Getting ready for markets!

Last night I sewed buttonholes and stitched buttons onto 25 clutch purses. I don't usually work in such a 'production line' style but its a week til the Hope Street Markets and have to get moving. The gals at Hope Street have announced there is some good publicity with Sydney Morning Herald and Channel 7's Sydney Weekender. It should be a wonderful 3 day event and hope you will be able to come down and visit!


21 clutches and new bag made this morning "Heidi"

New stock has gone out to Mrs Peel at Leura, NSW, Fanny's Flat in Talbot, VIC and Arthur's Circus, Melbourne. Here is a photo of some of my bags hanging at Arthur's Circus - lovely shot courtesy of Arthur's Circus blog.



I have the most horrible sore throat, head cold and can't stop sneezing. Steven has told me not to work this weekend and rest, rest, rest...

We'll see...

Red and Pink!

My favourite colours together... now as lovely bangles from Liana Kabel. I just got these in the post - in time for wearing on the fancy Friday night do for Hope Street Markets next week!

I have just finished these four clutches for Cherry Blossom store, Paddington, Qld. They are so cute and I have put the buttonholes on slants to give them a different finish.





Because I have a couple of custom orders to complete before the markets next week, I haven't had time to upload new stock. I have just received two fab totes back from a certain magazine that is featuring them in their launch Oct/Nov. I think I will try to load them up today for sale.

Stuffed up nose for the past few days... sometimes I hate Spring!

I don't like Mondays...

I've finally cleared away a bit of a backlog and my workbenches are looking clean! Gotta couple of medium sized bags to finish then I'm back on track. Phew! Today I got my website in order to include a paypal feature, so that you can order directly from the website. This is secure and very easy! Thank you Bec at madeit.com.au for helping with the code (I'm such a dingbat!).



We have just been told about ANOTHER wedding in 2008, bringing it to three. My good friend Jo is getting married in Rockhampton, Steven's sister Michelle is getting married in Sydney and have just heard from my old flatmate from Alice Springs, Brady, is getting married in Brisbane in March. Have to start saving for it all...

Only 2 weeks til Hope Street! Arghhh!

I've finally cleared away a bit of a backlog and my workbenches are looking clean! Gotta couple of medium sized bags to finish then I'm back on track. Phew! Today I got my website in order to include a paypal feature, so that you can order directly from the website. This is secure and very easy! Thank you Bec at madeit.com.au for helping with the code (I'm such a dingbat!).



We have just been told about ANOTHER wedding in 2008, bringing it to three. My good friend Jo is getting married in Rockhampton, Steven's sister Michelle is getting married in Sydney and have just heard from my old flatmate from Alice Springs, Brady, is getting married in Brisbane in March. Have to start saving for it all...

Only 2 weeks til Hope Street! Arghhh!

My lovely new (vintage) purse!

I just received this yesterday from overseas (USA) via ebay. Its the most divine fabric vintage purse 1940's-50's. I love that there is so much great stuff out there for sale and normally, you couldn't or wouldn't know about stuff for sale, but with the web, we all have a fair shot at it!

Yesterday I was featured in my local paper, The Blue Mountains Gazette, with this story on the handbags. Its a great bit of advertising and hopefully will reach a wider audience.


Blue Mountains Gazette Review 19 September 2007

This week I have to complete 4 medium sized handbags. Doesn't sound like much really (when I think about it) but each one requires so much attention and detail that I forget where I am and what day it is. For instance, I freaked out thinking its Friday!

Here is this mornings bag - a custom order - 'Annalise':


Annalise

There are only two in this fabric and both are sold, going to stores in Victoria.

Bags akimbo

With 3 big orders this week, I'm busy. Can't complain though! Its wonderful. Here is my studio at the moment - there is stuff everywhere and I keep meaning to stop and do a big clean up to start again.



Very hard being a one (wo)man band - but its so fun to be able to play with gorgeous vintage fabrics every day. I got some great fabrics yesterday and they are flapping in the breeze now. I can hardly wait for them to dry!

I have decided to keep one of the latest totes to myself. She doesn't even have a name but is my favourite mix of warm colours. This is my tote hanging by our front door...


I don't know what era this fabric is but I have enough left for one or two clutches - then thats it! It sort of has an african look to the print but the colours? Hmmmm...



Only a couple of weeks til Hope Street Markets so madly preparing.

Kara Smith bags at Handcut!

Here are some photos sent through by the lovely Tanya at Handcut, Crows Nest, NSW. Hand Cut is carrying a fab selection of my bags from clutches through to oversized totes! Hand Cut's ethics in recycling and reusing fab finds ties in well with my handbags - the bags look great with the outfits.







And here is 3 more of the latest totes available...



Left to right:
‘Stripes Ahoy' 60’s/70’s geometric screenprinted cotton. Pleats on the bag are sewn in and large pearly vintage button to close flap. Interior is recycled navy fabric and big pocket (2 sections for mobile etc) and key loop.

‘Maisy Daisy’ retro seersucker fabric – bright blue with flowers in yellow, red, purple and green. Big pocket on the front and flap to close bag. Vintage navy button. Inside is recycled navy fabric with key loop too.

‘Spotty Sally’ is striped seersucker fabric contrasted with recycled polkadot fabric. Flap closes with large vintage olive button (olive to match some of the olive stripes on the bag). Pocket on the front. Inside is polkadot fabric and key loop for your keys.

Todays work done... two new bags - Polly on the very left in the pastel tones and the smaller bag at the front "Beatrice" which will go up on my site for sale tomorrow.

I have the Blue Mountains Gazette journalist here in the morning to do a story on the bags and myself. Scarey! But I think these great handbag stands help instead of me hanging them off clotheslines and backs of doorways.



Some fun fabrics that I rediscovered while cleaning out for the photo tomorrow. I just love finding things again that you've forgotten about!

K

Doing handstands over handbag stands!

I got a delivery of handbag stands for the Hope Street Markets in a couple of weeks. These beauties are terrific - the bags hang so nicely and I'm glad I've invested in them!

There are a couple of bags up so I can see how everything is looking. Its just so fun!

It's Sunday - lamb roast night!

Getting chilly again as the sun sets. But what a beautiful day and an eventful weekend. I have finally sat down and started drawing up patterns for my bags, something I have procrastinated about but finally begun! And... done my tax, blah! Working for yourself is not so much fun as being employed for those reasons. But being able to create what you love, well thats special!

This bag is "Coolabah" - created on Friday. Its the most divine original barkcloth fabric, and its an Australian print!



Steven has just handed me a brilliant article in The Age:
"Enslaved to their passion"

One of the benefits of starting your own fashion label is that you can indulge your passion for the peculiar, play out your sartorial fantasies. On the other hand, there are drawbacks aplenty: working 12-hour days, six-day weeks; producing collections on a shoestring; fitting in the designing of clothes at the end of a long day; risking creative burn out; earning the equivalent of the dole; struggling to find local clothing manufacturers willing to take on your designs; competing with the cheap, mass-produced fashions that often come with a "made in China" tag.

All I can say is ain't that the truth!