Persnickity Designs

2007-11-29T17:51:00.000-08:00

It has been a whirlwind around here the last couple days. I never really managed to get my butt in gear yesterday. Didn’t get a whole lot done, just some bits and pieces. It was probably more than I think, but since it wasn’t anything big it didn’t feel like much.

Today flew by. I mean, I can’t believe it is almost 6:00 already. I got in this morning, quickly did free shipping on the websites, then etsy, finalized the mailer that went out today, quickly cut out a custom appliqué, got the same bag together for Kendall (our sewer), had a friend stop in, wrote a couple emails, and here we are at 5:55. James just ran to get americano’s, since we are here late tonight for a party. Plus tomorrow night too. And tomorrow we have one of our consultant’s first party, which is really exciting. But, this is the first 2 in one day party, and I know since it is Friday it will be mob-ed in the shop as well. I hope I wake up more tomorrow than I ever did today! I was dragging all day today as well as yesterday. Geesh, hope that changes come December 1!

Whoosh, here we are almost December, and whoosh I know that will be gone as soon as I blink my eyes.

No pictures today, again. But hopefully I’ll snap a couple of the shop full of ladies tonight!

29 Days Left Means I Need A Break!

2007-11-26T17:22:00.000-08:00

I got up this morning, after rather crazy weekend, took a shower, ate breakfast, and promptly went back to bed. I felt like the living dead, and no matter how hard I tried, simply could not will myself to be a functioning human being. Thankfully I have a trusty assistant who got everything going at the shop, let me sleep for several hours, and came back to get me. So, Lucy and I slept from 7:30 (when we were suppose to leave home) to 11am, and then watched The Simpsons until James came to get us about 12:15.

It was wonderful, especially since we have several parties in the shop this week and I know I wont have time to break come NEXT Monday through probably January 1!

That’s about all that went on today. I didn’t ever manage to get much done, being Monday and being I still feel sluggish. I did manage to decide on a theme for the, CATALOGUE, that will be coming out in January. I am very excited about it and will be working on it all month between customers.

It is really cruddy out today, and there is a possibility of SNOW tonight…..I am sort of excited, only it snowed bad this week last year and totally killed sales for merchants downtown. We’ll be here, no matter what, since we have chains and a car that amazingly does great in the snow. I love snow, so I sorta hope it snows, but sorta don’t. I guess we’ll just have to see what it decides!

30 Days Seems Much Closer Than 31 For Some Reason

2007-11-25T16:56:00.000-08:00

James and I were on our way to Thanksgiving dinner Thursday and stopped at Starbucks on the way for some, uh, holiday-and-two-hour-drive cheer. We managed to get stuck in line for about 40 minutes, which I didn’t notice too much since I was knitting. The problem with the drive thru is once you get in line, you can’t get out. Especially in a van the size of a UPS truck.

Anyway, my knitting project was in one of our bags, since, that is all I carry. They handed us our drinks and sploosh, as I am putting the lid on my travel mug coffee goes right into the knitting bag. I started to get upset and then realized that the bag was lined in nylon (just like all the sash bags) and simply grabbed it and wiped it out. No coffee nightmare, no clean-up nightmare, just one happy camper. I looked at James and said, “Wow, our bags really ARE amazing!”

I mean it is one thing to design something to function while looking good, another to carry them and realize they are super functional and fantastic, but something entirely different to have an “Oh Shiiii-oot” moment completely neutralized by good design. It makes me want to blaze new trails in the world to save more women from “oh fudge” moments! See, we really DO plan to take over the world one persnickity bag at a time….

31 Days Left: The Madness Begins

2007-11-24T10:53:00.000-08:00

Phew, we made it through Black Friday with just a bit of craziness in our small b-burg. We were super swamped all day yesterday and we’re back and ready for an even busier day today.

Just so all you Christmas present seekers know, we have our newest bag design available in our etsy store only: www.persnickitydesign.etsy.com

Fiat Mini

And Fiat Large

We designed them with gift giving in mind: they are priced to share at $48 for the small size and $58 for the large. They drop right under your arm with seatbelt webbing straps and keep everything secure with a zipper top. Available in all of our designs and colors: rocket, poppies, guitar, and car in three color combos each, you'll find yourself buying several to have on hand for emergency gifts.

Grab what’s on there now, or convo me for a new listing of different colors or size.

Shop Decorations?

2007-11-21T10:49:00.000-08:00

I’d like to say that these pictures haven’t gotten up because of Blogger, but it just isn’t true. It is almost full on shopping month here and it has become quite crazy. I had the party last week, tons of customers Saturday, a party in Everett Sunday, a new employee Monday, business meetings all day yesterday, and couple more this morning (which I am right between as I type.)

With 33 shopping days left and counting, lets try the Christmas decoration pictures again….

The back wall with darling fabric "paper" chain

The cute display table, complete with trees as you walk in the door

More fabric trees, which I do believe will have their own post here in the next couple days

More trees and a hint at the current window display

A christmas tree...

And of course, a pug picture.

Have a great Thanksgiving everyone, and we'll see you for all your holiday shopping starting next week!

Shop Decorations

2007-11-15T18:04:00.001-08:00

Today's post was suppose to be pictures of the shop at christmas, but apparently blogger wont have it that way. I have now been trying to upload pictures for about 30 minutes to no avail.

It was an otherwise uneventful day here, not worth typing about. Hence the pictures. But, now I must run off and get ready for tonight's purse party.

We'll try them pictures again tomorrow.

Thanksgiving is NEXT Thursday?!

2007-11-13T18:00:00.000-08:00

Oy! How is it Thanksgiving already? Not that I have not been prepping, it just seems so, close. Yikes.

So, the decorating the shop project has now turned into a three-day affair. James and I stayed up until 2:30 am on Monday (Sunday night) sewing trees for the display and baking cookies. Then Andrea and I worked on it all day yesterday. Errr, Andrea worked on it all day yesterday while James and I made appearances. We managed to double book ourselves on decorating day. Mmmhmmm, what else is new? We had an interview for our sewing room job (did I mention we were hiring again?) and then a meeting with an artist, but more on that later.

So I set Andrea free with 50 fabric trees, 4 bags of snow, and a pile of green glass ornaments. Though "we" got the front half of the shop looking great, I felt like the back half was still missing, something. So I came in today and worked ALL DAY, and by myself today, on the missing something. It is looking much better, but still needs some finishing touches.

So, my one-day plan of decorating the shop has quickly become a three-day project. Oh well. At least we are getting it up early enough it feels like it is worth the time and energy.

Pictures to follow as soon as it is “finished”!

Deck The Halls

2007-11-10T19:11:00.000-08:00

We are breaking my cardinal rule, and decorating for the shop for Christmas BEFORE Thanksgiving. It always freaks me out when I go shopping in November and retailers have their Christmas stuff up already, but here I am a retailer now, and decorating before thanksgiving. Monday is officially the day we’ll deck the shop with holiday cheer.

So, Andrea and I went Christmas decoration shopping yesterday to fill in the holes of Christmas chotskies and found, to our amazement, that green is apparently no longer a Christmas color. We had the hardest time find greens of any sort, let alone the limey but olivey green I was looking for. We found a few things, I am hoping enough, but we’ll just have to play it by ear while decorating on Monday.

If you’re in town, come stop in and say “hi” Monday while we are up on ladders, stringing garlands and lights. We’ll have cider and cookies for anyone who stops by!

It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas…..

2007-11-09T21:46:00.000-08:00

This was the scene here yesterday. A large, ominous stack o’ boxes ready to go to the post office. Our web orders are picking up, which makes me realize just how close Christmas is. Last year we were taking 5+ boxes to the post offices daily or every other day during the holiday. Looks like we are pretty close to that time again!

46 Days and Counting

2007-11-08T10:23:00.000-08:00

I spent most of the day yesterday getting bins labeled, random pieces of vinyl into appropriate places, and setting up extra storage with these shelves in the sewing room. I think we are just about ready for the holidays, and just in time too! The orders are already starting to increase on the internet.

But, don’t they look great? Each bin is labeled and organized and everything. It made me feel so on top of everything and ready to go to be all official with my tape gun and the bin labels. We are also diligently working to get all of our patterns cut into Lucite since our sash bags have all been cut from paper patterns from January on this year….. Not the speediest system, that’s for sure! But, I can safely say we are ready to go for the holidays. I think. Or as ready as we'll ever be!

Oh and just FYI, we have a two new inexpensive bags about to be put on the website just in time for the holidays. They are already in the shop so come check them out if you are in Bellingham. Otherwise, they should be online in the next 10 days.

Alright, off to sip my tea and soak up the wonderful pumpkin spice candle burning in the shop.

Welcome, Andrea!

2007-11-07T17:40:00.000-08:00

Since I realized I had forgotten to mention it when writing yesterday's post, welcome Andrea, our first Bellingham consultant! She is kicking butt and already has about 6 parties booked in the shop just in November! Wowza. You can e-mail her at andrea (at) persnickitydesign dot com to schedule your party. Or come in the shop Monday, Wednesday, or Friday as she works here part time too. Get her quick though, her calendar is filling up fast!

She also makes gorgeous jewelry. Buy it here: www.simplylotus.etsy.com I am wearing a pair of her earrings now. You’ll love them.

Only 48 Shopping Days Left Until Christmas!

2007-11-06T11:26:00.000-08:00

Yes, this is how we think here. I am starting to get really panicky about the holiday rush, I can feel the Christmas rush just beginning.

As such, James and I ran around and did errands yesterday and Sunday to get ready. You know, things like I hate every piece of clothing in my closet, and struggle to find something to wear just about every single morning. So, I have done some serious clothes hunting the last couple days so that when it get crazy at Christmas I can just grab and go in the morning from my closet. And, I don’t have comfortable dressy, business shoes so we hit up the local shoe store yesterday in search of a pair of comfortable low, black heels I can wear all day for store sales and all evening for parties or extended holiday hours. Well, James found a pair of shoes, and I found a pair of boots. Not exactly what I was looking for but irresistible nonetheless. So, they are on order in black, and I went on zappos last night and ordered a pair of heels from the same company that were what I was looking for. Did I mention I ordered them last night at about 6:15pm and they will be here this morning, likely before noon. I love zappos.

We also went to Costco and bought more back stock shelving yesterday, and went searching for a new floor for the front of the shop (to no avail). The trip to Costco included a sweater (again with the freaking out about the clothes in the closet), a three-pack of Bing Crosby christmas cd’s, and the new Donald Trump book. Yes, Costco is super dangerous in the Christmas season…..

Andrea dutifully ran the shop while we were gone and then stayed late to help me with the window display. And by the way, in looking up her etsy store to put her link in here, I found a necklace I can’t live without. And some earrings. Oh dear, I know she is already freaking out about how little stock she has for Christmas.

So, 48 shopping days til Christmas! Yikes! More in the intriguing life of a small business during the Christmas season tomorrow! Oh look, zappos are here!

Check This Out

2007-10-30T09:19:00.001-07:00

Wow, this is highly exciting! I found this site while stumbling around etsy.com the other day and I think it is fantastic: www.buyhandmade.org

I love it when the crafty types band together and create cool things like this. I’m off to make the pledge!

How Sad is This?

2007-10-08T14:34:00.001-07:00

So, it absolutely horrifies me that I have not posted in what is it now, 2 weeks exactly? Especially since I had 5 days of posts written out so all I had to do was post, and I still didn't manage to get them posted. Just plain old sad.

Why the long absence, you ask? Well, amoung other reasons we were hiring again here at Persnickity Designs. We needed a new shop “Assistant” before the big holiday rush. We put an ad on craigslist, and got about 30 applications in three days.

So this last week was spent sorting through all the highly qualified candidates and calling back a few to schedule interviews. It is so hard for me because I like everyone, and want to hire everyone, but we have to choose one person for the job. Andrea will be starting with us this coming Monday.

I never thought, even at this time even a year ago we would be employing 3 people and looking for the fourth! It is pretty amazing, and this year has been a real learning experience for me: about managing, about business in general, and especially about myself. It is so amazing think about Persnickity Designs, my crazy idea, supporting one part-time person and four, soon to be five full-time people.

I am sure I have mentioned before, but I think about 4 years ago when I decided to start making purses, if I had known then where I would be today, I wouldn’t have known where to start! It is really amazing that people have supported me, and believed that I know what I am doing enough to do things like quit their jobs and work here full-time, and continue to work here after really getting to know me!

I love what I do, I wouldn’t trade it for anything, and I can only do it because I have such a great team that when I say “jump” they respond “how high?” I am amazed on a daily basis by not only my wonderful team here, but the amazing support all of our customers give us as well.

Thanks everyone.

Welcome Dinea!

2007-09-24T17:21:00.000-07:00

James and I and the pugs drove down to lovely Olympia, Washington yesterday to meet with our newest Persnickity Consultant and get her her starter kit. We had a lovely time and got to see more of a city that neither of us are familiar with.

Dinea will be starting to do parties down in the Olympia area, so if you are interest in hosting a party, she is your gal. She is super sweet, very excited about the program and we can’t wait until her first party!

Party On

2007-09-19T17:01:00.000-07:00

To celebrate the release of our new Persnickity Purse Party Program, we are having a big in shop party.

Come play with the sash bags, see our new fall designs, and find out more about Home Purse Parties: September 28th from 6-9pm.

We look forward to seeing you here!

Jingle Bells........

2007-09-18T10:19:00.001-07:00

So in a small handmade business like ours, we look forward to christmas all year. It is certainly the craziest time of year, and the middle of november to january 1st always rushes by at light speed.

Being as this is the case, we are already stocking up for christmas, getting everyone scheduled and ready, and beginning to plan. I already have decorations decided on, including window displays for mid november on, and the smell of my pumpkin spice latte the other morning put me in the christmas spirit.

Of course you can’t discuss this with anyone in the middle of september, or they look at you like you have lobsters crawling out of your ears. So, imagine my excitement when we had our first official christmas shopper yesterday morning. She came in and bought four bags for the women in her family. We even gift wrapped them and everything. I wish everyone shopped early! And it made me think about my own christmas gift list, and that I should probably get on the now so I don’t have to think about it the couple weeks before christmas. And, it got me that much more excited.

It also made me realize how much I need to get done in the next few weeks!

Another Happy Customer

2007-09-14T17:22:00.000-07:00

Check out our lastest interview:

http://seattle.metblogs.com/archives/2007/09/metroblogging_i_3.phtml

Red?

2007-09-13T17:42:00.000-07:00

Have you driven past our shop in the last three days? Well, if you have, I am sure you did a double take seeing as our once multi-colored patchwork front is now RED!!! And by red, I mean RED, visible from 3 blocks away, with white and black accents. It is the same color scheme as inside, where we have white walls, a dark gray floor and red and black furniture.

Our wonderful landlord trusted me entirely with color choice, so I thought for about 3 seconds and said, “What about red?” He thought about it for awhile, said yes, and now we have arguably the coolest storefront in all of bellingham. Especially because the building to our right and our left is pretty much just white. Our landlord, Fred likes it enough he thinks he is going to send a picture to the local newspaper. Yeah!

The pink truck really clashes though....

My Home Depot Adventure

2007-09-12T14:32:00.000-07:00

So, we started out this morning with all of our vinyl (that would be about 18, 15-80lb ea rolls) falling over and nearly taking out Jamie. Since James and I had been discussing making a big vinyl rack to hold all the rolls, and james was already running out for an errand we decided to go buy supplies for the rack today. I just don’t want to have to explain to Jamie’s, or any of the other employees’, parents that they were killed by three 80 lb rolls of vinyl falling on them.

So off to home depot, my already *favorite* store on the planet we went. First we stopped at hardware sales (if you don’t know about this place it is a truly amazing hardware store in bellingham. James used to work there, many years ago now, so it isn’t quite as amazing to us, but they do manage to stock something like 150,000 different items. You could get lost for weeks in their aisles, and no one would find you, yet it is probably 25% the square footage of a depot or lowes). We went up to pay our account there and ask a question, and of course since they allow dogs we brought Lucy (our baby pug) in with us. She is rather easily scared anyway, and hardware sales can scare the best of us, so she was clinging like mad to my bare neck. Then, Alta, the 94 or 95 year old owner asked if she wanted a cookie. Having seen a couple large dog cookie buckets around I figured it was ok. But Alta instead walked over to the people cookie bin and pulled a cookie out and started feeding it to my puppy who was hanging over my shoulder, clawing my neck. When I caught a glimpse of the cookies I thought they might be oatmeal, but alas, as I was standing there, back to alta, who was feeding a full cookie to my 12 pound dog, I got many whiffs of chocolate. Sigh, but there is no telling alta “no” so, Lucy got a chocolate chip cookie.

We made it out of there just fine, got what we needed, and headed to depot. We have a pop up crate with a zip closure that we use at the studio, so we dropped Lucy in it, and went inside.

To start, the aisles of lumber for three aisles wide were blocked off for a forklift, so we couldn’t get to it. We instead went to look at conduit, which are big metal poles we are using to mount the vinyl onto racks. They were the right price and length, but they only had 1/2”, 1” and on up in sizes in the style (ie the cheapest one) that we needed. There was 3/4” in both of the more expensive styles, and the plastic piping, and there were all the findings that went with 3/4”, but none on the rack. Oy.

So, off to find a Home Depot employee, which took a good 5 minutes of solid searching. We found one who was very helpful, who found the correct guy we needed. He rolled his little inventory cart over, and found out that indeed they should have 3/4” conduit, in fact his inventory showed they had 1100 sticks. Ok, great, so where are they? He told us they were likely in upper storage somewhere, and he could get them in 20-25 minutes.

So, we went off to get the lumber we needed, and being as the aisle we needed was half open again, we checked prices, found what we needed, and went searching for a cart. We went back down the aisle, since the door end was blocked off, and started to go down the next aisle over, when we noticed it was blocked off as well. So, being as the next (and final aisle which ran along the edge of the building) was open, we headed down, only to come to that same stupid orange foldy gate around the corner blocking us from the door.

SO, we headed over four aisles, came down, and started for the door, only to find they had ENTIRELY BLOCKED OFF THE DOOR TO THE OUTSIDE and the forklift was about to head out the door. At this point, James starts in a panicked voice repeating, “I just need a cart! Why can’t I get to the carts! I just need a cart! I just need a cart!” After a funny/scared looked from the 3-4 home depot employees it takes to operate a forklift, and one of them saying “Well, they’re just outside there.” (you know, like we were stupid and couldn’t figure that out....) They let us by. And we grabbed a cart which made a sound like what I would imagine a hippo being skinned alive would sound like, but only after we got back into the store.

On the way back in, skinning a hippo cart and all, and the guy with the conduit comes around the corner and says, “Well, when I was asking the electrical guy about the conduit it, he said there was just no room on that shelf so they are over in the middle of the plastic shelf.” Of. Course. They. Are. No, seriously, that makes TOTAL sense.

Off we go to get our conduit, walking past another h.d. emplyee who is called on the radio as we pass, and screams at the top of his lungs "I'M BUSY RIGHT NOW, GET SOMEONE ELSE!!!!" James then turns and looks at me and says, "Well, the store make be difficult to get around, but at least the employees aren't surly....." Once back at the conduit aisles, look at that, there is one rack of metal conduit in the middle of 15 different kinds of plastic conduit.

Off we head to the checkout, feeling thankful that we are done with our h.d. adventure, only to have all of the bar codes rubbed off the hidden 3/4” conduit. So, on the phone goes our cashier to electrical, looking for a skew. And guess what? HE COULDN’T FIND THE 3/4” EMT CONDUIT. So, we spent at least 10 minutes at the checkout, getting the correct skew, even though we know size, name, price, and everything else.

So, after finally checking out, being nearly hit by only 2 cars in the parking lot- one of which we thought about just rolling the cart full of metal conduit and lumber into, we got to the car with a big sigh of relief, only to realize we had pulled through another parking spot (in our giant van. no seriously. we have one of those dodge sprinters. they look like european delivery vans and it is like 9 feet tall) and someone had parked right behind us, close enough we couldn’t load the car. So, we open the door to get in, and there’s Lucy, out of her crate, chewing on one of those cardboard 4 drink holder things you get at coffee places. She, in her hopped up on sugar state, was spinning circles and had gone through all the trash in the car, and was grunting at us.

At this point we were in absolute hysterics, enough that other people in the parking lot were looking at us like we were totally nuts. I pulled into another parking spot, we got the lumber and conduit loaded, and just as james was putting the handbreak down, we noticed Lucy had chewed on the release button.

Oh my goodness. What an absolutely hysterical morning! We watched Arrested Development season one last night under recommendation from Jamie and Kendall, and though we thought it was funny, james and I decided nothing on tv tops real life. No wonder I never leave the shop!

Alright, thanks for reading my ridiculously long post. I hope you enjoyed it half as much I did....

Its Party Time!

2007-09-11T15:29:00.000-07:00

Hey guys, have you heard about our latest, greatest idea? We’ve started a “Persnickity Purse Party” program. Gotta love that alliteration!

I just booked another party this morning for thirty lucky ladies in Olympia in the beginning of october. I will head down with a bunch of samples, we’ll have food and drinks, and a great evening of purse shopping. Doesn’t that sound fun?

We got the idea because I have done a few home shows and parties with other crafters over the last year, and they are such a fun, personal, and intimate shopping experience that we now have 3 consultants doing parties in bellingham, seattle, and los angeles, and we’re looking for more. Interested in selling persnickity bags and making a part or full-time income? E-mail me, and we'll get you started.

We are going to do a big purse party gala in the shop here I think around October 12th with drinks and food, and shopping fun open to everyone.

Come on in or e-mail me about booking your own personal purse party! I am sure you can think of a reason to have the girls together for a night of shopping. Suggestions to get you started:

a birthday party
a bridal shower
bridesmaids party with built in gifts
girl’s night out
goodbye party for a friend
welcome to the neighborhood party for a friend
girl’s night out
a fundraiser for you favorite charity (we do that too!)
because you want one of our bags for free
knitting night with built in project bag shopping
you need a new job, and you want to try being a persnickity consultant
you are celebrating a milestone
the kids are back in school
a thank you for your clients
a fall celebration party
just because
a “chocolate is wonderful and we are going to celebrate by buying purses” party
a “I am going to get ready for christmas early this year, I mean it” party
a “I am stressed out and need a evening of shopping to relax” party

You get the idea.....

Message From The Executive Office

2007-09-10T18:56:00.000-07:00

It’s here! I am finally upstairs in my new office! I am so very excited. I have a desk right next to a big window, comfy chairs for relaxin’, and a work table and sewing area for prototyping. I really, honestly, don’t think I could be much more elated. Sigh.

I actually have my own personal space now, where no one can disorganize anything, if I need to focus on a project I can with out distraction, and I can put up all my design inspiration stuff.

There is one wall that is probably about 20-25 feet long that is mainly windows right now, that they are going to close up because of logistics of re-roofing, and tar coming halfway up the window issues. At first I was a little bummed out because I was loosing so much window, but then I realized it is where the majority of the heat upstairs comes from (and it can get pretty darn toasty up here), so I was just fine with it. And now, I realized that it will give me a 20-25 foot design board. Um, yeah, I think that is the only way my office in it’s current condition could be any better.

Alright, off to get executive officey sorts of tasks done. Hmm, I actually don’t quite know what to do with myself!

Whoosh!

2007-09-08T13:34:00.000-07:00

Whoa! Where’d the week go? Actually, where did summer go? Are we really in fall already? Yikes! I can’t believe it is September, let alone a third of the way through.

So, it has been quite the week with the sale here and all. We are about 1/3 of the way through the seconds we had, with just about 5-10 left in our back stock. Remember the sale ends next saturday, so come and get them before they are all gone!

It is feeling very fall like here all of a sudden. The days are just a bit nippy, with that crisp cold in the air but still gloriously sunny like fall always is here. I love it!

More Sales!

2007-09-01T18:00:00.001-07:00

Hey Guys!

Check it out, all of the bags listed on Etsy(non-seconds) are marked down at 15% off. Yeah! It is sale time around here, until september 15th. We wanted to make sure all of you cyber shoppers get the same deal all of our brick and mortar shoppers are getting.

Grab them quick, they are going fast!

Seconds and Retired Bags Sale!

2007-08-24T15:41:00.000-07:00

Ok guys, we’ve decided to put some stuff on sale! This happens very infrequently, as I am sure you have noticed. But, we have a pile of seconds and lots of retired designs, and it is time to clear out the shelves!

So, now until September 15th we have seconds on clearance and retired designs at 15% off. Come on in the shop and get them. Wohoo!

Pug Princess

2007-08-23T15:13:00.001-07:00

This is Princess Lucy. She hoards all of the toys, puts them all on her bed, and then sits on top and chews on them so Abbey can’t get them. See that red “t”/jack shaped one in the middle? That one isn’t even hers, but she still steals it from Bandit (Kendall’s Italian Greyhound) and hoards it on her bed. She spends most mornings wandering around the whole shop, finding all of the toys, and bringing them to her bed.

I must say, these girls keep us so entertained!

Yikes!

2007-08-22T17:52:00.000-07:00

Phew! This week has been like a runaway freight train! I can’t believe that it is Thursday (tomorrow) already.

Kendall started as a full-time sewer as of Monday this week. It is amazing how much time it is taking to keep up with her. I feel like I have been in the sewing room 75% of the week already, and she needs a bunch more work for tomorrow. Yikes! It is so different than when she would come 2-3 days a week after work and on her day off.

But, it is all worth it seeing our back stock shelves fill back up instead of just getting barer and barer. The first show I did when I hit this business really hard I sold over half my stock for Christmas in one day, and I feel like I have been running to keep up ever since. So, watching the shelves fill just makes me feel so very happy. Especially since Christmas is just around the corner (and yes that is how I think. I even have my Christmas decorations all planned out already!).

Alright, Kendall just left and informed me on her way out that she is finished with everything I have given her and she needs more for the morning. Oy! Off to cut!

Weather! That's Not Fair!

2007-08-18T16:59:00.000-07:00

James and I checked the weather forecast the other day for the weekend. It looked something like Thursday: Sunny, Friday: Sunny, Saturday: Cloudy and Raining, Sunday: Cloudy and Raining, Monday: Sunny, Tuesday: Sunny, Wednesday: Sunny.

Is it true that the weather can really be against people with mon-fri jobs, or those of us who want it sunny on Saturdays to draw more of a crowd to the farmer's market? It doesn't seem possible that Mother Nature could really be "out to get" anyone, but this appears to be proof.

TGIF!

2007-08-17T18:18:00.001-07:00

Right, thank god its Friday doesn’t really count around here since we pretty much work 7 days a week. Oh well.

So we’re gearing up for tomorrow since Saturdays are always busy with all the farmer’s market traffic. It is near the end of the summer too, so there are tons of tourists in town.

My day was absolutely FANTASTIC, since I walked over to the downtown yarn shop and picked up supplies to feed my addiction. Yes, the yarn store is the highlight of my week.

My landlord/leasing agent from our old space, who was also the leasing agent on our new space is married to Nancy, the Northwest Handspun Yarn shop owner. It is right across the street from our old building, but of course I never made it in there for yarn until we moved across town……

Anyway, I am very highly excited because I got a gorgeous organic cotton and an absolutely luxurious alpaca/wool blend yarn, both from Blue Sky Alpacas. They are both to die for, and the most I have ever spent on yarn. I also got some other yarns, plus a knitting book and yarn needles, since mine all are m.i.a. She has a great selection, and let me bring Lucy (the baby pug) in to “help me shop.” Course, all she did was sneeze and shoot snot rockets right into my ear. Lovely.

So we are off to walk the dogs, have take and bake pizza for dinner, and watch the newest season of the Simpsons that just came out of dvd. Sounds like the perfect Friday night to me!

Rebecca's Bag

2007-08-16T16:57:00.000-07:00

So, one of the most frequently asked questions I hear is, “So, which one do you carry?” Since I always happily answer and one of my other favorite things is to see what people carry in their bags, I have decided to show you both in today’s post:

Today (as of last night) I am carrying the Large Davey Jones’ Locker in Burgundy with the black and cream striped belt.

First of all I must say, this is the most AMAZING bag ever. I have totally outdone myself, and am absolutely amazed with my design abilities! But, I will post on that later.

I switched to it last night because, as I have mentioned several times, I am getting back into knitting (big time) and I have been carrying projects back and forth to work. I have one of our mocha and orange knitters that got pen on it, so it is mine. It has been great while the knitting project stays at home-- I have a whole host of reasons why I adore that bag-- but I have been carrying my small davey jones’ locker AND the knitting bag everyday, and I needed to consolidate to one bag. I thought I would give it a try, and voila:

I put my 2 different colored yarns one in each pocket on one side for tangle-free travel and knitting, dropped my wallet and calendar on the other side for easy access, and pens, stitch markers, etc are in the fourth pocket. It works absolutely perfectly. And, those pockets with yarn are deep enough that there are 2 balls in each, since I am doing a double strand in each color to make the knitting a little thicker when it is finished.

Of course then, there are the 3 outside pockets. My ipod and cell phone fit perfectly in the side two:

And my knitting magazines for inspiration are in the front pocket.

I love, love, love this bag. Makes sense why it has quickly become the most popular size and style in the sash bag line!

Squirrel Nut Zippers

2007-08-15T15:09:00.000-07:00

We always try to play music in the shop to create the right “atmosphere.” We generally stick with a mix of big band swing/frank Sinatra/billie holiday/esque plus some mellowish modern music like the shins, the decemberists, Andrew bird, etc. Course right now we are playing Sublime, breaking all the rules! It generally keeps it pretty interesting in here, there is enough that I stay interested all day, and we can switch it up most days so we don’t ever get tired of any one thing.

One of my favorite bands ever is Squirrel Nut Zippers. Remember them from the 90’s swing revival? There big song (I think) was Hell from their album Hot. They are just super upbeat, pretty retro, and the sort of the epitome of my musical style. I think if I were in a band, my band would be like squirrel nut zippers. Of course I am a musician, and play the harp, which is nothing like squirrle nut zippers, so it is funny that I think this. But, if I were in a band, that would be my ideal sound.

So I mention this because we have been open for two and a half months in our new space and I have had at least 5 people comment and ask if we are playing Squirrel Nut Zippers just while I am working the shop. No one ever asks about any other music playing, just squirrel nut zippers. All of our music is on random, so it probably plays one of their songs every 15-20 songs too, so I think it is particularly interesting. I guess there must just be more closet squirrel nut zipper fans out there than I realized! I find this fascinating, and though you all might as well.

Hope the weather is as beautiful everywhere else as it is here, and that you are getting time to enjoy it (not sewing purses like me!).

Getting Up Early

2007-08-14T17:14:00.000-07:00

Hello, hello! Whew! Today has been one of those days where your feet are running before they touch the ground, and the rest of the day continues at that pace. I can’t believe it is after 5pm already! Especially not when I got up over 12 hours ago!

What you have to understand is that I am not a morning person. In no way whatsoever. None. Anyone who knows me knows not to come within a mile radius of me until after about 9am, and even then it is barely safe. But, I am starting a new habit, and oddly enough, loving getting up early. It just gives me so much more focus, and then about this time of the day when I am no longer as productive as the morning, I don’t feel guilty. This is really big news. Huge, actually.

It has been a great day, even if it has been hectic. The Aye Captain Tote has been the bag of the day, as just about everyone in the shop has tried one on in front of the mirror. And every time someone picks it up, I realize how cute it really is.

Alright! This post has taken me nearly an hour to write, can you believe that?! I have a new timer, and I am timing myself on everything to keep track of productivity. It is very, very interesting to see.

A Day Off?

2007-08-13T15:40:00.001-07:00

Hi all! Yes, we actually took yesterday off, and didn’t do one drop of work all day. Of course, now with an almost full kitchen at work, we have no food at home, so we did have to come into the shop for breakfast. But then, instead of staying and working, we went for a lovely long walk with a good friend, her three year old and 9 month old kids, and our two dogs. It was so very pleasant.

Just a quick announcement that for the first time ever, we are offering SECONDS: bags with slight aesthetic imperfections, nothing structurally unsound, that wont effect your bag in any way other than price. Most of the bags are 40-50% off. Check out our Etsy Store for the first few, and continue to watch for more special discounts in the next few days! Those of you who ask for sales, here’s your chance at discount persnickity stuff!

Gloomy Saturday Afternoon

2007-08-11T17:39:00.000-07:00

Where did the sun go? It was out only shortly today, and now it is getting gloomier and gloomier. We are planning to go out and watch the Perseid meteor shower tonight. I hope it doesn’t get too cloudy to do that.

Whew! Saturdays in the shop are super busy! We had both the farmer’s market and La Bella Strada, Bellingham’s attempt at a street fair this weekend, so there are lots of people out and about. And we had three custom orders picked up today, and I always love to see people’s reactions. It makes me feel good.

I love to talk to all of our customers too, and find out more about where are bags go. One customer today is a nurse who spends three months in a location, and then moves on to another location. She just moved here from Hawaii, and will be moving on to Seattle in just a couple weeks. She bought a sash bag with extra scarves so that she can have one bag and match it to all of her outfits. And then there was the three year old purse addict who got to pick out bags for her two aunties’ birthdays tonight. I love it!

So, all in all it has been a great day, even if it is getting gloomier. We have two movies to watch to keep us up until the meteor shower tnoght. Oh boy, that means lots of knitting for me! Oh, have I mentioned I am hitting knitting big time all of a sudden? Yes, which means lots of new fall persnickity surprises in a knitting theme for you! Just wait!

The Small Hey Sailor Handbag

2007-08-10T21:00:00.001-07:00

Alright, I hate to do shameless self promotion, but I am totally in love with our new sash bag line, and I plan to tell you the things I love about each and every size. Not all at once though. Tonight you get to hear about the small Hey Sailor Handbag. One of my most favorite is the black bag with a white with red dots scarf:

Ok, what I love about this bag. For starters, it is so darn cute with that little cut out handle. It is perfect for a night out bag, and because you can change what scarf you have on it you can have one “going out” bag that matches all of your “going out” outfits. Or, if you have no life like me, carrying the small hey sailor handbag to the grocery store can feel like a black tie event!

What else do I love? It closes with magnets in the reinforced handles, so it opens really wide, and snaps shut on its own. It has 4 interior pockets, with a black nylon lining, so even though it is a cute small bag, it is super functional and keeps you organized.

The a-line shapes makes it so classic, yet the built in belt loops make it easy to make more funky, or more sophisticated depending on your personal style, or mood. It is even cute without a scarf!

What will it hold? The basics: a weigh anchor wallet, cell phone, comb, compact, and lipstick.

Each one of our new Sash Bags is made with high quality leather-like vinyl. It is buttery soft, it comes in four beautiful colors, it is waterproof, wipe clean, and fabulously durable. Plus, we guarantee all of our sash bags, just like the original line.

This bag would be perfect with a drapey red satin ribbon bow, your little black dress, and red necklace and shoes for an always right dressy outfit.

The hey sailor handbag is also perfect for a girly everyday kind of bag for those who travel light, or a special gift for a fashionable teen.

Alright, thanks for reading. Now you can see why I am excited enough for the self-promotion post!

A little bit of history

2007-08-09T15:53:00.000-07:00

I was looking through my pictures on my computer the other day for something, and found my OLD studio pictures that I thought you would enjoy.

This is august 2005 in my about 100-200 sq ft studio in my old house:

This is august 2005 in our first shop, about 500 sq ft:

And here we are august 2007 in our new 3000 sq ft location:

Oh boy, a sneak peak at some new designs!

What a mess!

Some days here are so excruciatingly long that I feel like we have made no progress and should be a lot further along with our business than we are. Then I see these, and realize just how short it really has been, and what a roller coaster it has been. Then I realize why I am so tired, and feel much better.

Alright, This is Ridiculous

2007-08-08T18:05:00.000-07:00

I am here. I am sorry I haven’t been updating. Everywhere I go people are like, “Oh Rebecca, I have been reading your blog, and I love it!” And I feel guilty every time. So here I am, and my new goal is to be here everyday. I certainly have enough to say, and enough going on!

Here’s one I hadn’t seen before in our old space, within the lovely locked building, and not next to a bar. Oh, did I mention we are next door to 2 bars in our new space? Certainly leads to an interesting night crowd. I realize why we moved into our old space within a building, where we weren’t visible from the street and where we worked late nearly every night……

One of our sewers who comes Thursday nights left a few weeks ago at about 10:30 pm, and immediately called us on her cell and told us to look out in front of our storefront side:

It was a concert, in our doorway. We were going to ask them to leave, but they were actually pretty good. They thought we were nuts for taking their picture, but hey, they were in our doorway! Those are their girlfriends hanging out on the wall there.

Bellingham certainly is an interesting town, more stories to follow!

My favorite kind of customer: the happy kind!

2007-07-18T10:26:00.000-07:00

Because I can't help but share a great post like this:

http://www.schmutzie.com/2007/07/758-in-which-i-give-away-free.html

This just makes me feel good!

Are you ready?

2007-07-14T20:46:00.000-07:00

It’s been a long time in the making, but it is finally here. On grand opening day, too!!!

www.pdsashbags.com

Check out the NEW LINE (!!!!!) and tell us what you think.

Phew!

2007-06-29T18:22:00.000-07:00

We’re there! We’ve done it! Everything is now officially moved over to our new space. Now, I am not saying moved IN, it is just all out of the old space. We are actually all set up in the shop area, and everywhere else is functional, we just need to get everything organized and in place.

This move has taken way more out of me than I thought that it would. We have now officially moved Persnickity Designs four times in under a year. Yikes. We have at least a three year lease here, and I actually never ever want to move again.

Well, it is as wonderful as I thought it would be and then some. No, seriously. We have so much room that when we talk it echoes. Can you believe that? The downstairs is like 4 old shops, and the upstairs is the 5th shop, making it about 5 times larger.

The store-front area looks FANTASTIC, if I do say so myself. Everyone who has come in has commented on how good it looks. Jamie (our still somewhat new employee) and I took about 3 full days to set up the front. We also got a great set up in the display windows, and they look wonderful. It took about twice as much product to fill the new storefront compared to the old one, so I am very glad I decided to keep on the old line at this point.

We are going to have a big grand opening on July 14th to celebrate the new digs. We are even advertising in the Cascadia Weekly for it! This will be our first local ad. Make sure to mark it on your calendars, and come check out the new “grown up” Persnickity Designs.

Alright, that’s about all for now. I am still in such a daze from this whole experience, I think I am going to go home and go to bed.

Pug Picture

2007-06-21T17:38:00.001-07:00

We got a new camera over the weekend, and since we have a fairly new cute puppy too, you can see what our day was spent doing.

We are almost in the new space. We thought we were going to move everything over this evening and be open tomorrow, which we might still do, but as I sat down at the kitchen table this morning, James said, “There was a flood in the new space.” I am sure you can imagine my first thing in the morning mind, wheels turning, thinking “it didn’t rain last night, plus we are on a hill, how is it possible we got flooded?” Apparently the toilet backed up, and flooded water into the rest of the space. Luckily our contractor was there first thing to sand the wallboard in the kitchen and found it, cleaned it up, and turned the water off. And we didn’t leave there until after 11pm last night, so it wasn’t sitting for too long. So James and I got Jamie started in the old shop first thing this morning, and went to assess the damage. When we got there, it had leaked even more and my beautiful printed materials, and other paper supplies, and dog bed were all sitting in a pool of sewage water. And we just had our floors finished over the weekend, and we are going to need a new floor in a significant portion of the work side of the new space. Lovely. Everything is ok though, and our landlord Fred is being super wonderful about it, and it could have been a lot worse, etc, etc. It was just a BIG shock this morning.

But, we still think we might move over there tonight- we’ll just have to see how it goes. I still think we’ll be in for Saturday. Or at least that is my goal. Yup. That’s about the scope of it here. I still can’t wait to get in there, but this has been a rather trying experience. We had a whole patch in the office/sales side of the new space that started peeling up as we put furniture together on it over the weekend. Apparently the painters spilled some paint thinner, cleaned it up really well, but not quite enough and the floor enamel didn’t stick. That was fixed earlier this week though. And, we still have another trip to Ikea to get a last few things we need and missed last trip, or have realized we need since. Wonderful. Oh well, it will be worth it 1,000 times over in the end.

Adventures in Birthday Cakes

2007-06-15T17:30:00.001-07:00

Today is James’ birthday. Birthdays mean cake, right? Well, here is what his looked like today:

There is a FANTASTIC newish little donut shop just a couple blocks away from us. I think it opened as long as a year ago, but being as we eat donuts about once every 2 years, we haven’t gone yet. BUT, we keep discussing it. So on the way to work this morning I had him make a “secret” stop(which he figured out about an hour before we left home, since he suggested we get espresso this morning, and I said I had another place to stop but I couldn’t tell him where) and he got to pick out a dozen donuts. Don’t they look all pretty in their box? That close up is of one called “death by chocolate” which is a chocolate old-fashioned donut with the normal glaze, and swirls of chocolate on top. They were as tasty as they look, and everyone has been on a sugar high all day because of them. Oh, and by the way, the water marks on top of the box are RAIN from this morning, not drool...

Rocket Donuts is my idea of the perfect business. They have a theme, and they follow it through in every detail. There is a robot statue from a 50’s sci-fi movie in the corner, everything is red and yellow and silver, 50’s crooners sing well loved melodies on the stereo, and there are black and white sci-fi movies playing in the background. I think I am in love.

Anyway, it was a good birthday and there is still more left in the day. Everything is crazy busy in town for WWU’s graduation this weekend. We are going to be closed all day tomorrow, and James, I, and the girls are going over to our new space to wallboard the kitchen and put furniture together. I am hoping to be nearly completely moved in by next Wednesday! Wohoo! And by the way, we are going to keep all of those little ikea allen wrenches and take a picture when we are done with all of the furniture assemblage, just for fun. The joke that keeps getting repeated here? “I bought a comforter at Ikea, and it came with an allen wrench…..”

So it comes to this

2007-06-13T17:35:00.000-07:00

So, you all know by now that we have this super top-secret “new line” coming out, right? And, you all realized that the new line would replace the current line on the site? Yay, so, we decided over the weekend that we really should keep the current line, and ADD the new line. Especially because they are just so different. Which means we will have both lines in the shop, and both online. So, there you have it. News as soon as we know.

Anyway, that means that the crayons and sketchbook are out, as well as the sample squares for new designs. I always enjoy this part, and now I get to do it for twice as many products! I already have 2 new designs made up on samples, and 2 more to try out this evening. I forgot how much I love the design aspect of this business…..

The painters are at the new space today getting it all prepped. They think they will have the floor done by Friday, which means we should be in there assembling furniture all day Saturday. Wohoo! I am tremendously excited.

Design Mind

2007-06-10T14:56:00.000-07:00

Check this out. I am really excited to get mentioned in the same place as all of the other great stuff she puts on here. Check out the lego-like bedroom near the bottom.

I can't take it!

2007-06-08T17:20:00.000-07:00

Ok, so I am so, SO excited to move to our new space, I can barely stand it. The thought of my own design studio upstairs about the same size as our ENTIRE shop currently is killing me. KILLING ME!!! And all the space for the dogs to run around. Ack! And the new sales area. Ack! And all the store windows on the street. And all that Ikea furniture I get to put together. And all the room for the sewing machines. And enough room for all of our back-stock. And a kitchen. And a non-shared bathroom. And no fluorescent lighting. And did I mention that design studio just for me? I can’t wait. No, I actually mean that I am physically incapable of waiting.

Our contractors are finishing up this week. Our painter is coming on Wednesday. And we are ready to go put furniture together next Saturday. In others words, we should be in around the 18-20th of June. We were hoping for the 15th because it is James’ birthday, but, c’est la vie.

Well, at least I have the cutest puppy in the world to play with! And the cutest black pug in the world, too.

Oh, and the website. I went and did one heck of an extensive photo shoot yesterday with our web designer. It should be up and running with the new line the beginning of July.

And did I mention we got written up in the Herald again? It is pretty small, but here we are.

Ok, I think I covered everything. Off to walk to dogs in the park!

Uh Oh

2007-06-07T20:38:00.001-07:00

What have we done?!

This is Lucy. She is 3 months old, and our new family member. That’s right, we’re now a real pug family- 2 pugs, and 2 people. We’re apparently persnickety purse and pug people ( who really like pirates and pizza).

Anyway, Abbey absolutely LOVES Lucy, and Lucy ADORES Abbey. It has been one playful day.

So there you have it. Exactly what we needed, right in the middle of everything else going on right now. At least there’s 3,000 sq ft awaiting our run around pugs in about a week and a half!

It's the little things

2007-06-05T19:34:00.001-07:00

One of my favorite parts of running a business is learning customer’s stories. When I remove myself from the back room where all the designing, businessing, worrying, plotting, planning, executing, and a million other things go on, and just talk to my customers I always remember it is one of the main reasons I do what I do.

For instance we had a woman come in last week who knew her purse was too small because the little flap on it hadn’t shut in years, but didn’t realize until she say a picture of herself at a big event, and couldn’t see anything but the red sheet of paper sticking out of her bulging bag. So she bought on of our hip hoppers, which was just a bit bigger.

Or over the weekend, we had a couple from Orcas island come in with a cutie pie baby in desperate need of a diaper bag, since dad’s pockets were bulging with sun hats, diapers, and other baby accessories. They picked one of our big new bags because it wasn’t so girly dad would be uncomfortable carrying it. Both James and I got to talk to them about living on Orcas Island, a place we just love and would love to move to some day.

Or the woman going to Europe over the summer in need of a great travel bag. Or the customers who already have one of our bags and come back for a second, third (Fourth!), or a gift. Or the customer who has to confirm me she is not a stalker (you know who you are!!!). I just love them all, and appreciate their support so much because it means I can do what I adore.

Still no pictures since the camera isn’t fixed yet. I haven’t had a chance to get to Costco yet, we’ve been so busy. Our newest employee Jamie is starting tomorrow, and we have a full week planned for her first day! I think she will be able to relieve a great deal of stress we’ve been feeling.

And finally, the website launch is tentatively scheduled for July 1st, right about the same time we move to our new location.

What a beautiful Day!

2007-06-02T17:47:00.000-07:00

Wow, it is gloriously sunny, and about 80 F here in bellingham. So, what am I doing? Standing at the cutting table ironing. Of course, no really, that makes complete sense. Oh, and did I mention that I wore long sleeves today? Oh yeah, someone is with it.

James and I went over and assembled our kitchen counter for the kitchen area in our new space today. Our van is absolutely packed, to the ceiling, with ikea furniture. Remember the aforementioned ikea trip that nearly killed us both? I’ll write about that one soon. Anyway, we have a van full of furniture because the contractors and painters want absolutely NO furniture in there until they are done. So, we continued to drive around with if for probably another week and a half. This was the first piece we have put together, and it came out great. It was very exciting. And since there is nothing in about 2,400 sf downstairs, Abbey had a blast running around after her mini chuckit ball. And then licking the drywall dust off the floor.

So I have that Knit.1 picture for you, but my camera is broken at the moment. I should get it fixed in the next couple days, and I’ll post the picture then. I didn’t actually forget.

Alright, back to ironing. I see now that the way to get myself blogging every day is to do something I don’t like, and will want to take a break from. Mental note has been made.

I hope everyone else has the fantastic weather we do, and a chance to enjoy it!

Wohoo!

2007-05-30T17:38:00.000-07:00

Hey, check this out! Etsy

We have a bag on the front, "handpicked" page! Wowza. It has been viewed like 675 time at this point. I had no idea, and logged into etsy for something else, and low and behold. Cool.

Oh, and did I mention we got written up in Vogue's Knit.1 magazine? I will take a picture of that for tomorrow. Neato, national press for Persnickity Design.

Ick!

2007-05-24T16:33:00.000-07:00

Oh man, James and I are both home sick with something truly gross. The shop is closed, I am sorry if we have missed anyone, but I have been sleeping for the last two days.

Apparently Ikea really did nearly kill us. We went Sunday afternoon to get furniture for our new shop, and came down with whatever this is on Tuesday. I'll write more about our Ikea experience later, since it truly was a, unique, experience.

So, hopefully we'll be back in tomorrow, but we are suppose to be closed for Saturday. At this point, all I want is to get out of our apartment which feels stuffy with cold/flu germs, and is covered in kleenex and alka-seltzer cold and flu packets. Ugh.

Pssssst, I have a Secret!

2007-05-17T14:15:00.000-07:00

Guess what......I just signed a lease on our new almost 3,000 square foot location! That's right, we'll have room to grow: we're in about 600 square feet right now. We've been doing negotiations for the last few weeks, and we just got the keys. We'll be in on or before July 1st. It even has about 37 feet of street visible storefront, unlike our current in a building location now.

We're so excited! Now we have to go buy the additional furniture it will take to fill that extra 2400 sf! We're going to do measurements tomorrow, so I'll make sure and snap a few pictures then.

Why is there a dog in the recycle bin?

2007-05-04T16:44:00.000-07:00

Well, I am not entirely sure. My friend stopped in this morning, and Abbey went and hopped in with the paper recycle. Who knows, but it was pretty cute.

Oh dear.

2007-05-03T18:55:00.000-07:00

So, thanks for the support on myspace......I just logged on, and apparently my page has been switched with someone elses. So, that random Malinda on your friend's list- that's me. Right. So, it looks like I live in Sacramento, and have three children. I hope this gets fixed! I am afraid if I send a bulletin (or whatever) to everyone, it will go to all of HER friends, since when I click to view my friends, I get hers. Right.

Maybe this is why I haven't done the whole myspace thing in the first place.

Did you know.......

2007-05-01T17:13:00.000-07:00

Hey guys, we have a myspace page (that I have not updated or done anything to, and only have a few friends)! Go there, and add me to your friends so I feel better!

http://www.myspace.com/persnickitydesign

The internet's back!

2007-04-30T18:16:00.000-07:00

Ok, we have internet again, no thanks to Clearwire. DON'T get clearwire if you're thinking about it for internet. Just don't do it. It has been in and out for several months, we'll just randomly lose connection. You know, like when the dog sits next to it, or someone goes through the lobby. Anyway, we came in on Friday, and the modem wouldn't pick up a signal at all. And no one at Cleawire can explain it. Oh well. They have the WORST customer service too.

Anyway, everything is toodling along here, we're getting our shelves stocked with the new line to get ready for getting it on the internet. Our customers are loving it too, if I haven't already mentioned that. It is just so hard to work on something for months, and not let anyone see. I am loving the reactions they are getting. Alright, off to walk the dog and eat some dinner. Hope you all are having a great monday.

Business Meetings at Persnickity Designs

2007-04-23T12:14:00.000-07:00

The best part of being self-employed

2007-04-19T22:06:00.001-07:00

I took a workshop a while ago in which I picked up a book for artist businesspeople the speaker had written. Within the first few pages was a quote that went along the lines of "the bes part of being self-employeed is deciding which 16 hours of the day you are going to work." That has been my fall back statement since.

It is now 10pm, and I am still at work. Kendall is coming in a night or two a week to work around her other job. Tonight was one of those nights, so I am sitting here writing my official, professional, not chicken scratches business plan. I really don't mind staying late, every once in a while, I work much better at night and there are less distractions. But, at this point, I think everything I am writing is sounding exactly the same. So, I think it is time to go home. Off to redundant business strategy dreams!

Ack!

2007-04-17T17:20:00.000-07:00

So, Alex was taking pictures of bears to list on etsy.com, and managed to take this one of himself. I don't know, you figure it out.

What a workplace.......

Vespa Bag

2007-04-14T13:53:00.000-07:00

How cute is this? I think it came out darling. Our customer ordered a it few weeks ago to match her red vespa. This completed the custom orders I was wanting to do: a rocket and a vespa.

So, other exciting news for today? Our 4th (4th!!) industrial machine is getting dropped off this afternoon. Wow, that is just cool.

Ok, off to do officey, writey, employee manual kind of stuff. No enjoying the beautiful sunny weather until this evening for me.

Who's really in charge here?

2007-04-13T16:15:00.000-07:00

Some days the line between human and dog as boss is very fine….. Right now Abbey is sitting on my lap trying to lick my fingers as I type.

So, we’re here, we’re great, and we’re excited about life. The new line is going over fantastically in the shop. Thank god since I lost a lot of sleep after putting them in the store Wednesday night. Most of the regulars in our building have stopped in already to tell me how much they love it.

It’s nice for me: all of my “top, top, top priorities,” I’m on to my “top, top priorities” and I see my “top priorities” in sight. Big sigh.

And guess what?! We got the product photos for the website done today. So that means the website update is coming in the near future.

Alright, James is distracting me with the Red Hot Chili Peppers making of the Dani California music video. Off to watch that, I mean get to work. Right, work….

Out with the old.....

2007-04-12T16:16:00.000-07:00

Here's the pile of the old line on the way to the etsy.com store:

So, what does that mean? They're here!

The new line is unofficially in the store as of this morning. I will be sending my official mailer out Monday or Tuesday next week, as we are still waiting on some pictures, and other little details to make everything perfect. But, they are in the store, on the shelves, and ready for your shoulders. If you're in town, come on down and check them out.

Wow, we have been working on this since November, and it is finally here. There have been so many ups and downs along the way, I think in many ways I never thought this day would come. Ok, I think I am going to take a nap now.

It’s Wednesday, that’s all I have to say

2007-04-11T15:20:00.000-07:00

Look, three posts in three days. I think that’s a new record.

I have been sewing all day, finishing up a wholesale order that was supposed to be out yesterday. It’s been very nice to sit and chat with Oso, I really enjoy having her here.

Other than that, we are stll working on the new line. Oso’s getting the last size finished, Kendall’s coming tonight from 7-10 to do more sewing, and Alex is getting some mis-cut bags re-cut. James is working on taxes. Wow, what an exciting day. Hmmmm. We are paying state taxes quarterly now because we have employees, plus we have state sales tax. We had an accountant do the federal income taxes, and that is long in the mail and to the IRS, thankfully. I hope everyone else has there done, or at least nearly done!

Well, that’s about all there is to report. Here’s the cute bike display from the front.

I’m off to box up and ship this order!

Ramblings dedicated to You, Our Customers!

2007-04-10T17:33:00.000-07:00

I just thought I would take a day to say Thank You to you, our customers. We couldn’t do what we are without your support. We know you have a lot of choices when it comes to handbags, and everything else for that matter, and it means so much that you choose to support an independent company rather than your local box store. Thank you.

That being said, please Please send us any questions, comments, concerns, or suggestions, any time. You can reach us at rebecca (at) persnickitydesign (dot) com, or james (at)persnickitydesign (dot) com. Of course replace the at's and dots, you know the drill.....

Our new line (which will for sure be on the shelves of the store by Saturday this week!) is full of little things that I altered from our old designs because of suggestions from our customers. We listen to what you have to say, because in the end, all that really counts is what you want. And we don’t know how we’re doing without your input.

I hope you all are having as good of a week as I am. Off to sew some tags!

The Growth of a Small Business

2007-04-09T13:27:00.000-07:00

Look Pa, I'm writing a post, just for you!

But anyway.....

First of all, I want to start with a big sigh. We have been working so ridiculously hard on our business, and it is beginning to fall into line, and start going exactly as we want. We have hired 3 (3!!) employees. Alex, Oso, and Kendall have started helping us out. Alex is doing sales, and cleaning up after James and I, shipping orders, and other odds and ends. Oso is sewing our bags at the shop during most days, and Kendall is coming in and sewing for us a couple nights a week after her other job. It is so nice for me to be able to be working on our business plan, or catalogue, or hangtags, or whatever 1,000 other things need doing, and have Oso or Kendall working away sewing and Alex getting the shop cleaned up for us.

Here's Alex, shipping a bag to a customer:

Here's Oso, smiling because we tried to sneak attack her with the camera:

And, a corner shot of Kendall sewing away:

So, we’re doing great. Like really great. It has been such a good learning experience with this new product run. I am still stressed because it is taking so long, but I think that is just how things go. And, now I know for the future. And, we are getting a warehouse set up, and getting our selves ready to expand.

I just can’t even tell you how cool it is to be in such a quickly growing company. And more than that, to be at the helm and deciding what directions we go. And it is all thanks to the support of our loyal customers. Thank you.

I was at Target (for shame!) yesterday, picking up a pop up dog crate. I didn’t even know they made those things until we saw one there. Oh well. Anyway, when I went to check out, there in the kiddie seat of a shopping cart sat a Persnickity Designs bag. It was pink and mocha with a stitched flower on it. That right there makes this whole thing worthwhile. So, that big sigh at the beginning is one of complete contentment, and just a little bit of tired.

Alright, off to go manage these employees. Everyone is here today, and it is a feeling I can’t describe, going to check on people, and seeing like 5 times as much work getting done as usual. Better go look like I’m working too!

What is going on over there?!!

2007-03-23T17:05:00.000-07:00

Hi Guys!

Alright, so all of our weird awayness, and switchyness, and unreliable date settingness really deserve an explanation. Or several explanations.

I came to the conclusion at the end of last year, realizing I had personally made about 1500 bags in 12 months. That includes making, and selling about as many too. So, I decided I wanted someone else in the future to do the sewing for me so I could focus my time and attention on other things like business plans, and growing my company. Certainly not an unreasonable request! So, we thought about hiring in house sewers, but we realized we didn't have the space or equipment to realize that to it full potential. So, we found a great sewing place in town that does piecework, and started working with them. We have been working with them since January, and they do a great job with sewing, up to even MY standards (wow, that's saying a lot!). But we set a couple "final" dates, as you have probably all noticed, and haven't managed to get everything together- between our business schedule and their business schedule- that James and I decided Tuesday of this week that we really need to take that control back, make do with the space we have, and hire an in-house sewing team. So, that's where we're at right now. We bought a third industrial machine on Wednesday, and James and I are doing the first production run. We have one fabulous sewer hired on, a second one in training, and we are looking for at least one more person with industrial sewing experience.

So, does the absence the last few months make a little more sense? I have been designing an re-designing this new line, restructuring the business itself to have those lovely things like real business plans, a direction for the future, employees, etc.

Really, honestly, I have been loving (almost) every minute of it. And hey, now I have yet ANOTHER fabulous new industrial machine. Alright, off to sew so the next time someone comes in the store and asks when the new line will be out, I can say "I am working on it now!"

More pictures of things like the new sewing machine to follow in the next few days!

Whoa!

2007-03-15T21:24:00.000-07:00

Holy Moley, that pause was even worse than the last one!

I'm back, I'm here! I have been so caught up with the new line, I have been eating, breathing, and sleeping purses. But, not blogging.

Just an update: We are all doing great here. The last three months have been a roller coaster, and we are SO super excited to be presenting the new line in the shop in the next week (about) here. I cannot wait, really. I would say I hope you all like it, but I KNOW you are going to LOVE it! Yea! Come to the party on the 28th, which I feel right now like it will never get here! I don't want to keep the new bags secret anymore!

The sad part of this is I feel like I should have a ton to say, but I am rather at a loss. It is 8:30 pm, and I am still here at the sewing machine getting out an order. So, pretty much everything is still the same.....

We have a new employee! Alex started with us the end of February, so come on in and meet him. Maybe he'll let me take a picture of him for the blog tomorrow.....

Alright, off to finish my dinner, and finish this order. I am sure I'll have more to say as I get more in the swing of this again.

Ciao

It's what time?!!

2007-01-27T16:25:00.000-08:00

How can it possibly be 4:30 in the afternoon? I started about 10:45 this morning working on drafting patterns for the new line (exciting!), and it is now 4:30 in the afternoon and I have gotten 2 done. I still have SIX to go! This doesn't compute does it? I mean the prototype and all of the measuring and fitting together and all that is done. I am just making a pattern that we can set down and cut around. Sounds easy, right? Apparently not. And, I am ready to start hurting people at this point.

Anyway, it is break time now. Funny, generally I need a break to get AWAY from the computer!

On a lighter note, I have a new "hobby" of reading business books. I think it is the only way I can work at home without getting yelled at for not relaxing......Anyway, it has been very interesting, and eye-opening, and informative, so I went on a bit of an amazon.com binge. The final few of my order finally got here today, and I don't know which one to start with. I am so excited. We were going to go to the Seattle Gift Show tomorrow to shop for the shop, and now I think I am going to actually take the day off, stay home, do laundry, and read all day. Sounds perfect.

I hope you all are having a nice relaxing weekend too! I'll certainly be having a better one once these darn patterns are done. grumble. grumble. grumble.

I'm Here!

2007-01-17T12:33:00.000-08:00

Yes, yes. I am still alive. Busy, but alive.

I am sorry for the long absence. Christmas got hectic. Really, really hectic. Then, the week after christmas I got sick. Really, really sick. For like 2 weeks too. Then, I am have been freaking out with this new line, which is way, WAY behind. So, but it is all just excuses really. Oh well.

But what is important is I am here now. Oh, and this bag:

I think this is about the cutest thing I have ever seen, nonetheless made. I love it. I don't want to give it up.

Anyway. All is good here. Really good. We are frantically working on the new line: new photos, new products, new tags, new store design, new business structure, new employees. New, new new! Lots of fun, but crazy busy.

Well, I think that is all for now. I promise I will write more, more often.

Introducing.....

2006-12-21T11:09:00.000-08:00

Here she is! She came with the name Happy. James and I decided if we could find a name that fit better we would go with it, so we were looking on one of the baby names sites yesterday, and when James mentioned Abbey, she came running in from the front and sat next him very alert. staring at him and the computer. So, Abbey it is. She responds to it almost more than Happy. So, welcome Abbey.

She got dropped off yesterday, and had one stressful day. She didn't sleep from noon when she got here, until about 9:30pm. But, then she passed out, and slept right through the scary lightning storm we had at 5am this morning. She has been much more relaxed today, and sitting and cuddling, and napping all morning.

She is a rescue dog, and her foster family was in Auburn. We went to meet her sunday, and totally fell in love with her. It makes me so sad, she is a year and a half, and started in a shelter, was adopted, brought back to a shelter, adopted again, brought back to a shelter again, and then was in foster with Joan and Fred. Now she is with us, and this is where she will stay.

So, there you go. We have been looking for a dog for awhile, and having her come right before christmas is the best gift we could have ever received.

So, now we have a permanent shop dog- come on down and see her if you are in Bellingham!

Christmas is so close, I can't believe it! We have pretty much finished all the custom orders for this year, and are just selling what we have in stock now ( since I would be insane before christmas if I did anymore....). We are looking forward to the week after christmas, since I know y'all will get christmas money, and we are a great place to spend it! We are always super busy the week after christmas, so we are resting now.

All the christmas presents are bought, and wrapped, and we are ready to go. Now we get to sit and read, and relax, and greet last-minute shoppers.

And finally, so everyone knows, we will be closed Christmas (monday the 25th) and the day after (Tuesday the 26th), and open normal hours again Wednesday the 27th, from 11-6pm.

Just a quick note!

2006-12-20T18:23:00.000-08:00

Hi All! Just a speedy note to let everyone know we have a new employee- she is about 18 pounds, a foot and a half high, and a tail that wont stop wagging. But, the digital camera batteries are dead, so I will keep y'all guessing until tomorrow!

'Tis the Season

2006-12-15T13:38:00.000-08:00

You're not seeing things....That is a six foot five man standing next to a six foot five stack of boxes. And that was just yesterday! Phew, what a week! I just got finally caught up on the custom orders this morning, so I have even more boxes going out today. I figured that as I set those last snaps, topstitched those last bags, and set the final strap, I would come out to the computer and have another order. I think I am glad that that wasn't the case.....

I would say it's been great, and we get to relax this week, but as internet sales have slowed down, our shop sales are exploding. I think the whole week will be like that. And the week after christmas has been historically our busiest week of the year. Then January we can breath, right? Nope, time to get the new line out! I need a nap.

It hasn't just been busy on the internet either, here's our special order pickup coat tree in the shop:

It has been so full it is about ready to tip over!

Everyday I keep thinking, "oh it will slow down today, and I will work on bears." But no, just bags for now. This afternoon though is all bear time. I have managed to get many done anyway:

And here is my new display in the shop window:

James told me I was crazy to put up a christmas tree a week and a half before christmas, but then told me how darling it looks. Some people just don't have the vision...............

So I have a laundry basket full of bear sweaters that just need to be cut and sewn. Now, if I could just get my christmas shopping done, we'll be set!

A likely prediction of cute for christmas

2006-12-12T12:58:00.000-08:00

So, I am suppose to be sewing bags, but this pile of bear scraps has been calling to me for a long time. And, James is doing all the cutting of vinyl, so I have to wait until he's done to get started on bags, right?

I have a bunch of perfectly good pieces of sweater that aren't big enough for my bears, so voila:

Are these little guys cute?! I just had to show them off. I put the original-sized (green) one in to show the small sizes. I don't even have their faces on yet, or closed bodies, or proper ribbon, and I am already in love...... Come get them at I Heart Rummage on Sunday. The littlest one would be a perfect stocking stuffer.....

Alright, off to make the ENTIRE pile of scraps into little cutie pies!

Oh, and in my bear excitement I totally forgot: check these out:

Here

And Here (right in the middle of this one!)

What day is it?

2006-12-11T16:49:00.000-08:00

Holy cow, what a month. We are SO busy. We had a dolly full like this friday too. The orders are coming in like mad on the internet, I am still trying to keep up with ones from the shop and sales, and I am trying to restock the store and allied arts. And make more bears, they're selling too, and I made a goal to bring some to sell at I heart rummage this sunday.

Here's our christmas display in part of the shop:

I guess that is the first picture of the shop. Wow, and we've been in here almost a month. It has just been so busy......

I got tons of sweaters for bear materials today, I think I'll wash them all this evening, and then get stitching. I finished ten over the weekend. I just wasn't feeling excited about them for awhile, but when I got started, it went really fast. I really love doing them, such a nice change of pace from the bags. But, I have bag orders coming out my ears, so I should probably focus on them for now.

Alright, off to organize the order slips into need to be done soonest. I had to buy more clipboards today to hold all the orders! I think I might try and take a nice relaxing bath this evening......

Darn you Christmas!

2006-12-07T18:45:00.000-08:00

I am swamped with custom orders right now, lots of people ordering lovely gifts for their loved ones. And there are some really, really cute bags coming out. BUT, I don't feel like I can post any pictures on here because then someone might see their christmas present early......darn christmas! So, I think I will take a few pictures now, and post them all the week after christmas so you all can see them.

So, life is hectic around here- gallery walk in bellingham tomorrow, as well as the home sale with Three Stars Inc jewelry in monroe. Saturday we have more monroe homesale plus project bham in the evening. Sunday I am selling at the tractor tavern in Ballard holiday sale. And, standing on concrete for 4-5 hours last night at crave has thrown my back out and I have been gimping around all day. Lovely.

Apparrently I messed up on my mailer- the address is 18387 LongmirE street, not longmira like I wrote. Duh. Sorry Brandy! So google map Longmire, not longmira.

Alright! Off to pick up a chair, return movies, go to joann's for bear button eyes, office max for boxes, and costco for snackies for the gallery walk and project bham (and pizza for a quick dinner tonight =)!). And then maybe a nice hot bath for my back. I hope to see you all in Monroe or Bellingham this weekend!

December, Already?!

2006-12-05T23:12:00.000-08:00

Holy cow, where is this year going?! I haven't posted in weeks. It has been so super busy around the persnickity designs shop.

We did urban craft uprising over the weekend. Tomorrow we have the Crave Party from 5-9 pm at the Fremont Studios. Friday I am doing a sale in Monroe with Three Stars In Jewelry, from 5-9pm, and again on Saturday from 11-6pm. Saturday night in the shop we are participating in the next installment of Project Bham- Haute for the Holidays. We will have appetizers, and a special event discount. Sunday, we are at the Tractor Tavern Sale. And that's just this week!

We are all set up in the new shop, and we love it. We were without internet for the first week and a half, part of why there have been no posts....

I am working on more bears- I got a particularly cute black and white sweater, that has made some super cuties. They are sitting on the couch across from me, mostly without eyes or noses(actually rather creepy).

That's about all there is to report here. We are doing tons of sales, so make sure to come check us out somewhere! We will be closed tomorrow, as we are both going to crave. I am really looking forward to this one.

Gosh, talk about overtime! I am still working at 11:30 at night. Oh well, I must be self-employed!

More pictures of the new shop later! Hope your december is going well!

The first photos....

2006-11-18T17:49:00.000-08:00

We are super excited for our move, and have taken some lovely pictures before we paint and get set up.

Here's the front:

Here's the store area:

Here's the Office Area:

And the big back workroom:

So, we get painted Tuesday, and we move wednesday. I can't wait! And I get to put of the christmas decorations as soon as we get in there.

On a completely different topic, what is it about Starbucks that puts me in the mood for the holidays? We were at Costco Thursday morning, but got there about 15 minutes before they opened. So, since there is a starbucks not more than 100 feet from costco, we went to get a coffee. When I stepped in to the store, I immediately got super excited for the holidays. And there Christmas decorations this year are absolutely DARLING! The little silhouettes in the windows, and the trees of them- oh goodness, I am swooning. And of course, due to there guerilla marketing tactics, I want one of their christmas cds. Oh dear. I wish the Starbucks marketing team was working for PD.

I am currently watching James strap a 4 foot wide shelf to a dolly to move down the hall. This certainly looks dangerous. I think I better go help.

Ciao!

The holidays are upon us!

2006-11-17T14:26:00.000-08:00

Holy cow- how is it halloween seems so far away from thanksgiving and christmas, and then November 5th hits, and I freak out that I am not ready for the season? I had such a crazy couple of months last year, I am still not fully recovered from them. I guess I just want to be on top of things, and super prepared so I don't have to work 18 hour days like last year......

We are on the move again. We will be moving our shop to a new, slightly bigger location. And, it is the best kind of move, three doors down...... So the schedule is the space will be painted on tuesday, and we will move in wednesday, and be all put together and decorated for christmas for the day after thanksgiving. Right. We'll just have to see about that.

I can't believe it has been a week since my last post. It has been another crazy week- we did some business meetings in Seattle on monday, had a crazy storm on wednesday and thought the power would go out all day, set up 2 displays at allied arts yesterday, been making samples for the new line today, filling lots of christmas internet orders, doing lots of custom orders, and sleeping somewhere in the middle.

Alright, off to make more samples, and bears since my display looked a little sparse yesterday....

How long has it been?!

2006-11-10T17:35:00.000-08:00

Hello! Hello!

Oh man, I can't believe this week has come and gone already! The Christmas season will do that to a small business.

Thread was Sunday, and we met some really great people, and made some excellent connections. I was interviewed for "Biz Kids" on PBS. But, I don't think it airs until next December. But cool beans, I think I'll be on national tv!

Life in the studio has been busy. We are stocking up for Christmas, I am working on the spring line, and we are establishing a business plan to decide where we want to take this business. Well, when I write it down, it makes sense why I haven't posted in awhile!

So the new line, it is very exciting. It is pretty difference from now, and the only sneak peak I'll give you is this:

There is nothing on this planet that makes me happier than a bag of buttons. Well, maybe a couple things, but not much.

So, funny story. We use these long plexiglass rulers to cut straight lines and stuff. They are great, great tools, and lots of quilters use them to cut blocks and stuff. This is what they look like:

James and I were getting ready for Thread on Saturday ( the day we worked to about 1 in the morning which we haven't done in months) and he waved this ruler at me because I was being a smart ass. I looked up in the window in front of my sewing machine, and noticed his mouth open and eyes wide behind me. When I turned around, the ruler was in two pieces on the table. I have had that particular ruler for about 2 and a half years, and others for longer, and never seen any of them break. Well, this one broke, and James freaked out. It really wasn't a big deal, and we had a good laugh about it. Strangest thing, breaking like that. Anyway, I was joking with him later and whapped him on the arm with one of the broken pieces. Guess what, ruler broke again! How weird, two times in one day. So, this is what it looked like by Saturday evening:

Oh well, we had some good hysterical laughter, that we totally needed.

Ok, off to grocery shopping and dinner! Have a lovely evening! Find out more about our future plans in the next coming posts!

It's not really fair.....

2006-11-01T21:38:00.000-08:00

So, why do I get mad when I go to the 3 or 4 people's blogs I read daily and get upset when they haven't posted anything that day. And yet, I certainly don't post everyday myself. Not really fair, more like blog karma...

We got about 25 bags done today since we are doing Thread on sunday ( check them out here). Should be pretty fun, we certainly are looking forward to it! Seems like 25 is a lot, but not when they were suppose to be finished yesterday!

Wow, what is this magical thing we call itunes? Amazing, I click what music I want, and then there it is on my computer. And then even better, it puts a picture on my ipod. And since you just put in your credit card info, it feels free. Wow. I never even knew how cool that could be.

I have a rant today. I think it is so funny, since I do happen to work in the "fashion" industry, I have been buying a few key magazine to keep "up-to-date" (snort) on fashion. Everywhere I see these HUGE bags are in, and yet it seems like my small bag sales keep going up. People who buy bags from me always want them smaller. Oh well, I guess Bellingham isn't the fashion capital of the world for a reason!

Ok, back to obsessing over anthropologie. I know I said I don't find much when shopping, or even really like shopping, but I do obsess over them and their look. I could easily dress myself and my home in one store... please buy more bags so I can afford to do so!

Happy Halloween!

2006-10-31T14:49:00.000-08:00

I really wasn't that excited for halloween this year, though I never really am. I am however excited for christmas already...

We are here at the shop, waiting for the downtown business trick-or-treating to begin in about 15 minutes. I love handing candy to smidglings!

It has been a few days. First of all, you MUST go to Inside Out in Snohomish. I love it there, and everything in there. I hardly go shopping, and when I do I seldom find anything I want. Not at inside out! I loved everything in there! Check them out online too: einsideout.com And no, Allison didn't pay me to do this! She is wonderful too. A total sweetheart, who I had a lovely evening with.

Saturday was a two dog day:

Simon AND Dandy were here, and got along quite swimmingly. They just kind of slept, like both of them do.... Dandy is now home, she went back on Sunday. We really miss her, and now I just have to convince James we should get our own dog.

A happy discovery was made on Saturday:

The passenger and passenger minis fit ipods, of any size! Yeah! I mean, yes, I planned it that way...

Today we sent out two big wholesale orders to Children's Hospital in Seattle and the UW Bookstore

So exciting! And, I finished this special order to be picked up today.

I have had many requests for black and brown together, and finally someone actually special ordered one. I think it came out really cute. And, someone also finally special ordered a paw print on a bag, I have probably had 57 people ask, and finally I had one ordered.

Well, that was a picturey, wordy post. I have been trying to sit down the last few days, and just haven't made it. With all this, I will leave you with one final picture, just for fun

Oh Comments, how I love thee!

2006-10-27T14:52:00.000-07:00

After posting my last blog, I decided to look over past entries, and noticed I had some COMMENTS!! I was so excited. I love them, it makes me feel loved! I always read other blogs, and they get comments, and I feel left out. But not anymore! Thanks.

Today has been sort of productive....I got about 5 bags done that I was out of stock on (that red and white knitter has been super popular!), and a special order done. And, we are off to that trunk show in about an hour- so I have to get packing for that. Dandy has been helpful too, I call this one "Dog in Thread."

Remember that concert I talked about right around a month ago? Well, I have been wanting the cd ever since, but seeing as our constant paycheck from James' work is now gone, we have been really trying to save money and not spend on anything unnecessary. Well, I finally broke down and went looking for it wednesday. To my dismay, no one in town had it, but one shop said they'd order it for me. I just got the call that it is in, so I know what we will be listening to on the way to Snohomish!

And on a rather strange note, can you want something you sell? I mean, I look through the anthroplogie catalogue, and covet many (MANY) things in there, but what if you sell things yourself? Can you covet one of your own products? I am in love with my red and white knitter, and really want one for myself (especially to go with those cute red shoes I have...) but I feel like I can't just take something off the overstock shelves and keep it for myself. Maybe I'll ask for it for Christmas......

Have a wonderful friday, and come see us at the trunk show tonight!

Exciting Times!

2006-10-25T17:58:00.000-07:00

First of all, we have a visitor this week:

This is Dandy, and you'll get to see her if you come into the shop this week. She is sitting on my lap as I type.... We are dog sitting for my in-laws this week, and loving every minute of it! She is the perfect shop dog, and after some confusion yesterday, now just sits and sleeps all day.

Second, we have a new employee:

James is calling it "Pfaffy." We got it from a friend who makes clothes, and uses a pretty much only sergers and had this machine just taking up space in her studio. Check her amazing stuff out here: Texture I am so excited to have a second machine, and the other one is working again, at least for now.

I tried really, really hard to get tons done today because we are doing a trunk show in Snohomish this friday. It is at Inside Out. Their address is 115 Avenue A Snohomish, WA 98290, phone (360) 563-0767. It starts at 6pm. Here is what I started doing when I got here this morning:

And here is how it ended....

A pile of appliques glued down. Right, and that took me 6 hours today? Oh well. I did manage to get this up:

They are design boards with the spring line ideas all over them. I am changing everything up thoroughly for spring, how very exciting, but more on that later. I put cork boards above the computer so I can stare at them while I work. It is nice to spread my ideas all over the wall.

Off to dinner! Hopefully I'll be able to get my butt in gear and come back to the studio later and work a bit more.....

Friday, oh Friday!

2006-10-20T17:47:00.000-07:00

Hello All!

Friday has been a rather interesting day here at PD, we a have a sewing machine in pieces, a stack of vinyl ready to sew, and a bad attitude. Well, that last one isn't really true. We are still in a pretty good mood, and figure that the sewing machine will get fixed soon enough. We always take those unexpected breaks as they come, and really sit back and enjoy them while they last.

So the sewing machine. It was having problems about 2-3 days before bumbershoot too. The handwheel went flying off while sewing ( and yes, I always have the oddest sewing machine problems no one else has even heard of. Exploding bobbins- look no further...). But, james mr super-fix-it managed to get it to work until now. However, today, it decided it was done. Maybe it heard we were in the process of ordering a second one and got mad. Who knows.

Otherwise, we got lots of internet research done. This has been the main progress all week. We have a pile of wholesale packets just waiting to be put in the mail as well. That is pretty exciting- they are going as far away as California and Kentucky, and Rhode Island. I love sending bags around the country, it is also so exciting to think of people in other states seeing them and using them.

Oh dear, I said I would have pictures today and I don't. Did you look on etsy though? There are halloween bears listed in the Mon Cher Ami Shop. I am pretty excited about them. I think I'll list a couple more before I leave too! Yay! So the pictures I promised exist, they are just on a different page.

Have a good evening, and remember to come to Project BHam tomorrow!

2006-10-18T17:08:00.000-07:00

Hello Wednesday!

Oh goodness, yet another computer work day. Yawn, the only thing keeping me awake is the thought of Project Runway this evening. Yes, I am hooked. Yes, we don't watch tv except for this show. Yes, I am probably one of 100,000,000 people blogging about it tonight. Oh well, we all have our guilty pleasures.

I think we will be back to the more picture-filled bloggings tomorrow, as while I type, James is cutting like crazy. We have a big list of things to get done, since christmas is approaching rapidly!

So, why, you ask, are those bears $36? Let me tell you! I worked on bears last night, while watching movies. I went through RV with Robin Williams (which I don't know how it was reviewed in the theatres, but we laughed until we cried), Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure (hey, it was 99 cent day, and I'd never seen it), and The Muppet Movie ( one of my favorites), and only got 9 bears done. They were all sewn, and just needed faces, and it took me how long?!! A couple of them I had to do the nose 3-4 times before I was happy with it. So now you know why they are $36, I am a perfectionist.

The funniest thing all week in the shop was the lady who came in yesterday, and proudly announced, "Oh, you are going to be the next Kate Spode!" Yes, Kate Spode. The infamous designer. Oh dear, how funny! James suggested she might be canadian?

Happy Wednesday, and may the best designer win! Carry on.

2006-10-17T18:02:00.000-07:00

I hope your Tuesday was as productive as mine!

I have been doing all administrative work today. How boring. It certainly doesn't make for exciting pictures! It really wasn't a very good day this morning- I am completely disorganized (which drives me bonkers), and couldn't find anything I was looking for. But, after coffee this afternoon, everything perked up, if you will. We did have about twice as much foot traffic today because we moved our sandwich board sign to a new location. That kept me on my toes all day, and the door bell continually ringing.

We got our wholesale packet postcards about 3 days earlier than we were planning. That is good, but nothing else for the packets is ready yet! So, we quickly got those out to the printers today. You darling boutiques watch out! They'll be headed your way soon.....

Well, that is about all there is to report here- I told you, very boring. Off to 99 cent day at the video store- I'll be working on bears to the wee hours tonight!

2006-10-14T14:23:00.000-07:00

Yeah!

I just added the first bears to the Etsy Shop! I am most excited. They are even dressed up in halloween costumes. Oh, I am just too cute for myself sometimes.....

I redid the halloweenie table in the front, it looks perfect now!

Today, I have done lots, and lots of internet research. Amazingly enough, I generally feel like I got nothing accomplished when I do that, but today I feel empowered! I was looking at some marketing outlets, and some magazines and blog submission things.

We are now going to be closed on mondays- something strange for me since I wrote earlier about being closed Sunday is odd. Wow, 2 days off a week? But, I will be running not-in-shop business errands, so I will probably still be working.... But hey, I can say I am sane, and take 2 days off a week!

Happy saturday, sunday, and monday, since I wont be back until tuesday!

UPDATE: Are you missing some of our spring and summer designs, suddenly gone from the site? Check out our Other Etsy Shop
We just listed some one, and few-of-a-kinds, and leftovers from the spring line there.

2006-10-13T17:28:00.000-07:00

Hullo!

I certainly haven't been getting many purses made this week- having James here has way sped up the process! So, I have been working on bears instead-which I thought was a bit of a waste of time until I found out today I got excepted to Allied Arts Holiday festival with the bears. I was already in with the bags, but now the bears too! Yay! So, production has begun in a big way with them- here are pieces lined up on the sewing machine

And some without faces

And, this morning, I got in halloween mode, and started decorating the shop, and giving bears halloween costumes

And yesterday, James was sent on a mission to take some fun bear photos for some new projects, and my etsy store. Here is one I thought was pretty cute

He was getting some pretty odd looks in the building, since he is 6'5", and carrying around bears and sticking them in the bushes, and taking pictures of them. But, you know, when he gets a camera in his hand, he is kind of cheesy

Ah, self portrait!

Otherwise, we put a bell in the shop on the door today, so we know when people come in. We are always in the back, and I think we miss some customers because they are quiet, and it is hard to see out. It was on the fritz earlier, and freaked some poor girl out. It just kept dinging, everywhere she went in the shop.

Also, I have finally found die cuts for my appliques. I hand cut each one right now, and the Jolly rogers take me FOREVER. So, today we did some research, and found the perfect machine. We are just waiting to get quotes on custom dies.

Today was the first really, truly, fall like day yet here. It was was completely foggy and chilly, and the fall color was beautiful on the way down here this morning. Having the shop, I am feeling more excitement for the halloween holiday, and fall in general, and christmas. I already have my theme planned for christmas, how embarrassing! I can't believe it is almost november though, so it really isn't that early. And, I haven't actually bought any decorations yet.....

2006-10-10T17:27:00.000-07:00

Oh Tuesday

Well, today wasn't very productive. I made a doll. It is cute, but it isn't a bag. I probably should have been sewing bags, but oh well.

James is full time, as mentioned, and helping out a great deal. Yesterday we finished up a bunch of custom orders, and it took half the time it should have because he was sewing linings and such. Ah, it is so nice to have a helper.

I now have the bears officially in the shop:

James helped me make jewelry tags for some jewelry I made for the shop. They came out great, and I am very excited to have a bit of matchy-matchy jewelry and bags going on in the shop. Yes, I am hopeless, and love matchy-matchy.....

Wont these be perfect with that little Hopper Mini Cherry?!

Well, off to finish that doll. I am never happy if I am not doing something!

2006-10-08T16:20:00.000-07:00

Working on Sunday?!!

In the last year of Persnickity Designs, life has been hectic. I mean, I worked at least 12 hour days, generally more, and never take a day off. The most I have had have been some half days off. So, when I opened the shop, I decided it was time to make a change.

Sundays are officially my day off, yet today I find myself in the studio, typing and working. Oh dear. I actually just came to drop off the stuff from the not-so-hot fashion show last night so I can ride my bike down tomorrow and not pay for parking, and find myself updating the site, vacuuming, and e-mailing. Sigh. C'est le vie.

Since I haven't written in a couple days, I thought I would check in. James is now officially full-time with me, and everything seems to be headed in a postive direction. But, more on that later.

Happy Sunday!

2006-10-05T15:39:00.000-07:00

What a day!

Shortly after my last post, I was doing one of my 65,000 daily laps around my cutting table, when all of a sudden: SNAP! And I can't see straight! I managed to catch my pinky toe on the leg of a stool. So, my toe went one way, and my foot went the other, and now I have a broken toe. I can't believe how much it hurts. So, here I am, limping around my studio! How fun.

Anyway. I have been productive, even though my toe has made me cranky, and my website has made me cranky. I am obviously not as amazing as my web designer, and am working on the challenge that is updating my site.

I did manage to get sewing some bags this morning to get ready for the trunk show. I even have proof:

And, I have managed to build a pretty good stack that just need topstitching:

And what is that in the front, you ask? A stack of old clothes? Why yes. I have started a new project: Sweater Bears. I am ready to admit to the world that I am making little stuffed toys from recycled sweaters. Some are acrylic, some are cotton, come are even cashmere. They just feel so unsophisticated next to the purses, but gosh they are cute!

The one on the left is Thomas, and the one on the right Amelia. Yes, they do all have names, and little tags that say what they like and what they don't. They'll soon be available in the shop, or I am starting an etsy.com store with them. Here they are in full view:

So, the moral of today is: "When the going gets tough, the tough make bears."

2006-10-03T15:15:00.000-07:00

Someone shoot me now

My web designer is still piled with work, and ended up not having enough time for my site updates. So I am doing it myself. Brilliant idea..........

It is not that it is not going together right( not that I have uploaded and tried anything out yet). It is just that it takes so much darn time! Oh my goodness, I have been working on it non stop since 10am this morning, and I am probably only half done. UGH!!!!

Well, it appears to have been awhile since I last posted. Saturday was rather hectic. I ran some errands while James held down the shop. Then I went and got my hair cut, which took twice as long as I thought it would. But, it looks awesome. We went to the Andrew Bird concert at the Nightlight in Bellingham, and it was a pretty good show. I saw a friend of mine I hadn't seen in awhile, which was good. I really want the Andrew Bird CD now.

Yesterday was pretty uneventful. Myra was helping me out, and we talked about project runway for half the day. I never think I have enough for her to do before she comes, and then I keep her busy all day, and have more for her to do when she leaves. Oh well!

James slept through his alarms this morning. This has never happened. He has to be at work at 7am, and I woke up at 8am and he was still sleeping away. But, what are you going to do- he only has 3 days left there anyway!

Well, I guess I better get back to the site. Or maybe I'll go sew. It is definitely a rare day when I sew to avoid doing something else!

2006-09-29T18:11:00.000-07:00

What a fantastic day!

I started in our new apartment which I love, and have only been there overnight. I have a HUGE closet! I have always lived in old houses that barely even have closets, and now I have a giant one all to myself!

After that I had a sale right off at the shop, and got some work done, and then my dog Simon came and played shop dog.

Here he is, watching the front!

As I was waiting for my dog to show up I had a lady come in who wanted a bag for each of her three daughters. Then she decided she needed one for herself as well, and bought 4 in total. I love it when people buy in multiples! As I was ringing her up, my dog and mom came, and I got to hang out with my mom for a bit. Then, some friends from Tacoma appeared in the shop. One of my most favorite people in the whole world, her boyfriend, and her good friend/roommate stopped by because they are in town for a concert tomorrow. James and I are going too, and I am excited. The guy is called Andrew Bird, and I love what I have heard so far.

Lets see, lets see, what else?! It has been so good I have forgotten half of it because each event gets bumped out by an even better one! I am doing Project B'ham in october, and Seattle Fashion Week is next week. I am going to "accessorize a designer" for the runway show, and sell at the trunk sale next saturday October 7th. Here's their site: http://www.seattlefashionindustry.com/

I finished a custom order for a customer who is going to a Train concert this week. She wanted the crown like on their albums. I am pretty excited about it!

And, if you look at the cover art, I think I did a pretty good job!

And, I decided when I did the Allied Arts Holiday Fest here in Bellingham last year that you could get all of your christmas shopping done there (like I did!) except for kids. There were no handmade toys. So, I have since started making bears out of recycled sweaters, like cashmere. But alas, I thought I was too late to get them into the fest this year. Today I found out they are doing a second screening, so I am totally jurying in my bears next weekend! Yay!

And finally, since this is all I can remember, and this is long enough already: James had offered to stay on part-time at work if they hadn't found a new person by the time his last day rolled around. I was fine with it, since we would get a little extra guaranteed money, but wished we would get on the same schedule sooner. Today his boss told him that he had done everything he was suppose to, and didn't need to do that! Yay! He's full-time with me as of Oct 7th!

Oh and one more thing- my web designer had said she didn't have enough time to update my site for fall since she is so amazing she is super busy. Today she said she would do what she could this weekend! Now I don't have to screw anything up on there! Wohoo! I think she is going to get a special present from me......

Happy Friday!

2006-09-28T14:50:00.000-07:00

Oh dear.

What is so very exciting about taking pictures of what I am doing and posting them on the internet for the entire world to see?

Since I had to run out and get keys for our new apartment yesterday before I could post, I am going to do it today.

I had my normal 2 pm americano pick-me-up yesterday as I started to set snaps:

Thank goodness for thermos! I love you Black Drop Coffeehouse, but $2 a day on Americanos adds up fast- especially when you have an espresso machine at home.

There is something terribly entertaining when the straps stand up on their own:

On to today. I got to the shop this morning, and needed to move our couch out to put in the aforementioned new apartment. Since it was just in storage while we were housesitting this summer, we decided it might as well be put to use somewhere. And we are getting a second industrial sewing machine in the next few weeks, and I got a new display piece for the store and was moving things out there, so I decided it was time to make the studio more functional. Apparently this meant moving every single item in the workspace of the shop at least 3" in one direction or another, if not completely across the room. Who knew?

But, now I don't want to do anything so I am just cruising around the internet. I can't believe it is only 3 pm. Oh goodness.

2006-09-26T17:47:00.000-07:00

Few! What a day! Here's how I started this morning:

And then, halfway through the day:

And then, come six o'clock:

Now, most of them just need snaps! After I get them all done they are going out in the front and the fall line will be officially for sale in the shop.

Myra, my current helper, is absolutely amazing! She at least doubled my productivity today. And, not only that, but she is hysterical, and we laughed the way through all those bags. But, she is moving to L.A. here in a couple weeks. I will miss her horribly....

James is putting in his final couple weeks at work, so he is not working with me yet. Of course he comes in the evenings, and runs errands, and is all around fabulous, and basically works full-time at the studio. But, it will be nice as Myra goes to still have company.

So, off to home to make tags for all the new lovely things I am putting in the shop, and buy a new display for the front.....

2006-09-23T14:43:00.000-07:00

Hello!

I have been looking forward this whole blog thing, and reading other people's and getting inspired....

Here is the first picture of the new shop:

I am working on some non-bag items to be selling as well, but everything "in store" is made by me. If you are in Bellingham, come to the shop towards the end of the week.

Today is applique day. I am doing a huge stack so that I can be caught up and ready to wholesale and for christmas. It seems rather overwhelming though, and I am stalling by typing.......

James officially has 10 more days of work, and then he will be here full-time. We are so excited, it seems like he gave notice 2 months ago and it has only been a week!

We are moving this week, so I will be closed Monday 10/2.

That's all for now, off to sew appliques!

Lets try this again

2006-08-02T12:03:00.000-07:00

Ok. I know I keep trying to get a blog started and keep up with it, but it hasn't happened in the past.....

So, lots of stuff is going on right now. I just moved my studio out of my living room into a real space. And since I was doing that, I decided to add a small storefront as well. I tell you, getting this business out of my home was the best decision I have made in a long time....

I did the 6th street fair this last weekend in Bellevue. It runs in conjunction with Bellevue arts. It was not so good. We got put in the back corner and got almost no foot traffic. The producers were very unwilling to help either. The weekend left me rather cranky.

But, I did manage to get over to Bellevue arts, and am starting work on a new, more professional display before Bumbershoot. And I traded for some beautiful jewelry from www.floraandfawn.com and some fused class jewelry as well.

Anyway, I am re-evaluating the line, and getting it way more cohesive. I realize when people spend up to 45 minutes deciding on a bag, that I have too many options. So, I have listed a couple bags on ebay at a discount, and am starting to bring the line down to a reasonable number of options. BUT, if you do like all those options, don't forget I am happy to do custom orders!

Well, back to wallet prototypes!