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!