exploration, expression, creation

Orange Tabby Sac Shoulder bag

2009-12-11T00:04:00.000-08:00

Orange Tabby Sac shoulder bag.

This bag turned out supper cute. It fits great over the shoulder or accross the chest. It's deep enought that your stuff won't fall out. I have included open pockets and a zipper pocket on the inside. The lining fabric is really fun. I have also embellished the strap with orange satin ribbin and a gold 2" ring.

Faux Sued Black and Tan Shoulder Bag

2009-09-15T20:39:00.000-07:00

This is a great shoulder bag/purse. The outer is tan faux sued trimmed in black. The body of the purse is gathered to create the stylish effect. The top is trimmed in black satin to encase elastic to expand open. There is a flap over the top that has a magnetic closure.

The 2” wide strap connects to 2” silver d rings. On the inside the lining colors are earth tones with black and gray accents. There is an open pocket and a zipper pocket.

A Custom and a New Direction

2009-07-16T21:58:00.000-07:00

Its a custom that turned me in a new direction.

MICRO SUED!!!

This is a custom for my sister in law.

Tan micro sued, with black strapping, gold grommets.

The lining is a blue tidied with gold metallic stringy web type design. I put a zipper pocket and an open pocket on the inside. On the outside I made a pocket between the straps on the body of the purse. I gathered the fabric on the bottom corners and pinch folded the top sides with grommets and fashioned them together with black ribbon and a grommet.

A new direction I must follow. This is just the beginning of my micro sued adventures. With this custom I was able to explore new ideas and new techniques. I will be back with more soon.

A New Leopard Print Tote

2009-07-16T21:50:00.001-07:00

A new style of TOTE.

This one turned out great. I wanted to try a larger tote style bag. Something you could use as a purse or you could fit your beach towel and lotion in for a beach trip. I used some of the floral print from the inside on the outside to embellish the leopard print.

The inside is fully functional with a zipper pocket and open pocket. The bottom and straps are reinforced as well. I finished off the top with a zipper for closure.

SOME NEW CREATIONS

2009-07-16T20:51:00.000-07:00

I had to take a tiny break but I have secretly been busy creating.
I wish that my hands could create with out me having to physically be awake. I have so many ideas.....

Here is one of the newest of the box bag.

I have changed the layout of the top of the bag from a previous version.

This bag is named "Foxy Brown".

I also tried a combo fur on this envelope purse.

At first I wasn't sure if it worked but I was able to embellish

it with a little bling and it seems to have helped.

Ah, the Taco purse.

I went a little big with this one but I think it works well.

I got the idea from the bowler style purses.

I used the same lining fabric and used it on the top on both sides of the zipper.

Jenn Fishback Design Website complete

2009-05-14T21:14:00.000-07:00

It's time! Ready to Shop?

The website for Jenn Fishback Design is complete.

www.jennfishbackdesign.com

With help from a great friend, Kate Miller of Kate Miller Design http://katemillerdesign.com/blog/?p=92, the website has come to life.

When I decided to go through with this adventure I proposed a timeline of a year to get some product established, get a web site created, marketing materials, and contact some local shops for hosting my product. It has come full circle now.

Kate has created a great flash presentation on the home page that will display purses. Inside the shop pages each purse has it's own pics, descriptions, and details. Once I have product in a retail shop I can help promote by listing the retailer also.

It is important to me to have a good presentation of pictures and details of each purse. I wanted the viewer to be able to get a good sense of what the purses are like. Nothing is better than seeing and feeling them in person so I'm doing my best to substitute for that.

I've got to move into a marketing mindset now and get these babies out there. Cross your fingers.

Turquise "Pop Daisy" with Bamboo handles

2009-05-03T21:23:00.000-07:00

I wanted to try my hand at a classic purse design. The circular bamboo handle bag. I cant find an official name for this style of purse although I know it has been around a long time.

I shaped the bag a little different giving it angled edges instead of a round bottom. Because I am using faux fur and my bamboo handles were only 7 inches I wasn't able to create a casing for the handles. I'll need to alter my pattern a little to make it work. Although depending on the thickness of the fur I use also, it may not work. I had to come up with a way using ribbon to attach the handles. I created loops with the ribbon and let the fabric gather itself. It worked pretty well. Also because of the striping on the outside it gathers a little different than a thin cotton purse would.

I took into consideration something the girl at my bank said about liking the inside most of all. She mentioned that the outside wasn't as important to her as the inside was. She looked for fun stuff on the inside. So, I am going to do my best to create fun stuff on the inside of my bags from now on.

In this bag I created a fully lined big zipper pocket, Velcro pocket, cell pocket, pen loops, sunglasses loop, and keys hook. I think it turned out great. And now that I have thought through this inside I myself would love to not have to dig for my cell phone at the bottom of my purse.

Black and Orange Bucket Tote

2009-04-20T20:40:00.000-07:00

The newest Tote to the collection. I am happy with the outcome of the Black and Orange Bucket Tote. I wanted to add another Tote type purse to my collection of designs. Something that had two handles, and deep enough to carry several items. I used the same lining fabric to accent the exterior and stripped the pleather handles with the Orange thread and ribbon.

I love the lining fabric also. It has a great design pattern in orange. There is just enough orange to keep it from being offensive. I made pockets on the inside to keep your smaller items from getting lost. They are larger pockets that could even hold a check book.

I love the long shag on the black faux fur. When you are holding the handle and walking the hair blows in the wind slightly. It's awsome. It's a real eye catcher.

Making it happen.

2009-03-28T19:51:00.000-07:00

Make it happen has been the routine lately. I wanted to start my own thing doing my handbags, and I have a full time job and family. It is all working out so far. I have a great friend, Kate Miller-graphic designer, working on my web site and marketing materials for me. Kate has also provided much needed guidance and friendship along the way. Thanks! And my husband, great supporter and brutally honest opinion giver. My son, I think he is going to have the same talents that I have. He is going to know fabric and sewing very well by the time he is five.
Things are coming along smoothly. I try not to get my expectations up and just take it one day at a time. I am constantly getting compliments on my bags, now I've just got to figure out how to get people to make a purchase. Marketing, Marketing, marketing. If they can sell the clapper I should be able to sell my bags. I am hoping to go to trade shows, trunk shows, and such to get more exposure. Word of mouth also helps. Things are going and I am happy with it so far.
If I could only find more time to create. I have this fever that keeps me awake at night. So many ideas, so little time. My notebook is getting full of sketches, fabric swatches and such. And I love every bag that I make. We'll back to the creation of the day.

2009-03-27T12:16:00.000-07:00

Holly crap! Here we go.