Yes. I do more than Bridal Clutches!

The wedding season has slowed down for me. I have broadened my horizons and have added several new designs that are "non-wedding". I have new custom diaper bags that I have made for a couple of new Moms. I also added a new laptop bag design.
My favorite additions are leather and faux leather larger clutches with genuine turquoise stones added to the fronts. I was so fortunate to receive the semi-precious stones (turquoise, lapis, sodalite, tiger eye, obsidian, malachite and agate)from my husband's late grandfather, who was a well known jewelery designer in Arizona. I have also made some gorgeous pendant necklaces with the larger stones. So far, Christmas has come early for my family, who have taken most of my jewelery pieces to be theirs! I guess that is a compliment....
Several of my clutches and handbags will be available to purchase at Smart & Chic Beauty Lounge, which will be opening late November in NE Minneapolis.
http://www.smartandchicbeauty.com/
I am also getting ready to sell my wares on Etsy. A very busy Fall, so far.
On a personal level, my daughter Kolyn and her husband Dan are expecting a baby boy in March!! I am beyond excited to be a grandma!! A young grandma, that is! Anyone that knows me, knows that I LOVE anything baby. Life is good!

The Perfect Gift for Your Wedding Party

I have talked about how I worked with a bride to create custom purses for her wedding party. This is a wonderful way to present those that you have chosen to be with you during the wedding experience with a special and unique remembrance of the day. These accessories will each be one of a kind and coordinate with the bridal color palette and theme. I especially had fun creating a fun, round purse with handmade silk flowers encrusted with rhinestones for the niece of the bride, who was also the flower girl. I totally enjoy what I am doing! I love being able to use my love of color, fabric, texture and design in such a fun and rewarding way.

What is Custom Design?

Custom design is a process than involves matching a certain style with a particular blend of fabrics, textures and adornments. I am working with a bride whose color palette includes an eggplant for the bridesmaids' dresses with gold as the accent. I have worked with her to select the perfect shade of gold shantung for the base of the custom clutch pattern. I found a fun, retro stripe and floral pattern for the lining of the clutches. Each of the six bags will have a different fabric flower created from an assortment of gold and eggplant tones of fabrics, rhinestones, natural pearl and vintage-style buttons. I have worked closely with the bride to develop the style and aesthetic of each bag. I will also be creating a special clutch bag for the bride and for each of the mothers. The colors and fabrics will be cohesive with the colors and fabrics already selected for the bridesmaids.
I can match closely the preselected colors and I have the design background to create an entire palette of coordinating fabrics and textures. Sometimes, the scale of the purse makes all the difference in the theme of the wedding. I can make changes in a basic purse design to make it as personal and unique as possible.

My Story

I have always loved being creative, whether it was in my career field of Interior Design or in my many other creative outlets. These outlets have included drawing, painting, decorating my home and gardens, sewing clothing, accessories and artistic quilts, knitting baby sweaters and blankets for the babies of my family and friends, and also creating tasty treats in my kitchen. I rarely sit still......I always have so many ideas in my head!! I inherited many of these traits from my wonderful Mom and Grandmothers. My Mom could do it all! I was always so proud to be her daughter and I hope to extend some of this to my own daughters.
In 2009, I was laid off from a long term interior design position. With so many other designers in the same position as I, it has been extremely hard to find work. I guess that you could say that I felt that I had to recreate myself utilizing other creative talents. I have always loved designing and making fashion accessories. I find great joy in seeing the results of blending different colors, forms, textures and fabrics!
I have started working with a summer bride by designing custom clutches for her bridesmaids. This prospect started out with the quantity of six and has since grown to adding purses for the mothers, the personal attendant, the bride and even the flower girl. It is so much fun working with this particular bride who is so receptive to my ideas. She is young, modern and chic!