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Showing posts from March, 2009

My One Second of Fame

I had my one second of fame today! I was hoping for the 15 minutes promised by Andy Warhol but I can't complain.  On March 27th I got a call from a producer of CBS Sunday Morning News letting me know that they are doing a feature on America's handmade economy and want to feature some of my bags on the set. I was quite excited. I dropped off  some of my handbags at the studio that day. Posted above is my security entrance card. My first name is spelled wrong and my head is turned to the side because the producer asked me a question just as the security guard was taking the photo. I was allowed in the building with my profile shot so all was well.  The CBS feature was broadcast nationally today. I was not at home and only had access to a small portable black and white TV with so so reception. Yes, rabbit ears. In the opening shot, CBS Sunday Morning News anchor Charles Osgood points to my handbags for about a second. he he  But I am still honored that they chose my bags from the

CBS Sunday Morning News

CBS Sunday Morning News is doing a feature on America's handmade economy and some of my handbags will be featured on the show this Sunday, March 29th! I got the call from the producers of the show today asking me to bring some of my handbags to the CBS studios in New York. My bags will be displayed on the set along with other designers' handmade items. Mo Rocco will be interviewing the founder of Etsy.com, Rob Kalin, and also Martha Stewart and DIY clothing designer R. Mackswell Sherman. Check out the CBS website to find out what station in your area carries "CBS Sunday Morning News" and what time it airs. I think it's going to be a great show!

Springtime Textiles

Spring is here and there are new textiles in the Pesky Cat Designs studio. Fabrics in linen and cotton are waiting to be transformed into handbags. Yesterday I added a couple of messenger bags to the shop in a beautiful springtime chartreuse. I also added my first faux leather bag   to the shop and it sold. I'll have more purses available in faux leather next week. Although it's still quite cold here in NYC, I am dreaming of cherry blossoms and warm breezes.   The Offbeat Messenger in Chartreuse 

New Faux Leather Creation

Introducing my new faux leather bag creation! The Wayfarer Purse above is made from a faux leather in saddle brown and has an ultrasuede cherry blossom applique in cream. I love this combination of texture and color. There are two interior pockets to keep your things organized and it is fully lined in a cotton floral print fabric. More faux leather bags are coming to the Pesky Cat Designs shop very soon. Stay tuned!

Spring Flower Creations

Today I want to share with you some of my favorite sellers on Etsy and their spring inspired creations.  Quince Flower Stack by Wired Design I just discovered Wired Designs on Etsy today while browsing through the gift guides. Dana of Wired Designs is from York, Pa., U.S.A., and began making jewelry several years ago, giving and selling mostly to friends and family members. Now she has a wonderful shop on Etsy filled with unique and beautiful hand-forged creations! I Promise You a Rose Garden..... by Star of the East This handbag by Star of the East is just too amazing! Beautiful pink organza roses on a gorgeous taffeta field. What a beautiful bag to celebrate springtime with! Star of the East is a lovely mother and daughter team, Esther and Estella, from Turkey. They are amazing artists and their shop is filled with the most unique and beautiful items! Become Rose Garden Brooch by Meltemsem Become as beautiful as a rose garden if you wear this brooch! Meltemsem is an artist from Is

Etsy Front Pagers

In the past week I had two Etsy front pagers. Yay! I got a lot more traffic on my site which always makes me happy. :))) The treasury posted above, created by an Etsy administrator, made it to the front page yesterday and featured my Semi-Circle Purse in corduroy with a cherry blossom applique. Thanks Etsy!  This treasury made it to Etsy's front page last Monday and featured my Wayfarer Purse with a cherry blossom applique. It was curated by junejaynes who is a buyer on Etsy. Her bio says " I'm a creative soul looking to be a part of a creative place".  Thanks for selecting my purse for your lovely treasury June! I'm glad you are a part of Etsy's creative community!

Buttons from Nottingham

I recently purchased and received these gorgeous wooden buttons from a lovely seller on Etsy, Nutured Earth , located in Nottingham, England. Her shop was set up to promote recycling and the use of natural, sustainable materials which have had little or no negative impact on the environment.   She saved these buttons from a wasteful fate. See the whole story here . I can't wait to adorn my Pesky Cat Designs handbags with these rescued buttons! 

This is Where I Work

Here's a little glimpse into the Pesky Cat Designs work area. The large wood table is where I cut and pin all my fabric. The table in the back is where all the sewing takes place. I also have metro shelving where I store all my fabric, interface, hardware and packing materials. It's not a large studio but it is sufficient. Living in New York City you must make the best of a small space. Of course my studio does not look this clean and neat while I am in the midst of working. The photo was taken this morning just before starting my work day. By the middle of the day there is fabric, interface, scissors, hardware, rulers, pins, pencils, patterns, spools of thread and little pieces of thread scattered everywhere. So that's what it looks like at the moment!  Wishing everyone a wonderful day. :)

Etsy Favorites

Posted below are some of my recent favorites available on Etsy . It was hard to decide on which to feature since I have so many!   Bird Vase by JmrPottery I think the Bird Vase by JMRPottery would need to have a shelf all to its own! This beautiful bowl/vase is made out of redstone clay on a potter's wheel by Julie M. Rowe from North Carolina. I love the green glaze and the bird is just too sweet.                 Sea Urchin Ring by Staroftheeast                                The Sea Urchin Ring by StarOfTheEast is absolutely gorgeous! I love things inspired by nature and especially by the sea.   StarOfTheEast is a lovely mother and daughter team, Esther and Estella, from Turkey. Their work is so unique and inspirational! Tea Pot Charm by MDsparks I always start my mornings with a cup of tea with lemon and sugar. The first thing I do when I wake up is walk straight to the kitchen and fire up the teapot. So when I saw this teapot charm by MDSparks on Etsy you can imagine how exc

New Corduroy Purses!

The Wayfarer Purse in Camel Corduroy I just added four new corduroy Wayfarer Purses to the Pesky Cat Designs shop!  I wasn't sure if I was going to be able to finish them in time and still have enough daylight left to photograph them. But I did. I really cut it close though! This might be my last batch of corduroy handbags for a while. Not sure. I do have some fabric left over so you never know! The Wayfarer Purse posted above is made from a camel cotton corduroy and is fully lined in a cotton floral toile by Michael Miller. I absolutely love this fabric. Flowers and butterflies! I used my last piece to make this purse. Check out my shop to see all the new handbags!

Japanese Fabric and a Glimpse

I just ordered a few yards of the Japanese imported cotton print fabric posted above! Sweets cats are strolling among the delicate trees. It's sophisticated and cute at the same time. I just could not resist! You can find it for sale here . I plan to use it to line the interior of my handbags. Speaking of handbags, I am working on a batch right now. Posted below is a little glimpse into the studio. The bags are in various stages of production. I hope to have them finished by tomorrow. Stay tuned!

New Lining Fabric!

Sakura Flitting Mums by Robert Kaufman T oday I expect a shipment of new lining fabric (see photos posted) to be delivered. Can't wait! I get very excited over fabric as you can see. I like to line my handbags with cotton prints and really enjoy selecting which will look best with a particular handbag. I first fuse a lightweight interface to the fabric to give it more body and durability. The inside of a handbag needs to be as strong as the outside. Especially if you are like me and add way to much to your purse than you should! Zen Blossoms by Michael Miller Posted above is a gorgeous cotton print by Michael Miller. I just love his textiles!  Since I am using cherry blossom appliques in my recent handbags I thought it would be perfect. I think it will look gorgeous lining a natural or oatmeal linen purse!    Jacobean Floral Garden by Print Concepts I love the floral design in the fabric posted above. I imagine it will look great against a oatmeal or khaki fabric. Perhaps olive gre

Spring is almost here!

D aylight saving time begins this Sunday. That's always a sign that spring is just around the corner. I don't like the prospect of losing an hour of my time but I do look forward to warmer weather. Posted above is a lovely cotton floral toile by Michael Miller. I thought it would be perfect for my spring collection of handbags. The Wayfarer Purse posted below is fully lined with this lovely print fabric! It's available at the Pesky Cat Designs shop.

The Downtown Boutique

Y esterday my Wayfarer Purse,  posted above, was featured on a lovely blog called The Downtown Boutique . Thanks Angie! Check out her blog for wonderful unique finds from all over the world. 

NYC in Snow

T he New York City metropolitan area got about 6 to 12 inches of snow yesterday. Posted above is the view from my window taken early Monday morning. My partner Tom was checking out the view just as a red-tailed hawk flew right by our window and landed on our neighbor's air conditioner. It was hard to take the photo without the risk of falling out the window so we did not get the greatest shot. As you can see from the photo, the hawk apparently found something inside my neighbor's window very interesting. 

Monday in the Studio

T oday I started my day in the studio with a cup of tea with lemon and the internet.  I sold several bags over the weekend so I needed to print shipping labels and package them. I also added one new handbag, posted above, to my shop. Once that was done I put on my waterproof boots, since there was quite a lot of snow outside, and took my packages to the post office which is located about 2 blocks away from my studio. Very convenient! When I returned to my studio I pulled out my storage containers of textiles and selected fabric for my next batch of handbags. I decided on dove gray cotton canvas, chartreuse twill, red corduroy and burnt orange corduroy. These fabrics will all be transformed into new handbags over the course of the next few days. Stay tuned!

Monday is coming :))))

W hat is so great about Monday you ask? Well, for me it's the first day of the week I can spend in the Pesky Cat Designs studio creating handbags!  I must admit I love working on my designs. I am usually in the studio Monday through Thursday. I will begin by pulling out my storage containers of fabric and choosing some to work with. This week I have spring in mind so I think that will inspire my fabric choices. I am thinking chartreuse twill, sky blue canvas and slate blue/gray linen. Or maybe light olive green canvas, oatmeal linen and cornflower blue hemp. Then again, I might be inspired to work with something completely different since snow is predicted for the New York City area tonight and tomorrrow. Check back tomorrrow to see what's being created in the studio. I hope everyone had a wonderful weekend. Wishing you a great week ahead!