Going Shopping!

A friend of mine asked me if I would design a bag to be used for shopping.   Something simple and small that she could wear across her shoulder...just enough room for her wallet, keys, phone, and a lip color.   You know...just the essentials.   After discussing what her ideal design might look like...I went to the drawing board and  a great design unfolded.  

Check this out....I have named her Indigo! Indigo has a ton of character and texture and at the same time is very simple and crisp!  She measures just 10" x 8".

My daughter fell in love with her so of course another one within this design will need to be created.  How Fun!

Before

 

After...I love her texture!

Four Bags In One!

When I found this dress I grabbed it! There is writing  within the body and skirt with texture and variation.  I had just read in my InStyle magazine that a very fashion forward trend is wearing or carrying  items that have written words within the design...Well you can bet all I saw was a bag within this piece....so I snatched it!

This bag is already sold to a friend who saw my vision for it's design.  She gave me a suggestion though.  She loves smaller bags, but wanted a large bag option as well.  We took a previous design and improvised by folding it over.

The coolest part....depending on how you carry this bag...you can have 4 different looks..What a great value......4 bags in one!

Introducing Emma!

The before shot......

                                                                   

Two Small Bags

Two Large Bags 

DH Dream Design Bag Debut!

The launch of DH Dream Design bags has begun!   Enough bags have been developed to call it a "collection"...plus more will be created each  week. So DH Dream Designs is up and running and in business!

The DH Dream Design bag "debut happened as a result of a good friend encouraging me to showcase them at her Farmer's Market with her other "fabric artists".   I was able to showcase, sell, and gain exposure to the concept of re-purposing something old to make it new. So happy to say the bags were a hit and the reviews were awesome.   The picture of what the  bag used to be was tucked into the pocket of the bag so ladies purchasing them could see that it was made from something old.  On the back side of the picture I shared the bag's name and I also numbered the bag.  This charming feature was very intriguing to many.   The most common statement was.... WOW....these are great bags!

Soon DH Dream Design bags will be posted online to sell via my website and/or blog...be on the lookout! 

More "Pad Pouch" Options

Had the opportunity this past week to work on more "Pad Pouch" options to house the IPad and IPad 2.  They are getting great reviews and I really think it is a stellar design.  Women love the fact they are pretty and user friendly.   The IPad product fits snugly and is very safe within it's pouch.  Having fun mixing it up using different colors and textures!

Same Design....Different Creations

I have been having a blast making new bags this past week from the same design.  I am amazed at how beautifully unique they are just because they are made from different materials. Bag "usage" options could be a business tote, computer tote, or just a tote for all your stuff!  Thinking one could get pretty creative with this bag.  

I lined this bag with padding to protect a computer.  The re-purposed materials  used were dresses and belts. I struggled with the first bag..."Sumer"  as I could not get the handle of the bag to look right...I was trying to make it out of fabric.  A friend of mine came over and we were playing with my collection of fun macrame and canvas belts....WOW....did this make the bags look fun and artsy with a great touch of class!   I just love taking something old and making it new!

                                                                                      "Sumer"

 

                                           "Mia"

 

                                           "Sadie"

Girlfriend Time At Roxanna's

One of my most favorite things to do is rehab a closet.  Had the opportunity to do this for an amazing woman last evening.  Roxanna lives in a beautiful log cabin nestled on a wooded property.  She is a professional who helps a lot of women.  Roxanna and I got to know each other when she invited me to speak to her staff a couple months ago using my Body Type Dressing Workshop.   Roxanna had a goal to hire me to help her in her own closet after her son's June wedding. 

Well the date for our "Closet Rehab" time was set for the evening of July 7th which was last night and I am telling you we had a blast!  I think Roxanna's greatest fear was that I would not find anything in her closet to work with.  Boy was she worrying about nothing.

Picture this...we were editing items and creating outfits all at the same time.  Clothes were piling up on the bed that needed to be donated and flung over a chair that needed to be altered.  Many clothes were going back into the closet that were exceptionally good.   Roxanna was trying on what I thought would look great together and we were snapping pictures along the way so she could  remember these clothing combinations after I left.  I think she would have been a bit overwhelmed if we had not taken pictures...what a valuable tool!

Roxanna's closet is now filled with clothes that she absolutely loves and knows what to do with.  Her only problem this morning was....trying to decide what cool outfit she should  wear for the day.   Just 24 hours earlier she was looking at the same closet saying...I have nothing to wear.   This experience with Roxanna juices my passion to help even more women discover the abundance of their closet and to help them "love everything in their closet".  

Roxanna loves black and white with neutrals....very on trend way to wear clothing!  This top had a touch of blush which is a.very current fashion forward feature.  Incorporating  belts into her wardrobe are a must....this accessory makes her figure go from so...so...to WOW!

Today my mind it racing with ideas for more outfits that we did not even put together.   Thinking after Roxanna purchases a few key pieces to finish her wardrobe with 2-3 favorite colors she may want to hire me for another 1-2 hour session  to "closet shop"  just a bit more so we can put together an even bigger picture portfolio of her wardrobe options.

This is what I find interesting....many times women are shopping, shopping, shopping when really all they need to do is shop in their closet.  The outfits are already there in abundance. When an abundance of outfits are discovered within your own closet, the desire to spend more money on things that are not needed soon disappears.  Sometimes...enough is enough!

Have you ever walked out of your shoes?

Have you ever had heels that slip when you walk.  Hate that!  You could be walking along and all of a sudden walk right out of your shoes.  Been there...Done that.  Almost broke a bone doing it too as I was coming down some stairs.   Fortunately there was someone in front of me that caught my fall. 

I found this great product at our local drug store that fixed this problem allowing me to keep my favorite black platform pumps....The product is....

 

They also have some great products for your arch and the ball of your foot to keep them from "barking"  on days when you are on your feet a lot.

Neutral and Classic....

Introducing "Nina"!  

Nina is created from a dress, a curtain panel, and a belt.  This dress was so inspiring as it had warm variations of color and texture throughout it's entire body.   When I found the belt buckle I just knew I had to include it with this bag.  It is a beautiful copper color and in the shape of a butterfly.  My husband is very good at dis-assembling belts to get to the buckle.   

I personally love Nina's classic neutral beauty!

Before                                After

All I Can Say Is..."Beautiful"!

Spent a good part of Saturday evening and Sunday afternoon creating "Comisha".  My daughter selected this beautiful tribal dress and then later I found the complimentary earthy orange dress to incorporate into the design.  The tribal dress had this amazing wrap quality built into it and I immediately saw it as a bonus pocket in the front of a bag.

"Comisha" began showing her personality as I put the finishing touches into her design this afternoon.  It never fails...I fell in love with this bag too!  I am really going to have a hard time selling these creations as I have become so attached!  

What amazes me the most is that it is something quite ordinary and at times not very attractive in it original form. When it is finished it becomes extraordinary in the re-purposing process.   This comes with some stress and pain as the fabric is cut and reshaped to serve a new purpose.....Kind of reminds me of life.   Many times we become so much more wise and compassionate when we have been through the fire!

Enjoy Comisha...she is an exotic tribal beauty!

                         

                                          Before                                   After

Enjoy!!!!