Ella's Legacy Collection

DH Dream Designs is developing a collection of bags called Ella's Legacy! Designer Deb is very excited to use her creative gift to partner with Erica so Erica can share Ella's story.

Ella is a 4 month old with Spinal Muscular Atrophy....SMA a genetic disease that diminishes her muscles.  Unfortunately this disease is fatal for little Ella.  Mounting bills are piling up and in an effort to raise funds for Ella and her family Erica has asked me to develop a line of bags using Ella's little dresses.   These little dresses will be used on the front of the bags to create an outside pocket.  A picture of Ella in her dress will be included on the inside pocket of each Ella Legacy Bag.

What a treasure this will be....many dresses are being given as gifts so Erica can have the enjoyment of making Ella look and feel like a princess.  At the same time the dress allows the "giver" an opportunity to purchase the Ella Legacy Bag at cost and then adds her donation.

Click on my website link above to email your interest in participating in this give back project...
I can send you detailed information as to how you can help honor and celebrate Ella.

Monique and Claire from my earlier collection were adapted with Ella's dresses to create two bags for Erica's Mother and Mother In Law for Christmas Gifts....The beginning of....

Ella's Legacy Line! 

So Grateful To Be Designing!

                    Before                                                   After---Hailey

                                                                             DH Dream Design #46

This bag was designed specific for the wife of a business networking friend.   He cannot wait to surprise his wife with this fun unique creation!

Hmmmm....Where are all the other new bags DH Dream Designs has been creating over the past several weeks?  Be on the lookout...they will be posted soon.  Twenty Five Dream Design bags have been developed or are in the process of being developed for individuals who want to give them as Christmas gifts.  Because of this, their stories and pictures will not be posted until the week of Christmas....don't want to spoil a Christmas giving surprise.  

Some of my design work has been centered around using items that were meaningful to the "giver".   This work has  expanded  to offer a "memory bag" option.   Do you have something in your closet that has great sentimental value but you would never think of wearing this piece out in public...ever?   It just remains stuffed back in the depths of your closet only to be enjoyed when you are editing items seasonally.  You may want to consider making these items useful and purposeful by having me create a designer labeled  DH Dream Design bag!

Item's of sentiment have varied....

Daughter's party dress

Bridesmaid dress

Granddaughter's first dresses

....just to name a few.   The list keeps growing!   These items are so precious to work with and at the same time scary as I am taking a scissors after them.  

I am in heaven within my Dream Design Creation Room.  Striving to spend time there each and every day...because my joy bubbles over with each and every new Dream Design creation.    What a blessing it has been these past 6 months to realize that my God given gift of design is still alive and well even though I have not nurtured it for the past 21 years.

The finishing touches were put on DH Dream Design #51 last evening.   All have been adopted and have homes except for 10.  Many people have encouraged me to consider selling them and future designs online.   This concept is being Considered for 2012.

So grateful to all those who have nudged me to step into my strength and try....can't wait to post my latest greatest Dream Design creations....You will be sure to find a post December 26th!  

Fourteen New DH Dream Design Bags To Enjoy!

The past two weeks have been spent in my Dream studio designing new bag creations.   Some of the dresses I started out with were very out of date.   It is so much fun to give these items a new purpose so they can be enjoyed once again.  Take a look and enjoy!

Before

 Introducing Olivia!   Olivia was made from a dress, a colorful curtain panel, a scarf,  and a great macrame' belt.   She has an outside bonus pocket.
Great for a 13" computer or as a purse.  It is a very "sophisticated 70's" look.

After...
Introducing Olivia

Introducing Saralyn!  She is made from the same cloth and has a western personality.  

Amazing what a belt vs. a scarf can do in the dressing process.

After...
Introducing Saralyn

 

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Before...

When I found this treasure..I immediately visualized 4 bags...only 3 were created due to a mistake in production.   This dress had great design both front and back.  She is made from this pictured dress and two other dresses to complete the project's back side and lining.   They all three have pop as the lining is red.  I used leather belts for Tamara and Tyra's shoulder straps and a self made handle for Taylor.  All three totes are padded and safe for computers or can be used as a purse as well.  I love the tribal feel of all three.

After...

                   Tamara                                  Tyra                                   Taylor

             

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                                  Before                               

Back by Popular Demand!  Emma was such a hit and I have had so many requests for this style.  This dress and skirt created a unique bag with a lot of class.   Her name is Mariah.  Mariah is great for the woman who loves a small bag but wants a big bag option without purchasing another bag.   I love how Mariah looks different depending on how she is carried.

 Introducing Mariah....

After...Another 4 in 1 Bag

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My daughter and I were out shopping for "treasures" last weekend and came upon these two tweed skirts.  Tweed is a very fashion forward trend for this fall.  These bags will be the perfect accessory for any winter outfit.  Simple, Classic, and Clean!

Two Beautiful Tweed Skirts...Before

Make Two Beautiful Tweed Bags...After

                                            Ashley                            Natalie

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Before...

I love green.   The color gives me such a peaceful warm fuzzy feeling.   This dress along with the two earth tone dresses make up these two beautiful bags.  Faith and Serenity both have a square bottom giving them the ability to stand on their own.  The belts give them unique personality.   Serenity has an outside back bonus zippered pocket.   Faith and Serenity make a great tote for shopping!

After..

                                            Faith                                Serenity

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Before

I purchased this ugly dress for its beautiful brushed gold buttons.  The skirt was pleated allowing me to give two of these clutches a touch of the ever so on trend tuxedo look.  The buttons came from the button find I shared on a previous blog post.  I love rooting through these treasures to dress them up a bit.  Amazing what a button can do to change their personality.

After

Rochelle, Ronda, and Roxanna

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Before

After 

Pad Pouch 
Fits the IPad and IPad 2

Button Jackpot!

Just hit the mother load of buttons today.   So excited to incorporate some of these lovely unique buttons into a DH Dream Design bag in the very near future.   Many of them have such personality...they will be the perfect finishing touch.

This was a great treasure and re-purposing find today!

Blue Jean "Back Gap" No More!

I had the privilege of working a body type workshop with a business group last evening and I got the greatest tip when it comes to wearing a belt that does not add bulk and fixes "back gap". 

Women who are a pear or an hourglass body type often have "back gap" issues with their jeans and slacks.  Our narrow hipped ladies within the rectangle and inverted triangle body types have issues when it comes to keeping their slacks on their hips.  Then our Apple ladies need something that does not add bulk.   On second thought, we all need the feature of not adding bulk.

INTRODUCING.....

 

 

 

isABelt is the Original invisible belt, the MUST HAVE Fashion “fix-it” accessory. A thin, strong and flexible clear plastic belt, that virtually disappears when worn, providing you with the assurance that all is secure without even knowing it's there. isABelt prevents back gap, slippage and of course, belt bulk and belt bulge. The isABelt solves all of these fashion issues and many more must-have fashion fix-it's!

Find yours at isabelt.com!

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"