Accessory Shoppe

Blogging has sorta taken the back seat the past couple of weeks. Betty and I attended a two day seminar last week which was wonderful.  We learned lots of new tricks in embroidery, some new ideas for bags and linens.  Very worthwhile but it is hard catching up.

Yesterday we received a huge shipment of linens from a new vendor....it was just like Christmas opening all the boxes. We have them checked in but need to add to inventory sheets....sigh!  Book work is not my favorite but the accountant insists on it.

We are busy getting ready for our function at Second Setting on the 7th.  See our January 2010 newsletter for more details.  {Simply click the "Newsletter" button on our website and you will be directed to our Newsletters Home Page.  From there scroll down and you can select the January edition...or any past edition.} 

Our new linens are in bright yellows, hot pinks and blues. Can you tell I'm ready for spring? I plan to ignore the fact that there is snow in the forecast on Friday! 

How do the days go by so fast?!  We have been busy in the studio creating Valentine and St. Patrick Day goodies and filling orders.  We should have new Valentine items posted on the site by Friday...so please check back.

I spent two days pouring and packaging  newly designed soaps. Until I can get a page on the website for orders we will package the soap along with linens shortly.  Here's a sneak peek at my latest soap creation.

Yummm. Looks and smells like candy.

Another gift item has been added to our collection - monogrammed initials in a beautiful frame.  These make wonderful wedding and anniversary gifts.  They are truly unique. They are also available in a lighter color frame, matting and thread.  We will be introducing them on the website soon.  If you're interested in one, please contact me for a quote.

Great gift idea!

Our St. Louis weather has been miserable the past several days - thick fog and misty rain.  I am such a summer time gal that I really have a bad case of "I'm ready for Spring".  So... today I cut and stabilized three spring bags.  I feel better just working with lime green fabric and bright cheery flowers.  I guess I still have several months of gloomy weather....sigh!  At least my studio is full of materials and ideas for springtime creations.

We are busy in the studio cleaning out bits and pieces of fabric and neatly storing our recently acquired fabrics in the new storage cabinets.

Just a peek at where I spend most of my days. The studio has just been rearranged with items placed in their proper place....ready for designing and stitching our Spring merchandise.  Shown here is Harleigh and the new work area.

Since I am one of the lucky ones that can control their working environment I like to be surrounded by bright shiny accessories, great smelling candles and music.

Michelle is updating the website so take a peek and let us know what you think.  I will be introducing a couple of our new items in the next blog so check back in a few days.

I have to admit that I have been lazy in keeping up with my posting.  I was just caught up in the holiday hustle and bustle.  Also, I took a couple of days to just be lazy and regroup.  Since we are beginning a New Year my mind is whirling with items to create and share with everyone. I am also working on transitioning to another blog shortly.  Since I am not a 'techie chick' I have to really work at 'what the heck are they saying in the instructions!'  I'm sure I will win but it is giving me a run for my money right now.  I will be posting some pictures shortly of new items before they hit the website so check back in a couple of days.

As we add our final touches to our anticipated holiday activities let us take the time to remember the true meaning of Christmas and celebrate this wonderful time of year. May each and every one have a wonderful Christmas!

We are spending long hours in the studio keeping up with orders.  Each year I promise myself to be better organized but it just doesn't happen....something always comes up that has to be handled ASAP.

Our function at St. Boniface was a blast.  Of course, our typical St. Louis weather made setting up difficult with the heavy rain all day and the closer we got to set up time, the harder it rained.  All the brave souls that came out to see us...thank you!  It was great to see past customers and meet new ones.  We were able to hang with our buddies from Miss Bailey's Poppy Patch and Sweetie's - who also had booths.

This weekend will be dedicated to decorating our home for Christmas...we are easy to find in our subdivision...the house with no Christmas decorations!!!  I do have some of my gifts purchased....nothing wrapped.  Thank goodness for decorative bags in all sizes.  Let's see...the Christmas cards will be mailed a few days before Christmas.  Christmas baking? Find a good bakery.  I will get everything done...I work well under pressure!!! 

I am waiting for the little brown UPS truck to deliver a shipment of faux ultra suede in bright red, lime green and bright purple. I will post pictures as soon as it arrives.  I am picturing some Dressin Up bags with bling!  Stay tuned...

How do the holidays sneak up on you every year?  I have been planning and scheduling my work efficiently for months....wrong!  We are a month away from Christmas and we are feeling the crunch.  But what a wonderful feeling to be busy creating and shipping those special gifts!

Truthfully, since purchasing Harleigh I have been working and playing very hard.  She is a dream come true!  I  load up six thread colors and hit the 'go' button and she just stitches away.  I don't need to tend to her until the next thread change - which allows me to sew the handbags.  I have found some awesome fabric and added two new purses to our site tonight.  If you haven't done so, please check out the Faux Brown Classy purse and the Sassy Safari animal tote.  This fabric is just too cool.  I am trying to improve on my pictures so just click on the image to enlarge and see the detail in the fabrics.

Also on the cutting table is a new purse pattern just waiting for fabric selection and assembly.  Using a purchased pattern is new to me as I have made all my own patterns in the past.  This is time consuming as you have to test to make sure the handles are correct length and positioned correctly - basically that the bag is balanced and holds its shape.  Sometimes it can take several attempts to get everything correct.  I think this design will be a welcome addition as it has a totally different shape.  It also has a zipper closure....this will take some practice on my part as zipper insertion has always been a challenge for me.  My goal is to have it perfected for the new year along with several other goodies that I think you will like. 

Since the next couple of days will be busy in the studio and also preparing for Thanksgiving with my family, I won't post again until next week. Let us take the time from our busy schedules to count our many blessings and give thanks.  Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

For you local St. Louis area friends, there are two Christmas Open Houses that are "must attends."   We always take the time to visit these shops as their Christmas merchandise and displays are some of the best.  These visits are guaranteed to put you in the Holiday spirit....I want one of everything!!

The first is Three French Hens located at 16935 Manchester Road, Wildwood, Mo.  They are known for their fine home furnishings and antiques.   Visit their website and take a tour of all the rooms. Their holiday merchandise is not on the site but the  posted pictures are good eye candy.  Their Holiday Open House starts Thursday, November 12th and runs thru Sunday, November 15th.

Jeffrey's Flowers by Design located at 300 Lakin Blvd, Wood River, Illinois is like walking into a wonderland.  I am so envious of his talents!  The open house is Sunday, November 15th from 11:00 am - 4:00 pm.  The floral designs are created by Jeffrey and his staff with normally one of a kind being offered.

Grab your girlfriends and make a short roadtrip this weekend. You will truly enjoy the day!

I have always been interested in fashion design and home decor.  I love design whether it is purses, floral arranging or grabbing a paintbrush and creating a watercolor picture to be used in making my own cards.  During my career in the corporate world I found time to take classes in areas that piqued my interest.  Prior to 'blowing out' my thumb (better known as trigger finger), I enjoyed floral design.  Too much cutting heavy wire and making bows have left a weakness in my right thumb (after a not too successful surgery).  I still enjoy creating a limited number of arrangements - like the decorations I am creating for my daughter and son-in-law's home for Christmas.  Don't you just love the bright happy colors in these arrangements?!

My favorite shade of Pink!	Love the turquoise! We have lime green bows too!

In the next couple of weeks I will be attending some of my favorite 'haunts' specializing in fantastic Christmas decorations.  Since Christmas is my favorite holiday I have to keep my creative fingers working until the next one decides to 'blow'.  Then it is off to a good surgeon!

This week has been exciting for the gals at Accessory Shoppe.  We spent several days helping to prepare for the Christmas Open House at Miss Bailey's Poppy Patch.  It is so exciting to open the boxes and look at all the new merchandise that was purchased at Market several months ago...almost like Christmas morning.  Of course, I wanted one of everything!  The weather is beautiful and the open house runs thru Sunday November 8th.  All of you locals grab some 'girl time' and head on up to the open house and get a start on your holiday shopping.

Recently we made a major purchase and added a Babylock commercial embroidery machine to our collection of  'must haves'.

There is a story behind this purchase.....

In our younger years hubby and I rode motorcycles but gave them up as we matured (we thought). Several years ago hubby decided to purchase a small Yahama bike to just 'toodle' around on.  We live in a small community with lots of country roads to explore.  Well, it seems his biker buddies ALL rode Harley's.  You can see what is coming, correct?  He is the proud owner of a Harley AND a Yahama...he just wants to make sure he likes the Harley before giving up his smaller bike.

Being a sharp and understanding wife, I casually mentioned that I would really like to have a commercial machine...just kinda planted the seed...I know you ladies understand! Several months later the new machine came to take her stately place in the studio.  When friends and family come to visit they ask to see Harleigh/Harley....and we proudly show them the 'his' and 'her' versions!

Remember...it's all in the name!!!

Here's Harleigh!

	Meet the newest member of the Accessory Shoppe.....Miss Sassy! In an attempt to improve our photos for the website I felt we needed a better way to display our purses and totes. We purchased Miss Sassy and immediately dressed her in a stylish creation.
Our new assistant!	She is a welcome addition to the studio. Just standing by waiting to model a new tote or bag....always quiet and not voicing an opinion. Wonderful!!!	Classy Miss Sassy!

With the addition of the new commercial machine we are revamping the studio.  New cabinets and counter top are on order which will give us much needed work and storage space.  My stash of fabrics have outgrown the 'tubs' and additional work space is very much needed. My husband surprised me with a lovely cabinet designed for the commercial machine to sit on with storage for the many hoops utilized by the new machine.  It has an extra shelf for the laptop so it can be plugged directly into the embroidery machine to access the designs.  Pretty neat!  We are so excited and can't wait for everything to be shipped.

Lighting has also been a problem in taking photos that show the fabric clearly on the internet.  Hubby and best friend are building lights with movable stands for us to utilize in our photo shoots.   (I still need improvement on taking great pictures).  I have taken new photos of the totes and purses but need to do a photo shoot on the linens...hopefully the website will be updated soon.  Please check back often.

We have had a busy week....

Thursday night we participated in a BPW function in Highland, IL.  Unfortunately, it was a rain out.  We experienced torrential rain all day and evening.  It was a miserable night for all.  Very disappointing for the vendors as the work that goes into these events is very exhausting and you try to make everything  'just right' for your clients.

Friday and Saturday was picture perfect St. Louis fall weather. This was our third year participating in the Lincoln Trail Decorative Artists Boutique in Swansea, IL.  It was wonderful to see our friends and past clients.  The handcrafted items are truly spectacular....these ladies know how to put a Boutique together.

	A new fabric for us! (See below)
A few handbags on display in Highland.		Table full of goodies in Swansea!