New Bag Line - Part One

The casual observer will probably not realize that it takes 28 individual steps to complete this bag, from cutting the fabric to punching holes into the leather handles and riveting them to the bag front and back. One also needs almighty strength to actually get a hole punched and then a (w)hole lot of patience trying to get the punched bit out of the hole punch pipe thingy!
I admit, I'm not a fast seamstress. I proceed slowly but precisely. So if you've been wondering why I've been neglecting my blog, well, I've been working on these (I call them 'Fashion bags') and they will form the main category on my new website. I have finished 4 bags so far. Anyone who sews will know that wrestling  six layers of decorator weight fabric and industrial strength interlining underneath the presser foot is not an easy task.

Despite the cuts and bruises on my fingers and the hair loss I'm very pleased with the way they turned out!

I'm not so pleased with my photographic skills, though. The bags look a bit 'flat' in the pictures, while actually they are quite substantial and 'boxy', as you can see in the picture below:

I've tried different angles, but the shape seems to distort. Oh well. I'll keep practising. These bags are a lot of fun! Each bag has a different colour and/or print, contrasting lining, genuine leather handstitched handles, a two-way zipper, metal feet on the bottom, a mobile phone pocket and two multi-functional pockets as well as a snap hook for attaching your keys (you'll never have to grope around looking for them). The bag itself is really sturdy, stands up on its own - you could carry a pair of free weights in it, no problem ;-)

Anyway, I hope you're enjoying your day off wherever you are and stay tuned for part two!

You know it's time for a break when...

1. most of your fingers are wrapped in BandAid (darn tools)

2. you rip out a bunch of hair that got caught in the sewing machine while sewing (ouch)

3. you have nightmares about all the data on your new website vanishing mysteriously...

Cheers!

Easier said than done!

When I mentioned in my previous post I'd have my new website up soon I was being overly optimistic! Haha. I have completed both German and English texts, the legal stuff, the meta tags, page titles and categories. I work with Joomla - a free open source content management system. It helps if you're already familiar with it. If not, there are tons of tutorials to get you started here.
But a few things are hindering my progress: I'm waiting for certain supplies to be able to complete my new bags. I'm trying to figure out how to get my new email account working (very important for future customer inquiries). The snow has gone, but in its place we have dark, dark clouds and buckets of rain, and since I can't seem to find a suitable daylight lamp anywhere...no photos. I wonder does the light-box work with energy-saving bulbs???
Please bear with me ;-)