Pesky Cat Designs

I'll be participating in the 14th Annual Every Woman's Handmade Arts and Crafts Festival this Saturday at the St. Augustine Beach Pier Pavilion. This show features local and regional female artists creating a variety of fine art and hand-crafted items. Above is a glimpse of what will be for sale at the festival.  I'll have a display of about 35 handbags as well.   Looking forward to the show. See you at the pier!

Today was beautiful in St. Augustine and we spent it riding our bikes all over Anastasia Island. We biked through the state park, right on the beach and various roads. We stopped for ice cream and refreshments, visited friends who were selling their amazing art at the St. Augustine Beach Pier Pavilion and watched waves and surfers. Upon returning home we hosed off the bikes from all the sand and salt so they would be in tip top shape for our next trip.  Later in the day I added three new faux leather totes to the Pesky Cat Designs shop. They are made from eco-friendly PVC-free faux leather and feature one zippered interior pocket, two slip pockets and a swivel key clip. For the latest news and links to new bags visit the Pesky Cat Designs  Facebook page. Anytime a new bag is listed in the shop you can find a link to it on the facebook page. I will also regularly feature Anni, the sweet kitty behind Pesky Cat Designs. So stop on by!

Today was a perfect day for a photo shoot by the sea. Shown above is my revised Semi-Circle Purse with an adjustable shoulder strap so you can wear it on the shoulder or messenger style.  Modeled above is my latest Harris Tweed Patchwork Satchel. Two of these will be available in my shop tonight. And last but not least, here is my newest design, The Carryall. It looks great worn on the shoulder or cross body. It's quite roomy so you can bring along all your essentials. Perfect for watching pelicans diving for fish or a walk downtown. To see more photos go to my Facebook fan page. Stop by, peruse and become a fan if you like!       

Today it was 74  °F  (23  ° C) and partly sunny here in beautiful St. Augustine, Florida. It was a perfect day for being out and about. The image above was taken at around noon. Tom and I biked for several hours stopping only to watch the waves and to grab a bite to eat at our favorite Chinese restaurant.  Above is a sneak preview of work in progress at the studio. These Satchels are made from 100% eco -friendly hemp that is hand woven and hand dyed. This textile has a linen/burlap look and the colors are so earthy and gorgeous. These bags will be completed and available in the Pesky Cat Designs shop tomorrow afternoon. More bags are in various states of completion right now and should be listed in my shop by the end of next week. For the new year I'm thinking flower power, boho , rustic, folklore, indie, patchwork and denim. Earthy and natural. Not sure how many of these ideas will be transformed into handbags but if you stay tuned you'll find out! Wishing you...

St. Augustine Lighthouse via I still do not have access to my own computer and apologize for not being able to post pics of my new studio and home in St. Augustine, Florida. The internet provider here did not have our address in their data base so things are taking a long time. I expect to be up and running next week. Thanks for all your wonderful comments and for all your support. It has meant so much to me especially at this time. We are riding our bicycles everywhere in this bike-friendly town, even along the beach! See RideThisBike for a link to a video of someone pedaling along the shore. I've been working on new handbags and should have those listed in my shop next week. I'll be adding a batch of new Harris Tweed and corduroy bags. I'm also working on a new collection of bags created in lighter textiles. I recently purchased some gorgeous fabric by Annie Selke in tones inspired by the sea and sand. Stay tuned!

I'm back from my week long vacation in St. Augustine, Florida. Founded in 1565, it is the oldest established city and the oldest port in the continental United States. My partner Tom and I stayed at a oceanfront hotel located on St. Augustine Beach, just 3.7 miles from historic downtown St. Augustine, with views of the sea and the sound of crashing waves from our room. The weather was quite cool for this time of the year with an average temperature in the low to mid 50's but we enjoyed exploring downtown, walks on the beach and having an indoor pool and hot tub to relax in. The hotel had an area with a glass wind barrier that made it warm enough to lie in the sun, even with a bathing suit on, in 50 degree weather. Walks on the beach required socks with sandals most days, yes I know that is a big fashion faux pas but I made it work with matching socks. I must say that I did not miss the hustle and bustle of NYC at all and throughly enjoyed the relaxation and peace. Today in NYC ...