Hey, Cabbie!

This is a fun novelty bag! The exterior panels are a crisp black poplin fabric lined with fleece and a sturdy stabilizer for added body. The front and back pockets are a cotton print with yellow taxi cabs bumper to bumper. The say "NYC Taxi" on the sides of the cabs. The exterior pockets are accented with bright yellow piping.

For a closure I used an oversized yellow button and an elastic loop. The handles are 1" wide and 16" long, making this a wristlet.

The lining is a black and white cotton print of a traffic jam. The two interior pockets are lined with the taxi fabric and accented with black piping.

Yolanda!

This sassy bag is the latest addition to my "Diva" line of bags. She was born on December 30th, making her a Capricorn. Yolanda is made from jet black dupioni silk with custom black satin piping on her two exterior pockets. The outer pockets are lined in an animal print cotton fabric. There is a 24kt gold plated button for decor only on her front above the pocket. Her handles are black satin and are 16" long making her a wristlet. Yolanda's opening is richly enhanced with black maribou feathers to show off her whimsical side. Yolanda's big surprise, though, lies with her interior. That is where she shows off her wild side with the animal print lining. The two interior pockets are lined with black cotton fabric and accented with black piping to set them off. There is a gold toned magnetic closure on this lovely lady.

Yolanda loves parties but is equally comfortable in black jeans and a button down white shirt. Heels of course!

This bag is for the confident woman who isn't afraid to stand out in a crowd.

New Fabrics for Spring 2008

Yesterday I went shopping and found some beautiful new fabrics for my spring line of bags. You will not miss these girls when they are out and about. They are bold, bright and fun loving colors. A perfect fit for my Divas! I tried to buy locally as much as possible as a loyal islander, but only was able to purchase 3 of my silks on island. The others have been ordered. I can't wait to receive them and see the whole pallette together. Of course aside from the bright and bold theme, there will be some beautiful neutrals with the occasional "feathered Diva".

I have also purchased more of the manufactured handles as seen on "Sienna". I love how those handles look on my girls. They are an upgrade but most customers adore the look. Stay tuned for an update on the Spring Line of Sasaki Bags!

This bag is revisiting my asian theme. It is a black dupioni silk with two exterior pockets. The pockets on both front and back are a beautiful asian tapestry depicting asian women in a garden. There is one 24kt gold plated button on the front with a beautiful filigree design that the elastic loop closure fits over to secure this bag. The interior lining is a beautiful vintage kimono fabric in shades of orange, red, greens, and black. It blends perfectly with the colors in the tapestry. This purse is a wristlest with 16" handles.

New York, New York!

Start singing along with ole Blue Eyes when you see this bag! This one is just for fun. It's main attraction is a map of Queens in New York on one side and Brooklyn New York on the other side. The exterior side panels are a black and white cotton fabric that shows off the Statue of Liberty, Radio City Music Hall, The Brooklyn Bridge, the Empire State Building and other New York City attractions. Inside is where I really had fun. This bag is lined with a cotton fabric that will evoke a smirk from even the most New York of New Yorkers! It has bumper to bumper yellow taxi cabs that say NYC taxi on them. There are two interior pockets accented with yellow piping.

I am making map bags of several major cities of the world. London, Paris, Tokyo, Kona....yes, my Hawaii Map Bag will be making its debut before long!

So my latest Map Bag is here! I decided to make this one a bit more luxurious. It is an ITMB map of Tokyo with Tokyo station, Marunouchi, Ginza, Shinbashi and other great landmarks visible. The fabric is a yummy lavender silk. The color of the bag matches the artwork on the map with soft purple, pink and yellows.

The exterior pocket is lined and accented with grey dupioni silk and custom piping. The interior of this bag is what really makes it special. I used a vintage kimono fabric. It is a cream colored background with Samurai Warriors "on parade". They look like little chubby sumo wrestlers! I used a nickel magnetic closure on the inside and attached 16" padded handles to this wristlet.

Alexis

Please join with me in celebrating the birth of my latest Diva, Alexis! She was born Saturday, December 22, making her a Capricorn. She enjoys quiet evenings and long walks. Her style is simple elegance. She is a wonderful companion and knows how to keep a confidence. Alexis is reserved, but once she gets to like someone, she will be their friend for life.

Alexis is made from thai silk in a taupe color. She has one exteror pocket lined in a peacock colored thai silk and accented with custom silk piping. Her beauty is highlighted by the gorgeous blue almond pheasant feathers she wears so well. They have shades of grey, peacock, gold, black and a multitude of other colors.

Her interior has one pocket and a gold-tone magnetic snap closure. Her handles are 16" long making her a perfect wristlet. She has two 24kt gold plated buttons on her front with a filigree design on them.

I am very proud of this young lady. I'm sure she will go far in life.

Isuien Miyako

Today, we have the birth of the long awaited Isuien Miyako. Isuien has caused me to labor long and hard but I am sure you will agree that she was worth the wait! The name Isuien comes from a beautiful Japanese garden in Nara, Japan that I visited. It is the only garden of it's kind in all of Japan. I thought this was an appropriate name because this handbag will forever be a one of a kind original. The fabric is a vintage obi (the tie that you wrap around a kimono). It is one of the most exquisite pieces of fabric I have ever touched. It is silk, of course, in shades of sage green, soft rose, and pale lavendar with creamy lotus flowers and golden metallic vines. Although her roots are in the orient,this bag does not look "asian" as many of my bags do. This bag would be at home in Chicago or Kyoto!

The lining is a fabric I have saved and cherished for quite some time. I knew I would one day find the perfect application for it. It is a rich irridescent lavendar pintuck. It has a gold sheen to it, making it compliment the obi fabric beautifully. Since both fabrics are so rich, I did not want to use a closure that would distract the eye so I chose to use a gold-tone metal magnetic snap on the interior. There are two exterior pockets that are accented with ivory satin piping. Isuien's handles are 16" long, making her the perfect wristlet.

Born on Tuesday, December 18, 2007, Isuien Miyako is a Saggitarius. She is a true lady. She adores fine champagne or sparkling water and enjoys late lunches with girl friends or dining by candlelight with someone special. Although she has seen much of the world, she is as comfortable on the East Coast as she is in the Far East!

Allow me to Introduce Sienna...

We have another new Diva! She was born Saturday December 8, 2007 making her a Sagittarius.

Sienna is a beautiful woman of color, exquisitely adorned with pheasant feathers. Her exterior is a copper-colored Jim Thompson Thai silk. I LOVE the quality of this silk. It is such a joy to work with! And the sheen is simply elegant. Sienna has one exterior pocket on her back that is accented with custom dupioni silk piping. There are two 24kt gold plated buttons with an intricate design for decoration only above the feathers. I have used manufactured black faux leather handles for her and added a gold-tone magnetic snap on the interior. The lining is a rich Laotian silk. It is black with copper pin stripes. There are two interior pockets accented with black piping.

Sienna is definately a show stopper. I dare you to take her out and not get noticed! She enjoys long walks in the moonlight and attending the theatre.

Planning a Picnic

Okay, you bring the potato salad...I'll bring some watermelon. How is your sense of humour? Well, last night after fussing and fussing with the Ha Noi Bag, I needed to do something just a little fun and outrageous. My Watermelon Sasaki Bag was just the thing. She just cracks me up! Infact, that is what inspires many of my bags. I like to make things that at the least make me smirk (or schmirk as my husband says I do). But when I find one that cracks me up...well, that is a good day! I hope this one will go to someone with an equally warped sense of humor. I just put her in my Etsy store, so go take a peak.

More Hanoi Map Bag Photos

So here are some more pics of the bag that was born today.

Mapping the World!

Well, if you read my earlier blogs about getting permission from ITMB to use their maps to make my map bags, you know that the President of that company requested a map bag for his wife. She is Vietnamese so he even sent me a map of Hanoi, Vietnam and put post-its near where their house is located and other points of interest to include in her bag. Yesterday I finally got the silk painting I ordered from ebay that I planned to use in this bag. It is by a vietnamese artist and is basically a silk panel that has been painted on. It had a lovely scene of fishing and women in a village field. So being brave I just cut the painting up to use as fabric panels for Mrs. Joyce's bag. The fabric panels are on either side of the bag and the map panels are on the front and back sides. I lined this bag with a golden silk fabric that I bought at Jim Thompsons in Bangkok, Thailand. There is also a magnetic closure and two pockets inside. I had some Laotian silk I wanted to use for the lining but it just didn't go with the bag. I hope she likes this as a reminder of home. There's no place like home.....

Margeaux

A new diva was born today! Her name is Margeaux. She is a gorgeous black dupioni silk with black and white curly goose feathers on her front. She has padded 17" handles making her a wristlet. She is lined with black and white polka dot fabric as a reminder to not take life too seriously and her three pockets are lined with a smaller polka dot print. She has a magnetic closure and she is topped off with black maribou feathers because she is a party girl. Margeaux enjoys fine dining, full bodied red wine and chick flicks. Her birthday is December 5, 2007, which makes her a Sagittarius.

There's a New Diva on the Scene!

Tonight I added to my Diva Collection with the birth of "Scarlett". She is a delicious scarlet colored dupioni silk (which I love to work with!). I custom made oversized black silk piping to accent her pockets with.

She is lined with black silk from a vintage kimono that has a tone on tone asian print which is very subtle on the black. The two interior pockets are lined with the dark red silk that is used on her exterior.

I love her closure....(we should all have closure, don't you think?) Scarlett's is an elegant metal silver-tone button with a black velvet center. An elastic loop slips over it to secure the bag. She also has a magnetic closure (thanks again, mom!) I even put padding in Scarlett's handles for added comfort and structure.

On Scarlett's back is a little surprise. She has a black geometric design machine embroidered on her....which makes her back look as beautiful as her front!

I bought the red silk that I used in the creation of Scarlett a few years ago on a trip to California. I always buy two things on my trips...fabric... and music to evoke memories of that time and location. I still have a stash of fabric from Japan and Thailand and even some from Idaho that I got this summer!

Lola

Here are some pics of Lola all dressed to kill!

Ta-Da...allow me to introduce LOLA!

Whatever Lola wants...Lola gets....well, not really. You see Lola didn't exactly want to have a closure....she wanted to be loose and free...but her new best friend, Kathy, "really really really" wanted a closure. So...Lola got a magnetic clasp so that Kathy won't "feel exposed" when they go out together. It actually turned out great. sometimes the interior magnets sort of squish this design of bag and they get distorted with the side panels poking out....but Lola is quite the lady and has cooperated nicely. The guinea feathers I used are SO striking. They compliment the gray silk and the lavendar silk perfectly. The plum handles add such a sense of charm to her. So kathy, Lola will be on her way (after I take her to work to show her off). Love you sis!

Happy B-day Erica!

Today is my friend Erica's bday. so I made her this little ditty. Hope she likes it!

Lucky to Live Hawaii...

I was on my way to work today and it was so beautiful. One of those days that you just sigh and say to yourself, "I am so lucky to live here". I could see Maui crystal clear and the ocean was just sparkling. I am not sure if it was really an exceptional day or if I just was taking time to stop and smell the plumeria! The saddle road was closed due to snow and ice. I hope the mountain clears so we can see the snow. Two weeks ago there was snow on both Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa. What a site! I just had to share....

Map Bag Debut

So here is the first one to be offered in my Etsy store. It is a map of Tokyo by ITMB (thank you Jack Joyce) It has the Imperial Palace on one side and Shinjuku Train Station on the other side along with several other areas of Tokyo. The fabrics I used are a lime green cotton with sushi, kokeshi dolls and chopsticks for the exterior panels...and a black cotton with red chopsticks for the lining! Very cute. The handles and loop closure are black poplin. This is a very trendy bag. I love Tokyo.

My next map bag will be of....NYC!
stay tuned!

Yo Biker Mama!

Okay, today was a football Sunday for Earl (my husband) so I retired to my sewing studio. I had been inspired by a request by a return customer of mine, Jo-Anne, who mentioned she has a friend who likes motorcycles. I figured I had to incorporate some faux leather somehow, some black denim, motorcycle print fabric, and lots of chunky hardware. I am tempted to keep this one...but can't do that or I would have a million kazillion bags! The black denim was from a pair of skinny jeans that I had been stashing with the hopes of "getting back into them". Ha! Imagine how liberated I felt taking the rotary cutter to those babies! Instead of "getting back into them"....I "got back at them"! I think they will look much better on someones wrist then they did on my tush!

Another Diva Bag

So this is the bag I have been working on and waiting for her to tell me how to finish her. She is made from a vintage Obi that I imported from Kanazawa, Japan. the Obi hung in my studio for quite a while because it was so beautiful that I hated to deconstruct it. This Obi is 100% silk...front and back and is exquisite! The colors are delicate mauve, lavendar and sage green with creamy white lotus blossoms and gold metalic threads making up the stems and vines.

The lining I am using in this bag is silk that was lining from a Haori in its previous life. A Haori is a Japanese coat, if you will...much like a Kimono but only shirt length. I have had this bag 1/2 finished for a couple of weeks and am waiting to insert the lining. (thus the pins that you see sticking out the top of the bag)

I have had a challenge locating wholesale suppliers for my magnetic clasps, o-rings, d-rings, purse feet etc that ship to Hawaii and do so at a reasonable shipping rate. So my mom to the rescue. Yesterday she called me from Idaho and found magnetic closures for 50cents each. I had her buy over 100 of them for me and that made it possible for the coupon queen. aka "MOM", to use her coupon and save me and extra $15. Thank you so much mom! (I am hoping that atleast my mom reads my blog!)So now I can quit being stingy with my clasps. Here at the fabric store they want to charge $4.29 for each clasp! Sorry, just can't pay that!

But once I get the clasps, I can put the lining in. I have a name picked out for her already but will wait to introduce her formally until she is completely dressed.

Its back to my sweat shop....
have a great day!

Patches

I finished two bags tonight. The Ladybug and now....ta-da! ...Patches! These were custom requested orders for one of my returning customers. Patches is made from yellow and blue patchwork cotton fabric and a pair of recycled faded denim blue jeans. I used yellow piping for all the pockets and chose a metal button with a flower motif for the closure.

Ladybugs

I just finished this bag. It has black denim for the straps and front pockets. I used existing pockets from recycled jeans for the pockets and there is even a "Bongo" tag still attached to one of the pockets. I used red piping to accent the pockets inside and out. The lining and accent fabric is an adorable ladybug print on sunny yellow. The ladybugs are outlined in a thin turquoise . There are two pockets inside and a distressed red button closure. I hand sewed ladybug buttons randomly onto the black denim. I really like this bag. It is so bright and fun.

More Custom Orders

I love that I am getting return customers. One of my "preferred" customers just put in a request for two bags for her daughters. I went to town last night and found some great fabrics that I know she will love! Stay tuned, Jodi! Ladybugs and denim...and yellow and blue patchwork will be making a weekend debut. I will work on them tonight and post photos so you can see how "the girls" are coming along.

I am also looking high and low for the perfect fabric to make a bag for my sisters boss. You would think black dupioni would be easy to find! Not here! I think I will have to drive up mauka today and check out Mrs. Kimura's store. Sometimes I find some absolutely wonderful fabrics there. I like to buy locally when I can to support our economy and Kimura's have had their little store in Kainaliu for over 40 years I believe.

I'm such a Goof!

So here is your laugh of the day. Yesterday, I was hurrying about getting ready for work. I was curling my hair with a curling iron. (yes, Kathy, it has grown out enough to do that) and in a move that will not be forever known as one of my brightest, I laid the curling iron down on my eye glasses! Now, let me just say that I do not own a pair of contacts (I'm too low maintainence for that)and I am 46 years old with eyes that are coincidently the same age and showing their wear. When I was all done with my hair I went to put my glasses on and realized that they were strangely WARM! Then I tried to look through them and it seemed like I had smeared vaseline all over the right lens. These were the nice $200 trifocal progressive lenses! And they are ruined! But with no time to lament, I had to find a pair of glasses to take to work since I am doing computer work right now. All I could find was my drugstore mini SUNGLASS TINTED readers! It was pretty funny. Everytime my coworker Suzanna looked at me I could see her wanting to crack up but trying to be so sweet! So now I have to go to Costco and order another pair that will take about 2 weeks to get here. I am sure there is a moral or lesson someplace in here....help me out!

More on the Map Bag...

Well, I have been in contact with 3 international map companies with regards to using their maps to make my bags. Rand McNally said that as long as I don't reproduce their maps, I can legally use a purchased map in the manner I am wanting to without charge or copyright infringement.

The President of ITMB answered my email personally. I had read his profile on his website and admired his determination and zest for life. In his email he even seemed to have a sense of humor and I immediately like him. I told him that I would be happy to create a custom map bag for his wife, Lan who happens to be Vietnamese. Today he responded and gave me permission to use his maps for my business and also requested a bag for his wife made with a map that he will send to me of Hanoi, Vietnam. I am so excited! I went online and ordered a Vietnamese silk painting of the Vietnam countryside that I hope works to make the "non-map" portions of the bag. If that turns out to NOT be how I am envisioning, I will order some Vietnamese silk perhaps...I just want it to be special and hope that she likes it.

When I got home from work today, I put out calls to get the names of all the retail purchasing agents from the local hotels. I think I may find a market for my map bags with the tourists.

I should be sewing right now....but I called my dad and chatted for over an hour. He just got home from hunting so I hadn't go to talk to him for awhile. My sewing studio is such a mess that it is blocking my creative flow....So before I sew another thing...I HAVE GOT TO CLEAN THIS PLACE UP AND START FRESH!

Here I go...really...yep...off to find a vacuum cleaner!

Wednesday, November 14, 2007

Wow, so much is happening right now. I got a wholesale order on Monday for 87 more bags for the coffee shop that I sew for. They are participating in a show for a Japanese company today so wanted to see how many bags I could have ready for them by this morning. So I was up early this morning to deliver the 16 bags that I had sewn so far. They said they anticipate all of what I brought in this morning to sell today. Yeah!

I have been trying to gain permission to use maps (which have copyrights) to use in my new line of map bags. Yesterday Rand McNally replied and told me that I can definately use their maps. This really opens a door to me. I have plans to make map bags of major cities. Already people who have seen me carrying my map bag have stopped me and asked me to make one of a particular city or state. I will have them available within a month to sell on my Etsy store. I only wish I had more time before the holidays....*sigh*...

You should see my sewing studio today! Yikes! Earl and I have been cutting out burlap coffee bags and there is burlap schmuck all over the place! I may have to break down and clean this place up before I can proceed.
Well, its off to my real job....have a great day!

Good Morning!
I was up late last night working on an idea I've had for a Sasaki Bag. It isn't finished yet but I had to share a couple photos. It is all silk. Gray silk exterior and lavendar silk interior. The front of the bag is embellished with new guinea feathers. They are the coolest black with white polka dot. Love them! I took a long time deciding on how I wanted to apply them but am happy with the outcome. I put plum colored faux leather manufactured straps on this beauty. When I get home from work I need to sew in the lining. So without further adieu, allow me to introduce to you my first in my "Diva" line.....Lola!

A Virgin Blogger...

Well, I have finally decided to attempt a blog. I have such lofty dreams that someday every woman will have a Sasaki Bag on her arm. So this will be my forum to show what I have been making and to share a little of "me" along the way.



The first bag I ever made came about because I had shoulder surgery, not on one shoulder...but both! So out of a necessity I wanted a smaller bag that I could carry on my arm or wrist. But I wanted something that still had lots of pockets and other features. I try to include something "interesting" on each of my bags. Some have buttons that are 24kt gold plated. Others are more fun and funky.



I find that each bag is unique. I might even confess that they "speak" to me. Certain bags cry out for magnetic clasps, hooks, O-rings and hardware. Other bags are much more demure! I am working on a bag right now that is made from the most elegant, exquisite silk obi. The colors are of mauve, lavendar and dusty sage green with yummy gold threads throughout. I know she will be extremely special but she has only spoken in whispers and I have yet to decide on a closure for her. I promise to post a photo when she is ready to be unveiled.

I am also working on some bags that utilize recycled maps. They are just fun. The idea struck me when I was working with a customer of mine on a custom order for a friend of hers....I was brainstorming to try to find out what type of person the friend is so that I could sew something to fit her personality. The map bag was one I had to just attempt to see if it were possible for me to make in the way I was imagining. It turned out so cute! It wasn't what my customer had in mind so I still created something special for her using an embroidered babies denim dress as the fabric for a bag. It had butterflies, bees, and ladybugs on it...plus I added another ladybug in the form of a button. The fun part is that there will never be another bag exactly like it in the world. I love OOAK (one of a kind) pieces!

I am also currently working on a bag for my sister. She has commissioned me to make a luxury OOAK for her boss for the holidays. It will be black silk with feathers on the front. I really want to use the new guinea feathers I ordered off of ebay but the adhesive they used in making a pad is really overwhelming. I have them airing out in hopes that the smell will go away. My second choice will be to use black and white curly goose feathers on the front. I am thinking that the lining will have to be black and white polka dots...just to take away from the seriousness of it all! (come on girls! have fun with your bags!)

So lots to do...and here I sit at the computer.
Perhaps I had better sign off!
aloha
Barb