A few things...

Just a quickie today.  Working on a few new designs with the patterns to go with, yay!  I'm excited to see how well they are received, one is for a handheld clutch and one is for a market bag... I'll keep you posted on the progress.

Here is a recent custom order that I did.  The fabric is from KOKKA Japan and I bought it a few years ago and had been hoarding it... a side effect of being fabric obsessed.... ;-)  Anyway, it made an awesome one-of-a-kind bag:

I also came across and read a great interview today at SewMamaSew! about one of my fav crafty people, Lisa Lam.

 I am so hugely inspired by Lisa Lam, author/owner of U-handblog and U-handbag.  Her's was one of the first blogs I stumbled upon when my bag-making addiction first set in (3 years ago!).  Although she is across the big pond from us, in the UK, I continue to learn so much through her blog (and also her book, The Bag Making Bible.)  She is so super nice and helpful through U-Handbag's Fb page and everything... Needless to say, I thoroughly enjoyed this interview!!

Hope you all have a great week!

XxOo,

Me

Just me today.

No prizes or new items today... this week has been a much needed catch-up for me.  I've had to really step back and take a look at the big picture here lately.  I've always been one to get ahead of myself mentally then I have a bit of a let down when I over achieve and time doesnt move fast enough... or maybe its that it doesn't move slow enough, haha.

Nothing negative business wise, thank goodness.  I'm still on track with my plans for the spring, and have made notes for the year, but Spring is all I'm working towards at the moment along with orders, of course!  Its easy to think ahead and dream, which I do a lot of.  I know where I want to go and I'm working on getting there, but I have to remind myself that its going to be a journey.  I will learn and grow and learn some more on the way, it's not going to happen tomorrow... and if it did, that would probably be pretty lame anyways b/c then I'd have no good stories to tell later down the road.... thats what I'm telling myself.

As I said, this week was a catch-up week... in other words, I organized the crap outta my house!  I cleaned my 2yr old's room and tossed a lot of junk that her older sister, my 7yr old, "passed down" when she cleaned her own room; organized my kitchen cupboards, my bathroom cabinets, my linen closet and semi-tidied my sewing room. Whew!  I've also started a new pilates/yoga routine for the new year (I can currently feel every muscle in my body, especially when I breathe or move in any way, ouch.) and I started designing a new clutch/purse with a pattern to boot. Whew!  I also went and had my taxes done today... what fun. (I wish you could hear the Daria-esque tone I said that in.)

The weather has been super cruddy here as well, what is the deal!? Between all of the snow days, holidays, two-hour delays and teacher work days, my 7-year-old has been to school a total of 10days since starting back from winter break... seriously.  Although, I guess cruddy weather is what kept me busy inside, must have been in mother-nature's plan... "rain and they will clean", she said... at least thats what I heard.

This is my Boston Terrier's answer to cruddy weather:

Yep, she hunkers down between two large floor pillows (courtesy of me.. see I can sew more than handbags.) and sleeps the days away... lucky gal.
So, thats it, just me today.

See you soon!

XxOo,
~Melissa

And she's off...

Firstly, The number of FB "likes" and website hits had grown so much in this new year and I can't begin to thank everyone enough!  I promise to make it worth your while with super cute handmade-ness to make your days SoChick!

...I [heart] you!...

So, the week started with a snow day on Monday, and a two-hour delay on Tuesday AND Wednesday... but I really kicked into gear on Thursday and Friday making up some cute little extras to list on the site.

I started by making a fab half apron and will be making another this coming week.  Aprons are a fun little diversion from bags and accessories, although it's still an accessory...  I mean, a gal's gotta be fashionable while she's cookin', right?!  Every time I'm cooking in the kitchen I get something on my clothes, without fail... so I'm making one for myself as well!

I just LOVE the retro feel of this fabric and style!

*This apron is for sale at www.sochickhandbags.com under "Extras"

I also sent out a custom tote earlier in the week: 

This tote can also be customized as a diaper bag by adding more interior pockets.. and how cute would it be with baby's name across the band?! Very. ;-)

And finally, I put this up on my personal FB page and had a lot of positive feedback (Wow, thanks everyone!), so I made up one for the site, although, not in this super cute tattoo fabric... I WILL make more tattoo'd Boxies. 

This one was a prototype as I worked on the pattern, I made a few adjustments to better the style and put that one on the site.

 Of course, I typically do have quite a few prototypes of things that I make, so that got me thinking... I just might have to sell my "slightly-offs" or I'll be overrun by them!!  Look for some way cheap "slightly-offs" on the site in the weeks to come!

I hope you all enjoy your Sunday and MLK Jr. Day tomorrow.  I swear, my oldest has hardly been to school since winter break with all the snow days, 2-hour delays and now a holiday, whaaaat?! It's what being a kid is all about, i guess, ha.

As always, I love to hear your thoughts and/or suggestions, I LOVE feedback, feel free to leave a comment!

XxOo,
~Melissa

And the Winner is...

Okay, so all the names went onto sticky notes and were stuck closed and tossed into the hat, Trista shook the hat and picked our winner ( This is a very scientific winner picking method by the way.)... And the Winner of the Springy Tea Wallet is:

Kerry S., via facebook "like".

YAY!  Kerry, just shoot me an e-mail melissa@sochickhandbags.com with your info on where I should send your sweet little tea wallet!

Thanks to all that commented and "liked"!!  Keep an eye out for some new products on the site next week!!!

XxOo ~Melissa

It's Give-Away Time! (Week1)

Wow, already through the first week of 2011!? Looks like it'll be a busy weekend in my house since my oldest has a weekend full of Girl Scouting and such.  I've been working on some custom orders this week which have turned out grand and I will post pictures with next weeks blog. :-)

Now, on with the good stuff....
  This is the first give-away of 2011! YAY!  I was inspired this week by the realization that spring isn't as "around the corner" as I would like... so how nice would it be nice to have something to keep things cozy and cheerful til Spring does decide to get here?  Very!

Since I'm a little late in posting, I am running this give-away through Monday evening when a winner will be randomly drawn at 8pm EST and announced here on the blog!
 
                      Introducing- The Super Sweet Springy Tea Wallet:

 This little gem measures 4.5 x 3.5inches when closed, making it the perfect size for tossing into your purse or tote. 

Inside it holds four of your favorite individually wrapped tea bags:

 These fabrics, along with the satin ribbon trimming, will have you thinking Spring while your cup-o-tea warms you up!  Enjoy!

How do you enter? Easy, leave a comment on this blog post or "like" the facebook status that contains the link for this blog!  To Comment on this blog, select the Name/URL profile and enter your Name (First Name and Last Initial is fine or whatever you'll recognize as yourself when the winner is announced) and comment.

Good Luck and Have a great weekend!

XxOo,

Melissa

Welcome to 2011!

This is my first post of 2011 and I feel like I can't hardly type fast enough as I just just got some new fabric in and am oh so excited about it!!!

...deep breath...

...let me take this all in for a sec...

Okay, I'm good... Happy New Year!  I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday and also hoping your 2011 is off to a great start!

I am going to be sewing up a storm for the next two months as I get my Spring line ready to launch in March.  It will include some new handbag and tote styles as well as a bunch of accessory type items and some other fun things, a few aprons & handtowels and of course some embroidery!

Below is a preview of some fabrics that will be used in the new items, mostly because i'm super stoked to get started sewing with these few yards of fabric (that I just had to have) and can't wait to share a sneak-peak!

... Peak away... no need to be sneaky...

Some fun Cafe prints for kitchen towels...

 Perfect for handbags & totes...

 Oooh and do I see Retro-inspired aprons in my future???.... I do!

See, didnt I say yummy things were coming for 2011?! I did, I did!

Catch up with you friday for a Fabulous weekend give-away! Woot!

XxOo,
Melissa

P.S.- I really love feedback; I want to know what you think... dont be shy! Comment away or send me a message... I'd love to get to know you!