Something for one of the sweetest women that I know!!

Whew! It's Christmas Eve and we are finally done setting everything up for the morning festivities. Now I have a few minutes to write about making a "Jessica Purse" for my wonderful friend named "M".

The first time that I met "M" she saw me walking into church with a bag of food for a food drive that we were having. Not only did she run over to me to help me carry it and tell me where it needed to go but she was so warm and friendly that I couldn't resist her offer to go to a meeting that got me involved serving on our ministry to the poor (St. Vincent de Paul) and that service has truly changed my life. She NEVER stops giving, stops supporting or stops caring- she has more energy than I do in my pinkie finger- she's incredible!! Oh yeah- and she is beautiful on top of it all.

A week before the St. Tim's show she and her husband came over to our house for a party. I had all of my purses and other items "staged" for planning my booth and I loved getting feedback from my guests. "M's" super sweet husband ("R") pulled me to the side and asked me to make a purse for her that he had seen her eyeing down. He even paid attention to what fabric she liked and will be surprising her with her custom purse for Christmas. How amazing that he was attentive enough to order one JUST for her as a surprise!?? "R"- you are my #2 incredible husband of the year for 2009!!!!- sorry, #1 is taken for my own husband just in case he ever reads my blog!

"R" and "M"- thank you for being such a source of inspiration for me and for your ever flowing kindness!! I cannot wait to hear how you feel about your purse "M".

xoxo-

holly

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!!!!!

This is my Jessica bag- they cost $45.

Sewing doesn't get any more fun than this!! item #3

So here it is- the hardest (not technically but aesthetically) bag that I have made yet. I am not kidding when I tell you that I spent hours and hours and hours scouring stores and fabric websites to find fabric that would work for this bag. "A.M." asked me to make a bag in Gator colors (for you non-football loving fans that is the Florida Gators- University of Florida) as a pun for her sister in law's love of the Gators. I giggled when she made the request and then I drew a HUGE blank as to how I was going to make it cute. Finding wonderful fabric in these colors is NOT easy. I finally found inspiration and after consulting "A.M." we decided on these fabrics and can I say GORGEOUS???? I am dying to see how her sister in law reacts when she gets it.

SUCH a hysterical and creative idea "A.M.". I can't beleive that we pulled it off looking so cute. Let me know if she likes it!!

My slings are $45

Sewing doesn't get any more fun than this!! item #2

A gift for "A.M.'s" niece who is not yet 2 years old. She ask me to make matching cotton bloomers which I have not done before. The picture doesn't do the bloomers justice because they are absolutely precious and were actually pretty easy (thanks to my Mom who ripped out the stitching in another pair so I could see them deconstructed).
I enlisted another 2 year old who is near and dear to my heart model the dress for me so "A.M." can see how it looks before I deliver it. She stuck her little hands in the pockets right away. Does she make it look cute or what?? Thank you "A" for your patience while I took the pictures! I sure do love you!

The Laci dress like this is $55 and bloomers would be an additional $8.

Sewing doesn't get any more fun than this!! item #1

My friend "A.M." (who is a brilliant jewelry designer and amazing juggler of time!!) has been ordering gifts from me for her friends and family. I love that she gets excited about what each of them might like and her requests are fine tuned for them alone!

This particular sling though is just for "A.M." and she let me decide which coordinating fabrics would fit her best. She is really creative and her style is a touch edgy, she's adorable.

Although I'm excited to see if she likes it- I am a little bummed that I have to part with it because it's look really cute with my new jeans!!

xoxo A.M.

The sling is $45

Great requests make an awesome bag!!

I have a love/hate relationship with modifications....I get so excited to work on a new idea, working out the kinks, making a piece EXACTLY for that one person BUT in a time constraint I start to worry if I will get it done on schedule and if it will be as perfect as I expect it to be. I had the best of both worlds completing this new merged style because the owner of this bag was sweet enough to give me plenty of time to complete it!

She didn't want a diaper bag that was really large- like the usual diaper bag that I make. But she still wanted a zippered opening and a plethora of pockets. I enjoyed putting it together for her thinking about all of the characteristics that I wanted in my own dream bag. I hope she agrees that it turned out as cute and utilitarian as it looks to me!

My wonderful friend (and truly amazing quilter) Margaret, is kind enough to always be on the lookout for new things that I might like to sew. She gave me the great idea to make these little diaper/wipe holders so I made one for this order hoping that "M" enjoys it and will give me any feedback that she has.

venturing into aprons- good Christmas gifts!

I have made several aprons in the last few years but I only give them as gifts and move on. After I made this one though I decided that aprons MUST be in my repertoire! This one is just too cute and va-va-voomish to pass up. I have plans to add many more style of aprons soon.

It can be made out of any fabric you wish but would have to be very washable. I also can add a ruffle on the hem (seriously cute). Sizes are the usual- S, M, L, xL $32.

St. Timothy's boutique

I could not have done this show without my friend (she is my youngest son's AMAZING Godmother) "P". So if she is reading this- I can never thank you enough!! She stayed the entire day with me. God bless her.

The show was a lot of fun and the best part was that met a wonderful girl who makes incredible jewelry that I can only drool over. Thankfully, she agreed to a trade so I walked away with two gorgeous pieces that I alternate every day. I hope she enjoys her purse as much as I ADORE my necklaces!

I want to post a few pictures from the day because my oldest son took my camera and snapped some shots of his own. These are courtesy of him :).

more Miss Jenn's Everyday Bag....

Miss Jenn's Everday Bag

I have been intending to get organized (something that always seems to allude me!) and explain what each bag style is and if there are options, etc. So here is what I have. I can tend to over-explain so please bear with me.....

SOME of these bags are in stock and some of them are not. Depending on how many orders I have in line I can get a custom bag done for you from 3 days to 3 weeks.

This style has outside pockets- which is awesome since I have ruined at least 3 cell phones that I remember due to spilling something inside my purse. I make it now with two inside pockets as well. It has a button closure (usually it sparkles!) and I interface it pretty stiff.

I typically have the most fun when I can mix fabrics but this style just doesn't allow for that. That being said, I can add a trim to the outside pockets or like the turquoise and grey one I can sew more "stuff" on the fabric ('applique' is the word) if you give me the green light. It's totally up to you!

Miss Jenn's Everyday bag is $48.

mmmmm- my new skirt

My son's chubby little legs are definitely the cutest thing in this picture but my scrap skirt is a close second (that's actually not true- those legs put the skirt to shame)! Going back through all of the gorgeous fabrics I have used these past months is a visual feast. My idea is to scale this down and give it an elastic waist- made for little girls of course. After I get one done I'll post a picture.

St. Timothy's Holiday Boutique Saturday November 14th

OK- so in the midst of trying to accomplish 10,000 things in a day and having a 5 month old attached to me at all times I decided to participate in the St. Timothy's Holiday Boutique this year. I feel very overwhelmed but I am having the time of my life planning for it. In addition to my handbags I plan to have a few examples of other items that I work on that could be custom ordered- nursing covers, toddler dresses and really cute aprons to name a few. I have been playing around with how I want to stage all of the items and this is no where near complete but after I took my "in progress" photos seeing all those gorgeous colors in one spot makes my mouth water.....I had to share.

I can't help but post my "collaboration" with my daughter "L" for Halloween. I figure it relates since it is still handmade. We worked so long and hard on her Halloween costume- after endless arguments over pink or fall colors she and I both got a little of what we wanted. You can't tell in these photos how painstakingly she glittered and puffy painted her little leaves on the dress but according to her she is pleased! Now I can only hope she still wants to wear it come Halloween.

My 2 year old daughter is my inspiration to make a lot of things....just so happens that she is one of the "girliest" 2 year olds around so purses have always been a number 1 fetish of hers.

I finally made one that is perfect for her! A great size- easy to embellish so she can show her personality and I can whip it up great with old scraps that were begging to be utilized. She uses it mainly to carry around several princess lipsticks that my mom sent her. We recently made one "together" for her little friend "A". I am hoping A's mom will contribute a photo of her with it when I ask.

This style can also be a clutch if it's made without the strap.....or a make up bag. $18.

I have very little time left after I do everything needed for my three young children. Someday, I hope to have a website where items can be purchased but for now, time simply does not allow for it. SOOOO, I have decided to post what I am working on. If anyone is interested in an item- email me at lacijean@yahoo.com.



I make lots and lots of purses, totes, diaper bags, etc. I love to sew and i simply can't beat being creative and making something useful at the same time (always multitasking... always). This specific style is one of my favorite to make. It's a clean line and such a great "in the middle" bag. It has two pockets on the outside so you can slide in your cell phone, keys, pacifiers and what not. $38.