Gone Camping and a Custom Order

A super quick post today as I am packing up to head out for a weekend Camping trip with my oldest Chick-a-dee, her Girl Scout Troop and about 2000 other North Carolina Girl Scouts as we celebrate 100 years of Girl Scouting.  Good Times.


I wanted to share this custom order diaper bag I made recently.  Again, I used Lisa Lam's Multi-tasking Tote pattern, from The Bag Making Bible... which I love.  I also love my customer's choice of the black/white Damask with Red combo.  So Classy, So Chic, So Chick!!  I also included a coordinating Wipe-able, Roll-able, SoChick Changing pad... which is topped with Vinyl for easy cleaning. 

Bag Exterior and Accents: Black & White Damask and Polka dots 100% Cotton Home Dec. Canvas


Lining: Red 100% Organic Cotton Twill


I included a Removable Base Insert for easy cleaning as well as the vinyl-covered, roll-able changing pad.


What an awesome bag to take you through the baby years and beyond!


Have a fabulous weekend!  I'll update you when I make it back to civilization. *wink*


P.S.- This is my 200th post!!! Ahhh! Can you believe it?! *happy dance* I ♥ all of you for following along with me!


XxOo~ Melissa

Weekend Wrap-Up [Back to Market and a Diaper Tote]

This past weekend I went back to the New Bern Farmer's Market, here in NC.  I attended the Market at the end of last year and decided to take time off through the winter.  Now that my business is preparing to expand, carrying my sewing patterns and premium cotton fabrics from today's designers, I felt it was a good time to start back at the market again... not to mention, I love the socialization and everyone is so nice and kind.


Mostly I will be carrying smaller accessories and embroidered items while I'm there, leaving larger bags to be ordered in my shop.  What excites me most about this arrangement is being able to get into embroidery more often... I love embroidering fun and whimsical designs, it's exciting to see what my machine can do!


Here is my set-up from this past weekend at the market:

This weekend was Spring Fest at the Market and there were a lot of folks out and about.  I enjoyed my neighbors, meeting new people and catching up with familiar faces!


Next up, I want to share a recent custom bag that I made for a great friend of mine.  She and her husband recently welcomed their third child into the world and she and I chatted about a diaper tote that she could use past the baby years... She picked the Laura Gunn Poppy fabric for the front of the bag and said she wanted "organizational features"... here's what I came up with:

This bag is a slightly larger version of the Savannah Tote found in my Shop, the brown fabric is organic cotton twill and it is lined in 100% cotton from Michael Miller Fabrics.  The overall colors are Turquoise, Aqua and Brown with the pops of red and green in the poppy print.

 Inside, I included a removable base insert (which is found in most SoChick! handbags with a boxy base!), 5 elastic-topped pockets (three on one side, two larger ones on the other), a small pacefier/lipgloss pocket toward the top of the lining and a hook for keys.


I love how this bag turned out, I don't think it looks like a diaper bag and all of the pockets will keep it super functional beyond diapers and bottles.  I'm happy to tell you that my friend said she loves it, too!  Hearing that is why I love what I do!!


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Pssst~ Have you been to the SoChick Handbags Facebook page? I am seriously ONE 'like' away from 400 and I would LOVE to give something away when we hit that milestone... 


and P.S.~ Thank you for reading and following along with me here, on facebook and on Twitter.  You are all such a huge part of SoChick! and why I love and continue to do what I do! XxOo~ M


XxOo~ Melissa

Fabulous Fabric Friday #9 [Toile Me About It]

Today's Fabulous Fabric:

Toile

This is what Wikipedia has to say about it:

A quick breakdown: The 'Toile' I'm talking about is Toile de Jouy, which is the repeat of a complex pattern, typically scenery/landscapes, printed on a white or off-white background.  Traditionally printed in black, navy or dark red, on canvas.

Source: google.com via Laura on Pinterest

I love the traditional feel of Toile, but more than that I looove the modern spin on it:

With Color:

Source: fabulousfifi.typepad.com via Kim on Pinterest

And fun prints such as this Derby Toile that I found on Spoonflower.com:

Source: spoonflower.com via Melissa on Pinterest

 How Super Fabulous is that!? You can purchase it from the artist on Spoonflower!

Here's my use of Toile, in the first diaper bag I made for my youngest daughter.  We stayed gender neutral when I was pregnant with Natalie (she's not terribly cooperative... we'll leave it at that), so I went with Black & White... but I love the way it worked out, and I have received tons of compliments on this diaper bag... still do, even though I now use this bag for the beach. *wink*

Gotta love the Toile wrap-around pockets paired with pin stripes! 

Official Call to Fabric Lovers!!

Did you see my Call to Fabric Lovers? No? 

Check it out HERE. 

I'm dyin' to hear your thoughts on fabric, what you sew/craft with, what you want to sew/craft with.

Be sure to e-mail me with your Fabulous Fabric finds, I just may feature them here!

FabFabric[at]sochickhandbags[dot]com

 Have a Fabulous Friday!!

XxOo~ Melissa

SoChick Product Feature [Custom Messenger Diaper Bag]

I finished and shipped this bag in the beginning of the week and I can't begin to tell you how happy I am that it made it to it's new home so quickly!  Hence my post about it today in lieu of Fab. Fab. Friday.... forgive me? *wink*

I've been asked why I don't just make a bunch of diaper bags and post them for sale... Honestly, because I love, love, LOVE the idea of a custom diaper bag... I think it means so much more when you know the fabric is fresh-picked, for you and your new baby-to-be.

When you place a custom order through SoChick, I ask for your input as far as color, theme, style likes and dislikes...  Then, I do what I do best and select some fabrics... With every bag I have done, my customers have fallen in love with one of the first three selections. *wink* 

 Guess I have a thing for fabric? Maybe?  Have you read in my 'About Me' that I'm a fabricaholic?... I am.

Messenger Style Diaper Bag

Features:

~Adjustable strap

~Magnetic snap closure on front flap

~Large zippered pocket on back of bag

~Two side bottle pockets (elastic topped)

~Four interior pockets (elastic topped)

~Two front sleeve pockets (under flap)

Zippered Pocket for Mommy's stuff.

Elastic-topped pockets help keep things organized w/ room in between.

Adjustable strap so bag can be worn cross-body or over shoulder.

I will be adding an option in the shop, in the near future, to allow for ease of purchase for custom diaper bags... in the meantime, please feel free to e-mail me at orders@sochickhandbags.com for more info or to place a custom order!

Have a Fabulous Friday!!

XxOo~ Melissa