August Lately

Updates

I'm sorry to report that there still is no word on Nicholas Francisco. I continue to hope for a good outcome for his wife and children. If anyone is in the Seattle area, please continue to keep your eyes open. The reward for information leading to Nicholas is now $15,000.

As for August Lately, I've been working on orders and sneaking a few new designs in between.

Meet the roomy shoulder bag:

This particular bag is made from the Amy Butler Belle collection and is a bit livelier than I intended.

The same design looks incredibly different when made with dark brown ultrasuede and a classic floral print:

The ultrasuede is gorgeous in person but what a challenge it is to photograph!

In other August Lately News- The Belle bag is now also available as a design-your-own bag at August Lately:

We're battening down the hatches for yet another snow storm here in Vermont. What a winter! Hopefully I'll get some extra sewing time in.

It's Cold Outside

Which makes it that much more appealing to work on new designs for spring. I have a gigantic stash of fabrics that I don't use in my for-sale products, but instead use them up when I'm working on new designs.

Here's a sneak preview of what's to come for Spring 2008:

Flare Tote- Pleated tote bag with choice of recessed zipper or magnetic snap closure:

Bolsa (means bag in Spanish- guess I retained something from high school!)- A roomy shoulder bag with pleats and darts. Choice of recessed zipper or magnetic snap closure.

I'm not entirely sure what to call this one, or that the design is finished yet, but this is where I'm at so far with this pleated hobo:

Apparently I'm hobo challenged because I've been having a heck of a time working the shape out!

I'm planning to roll these out on the main website some time in early March. In the mean time, keep your eye on the etsy shop!

Still Here

Well, I did have a nice post all ready to go until firefox decided to crash on me. Typepad, why don't you save autodrafts for me? It would be ever so helpful!

January was the month of The Flu in the Hadley house, which is why I never got to that handmade holidays update post. The gifts we gave were gratifyingly appreciated and it is definitely something we'd like to continue for years to come.

That apron I designed? It came out so nicely, and I got such good feedback from it, that I decided to add aprons and matching dish towels to my product line. It's an idea I had been toying with for some time, and the enthusiastic response I received from the recipient sealed the deal. I'll be adding several reversible fabric combo options later today.

In January, I spent much of my time on the couch with one arm around a sick child and a sketchbook on my lap. Now that things have gone back to normal for the time being, I will be working on bringing my 2D imaginations into 3D reality. Stay tuned!

In the Works

I'm always thinking about new items that I can add to the Design Your Own line, and two more are soon to be introduced on the site.

The first, just in time for cooler weather, is the design your own scarf. This will be available to coordinate with any of our bags and accessories. It's not super bulky, but the flannel backing makes it just snuggly enough to keep the chills away.

The next, which will also soon be available, is the Design Your Own Pendant. When you sew handbags for a living, you end up with a lot of scraps. I'm always trying to think of ways to make good use of them, and I think this is one of the best ways ever! Each one is unique, and I will make sure that each one is special and lovely.

Another New Addition

Yep- my new baby. I spent many months doing my research for a new machine and settled on the Pfaff select line. No frills, but an incredible workhorse. Please excuse the bad night-time photo- she's much prettier in person.

The only problem is, I can't decide on what to call *her*. I feel that she is definitely a she, and I'm so fond of her, she needs a special name. My first thought was Bessie, but for some reason that just didn't seem to fit. Any suggestions?

The bag in the photo is a prototype for a new design I'm working on. I have a tendency to design small bags and I'm trying very hard to expand (pun intended!) the line to include larger bags.

Why do I have a clock on the wall right in front of my sewing table? I have a tendency to get absorbed in sewing projects and I've had a few close calls when it was time to pick my preschooler up at noon. This way it's almost impossible to lose track of time!

And More!

More new goodies now available:

New Pretties

I had a productive day today-

Freshly listed and in-stock at the website or the etsy shop.

Design Your Own!

I'm really excited to announce that August Lately now offers six design-your-own custom accessories including two different styles of wristlets, clutches, a wallet and a messenger bag.

There are currently 49 fabric choices available and the collection is quickly growing!

Some of my favorite new fabrics:

Introducing the two latest additions to the collection:

The Long Wristlet

This sleek wristlet is the perfect everyday bag to carry you necessities in style.

At 9 inches wide and 4 inches tall, it will hold our coordinating wallet perfectly with room to spare for your cell phone and keys.

The detachable 12 inch wrist strap doubles as a keychain.

100% cotton, fully interfaced for stability. A small magnetic snap holds the flap securely closed.

The Wallet

This compact, yet roomy wallet has room for all of your financial essentials. It also fits perfectly inside our long wristlet, which can be made in any of the available fabric combinations as well.

This wallet features three inner pockets (one zippered) and two card slots that will easily hold up to six credit cards. If you like to carry a checkbook, simply tuck it inside one of the pockets and away you go!

The small magnetic snap keeps the wallet securely closed and the optional d-ring allows you to attach a key fob for easy and secure carrying. 

Blizzards, Cold and Flu, Oh My!

It all started a week ago when our oldest son came down with the stomach flu. We knew it was only  a matter of time. Then our youngest Tuesday morning, then myself Tuesday night and through Wednesday, then my husband Wednesday night. What a romantic Valentine's day. Add on top of all that (literally!) a couple feet of snow and temps hovering around zero and you've got yourself a pretty miserable week! Luckily we're all on the mend now, and looking forward to February break.

My creativity is slowly returning and I've got several works in progress at the moment, including a new wristlet design. I made some new fabric cards as a quick crafty pick-me-up, available on the site now.

I've also got lots of yummy new fabric on the way. Some is on backorder until March, but I promise it is worth the wait!

Love is in the Air

Ah February. I love it. Why? Although it is a very cold month here in Vermont, it is typically the *last* really cold month. The mere arrival of February has me thinking of March and maple syrup, and the end to the subzero temperatures that we've had for weeks!

February, of course, also brings Valentine's day. My husband (who I've dated since high school, and coincidentally, will have been with for 12 years on February 27th!), while incredibly sweet, mild and accepting, is not a terribly romantic fellow. I've learned not to make a big deal of the holiday and instead find little, un-flowery ways to brighten our day.

The mood has struck me already this year, and the spirit inspired me to create this pretty little clutch. I've had the design in my head for some time, but the red cotton and red and pink vintage print were just begging to be made into something sweet for valentine's day. What do you think?

I'll be making more in a variety of spring-y combos!