Getting my advertising on.

I just received my custom window vinyl from ChickadeeVinyl; now I can start advertising via my Jeep's window, Yay!  I am SO pleased with the personalized Customer Service from Stacy (see... customer service is KEY!) and extremely happy with the outcome of my vinyl... ChickadeeVinyl ROCKS!

Here's my window:

Honk when you see me!

<3 XxOo,

 Me

March Madness... of the handbags, sewing, fabric-y kind.

It's been a while... I find myself saying that a lot on this blog.  I know I said I would try to write on here weekly to keep you 'updated' but I get caught up in trying to keep up with everything else around me that I forget to use this outlet to let my brain breathe, sort to speak.  Is that the saying? Or is it sort of speak... I think it's 'to', so that's what I'll use.

March is looking to be a busy month, new items, sewing expo, fabric... swoon.  I'll touch on all of these in this post... yay.

March 11-13 I will be out of town visiting the Original Sewing & Quilt Expo in Atlanta, GA (Duluth).  Last year was my first visit and I was hooked.  So many beautiful projects, quilts, fashion; great shopping, networking, etc.  Maybe one day I'll be able to have a booth there, till then I'm happy as a consumer, connoisseur ;-)

Been working on some custom orders here recently as well as trying to get my Spring line ready for March, I truly love how anticipated it is and appreciate everyone holding out for me. :-)  Because I'm a one woman show right now I'm looking to launch the spring items on a weekly basis, my thoughts being that March will be full of surprises and newness!

I finally sent off my New Account Application so that I may start to carry some fabric for sale on my site.  I would love to say that I'm going to have dozens of fabrics to choose from, but the reality is I only plan to stock between 6-8 bolts, initially.  These will all be a reflection of SoChick style: fun, fresh, eye catching; can be chosen for custom bags, but more importantly, fabric will be for sale by the yard.  Part of the game-plan for SoChick is to encourage others to create as well.  Some free patterns may be popping up in line with the new fabrics to give you ideas for their uses and to allow you to create your own SoChick items.

  Here is a taste of one of the fabric designers I adore:

Heather Bailey- Nicey Jane Collection


Along with my one-of-a-kind handbag creations, I want to also encourage a younger generation of crafters, seamstresses, quilters, and what have you.  Too many times have I been through fabric shops where I am talked down to because I am from a younger generation than those working at or running the shops.  Now, don't get me wrong, I completely love the knowledge and experience of, well, experienced sewists (if this isn't a word, I'm making it so... now.) and value their wisdom, but please, don't talk at me as if I've no idea how to thread a needle or some idea of textiles, honey.  I may be far from expert, but I'm no idiot either.  I wish I could think of a word not as harsh as 'idiot' but that's how I'm made to feel sometimes... which is a shame.  Also,  Okay, I'm not ranting... moving on. 

  I want to see more people sharing in my love for fabric, design and passion for sewing.  I really believe I can and will do this by growing into an exciting place to go for fun, fresh and inspiring fabrics, knowledge, notions,  and sewing patterns... not only my own patterns, but those of individuals who have had such an influence on my love for sewing; holding this all together, unsurpassed customer service.  I am a HUGE believer in this and can't say it enough, the product you have or create means nothing without someone who cares backing it all up.   Now, I know this isn't going to happen overnight, heck, it may not happen in a year, but it will be a journey and I will continue to work my butt off to get there... and I can't say enough how much I love and appreciate the support I have received from everyone so far! THANK YOU!!!

Till next time...

XxOo,
Me

Sunshine, where is my sunshine?

I'm about over winter already.  My daughter has a two hour delay for school... again.  She hasn't had a full week of school in 2011 because of snow... I could have sworn I lived in Coastal North Carolina... what is the deal?! Mother Nature... is this a joke? I'm not laughing.  LUCKILY, I have some super pretty spring-time fabric that I'm using in my new bags...

  Last week I asked on Facebook which closure would be preferred for a Market Tote; I appreciate all the feedback (gosh, I really do... any reason to be chatty and see whats on your minds!) and decided to go with a magnetic snap.  I designed this market tote to be fairly deep yet  a comofortable size with straps set just right to make the bag feel secure.  It has a zippered pocket inside and also a cell phone and pen & lip gloss pocket.  Note: It is very important to be able to reach your lipgloss (or chapstick, whichever) when you need it... it's not fun to dig around for it (or a pen, i guess) when you need it RightNOW. ;-)

This bag along with others of the same style but different fabric options will be available with my Spring Line.  I hope you like it as much as I do...

I'm working very hard to get my Spring Line going and I've also been working on a few custom bags as well... glad to be staying busy!

Have a wonderful week!

XxOo,
Melissa

Leave some feedback, a comment,  or just say "Hey!".. I love to hear from you!

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