Monday's over :)

Someone please tell me why I thought it would be a good idea to change my blogger template tonight?  All because I wanted "something new".  Well I am not sure if I like the new look or not, I'll betcha I change it again soon :)

I did make it outside with the camera this morning for new pictures of the booty bags!  I love these bags :)  Each one has such character and charm.   Hmmm, I wonder what those jeans could tell us if they could talk!  Every one of them is an original and these pictures are just the tip of the ice berg my friends!  I have already sold around 25 of these handbags locally and to a few friends in WY and WA and have at least that many more in various stages of the design process.  Right now, it's just these three that have actually made it from the beginning to the end and finally onto my etsy shop.

Too see all of the pictures head on over to my  Facebook fan page or to my Etsy shop

Have a great night every one :)

Jules

Good intentions...

So I really did have intentions of getting my booty bags photographed and listed on Etsy.  Something otherwise known as "life" kinda got in the way...  Got up early, had that first cup of coffee with my favorite pumpkin spice creamer, then on to my "real" job.  I spent a couple of hours stuffing statements for Absaroka and remoting in on the computer for some work details, and that's when my well laid plans for the day went by the wayside. 

As I am working on the computer, Roy and the dogs jumped on the bed next to the computer desk and proceeding in causing such a distraction that I truly couldn't get anything done.  Finally when I could take the badgering no longer, I agreed to go for a hike with them.  I went mainly because this week the dogs have been driving me insane and I knew they needed a good exercise run.  Four hours later we are just coming back up the canyon and stop for lunch before heading home.  While driving home Brad calls...  "Whatcha doing?  Can Tasha come play?"  Beings that even though Tasha is of the canine variety, she is still the only grandpup I have and therefore cannot say no.  Of course the bonus is that I get to see the kids as well.  So Brad and Sara hang out all afternoon and then we see a commercial for Kentucky Fried and well now guess what?  Yep, we head to KFC for dinner! 

By the time I finally got home and downloaded the new pictures I had taken today of the totes AND the booty bags, I discover that I had really rushed the booty bag pictures and they didn't turn out very well.  Of course it's dark by this time and my window of opportunity is over for the day...  sigh...  Hence no booty bag pictures, no booty bag listings on etsy and sadly I have to work all day tomorrow and the light will again be gone by the time I get home...  Unless I can take some in the morning, but I am not promising anything!

Hope everyone has a good work week :)

Jules

It's finally launch day!

I DID IT!!!  Eclectique Butterfly is my new shop home :)  For tonight I only have totebags listed but look for booty bags to be listed tomorrow!  Stop by and see me soon...

Jules

                        

It's getting closer!

I have been sewing like a mad woman lately.  Just picture this, a crazy woman with wild curly hair hunched over her sewing table, thimble on her finger as she whip stitches the bottoms of booty bags in place.  Post it notes lay everywhere and she has a pen behind her ear for easy access in case she has a brainstorm idea that she needs to jot down (cause it's likely that she will forget what she just thought of in 30 seconds!)  Visions of fabric patterns, color ideas and which thrift shop she hasn't been to in the last 10 days float around her head as she pins a liner into a booty bag...  That is what my life has been filled with lately :) 

It's good though and I am excited to launch my etsy shop.....  THIS SATURDAY!!!!

So enough for now, cause I have work to do, I can't be seen here slacking off now can I?

Jules

Really have to get my behind in gear!

Things have been crazy here since I got home.  I was suffering from an extreme lack of sleep and other than work my "real" job and sleep I did nothing for about 4 days after getting home.  I finally got to my sewing machine on Sunday, and sadly did not get enough accomplished.  Same goes for this week on Monday and Tuesday, I am getting nothing done!  Well I am getting a lot done, just not what I want to get done :) 

My darling hubby, Roy is now finally among the ranks of the employed!  He started work yesterday for the Hail King and will be learning how to remove hail dents from vehicles.  This is a dream job for him, other than the fact that he will be traveling quite a bit, however the money will be worth it.

So obviously I didn't launch my Etsy site on Sunday.  I feel so bad that I put that date out there and then with my trip was unable to deliver...  Forgive me?  So now I am not going to give a date and surprise you all when it happens.  Which hopefully will be very, very soon if I can get life in general to comply with my schedule!

Have a great Wednesday!

Jules

Has it really been 25 years???

Wow, this is so surreal being home in Adna for my 25 year class reunion!  I was just home a year ago, but it really seems like things have changed since I was here last, or maybe I am just seeing them through new eyes as I remember what things were like 25 years ago :) 

We had a smaller turnout than I would have like for the renuion, I missed Peggy, Becky and Becky, Tammy, Chad, Tom, Marcie, Tryna and so many more.  But I did get to see several people that I hadn't seen in years including my old sixth grade teacher, Bob Fay!  And it really was so good to catch up with the people that did make it. We all met before the game for the tailgate party and then stayed for the game (sadly Adna lost) and then over to McMenamins for drinks and catching up.  I also ran into my cousin Dan, his wife Krista and my Aunt Gail as they were there for the Napavine team. Yes they rubbed it in a little after the game :)  I am meeting up with Jeanice and Nicole tonight for coffee and going to hang out with my gal Jules tomorrow and then she is taking me to the airport tomorrow night.

Jules and I went shopping yesterday and we were both carrying our purses and at two shops we got some exhuberant compliments on them so I was quick to hand out my business card!  My meet with Laura at Murdochs went well.  I need to get back to her next week with some more samples as sadly by the time I had seen her I only had THREE purses left from my initial sewing spree!  Good and bad as the ones I had were not the best representation of my work.  So I will get her some new ones after I get back and then hopefully I will get the go ahead for the first six purses in the Bozeman test market.  If that goes well, then she will order for all five stores :)  Doing a little happy dance here!

I am still on board to launch my new etsy store on the 19th and I am getting super excited!   I just need to sew up a storm after I get back from Adna to have some product to load into the store.  I will have nothing but time on my hands though because as soon as I get back my guys are heading off to the backcountry for fall bear hunting.  Brad and Roy are heading out Wednesday morning and unless they get a bear right away, won't be back until Sunday.  They are a little concerned as there is fresh snow in the mountains now and I know they were hoping for warmer fall weather this early in the season, but mother nature obviously has other plans.

Off to town today to Jeremy's to pick up stuff for salsa making.  Planning on canning tomorrow morning and then having Mom and Dad bring it over next month when they come for hunting season.

And last but certainly not least I want to share something very near and dear to me.  It was soo good to see everyone last night, but one really stuck out for me.  I ran into Kim Stafford (couldn't tell you what her married name is) and she said that life is too short to not tell people what they mean to each other.  She went on to tell me that I had made a huge impact in her life in high school.  That if it wasn't for me convincing her to try out for cheerleading that she would have never tried out and continued to be a book worm.  She said that cheerleading was the best thing that happened to her, that it brought her out of her shell and gave her more confidence and she actually went on to cheer in college and ultimately sent her on her career path of teaching, something she enjoys immensely.  All of this because I encouraged her to try out for cheerleading...  WOW...  I was stunned, I barely even rememer those conversations with her but to know what an impact I made in her life is really humbling.  So, it just goes to show you, always be kind and encouraging because you never know how far your words are going to take that other person!

That's all for now, will probably post again once I am home!  Have a great weekend everyone :)

Jules

Is it really September?

Where on earth did summer go?  It even already feels like fall in the air as it has been rainy and cloudy here for days.  I hope that the weather man is right and it warms up this weekend, I really need a good camping trip to top off the summer!

So the open house....  Well I would like to say that it went wonderfully and was super busy, but alas it was not to be.  It went smoothly enough and I learned a great deal from it and I did make some sales and one really great connection, so from that respect I feel that it was profitable enough :)

The farmer's market on Saturday was my best ever and it felt good, real good if you know what I mean!  Then I zipped downtown to meet my friend Michelle for lunch at Starkey's and had a blast watching the rain while catching up on girl talk. 

This morning I was up early and out the door to Capelli's and had my hair cut by Sherry and dropped off seven bags for consignment!!  I am hopeful that they do well there, I guess I will just have to be patient and see what happens this next month.

I still haven't met with Laura from Murdoch's yet. We have rescheduled a couple of times and I think we finally have a date that will work for both of us, next Thursday the 9th at noon!  Wish me luck everyone, this could be the big one!!

I also applied for a juried arts and crafts fair put on by our local Help Center.  It's Thanksgiving weekend at our fairgrounds for two days.  I won't know if I was approved until the first week of October.  It's a good thing I have plenty to do between now and then to keep myself busy and my mind off it!!

I also finally have a launch date for my Etsy shop!  I will be loading purses, totebags and checkbook covers into my Etsy shop on September 19th!!  After my sucessful market last Saturday and dropping off items at Capelli's, I don't have anything left!   And with me being gone camping this weekend, and in WA state next weekend for my 25 year (gasp) class reunion, I will have not time until then to get my Etsy shop set up. 

That's all for now folks. 

Jules