm not eating birthday bon bons, that is.

Update 2/5: Thanks everyone! Comments closed - check back later for the winner! XO, C

Lordy, it was a productive one!

Seriously, I need a weekend from my weekend. Friday, as I was working on some bags, I ran out of hardware. Plum out of purse feet, and totally out of heavy duty interfacing. Which was interesting, because all that week, as I was pulling it out and cutting it up, I kept thinking, "I really should order more of this stuff", followed by "Ithink I can get another two or three bags out of this" - right up to, "Oh, Sh*t."

Obviously, it was the "Oh, Sh*t." part that made production come to a grinding halt. Or so I thought...

There's been another bag, a new bag, in the works for, oh, I don't know, a year. It's a shoulder bag - a cross between a bucket bag and hobo. I've worked on it off and on, and haven't been real happy with the result, so I always end up just shoving it away under the worktable. I also hung one of the attempts up by my sewing machine to remind me of my failure - it didn't work, and it didn't help. So with bag production at a stand-still, and aprons coming out the wazoo, I turned to the long failing pattern and gave it another whirl. This time, I kept it simple and just elongated my Miraleste Shopper, and since I was plum out of heavy interfacing, just used some lighter-heavy interfacing (don't ask, just read). I'm going to make one more tweak to the design, but I think I finally have a winner - it just needs a name, a Palos Verdes name, of course...

As if that wasn't enough, I was then going through my scrap fabric bin, and decided to put together some scrap bags to sell in my pathetic Etsy surplus store. As I was putting them together, and tying them so cute with a ribbon, I thought about what Jennifer said to me back in July. She gave me one of her super cute zippered pouches, and said (something like), "I know you don't really like zippers, but I promise, they aren't that bad. My friend Caro has a really easy tutorial for a pouch and it's a great way to use up scraps."

I stared at my scraps, tied into such cute bundles, and then went digging around in one of my bottomless sewing baskets for 7" zippers. I had 5. And, I made a pouch.

And you know what? It wasn't that bad - it took me forever, and I wasn't really happy with the shape, but I made a pouch! I was so excited, I emailed Jennifer to tell her, and she replied with (glee, of course, but also) "Do you feel like you have to make several to really get comfortable with it?" Well, yes, as a matter of fact, I do.

So I altered the shape, and made 4 more (I can see how it can become addictive). I embellished one to see if I liked it, but I'm not sure I have the time to do that in the future...by the third one, I didn't need the tutorial by my side anymore. I don't know if these will ever be something I sell, but I do know they will be perfect little gifts and I do have some perfect opportunities coming up soon! Don't worry - there are still scraps and I'll hopefully be adding them to my Etsy sometime today!

That takes us to Sunday (I'm telling you, this was the neverending weekend), and turning back the clocks, which is difficult for me. Not that I mind it being pitch black outside by 5:30, no. It's because I have this wacky internal clock that wakes me up at 5 a.m. on weekdays, and allows me to sleep until 6 a.m. on weekends. 6 a.m. on Sunday, was actually 5 a.m. - and try as I might, I couldn't lay there any longer.

So, what did I do? I made a new header for the blog (look! see?) and redesigned my website. What else is there to do at 5 a.m. on a Sunday? The drawback? By 3 p.m. you're hitting the wall...

Beautiful Sunday...Country Living Magazine!

It's heeerrrrreeeeee!

Gush! Double Gush!