Spring/Summer '09 Photos

New photos and styles will be up on my website in the coming days, but I couldn't wait to share one with you! This is a cross-body bag that has an adjustable strap, which means it can also be a shoulder bag. A personal favorite of mine because of its adaptability. :) More info on this bag is coming soon!
And make sure to check out this incredible photographer's website: www.weybrightphotography.com

Disbelief

Back in January I joined in with the masses and typed out my goals/resolutions for this new year. If we are all totally honest with ourselves, we never really expect a lot of those goals to actually come to fruition. . . well at least I don't. Well, in about a month and a half, I can officially mark off one of my goals. Crazy, isn't it! And it just happens to be the loftiyest goals that I was aiming for!
So what is it?! The Lord has provided some industrial space for me to move Rejoice! Bags into! I am in total disbelief that this is happening, but in May Rejoice! Bags will no longer be run out of my home studio. This means so much: I will be able to hire people to help me, which means more bags, which means bigger business! So I write all this with the realization that this is still all tentative until I actually move in. In the meantime, I will continue to trust the Lord and know that He always has my best interests in mind. :)

Mission Completion

Well, it took a lot longer than expected, but here is my new, better organized studio!

I used to have a card table sitting practically in the middle of the room just for my Janome sewing machine to sit on. My husband and I just found this little folding table a few weeks ago that fits perfectly as a return off my Juki table, and is a great size for the Janome. Now I can just turn to the side when I need to sew something more delicate. :)

To be honest with you, it's still not really where I want it to be. But I definitely feel that I am better utilizing the space that I have now. So here's a little tour.

When I am sitting at my Juki, this is the closet to my left. I removed the closet doors shortly after this room became my studio so the room would feel more open and I could have more space. Because I work mostly with upholtery fabrics, I have these giant rolls to deal with. So for the time being, this is where they live.

This is the left side of the closet where I store lighter weight cottons on bolts. I also have some hanging on hangers, but that is only because I haven't taken the time to put that all on to bolts as well. FYI Joanns will give you used cardboard bolts for free if you ask. . . :) This is also where I wrap packages for mailing.

And this is my cutting area. Lord willing, someday I will have my ideal table to cut on, but for now this one works just fine. :)

There are other things that I want to share, but I'll wait for another time. :)

confession

Okay, well I went to visit a friend yesterday, and ended up not getting home until 8pm. :) So no progress on the studio yet, but maybe today. . . . . .

A Neccessary Mess

Well, it didn't start out as a neccessary mess, though. After the show last Thursday, my studio was in ruins! But this is kind of an ongoing problem. I have a small space, and I have not been doing a very good job at keeping it organized. So what started as just a mess, is now a neccessary mess of reorganizing. :)

So I started last night by just getting rid of a lot of fabric off of those shelves, and put it either onto cardboard bolts or rolls. I realized that I had forgotten about a lot of stuff that I have, and also that I really won't ever use some of it.

My new idea is to box up some of that fabric in Rubbermaids and then stick swatches of the contained fabric on the side and/or lid. That way I won't have to rummage through the box if i ever need something. :)

So check back in to see my progress. My goal is to get the rest of this cleaned up tonight, and then post up some "after" pics tomorrow!

What exhaustion does to you. . . . .

These pictures were taken the morning of the art show this past Thursday. The funny thing is that I totally don't remember taking them! I was just going through my photo card, and stumbled upon them. . . . crazy!

Isn't it amazing that I was sewing these bags, and I was hardly coherent?! God is good!

Success!

The Art Show was last night, and turned out to be a total success! Thanks to all of you who stopped by, it was really fun to see so many friends there. So I'm off to start planning for next month's show and an upcoming photo shoot. Pictures of the new red bags are on the way!

Giveaway!

Three more days 'till the Art Show! And as an added incentive to come out to see my bags, I'm giving away these cute Pocket Purses. Just RSVP by commenting on this post, and come by on Thursday night to pick out your Pocket Purse! I hope to see you there!

Thursday, March 5th, 6-9pm

Life Arts Building, 2nd Floor, Studio 24

3485 University Ave.

Riverside, CA 92501