I opened my shop in September of 2011 after I spent much of the summer sewing bags. I had got a new sewing machine in the spring after not having one for several years and I was excited to learn how to sew again.

After I got the new machine, I never really thought about sewing bags, probably thinking it would be too complicated, so I stuck to simple things like skirts and shorts for practice. Sewing clothes always has been kind of a pain to me as I don't really like to follow patterns, especially ones with a lot of steps. Plus there really wasn't much room to add my own touch on it. It kind of takes me back to when I was little and how I didn't like coloring books. I always wanted a plain piece of paper so I could do my own thing instead of coloring someone else's drawing. :)

My mom took a class at a local quilt shop the beginning of that summer and learned how to make a metal frame purse. When she came home, she showed me how to do it and I was surprised at how easy it was and no pattern needed! That made me happy. She helped me make the first one which was very simple but it seemed kind of plain to me. I didn't like that and immediately began thinking of ways that I could make it better.

I found some scrap fabric and decided that I was going to make another bag like that one, but only with a few extra touches to make it more interesting. I figured out how to add a zipper pocket in the lining and then another pocket on the front of the bag that was a little more decorative with a matching button. Eventually I went on to even figuring out how to add a removable shoulder strap to it to make the bag easier to carry.

From there, I continued experimenting with different fabrics and finding supplies to match. I've always enjoyed working with color and love it when I can find the perfect combination. It's always exciting for me when I can find supplies to match the colors in fabric as if they were made to go together.

After spending the summer busy sewing bags, I wasn't sure what I was going to do with all of them. I enjoyed making them and didn't want to stop but I certainly couldn't keep them all for my use. As tempting as that was! I discovered Etsy and realized it would be a great idea to open up a shop to sell them. Then I could keep making bags and not have to worry about what I was going to do with them, plus I could earn some extra money to buy more fabric and supplies.

Eventually I decided to try making some different bag styles for both variety and supplies for the metal frame bags were getting to be too expensive. I preferred using simple patterns that involved cutting squares and rectangles of various sizes rather than having an actual paper pattern that I needed to cut out (Which also saved me the hassle of trying to fold the paper patterns back up to fit into the envelope!). I also made sure that whatever bag pattern I did use, it would allow me to add some of my own touches to it.

I had a lot of ideas about what types of bags I wanted to make but I started to have trouble finding patterns that I liked. As I learned more about how bags were pieced together, I began sketching some of my own designs and started making patterns for them so I could create a bag to look exactly like how I wanted it to. Once I learned how to do this, the possibilities seemed endless and it was very exciting for me.

One thing that really helped me with creating bags is that I've always been able to visualize things really well so I can actually see the finished bag in my head, right down to the last detail, before it's even made. The patterns that I write are simply measurements with a sketch to go with them. From there I go by with how I visualize the bag to look and make it a reality. It's a great feeling for me to have a design in my head and then to be able to see the finished product come out exactly the way I visualized it. :)

I'm constantly working on coming up with new ideas and designs since there's always room for improvement! I love figuring out new techniques and how to incorporate them to make a beautiful yet functional bag. I also have an embroidery machine now so it's really opened up even more possibilities for me with what I can do, especially since I can turn my drawings into embroidery. If I can't find an embroidery design to match the print of the fabric, I'm able to draw one to get the look that I want.

One of my favorite things about creating bags is all the small details that I can add to them be it the trim, a matching button, embroidery, or even a zipper pull with beads that compliment the colors in the bag. Each and every one of them is really a piece of art to me and has been made with the utmost care!