Sasaki Bags

Relay For Life

2012-02-01T12:38:00.003-10:00

I have just been invited to join team "Drug Runners" at the July 14, 2012 Relay for Life event. Here are the details I was sent today:

"The Relay is July 14-15 (overnite). We each commit to raise at least $100. Our team name is Drug Runners (it was started by a group of female pharmacists who formed a running club, hence the name). Our theme this year is "A Spoonful of Sugar" in line with the overall theme Songs of Hope. Our decor will be Mary Poppins-esque. We have a lot of fun at the Relay and we all work real hard to raise as much as we can for ACS, we have been the top fund raising team every year we have participated and this will be our 4th year. We have to really work hard to do better this year."

With the loss of my dad this year from esophageal cancer, I am looking forward to being able to contribute in a positive way towards the fight against cancer. I will be making some bags to donate to the silent auction. I am also brainstorming about other ways to raise funds for this event.

Last year, one of the team members made this lantern in honor of my dad's fight. I was out visiting him during the event so they emailed me a photo of the lantern made for him. He was SO very touched that strangers would be cheering him on. I remember the tears in his eyes and the smile this photo brought to his face. This year, I will be making my own lantern in rememberance of my dad.

If anyone would like to help out by sponsoring my efforts, feel free to email me or message me on Facebook.

ahui hou

Setting and Reaching Goals

2012-01-30T16:46:00.005-10:00

I have always been a goal oriented person. It is just how I get things that I want. Remember back when I wanted to sell 1000 bags in a year? Boy that seems like a long time ago! After I surpassed 3000 in a year, I pretty much quit counting bags and started setting financial goals. I was telling a girlfriend the other day how I look at my sales from the past year and think, "How can I turn that $25,000 account into a $30,000 account?". She laughed because as a successful business person, she has never had to do that. And here I thought everybody did that! When failure isn't an option, I feel like I always have to be on my toes and planning for the future.

Honestly, I look at things like that and for example if I want to increase my sales to one of my stores by $5000 for the year, I break it down into what it means for me as far as productivity. Since there are 52 weeks in a year, I figure that I would need to increase my sales by about $100 per week to achieve that particular goal. I then look at the type of bags that I sell to that particular account and figure out how many bags that translates into. It may mean developing a new design that will sell better in a particular location. Or concentrating on bags that require less time to produce since I haven't yet figured out how to extract extra time out of a day. (still working on that one).

Looking back on life, I recall planning for family vacations a year in advance so that we would have the funds to cover hotel, gas, food and fun. Other things in life I really don't like to plan too far in advance. If I have to make an appointment for something a week from now like getting my hair cut, it stresses me out. I don't like having to be someplace at a particular time when I don't know what next week will bring. But when it comes to $$$, I like to plan. That is why I am having a sale in my Etsy store for the next 7 hours. I have monthly goals that I would like to achieve in my own retail sales and this month is nearly over with me being SO close to my monthly goal! So I am giving a 25% discount to all of my facebook friends and fans when they use a code. It will put me over my goal and be a nice "mahalo" to all of my customers. I may be utilizing this sale technique throughout the year when I have a goal I need to reach. So be on the look out towards the end of each month to see what I am offering.

I have lots of goals. Some are business related, others are health and fitness related and some are just related to being a good person. Will I reach them all? Probably not all of them. But one thing is certain. Without setting goals I wouldn't achieve any of them. So as I embark on a new year, I am setting goals and dreaming big.

How about you? Do goals keep you focused? Have you thought about goals you may have for this year? All my best to you.

a hui hou

Don't Shoot the Messenger!

2012-01-22T21:32:00.003-10:00

The Messenger bag has been on my "to do" list for a very long time. Back in September a customer put in a special request for a Sasaki Bags Messenger tote. Life got in the way for a few months and thankfully this customer from New Zealand was very patient! (thanks Ann!). Finally I was able to focus my attention to designing this bag and I am thrilled with how it turned out. It is roomy enough for a laptop computer or all of your campus books. It has an adjustable pocket with a buckle inside to secure your computer or tablet and it even has a hidden zipper in the flap!

I included an exterior pocket to slip her cell phone into and added a zip top and buckles for extra security!

I seem to have been inspired lately to finish projects and allow myself to be creative with making new designs. It feels pretty good!

I have SO MANY ideas....Who knows what I will come up with next? Stay tuned!

a hui hou

Burlap Purse with ruffles

2012-01-19T06:21:00.003-10:00

I love contrast! This week burlap and ruffles were my contrast of choice. It is just a little bit "unexpected", and I like that! This week I was finishing up my inventory for taxes and was digging through this one big ole bin that is marked "Bags in Progress". I put things in there that I start and for some reason never get around to finishing! There are straps without bags, bags, without straps, linings without bags and bags without linings. One of the things I came across was some Amy Butler fabric that I had sewn into long strips to try out a new pattern (last year!). The strips were to become ruffles.

Well, I decided to get in touch with my inner "girly girl" and apply some of those colorful ruffles to a Kealakekua style hobo bag. I liked it so much that I decided to keep the bag for myself...because, a girl can never have too many Sasaki Bags! (shameless self promotion!) Actually I made some design changes to this bag, besides the ruffled addition, and I want to test drive it to see if the stress points have been eliminated and how it wears. If all goes well, I will be making more of these fun colorful bags. I have about 100 yards of Amy Butler fabric that I hope to use up this year and can already imagine some of the great color combos to use on more ruffles. I better get started!

a hui hou

iPad Fever

2012-01-19T05:59:00.003-10:00

Sasaki Bags is now offering iPad bags and sleeves. It seems that everyone and their cousin now own an iPad! Even me! (Thank you MM!) So while some of you on the mainland may be suffering from cabin fever as the first big snowfall of the year has finally hit, I am here on the Big Island with iPad Fever! Beware! It just may be highly contagious! I started making iPad bags and I just can't seem to quit! One of the things that I love is that the burlap ones are very unisex. MM is comfortable packing one around without feeling like an "aunty".

Then once I got on the roll, I had a free, creative day that I tackled some of my obis and resurrected them into iPad shoulder bags. They are all silk on the exterior with a punch of color in the center. I took mine on a buying trip to Honolulu last week and loved all the compliments I received. I also liked that with the extra pocket, I was able to use it as a purse when we went out to dinner and I wanted something dressier than the burlap tote I had taken on the trip.

Speaking of my buying trip...

Today I am expecting the delivery of about 400 yards of fabric that I purchased from my wholesalers on Oahu. I stocked up on thread for the year, bought a new foot for Consuelo that is making life easier, and found some new bamboo handles to apply to new bags. It was a lot to squeeze into 2 days but I got so much accomplished that it made me feel pretty darn good!

I purchased some new fabric that I am excited to put into circulation. I am hoping to release it to my Waikiki locations to see what kind of buzz it stirs up with all our island visitors. Stay tuned for that!

So that about catches me up on the year so far. Sewing, shopping, and spending. Not a bad way to start off a new year!

a hui hou

Stuff

2011-12-04T21:07:00.003-10:00

Remember George Carlin? His take on "Stuff" always cracked me up? (yes, I know that dates me!) Well, somedays I swear that my "stuff" has taken over my universe. Okay, my own little micro-cosm! But, seriously, "Barb's World" is reflecting the state of chaos that my emotions have been in. I can't seem to find anything. So today, I spent most of the afternoon "tidying" up my sewing studio. I can now see carpet! Thats progress! Somedays I want to completely 'Zen' my life and get rid of all of my extra stuff. But when it comes to the sewing room...I think I need all of this stuff to give me ideas and allow me to create things. So I have bins of grommets, purse feet, cord ends, cord stops, O-rings, D-rings, magnetic snaps, plastic hardware, metal hardware, zippers, buttons, feathers, piping, cording, swivel snap hooks, woven labels, thread, cotton webbing, poly webbing, O-split rings, heart shaped split rings, rivets, chicago screws, gate rings, comfort pads, pellon in several varieties, and oh yes...FABRIC! The burlap lives in the garage!

Sometimes, like today, I just get to the point when I cannot possibly get one more thing done if it means working in a mess. Especially with the new year approaching, I really needed to get a grip on my stuff. It somehow helped to make me feel a little bit in control of my life. Things have been tough adjusting to being home. Thankfully my loyal customers have been wonderfully patient with me as I continue to "do only what I can" while coping with the other curves life has thrown. There have been a couple of days that iPad Mahjong seems to be all that I care to give my attention to. Perhaps I have taken the "be gentle to yourself" instructions my mom gave me a little too seriously! ???

However, yesterday I washed windows in the living room and dusted! I even got out my new Kirby that MM bought for me. MM was looking so bewildered as I scurried around. I impatiently pointed to his little realm around his recliner and told him that whatever he wanted to keep, he had better put away because that room was getting cleaned! He quickly "hid" his jewelry making supplies, his cigar catalogs, and his iPad. I must have had that look in my eyes which let him know I was slightly crazed. I can only hope it is a look that he has come to know and love. :o)

Maybe if I just take a room at a time, I can tackle the "stuff" and come out on top. I don't know though, I have been home for 3 weeks and haven't even unpacked my "Aunty Tutu" yet! So much for those wonderful lessons my dad's journey taught me about not procrastinating! Is it that? or is it that I am "already packed" for the next time I have to rush to someplace? I guess I will just have to admit that I am a work in progress. Just a girl trying to take control of her stuff!

Where in the World is Barb Sasaki?

2011-11-10T13:08:00.005-10:00

So, I guess you could say I have been missing in action for a few weeks. The last week of September, I received word that my dad may not have long to live so I flew out to be with him and to help my mom. We really had a pretty good couple of weeks, that I will treasure always, before he passed away. I was so lucky to have been in a position to drop everything and go!

My dad passed away on October 17, 2011 following a 16 month battle with esophageal cancer. I will forever miss him but am so thankful that he isn't suffering. Thank you Hospice of North Idaho for keeping him comfortable until the very end and for helping us be as prepared as possible for his passing.

Following his death, I was stunned to find out that my "job" wasn't done! I had no idea how much work there is to do in the next few days. With all of the preparation Hospice gave us, I guess I must not have "read that pamphlet"! Perhaps in my "spare time", I should tackle writing my own!

Five days after my dad's memorial service, MM and I headed back to Kona. It felt so good to be home again and I just dove headfirst into my work. I cut out 80 kimono keys, cut out 14 bags, went to a movie and dinner and gave my kitties lovin's. That was all in one day! The next night I got a call that mom had undergone an emergency appendectomy and developed complications. Long story shorter, after being gone for 5 weeks and only home for 30 hours, I headed back to Idaho to care for a very sick mama. She spent the next 10 days in the hospital. Looking back, those days seem like a blur! Is it really November?

Thankfully, my mom is recovering and I am looking forward to being back in the islands very soon. While I have been away, MM has been cutting fabric and making linings for bags to keep the cogs turning in the studio. I do not know how I would have handled all of this without him in the wings. Throughout my dad's illness, I have learned to not procrastinate. Things in life can change so fast that I've had to take every advantage of time that exists to get things accomplished. Of the many "gifts" that my dad gave me over the course of my life, my most treasured are the intangible ones. The life lessons I guess. He taught me by his example how to work hard and to never give up. He preached that "Life is like a battery" to remind me that without both a positive and a negative, life wouldn't have that "spark". He gave me his blue eyes and his crooked smile full of big teeth. So although he is "gone", my dad will always be very close to me. Even when no one else has a clue where in the world I am!

a hui hou

Purse Hooks

2011-08-01T07:22:00.003-10:00

Yesterday, while cutting out my kimono keys, I had an idea! (insert lightbulb) Why not create a purse hook medallion out of my vintage kimono textiles? Now, as many of you know, I get LOTS of ideas. Not all of them are great ideas, granted! But when you have such a plethora of thoughts, from time to time, I do come up with some pretty darn good ones. *shamelessly patting myself on the back*.

I have more of the hooks on order as well as "key key-purse", clever gadgets that slip over the top of your purse that you attach your keys to so that they don't fall down into that bottomless pit we gals call our "purse".

They will be "kimono-ized" as well.

All these and more will be available at the show I am prepping for at the Keauhou Shopping Center on August 20, 2011. Hope you can make it!

a hui hou

Catching up with Sasaki Bags!

2011-07-24T21:42:00.006-10:00

Okay...This new "Hawi" bag has taken over Sasaki Bags! It is all I want to make these days! I make 'em out of leather, cotton, polyester, and am thinking of maps and vinyl! Sometimes you just have to do what brings you joy. These days, I go looking for JOY! I have a lot going on in my life right now. My dad's cancer is back and hospice is now part of our team.
Although I am here making bags, my focus still wants to be with my family. So that is why I am making bags that are fun and proving to be a distraction to me.

All the while that all the above is going on, I am also working on a new, exciting project. I am hoping to release some very exclusive bags before the holiday season....and more news will be forthcoming. For now, what I can tell you is that I am working with an amazing artist and hope to have some of her work transferred on to fabric for me to make some wonderful bags out of. This is an exclusive licensing agreement and I am so excited! Her work is now available in Wyland Galleries! We are both anxious to see where this collaboration will lead us! Stay tuned!

While I was in Idaho on this last visit, Dad and I went garage saling. I scored some pretty doilies that I have envisioned as the delicate flap on a spring bag. We also stopped in at all his favorite haunts....St. Vinny's, Goodwill, Boys and Girls Ranch and a couple of other thrift stores. I purchased some beautiful vintage brooches that I am now attaching to some of my evening bags.

a hui hou

Hawi Collection

2011-06-26T15:08:00.012-10:00

A few weeks ago I designed a new bag. I have been making them like crazy and am starting to add different embellishments and use different textiles. MM said to me yesterday, "You must really like this bag, it's all you are making!".

I really do! I actually love this bag because it is a nice size and it is stylish. It could fit inside a larger tote or get tucked under your arm. It can be casual or it can be dressy. The fabric completely changes the bag! So here are a few of them that I made this week.

Teaching an old dog new tricks - zippers!

2011-06-14T17:19:00.006-10:00

My vacation was fun and stimulating. We visited San Francisco and took a day trip over to Sonoma and Napa Valleys. We took the ferry to Sausalito one day too. I LOVE that town. I came home refreshed and wanting to try new things. One of the obstacles I face daily is having enough time. What? You too? (high five!)

What is a girl to do? Well, I have decided that sometimes, you just have to take a deep breath and follow your inner voice. Take a humble pill and acknowledge that "I just can't do it all!"

For months, now, I have been wanting to learn a new zipper technique. Something a little more complicated than the way I have been installing zips for the past couple of years. I have looked up tutorials online and purchased patterns hoping that by having them in the house, somehow, perhaps through osmosis, the knowledge would seep into my pores and become part of me and "Voila!" I would just instantly know how to do it. But...that wasn't so successful. So, this week I actually took two days to myself and was determined to teach myself a new trick. (Don't laugh at me just cause I just had a 'big ole birthday! )

I spent half of one day just reading, re-reading, kicking myself and then reading again. Some of the tutorials out there just wouldn't work with burlap. It is an unravely, creature to work with. By about 4pm Saturday, I was at the point where I was ready to start trying out my newly learned technique.

The first bag I made was pretty simple once that light bulb went off and I "got it". In fact, it sold within 2 hours after I had placed the final stitch into it. But I know myself. I have to do something a few times before I can trust myself to remember it.

The next day, I made 3 more bags using the new technique and am actually starting to enjoy it. Now I am feeling more confident and am looking forward to seeing what applications I can use this technique on. I have 200 metres of zipper on order so you can expect to see many more Sasaki Bags with zips in the coming months.

I do believe that life is full of lessons and one that I continually have to remind myself of is to take the time to stop and smell the plumeria. Sometimes to take a step forward, you really do need to just take a break!

Thanks for joining me on my journey.

a hui hou

Catching up with Sasaki Bags

2011-05-16T17:01:00.007-10:00

It's been awhile! Lets catch up!

As you may have noticed, I haven't been posting very regularly this year. It seems so much quicker to leave a short sentence or two on Facebook instead of having to take the time to actually formulate my thoughts. But I have missed this intimate spot to share my thoughts and creations.

I have been super busy since December! By May first, I completed over 1000 bags for corporate orders and am now trying to play "catch up" to attempt to get all my accounts fully stocked again. Not an easy task! Not only have I not been able to keep my stores full, but I haven't had any time to create. I find that the creation process is like water, air (and an occasional pizza) to me. I have to have it in order to keep going. It is kind of funny how it affects me. I become "little Barbie Turner" all over again when I make something new! (when it turns out!) Last night MM got home from work and I MADE him admire my new bag and made special note of how perfectly I matched the pattern on the "Pineapple" bag. My mom would be so proud! I remember her sewing plaid shirts for my dad and matching up all the lines on the pockets etc. MM wasn't as impressed as I would have liked...but I still insisted that he pat me on the back!

So what have I been working on? Well, I have a new iPad/Kindle DX bag that I can make with or without a coffee bag. They are padded with a special foam padding and fleece and sport 2 zip pockets and a long strap so you can wear it across body. While I was at it, I decided to try my hand at using some of that luscious leather that I bought. I made an iPad bag with a navy blue goatskin on the back and corners to compliment a Heavenly Hawaiian coffee bag.

I also have discovered that my Kaloko bag fits a Kindle 3G perfectly. It also fits a Nook, iRex, and Sony Reader Touch and Sony Reader Pocket Edition. So I have been making some of those with an extra pocket for all the cords and extras that come with these electronic.

I ordered in a few yards of some Tommy Bahama fabric to use for the new eReaders. Last year the CEO of Tommy Bahama, Mr. Terry Pillow, happened in Palm Palm boutique on Kauai and was checking out my bags. He asked for my contact info but I never did hear from him. A few days later he was staying at the hotel that I worked at in Kona. I was SO wanting to bump into him, but knew that I wouldn't be allowed to acknowledge that I knew who he was. After that, I contacted the headquarters of Tommy Bahama and got permission to use their fabric in the production of my bags. They have some wonderful "island" prints. I used two of them last night and made a couple of hobo bags. One of the bags is a black and cream large pineapple print. In Hawaii, pineapples symbolize hospitality and friendship. I love love love how this bag turned out! I was able to position the fabric so that the flap on the bag fits the top of the pineapple perfectly! The other bag has palm trees and cute sayings like "Cape Relax", "Tropic of Couch Potato", "Island of Catch a Lot"...etc.

Then, a couple of weeks ago, I was invited to participate in the "Peace Festival" that will be in Kona this summer. It is a celebration of the 5th year anniversary of Kona and Hiroshima, Japan becoming sister cities. They are expecting about 750 at the craft show the day that I will be there so I want to create things to appeal to both locals and the Japanese who will be attending. I have found some nice fabric that keeps with the theme of "Peace".

So, that about sums up my last few months. If you want to share what you have been up to, feel free. I love hearing from you all.

a hui hou

May is my bday month and this year is what many people consider to be a "big one". I am turning 50! I love where I am at in my life and am grateful to have had 49 birthdays so far! I look forward to each year with eager anticipation. Yes, every year has both good and bad in it, but I am loving the journey and try to accept whatever the future holds.

For my bday this year, I wanted to do something I had never done before. This is the girl who has been to Japan, Thailand, Taiwan, Canada, Mexico...but one place I have never been to is San Francisco or to California wine country. So in the near future, I will be able to cross that off my list!

Facebook helps to make it a small world after all!

2011-04-05T19:04:00.004-10:00

Today I had an opportunity to meet with one of my facebook friends. Takeshi Sumita brought his family to Hawaii from Japan. He brought me a beautiful gift of a silk kimono that had belonged to his grandmother. We exchanged gifts and as I was trying to give directions to him to the local coffee farms, I suddenly decided that there was nothing on my "to-do" list that could be more important than to help show this young family our beautiful island. I knew that the Hula Daddy coffee farm would be closing within an hour so I called ahead and told Debbie, one of the employees at the visitor's center, that we were on our way. Even though the owners were away on vacation, their employees did them proud by showing aloha and island hospitality to my guests. They showed the Sumita family the coffee trees, the roaster and even the resident Jackson chameleon who is residing in one of the coffee trees.

While they were purchasing coffee, I called ahead to the Heavenly Hawaiian farm and Trudy Bateman, the owner, was such a doll, as usual. She assured me that we could drive up there and I could show them around the coffee drying floor and the beautiful view. While we were there, Trudy put together a bag of fresh avocado, papaya, apple bananas, and a bag of freshly roasted Heavenly Hawaiian coffee. What a treat! Just to add to the experience, a couple of wild turkeys made their way towards us and the Sumita's young son got to pet the elderly dogs.

I bid my new friends a warm aloha and look forward to seeing them again. In the meantime, we will see each other on facebook!

New Hardware Spurs Creativity!

2011-04-04T07:41:00.010-10:00

I have been keeping SO very busy working on my corporate orders since December, that I really miss being creative! My big order was for 800+ bags but I had 3 other corporate orders besides that one totaling over 1000+ bags. So, I recently ordered some new hardware gizmos to try out and somehow snuck in some time to work for fun instead of $$$ over the past weekend.

My first bag was this clutch with an exterior twist lock. The oval gate rings are attached to grommets on either side. There are some changes that will appear on my next attempt but it was so much fun just "playing". IMHO it needs a larger flap and an adjustable strap. I also would like to make this design out of my kimono and obi silks! Yum!

While I was at it, I decided to update my design on my backpack. I have added a 5" gusset which gave it a better shape. I am happy with the results of this one! Evidently, my customers do too because I already sold 2 of them yesterday!

Then, just because I got SO carried away, I have been toying with my old Kealakekua design. Some gals like to cram so much girlie stuff into their bag that I found the magnetic snap closure may not be sufficient so I am experimenting with a twist lock closure on this bag as well. You can't see it in this photo because I am showing off her backside. Love that hula graphic!

I know I've said this before, but I really see a need to schedule time for designing and just being creative. Sometimes I get orders for something before I have had time to perfect it so I just keep making it 'that' way. Most often, my first attempt at a new design is not the way I want it! It can be so easy to spend a whole day on a bag that is rather....ordinary! Now that isn't the way I like to roll! But with my work load...somehow I am sure that in a few months I will be back to working my fingers off and longing to be creating again...*sigh*.

a hui hou

Happy Spring!

2011-03-20T08:38:00.002-10:00

Ah...spring is in the air! Depending on where you live, that can have a big impact on your frame of mind. For me? Well, as you know, I live in Kona, Hawaii, so the change of the seasons is much more subtle around here. The one thing that I look forward to as a designer is seeing the new colors and prints of fabric! I love seeing when girls get a new purse for spring/summer. Do you dare to get a white one? Do you love nautical looks? Or are you all about color?

I ordered some new fabric last night in small amounts to play with. The designs are a bit whimsical with chubby elephants and lanky giraffes in lime green and white and black and white. I also ordered more polka dots just because that is pretty much a staple in many of my designs. I am excited to see what I am inspired to make.

I also have some new hardware on the way. I have intentions to add more grommets and metal hooks this season. Can't wait to try out my ideas in that department too!

I am still plugging away at my BIG order (806 bags). There is an end in sight now and I am hoping to finish it all up in about 3 more weeks. What a relief that will be!

But for now...it is a beautiful Sunday morning. The birds are chirping, my kitten is taking his bath and I just heard MM wake up! So pardon me while we head out the door for our ritual Sunday coffee and crossword puzzle kind of morning!

a hui hou

Tsunami and being a good neighbor

2011-03-16T07:50:00.006-10:00

The world can change so fast! Last Thursday MM and I had just enjoyed a nice dinner in Kona. When we arrived home we heard of the earthquake that had hit Japan. I did what many social network junkies do, and went on Facebook to see how my friends in Japan were doing. Most of the people that I know there, live near Tokyo and responded that they were fine. Then I saw that Hawaii was under a tsunami watch. Within an hour it was elevated to the highest threat, "tsunami warning". The local news told us that we had about 5 hours before it would hit our beautiful state...but that "it is coming, be prepared!". MM dealt with it the same way he deals with everything in life....calmly. He went to bed. (love that man!) I dealt with it like I do....stayed up, watched the news, listened to the tsunami sirens, wondering what it would bring and how life may be different the next day for many. I knew we were safe because of our high elevation but I still couldn't sleep. I watched the news to see how big the wave was as it passed over Midway island and as it crossed paths with the buoys that are positioned to give wave information. It was ominous.

As you all know, Japan suffered unspeakable traumatic loss. That beautiful country that I adore, will be healing for a very long time. My heart goes out to everyone there.

What many do not know is of the damage and loss that many of my own neighbors on my own island have suffered. One man who is in the hospital undergoing chemotherapy, lost his home. It is a twisted mess. Another house was swept out into Kealakekua bay and later sunk. Last night I saw photos of a tangled mass of metal....with dishes ....wait! It was their dishwasher and the dishes were still enclosed in the racks!

Many businesses downtown in Kona suffered incredible loss. One business in the King Kamehameha Hotel had their security footage shown on TV last night showing the first wave crash through the window and wipe out all of their inventory.

One of the stores that I sell my tote bags to was across the street. I called the owner the next day to see if she needed help shoveling sand or cleaning up. She sounded in shock and told me that she "didn't have a store anymore". A wall that Da Kona Coffee Store shared with the Cindy Coats Art Gallery, collapsed. The water came in with such force that it destroyed everything in both stores.

There have been many relief funds set up to help out our Pacific Island Nation neighbor of Japan. And the Red Cross has made it so easy to donate funds. If you can help, I'm sure you already have. I have a personal philosophy that I will share with you. You may not agree with me and that is fine. I am FIRST a supporter of helping locally before I help globally. I am not one to send funds to victims in Africa or Thailand or elsewhere in the world when there are hungry children down the street. My children and I have (many years ago) been grateful recipients of food from both the Salvation Army and the local food bank. So my emotions are to act first locally.

For the rest of this month of March, I am donating all of my profits in my Etsy store to benefit my friend who is working to reopen Da Kona Coffee Store. I don't have mounds of money and my donation will not change the world. But I do know this person. I have done business with her and my heart goes out to her. If everyone first helped people that they know and then their neighbors who they may not know, there will be fewer people who need the help of the larger organizations. Granted, you don't get a big ole tax deduction for helping out a friend, but if that is your motivation...then you have really missed the bigger picture.

There will be a fund raiser on Saturday March 26th from 9-1:30pm for the man with cancer who lost his home. Here is the info that someone sent to me:

Gordon Leslie Family

Kona Adult Day Center
81-989 Haleki'i Street (across the Kealakekua Post Office)
Kealakekua, HI

In Hawaii there is a saying: "If Can Can, If No Can, No Can". To me this means that when you can help or do something, DO IT! If you can't, maybe you are the one needing help....then don't! But know that when you can...you will!".

You could say that my word of the year, "Awareness", also includes being aware of what you can do to be a good neighbor. I am working to be more aware.

Aloha

a hui hou

Sasaki Bags 1st Quarter

2011-03-08T18:49:00.006-10:00

Is it possible that we are in March and my first quarter is nearly over with? There has been so much going on here at Sasaki Bags that I haven't had much time to do anything but sew! I finished up two of my corporate orders and will be delivering one of them next week. Ahhh, fewer boxes to line my walls! I am starting to rethink my decorating style as "early industrial"! There are currently 19 large boxes full of Sasaki Bags surrounding my living room. I apologized to MM for this unsightly display and being the man he is he said, "I just see $$$". ***sigh***

I am right on track for finishing up my huge corporate order that is due in May. That is a feat that I am quite proud of considering I found time to go see my parents and deal with two bouts of the flu! I am thankful to my seamstress who kept things rolling along.

I have been working on a couple of things "in my spare time". I designed some fabric and had a few yards printed up to see how I like it. It is quite fun playing with design! The first design was developed by just photographing my label and having it printed in a 1/2 brick pattern. The second pattern is the Sasaki family Mon repeated. I changed the colors to a nice purple to match my labels. If you have ever thought about making your own fabric, http://www.spoonflower.com/ is the place to try it out. You can also sell your fabric there if you are really good!

I have also been working on a some new techniques that I was encouraged to try by reading Lisa Lams new book. She has such a great website http://u-handbag.typepad.com/ . Lisa has an easy style and I enjoy her blog as well as her tutorials. So the technique I am playing with is adding darts to add volume to a bag. I am just fiddling around with how big to make the darts and placement for best results. Here are a couple of my new bags:

The purple corduroy bag has a black lambskin gusset and flap that don't show up well in the photo. The other bag was made with a fabric in Amy Butler's Love line. I believe it is called Soul Blossoms. I lined it with my new "Sasaki" fabric.
Lots more items in the works.

a hui hou

How I schedule my time

2011-01-31T21:33:00.003-10:00

This month is all but over! I have definately attacked the year with passion. I am pleased to announce that I seem to be more productive so far this year as well. Here is what I have been doing that I think is key:

Each weekend, I look at my order book and set about prioritizing. I am currently working on an order of over 800 bags but I know I can't do them all at once so I set myself a schedule. 800 bags in itself is daunting enough but I am also struggling to fill orders from my website and the stores that I sell to. That is where it gets a bit tricky.

I know that I have to make 25 bags a week for a specific amount of time to complete the 800 bags. So that, with my other orders, means that I have to complete about 100 bags a week. I break that down into what I will give to my seamstress and what I need to do myself. It usually takes me a couple of days of cutting and prepping for my seamstress which leaves me 4-5 days to sew. I have been trying to take one day a week off or atleast a partial day off.

I have some bags that take me most of the day to complete like my divas or my Aunty Tutu. So many details! But then there are other bags like totes that go together quick as a bunny and I can finish 15 or so in a day. When I make my schedule I have to also consider the time factor. I have bills just like all of you do so I can't waste time on things that don't bring in an income.

The past couple of weeks I have spent a little extra time on some bags that were promotional. They will be seen on a couple of upcoming segments on a morning TV show and the publicity should be well worth the time I spent on the bags. In fact the host of the show has been awesome about promoting me over on Oahu! There are some wonderful opportunities waiting in the wings right now that I have to prepare for.

I had intended to be posting weekly with tips and tutorials, but I guess I forgot to schedule that into my weekly "to -do" list. *sigh* so much to do....and only 24 hrs in a day!

I just looked at my schedule and it reminded me that it is time to go to bed!

a hui hou

Things I have learned - #1 Find your Passion

2011-01-02T21:59:00.004-10:00

I have been making bags for about 4 years and selling them since October of 2007. One of the things that inspired me to make this my profession was being encouraged to read books about finding and following your passion. At the time, I set a goal of being able to quit my day job in 3-4 years. As many of you know, I am quite goal oriented so after setting that goal, I had to make mini goals to keep my dream alive. I recently felt it was time to take the plunge and "practice without a net", the net of another income! So here I am in a new year, with renewed passion and determination.

I feel that finding your passion in life is so important. You don't have to make it your profession. Maybe you love to knit. DO IT. Maybe you love to cook. COOK FOR ME! Maybe you love children. BORROW ONE! Just kidding...but seriously, find something that brings you joy, peace or satisfaction and go for it!

When you are passionate about something, you are moved to find out more about it. For me, I wanted to learn how to make a better bag. I still have a couple of my first attempts that I may dare to share with you one day, but they were NOT good. They were limp and very "homemade" looking. Not a good thing! So my next stop was the Salvation Army. I went to thrift stores and bought bags made out of a variety of materials from leather to canvas that I took apart to see what made them more professional looking than mine. I discovered probably the most important feature in bag after bag. I will go into more detail about this feature in a future "Things I have learned", but let me just say one word, "Stabilizer". I noted where the bags were stabilized and figured out why.

Some gals would have just bought a pattern and learned from that. Well, I tried that as well, but I swear, I don't do well with other people's patterns. The drawings confuse me and I seem to spend more time reading and rereading the instructions than actually sewing! I guess I am one of those who learn best by doing!

When you have a passion that you also want to make into your profession, it isn't good enough to know how to make it. You also have to know who would want to buy it and how to get your product out there. In the early days, I spent hours and hours on the internet reading forums, blogs, and tutorials. I loved to read the stories of how other people built their little empires. Those stories also served to keep my dream alive.

In this new year, I challenge everyone to find and pursue your passion. Who knows where it will lead you?

a hui hou

New Blog Feature

2011-01-02T18:07:00.003-10:00

I am looking at ways to "give back" even in small ways. So one of the new features I will be adding to my Sasaki Bags blog is "Things I have Learned". My aim is to help others out there who are just starting out. I hope to keep this about starting a business and making bags, but can not promise to not toss in a personal thing or two about things I have learned. I just remember that when I was considering going into the bag making business, I scoured the internet searching for information about how others had taken the plunge, the pros and cons and highs and lows of having your own business.

I would love to have you add your comments and let me know if there is anything specific you would like me to write about.

a hui hou

Happy New Year!

2011-01-01T08:42:00.004-10:00

Happy New Year world!

I always begin my year by reflecting on the past. This year my "Best and Worst" were pretty easy for me to choose. My worst day began in June and just sort of continued on throughout the summer and fall, when I found out that my dad had cancer. All the scary events that followed began with the words, "Its cancer". What a blessing it was to hear that before the year ended, Dad is in total remission and the latest biopsy was benign! Such great news. I am wishing for good health for all my family in 2011.

My best for 2010, oddly may not have happened if not for "the worst". You see, I hadn't seen my son for 9 years and was able to see him and hug him and gaze at him when we were both out in Idaho assisting my parents. I hadn't seen him since his high school graduation and it was so odd to see this 27 year old man sitting before me. So familiar and yet such a stranger. I love him dearly and miss him daily.

I missed getting to see my daughter when she flew out to help mom and dad. We had to stagger visits so as not to all be there at the same time and so we all felt like we were able to help. I hope I get to see her this year. In fact it is one of my goals.

There are a lot of changes ahead of me for the coming year. I will embrace them when the time is right. With this and many other considerations, I have chosen my word of the year. It will be "Awareness". I can see this word touching many aspects of my life. Sometimes, I allow life to manage me and I am working on managing my life! I AM the Boss of Me! I want to be more aware of my environment my needs and the needs of others. My environment consists of any place that I find myself. If I am in my studio, I hope to be more aware of being organized with putting things away. If I am outside, I will be more aware by taking time to smell the plumeria!

I believe that being "Aware" involves living in the moment and savoring it. I am also committed to being aware of others needs. I have been working hard to build my business and it is prospering. But not everyone is. I feel strongly that before you can save the world, you need to start in your own backyard. We have a food bank in Kona that isn't always full and we have homeless with special needs of their own. So this year, I will be giving a portion of my profits to local charities, giving back a little to the community that I love so much. In Hawaii, its just called "Living Aloha". If we all do a little, great things can happen!

Have a wonderful, happy, tranquil, love-filled, inspiring, adventurous, healthy and prosperous 2011.

a hui hou

Sasaki Bags Surpasses Goals

2010-12-29T14:48:00.003-10:00

As you may know, I set a pretty aggressive goal for myself this year. Last year I sold a little over 1300 bags so I thought, "why not shoot for the moon?" And set my sights on 2010 bags in 2010. Well, with two days left to the year, I am thrilled to announce that I blew that goal out of the water! As of this morning, I have sold 2850 bags! Who knew this would be possible? The next couple of days will consist of doing inventory of my supplies and gathering up my information so that Menehune man can send in our GET taxes to the state of Hawaii. I am also starting to entertain some goals for next year. I have learned to "dream bigger" this year so who knows where the next year will take me!

I am also preparing to share my "best and worst of 2010" with you. You know..."what was the best thing that happened to you this year and what was the worst?". Some years are more difficult to choose just one best and one worst. This year was easy. Care to guess?

a hui hou

Taking Time to Celebrate

2010-12-20T13:34:00.003-10:00

Today my mom called with news so good it made me cry. Dad went into the cancer center for his blood work and to start another round of chemo. It has beat him up so bad that he was not looking forward to the infusion today. But when they saw the dr., he told them that dad is DONE with chemo now and he is still in remission.

Saturday will be only six months since his initial diagnosis of esophagael cancer. It feels more like a year or two ago. Their lives have changed so much in such a short time

But today, we are celebrating. None of know how long we have to enjoy our loved ones. Life can play tricks on even the young and healthy. My family was given a gift, the way I see it. You see, if I had gotten a call saying that dad had a heart attack or gotten hit by a bus, I wouldn't have had the opportunity to go out and spend time with him around the campfire, drinking his homemade wine and roasting marshmallows. I can now allow myself to hope that there will be many more of those moments with him.

The staff at the cancer center gave dad a cake today and a certificate of acheivement for finishing his radiation and chemo. He was just beaming. I wish I could be there today to share in the celebration in person, but a long distance party will have to do this time. I am taking some time to celebrate and appreciate the fact that I am almost 50 and still have both my parents. What a gift!

a hui hou

Sasaki Bags Island Hops!

2010-12-18T20:19:00.002-10:00

Earlier this week MM and I flew over to Oahu to make some new business contacts and select fabrics for my big corporate order. We visited several wholesale fabric reps and finally found a great fabric that comes in several colors. It's perfect! We were able to order 500 yards it which will complete the order. I also found a new supplier for canvas, right here in Hawaii that has beat all other prices I have found! Yeah! So we ordered 200 yards of that. I swear, my house looks more like a fabric store right now than a home! And more fabric will be arriving on Monday! Once production begins next week, the bolts will become stacks of fabric which will become, linings, and then bags, which can then be boxed up and ready to ship. (you'd think I have done this a time or two!)

We also took some R&R while we were "off island". We stayed in a nice hotel, did some shopping, went out for a fabulous sunset dinner and just enjoyed being together. I think we are both chomping at the bit to begin this order, but there is much to do before that. I'm glad we had a few days to just relax and enjoy life a little. It started off with a bang. As we were headed to the airport to leave Kona, we didn't even get backed out of the driveway before we had a minor disaster. (no one was killed! ) MM had set the suit case behind the car to put in the trunk, but had to go inside for something....and yes...you guessed it, forgot about the suitcase and ran over it...dragging it under the tire up the driveway! I had placed one duffle bag suitcase inside another so that we would have a spare suitcase to bring home gifts and fabric. We pretty much had to scrap that plan. The outer suitcase looked like it had already failed an airport survival test. It was pretty sad! The inner suitcase didn't fair so well either. It has a bent telescoping handle, a few rips etc. The funny thing was the next morning when I went to apply my makeup and my makeup brush looked like it was some sort of "ergonomic applicator". Definately "bent out of shape". It was good for a laugh or two and I always love having something I can rib MM about for years to come!

With all the new supplies we purchased, inventory will be interesting this year. I have MM working on a spreadsheet that will help out for this year's taxes and hopefully into next year. It will need some tweeking along the way, I'm sure, but it will be better than what I have been working with!

Can you believe that this year is almost over? What a year it has been! I have many wishes for the coming year, most of which include good health for my friends and family (especially my dad) and time to enjoy the journey we call life.

I have to start thinking of my "word" of the year for 2011 and about my "best and worst" for 2010. Care to join me?

a hui hou

Kauai Coffee and Sasaki Bags

2010-12-11T19:18:00.006-10:00

My supplies have started to arrive for my big corporate account that I have taken on. This week over 200 Kauai Coffee bags island hopped on over to my studio on the Big Island. Out of the 810 bags that I will be making, 150 are going to be backpacks made out of Kauai Coffee Company bags because those particular guests have opted to stay on Kauai!

I am still working hard to finish up orders from the stores that sell my bags and the custom orders I received through my website.

Today I got to enjoy a brief little "happy dance" when I finished the last of 54 backpacks in a corporate order for a group that will be in Hawaii soon. It included the backpacks and 150 beach tote bags.

They turned out great. I'm sure they will be proud to offer these as gifts to their clients.

Thursday I completed a different order for 70 beach tote bags for anther incentive group coming to Hawaii.

Right now, I have over 1080 bags on order for next year. Menehune Man has been a dream boat this week. He has been so supportive and encouraging.

Before I took on the "BIG" order, I asked him, "Do you think I'm crazy?" When he quit smirking, (because he is sure that I am crazy) he just said, "I think you would be crazy NOT to take this order. I will help you!". And help he has! Yesterday he cut out over 500 linings for me. I am well aware that "this" is MY dream, and yet at the point that I am at, I sure could not be doing this without him. For the "BIG" order, MM has to cut out 405 hardboard bottoms for me for some amenity tote bags.

Today he was out in the garage making patterns for me out of acrylic so that all the cutting will be easier. So we are a team. I feel like pretty much all I do is sew, take orders, email clients, place orders, sew, market my bags, press, fold and box up the bags, ship bags, sew, and feel guilty for not doing more. (hmmm that does sound like a lot!), while MM takes care of the cooking, the yard, helps cut fabric and burlap, AND holds down a full time job. I guess we have a "modern family". I am just glad we have each other!

a hui hou

Hawaii Made Gifts for Incentive Groups

2010-12-04T08:19:00.002-10:00

Sasaki Bags are being chosen as quality, creative gifts for many incentive groups visiting the Hawaiian Islands. Using Kona Coffee bags and now adding Kauai Coffee bags to my list of supplies, I can create unique bags that the clients enjoy taking home and actually using again and again!

Many of my readers may not know what an incentive group is or how it all works so I will attempt to explain. As you know, there are 1000's of companies worldwide that reward their top people who have helped the company have a successful year. Yes, there are still companies out there turning a profit and spending money (thankfully!) All year long, these companies who are often wonderful employers, dangle the carrot in front of their sales teams of, "whoever can sell the most" or "bring in the most clients" or that type of thing, "will win an all expenses paid trip for you and a friend to some beautiful warm and tropical place next winter when everyone else is freezing their buns off". Quite a nice incentive to do well, don't you think? It is even better when Hawaii is the location of choice because that keeps all the money in this country, ensuring the hotel workers, many of whom I know personally, will be able to pay their mortgages and buy groceries and toys for their kids etc.

There is a whole industry created to support these incentives. There are DMCs (destination management companies) who are hired to assist in making travel arrangements, picking clients up at the airport, giving them a lei greeting, arranging tours and activities for everyone and assisting in arranging meals and entertainment.

Incentive group trips are somewhat seasonal with the peak season being January through June. That is because once summer is here, families usually want to plan their own vacations with their kids. Plus, in many locations, the summer months are so short, they want to be home to enjoy it.

Once the winners of the incentive arrive, let's just say in Hawaii, they are most often given gifts or arrival amenities. Sometimes, with very large and successful companies, they may be given gifts everyday! They will return to their room after dinner and "Voila" another gift is awaiting their return. Other companies spend less money on gifts and just give their winners some extra spending cash to spend on whatever they wish.

All of these gifts are chosen months in advance (in a best case scenario). That is where my little business comes in. Someone from either the large company, the DMC, or a hotel will find my website and email me to tell me the size of group they have, when they are arriving and what type of amenity bag they may be looking for. I have even custom designed special bags to the clients specs on occasion.

Then, if I am not already booked during that time frame, they give me a deposit to hold the date so that I don't take on more work than I can handle. That is when I go to work, ordering sufficient supplies and getting my schedule tweeked to accommodate the additional work load. I still have 8 stores to supply with my products during this time so a schedule is SO important.

I love working with companies of all sizes to create gifts they are proud to give. I even love it more when I see hundreds of my bags being carried around town and I know just where they got them and also what company they work for! Menehune Man works for TSA (no he isn't a groper!) and he often comes home and says, "I saw some of our bags leaving the island today!"

Right now I am working on two orders for incentive groups that are coming to Hawaii in February and March and am in the process of committing to another group that will be here in May.

I don't expect to get much rest in the coming months! But I am living my dream and enjoying the journey.

a hui hou

Holiday Sewing

2010-12-01T14:43:00.003-10:00

Ho Ho Ho...and Tra-La-La-La-La
That is what I am hearing everytime I make it into town for more supplies! Yesterday I had an opportunity to see some old friends and everyone was asking me, "Are you ready for the Holidays?" Now you may find this odd, but to me, Christmas is already over and it is only December 1st!

You see, I started sewing my Xmas stockings in February. By July, I was starting to stock up for the stores I sell to so I wouldn't run out of bags. September and October were busy months with trips to see my family and custom orders for some of my great customers. November was the coffee festival with all the frenzied sewing that goes along with that. And suddenly here we are in December and I am pretty much through with Christmas orders and working on corporate orders for February and March. By January 1st, I hope to be working on my May order.

The seasons are beginning to sort of blur past me. Once I finish the May order, it will almost be time to start my "holiday sewing" again.

I am making my supply list and checking it twice.
1200 yards of draw cord....check
500 cord stops.....check
900 yards of fabric....check
400 coffee bags.....check
400 yards of canvas....almost
500 grommets.....check
And all that is just for one order! I am still selling 200-300 bags per month to my stores! I am seeing my dreams come true and beginning to allow myself to dream bigger. That starts by ordering more. I figure that if my little business is doing so well, others must be too. That is fantastic news! It's what makes the economy go 'round.

A hui hou

Make Sure Your Bag Says "Sasaki"

2010-11-24T11:20:00.002-10:00

Oh what a small island I live on! I am not sure whether to be flattered or a little irritated. So, I will opt for both. I just found out that "someone" was in the fabric store the other day and confessed to buying one of my bags to disassemble because they want to make their bags just like mine! Did this person not think that everyone in the fabric store knows me? Evidently they have been awarded a corporate account and the client wanted the quality people have grown to expect from my bags. What a shame that they won't be getting a real "Sasaki Bag".

I guess in the end, it doesn't really matter, though, because even if you use the same fabric I use and the same weight canvas I use, and even the heavy weight cotton webbing that I use, these other bags will be missing one important "ingredient"! Each of my bags are made with passion and Aloha! By stealing my pattern and copying my composition, you won't grow into the bag maker that you may have the potential to be! Your bags will simply be knock offs.

So please, if you love my bags and appreciate my ethics, make sure that the bag you buy has a Sasaki label sewn onto it.

a hui hou

Kauai Coffee

2010-11-03T19:49:00.003-10:00

I have been sewing for Kauai Coffee for a couple of years now, but just recently got permission to use their bags for my own ventures. They have some of the most interesting coffee bags to work with because every year they redesign their bag. They are somewhat of collector's items! Some of the designs translate very well into my bags and purses so I was excited to receive my first shipment of bags today. So of course, I had to make a kauai coffee bag today!

It has been a long day of sewing today but I got a lot done and feel good about what I accomplished. I guess that means it was a "good day"!

a hui hou

49 years and counting...

2010-10-24T22:42:00.008-10:00

My life has been interesting to say the least. Some of you who know me now, may not know that I first married at age 17 (nope, wasn't even pregnant!) and had two children before I could even buy a beer (at age 21)! I am no longer married to my children's father, but he will always remain a part of my history, since we were together for 18 years.

I am now 49 years old and proud to say it! I don't understand people who are ashamed of their age. Gosh, you have earned the right to say the "number"! When I was 29, a dear friend of mine passed away and I vowed to never regret growing older! That was 20 years ago. In this next year, I will be 50. Now, how on earth did that ever happen? Where did the years go?

But honestly, I feel as if I am on the cusp of a new beginning! A life yet undiscovered! Much of my life I have had the opportunity to work in luxury resorts and have met people that you only read about. One of the most surreal moments has to be when I was working a concert/dinner and Archbishop Desmond Tutu was "chair dancing" to Brian Wilson singing "I wish they all could be California girls...". As I ventured across the floor to deliver his apple juice, I was stunned when he "fist bumped" me in appreciation! Did Archbishop Desmond Tutu really just "fist bump" me? That same evening I was priveleged to serve champagne to the first woman president of an African nation, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf , of Liberia! There were secret service agents all around inspecting my tray each time I entered the room! I was aware of the importance of her attendance.

I have seen and met may movie stars and movie producers through the years. The one thing it taught me is that we are all the same...we just do different things to make a living! There are nice people and there are jerks in every walk of life! Many years ago, I was a manager at a restaurant in Silverwood Theme Park in Idaho. The placemats were our printed menus and when people would come in to take a look at the menu, I used to ask if they would like me to autograph it for them. (it cracked me up) Often, people would ask me, "well, who are you?" I would reply, "it isn't who I AM, it's who I may be someday!" Today, I am a bag maker!

Three years ago, when I began designing Sasaki Bags, I did so with an intention of making it become my livelyhood within 3-4 years. Well, that was 3 years ago and I recently committed myself to having Sasaki Bags be my sole provider of income. It is a scarey and yet exciting step forward for me, but one I take on with bravado! I feel that the time has come and it seems to be the natural "next step" for me in my business venture.

This next year is already filling up with amazing business opportunities. I stand in awe and full of excitement in anticipation of what lies ahead for me. I hope that you stop by and share in my journey that lies ahead. Life is nothing, if not for the journey!

a hui hou

Life

2010-10-24T22:42:00.003-10:00

Life

2010-10-24T22:42:00.001-10:00

Sasaki Bags looking ahead

2010-10-17T11:00:00.002-10:00

Here at Sasaki Bags, I am having such a great time finishing up some big orders, taking new orders for the holidays and looking ahead to even more exciting things to come. I have already booked a few corporate orders for the incentive group season in 2011 and with eight stores now carrying Sasaki Bags, I stay busy enough to keep out of trouble!

At the Kona Coffee Cultural Festival, on November 13, at the Old Airport in Kona, I will be releasing my "Aunty Tutu" bag. I have now made a few of them, tweaked some things here and there and am ready to unleash my new gal. It is a large bag. I used mine as a carry-on while traveling to Idaho recently, which allowed me to see what worked and what needed to be tweaked. It fits perfectly underneath the airplane seats when laid flat. The only thing missing on this bag is WHEELS! ha! While rushing through San Francisco airport, that idea did cross my mind!

I am also ordering some leather that I will be working with. My vision is to add leather bottoms and feet to some of my bags. (Mom, I have a purple lambskin hide that I am eyeing! Hmmm, who would like that? Any ideas?) Having never sewn on leather, it may take me awhile to get proficient at it so that it is "boutique-worthy. Max is sitting here just waiting to be put to work!

And what about next year? Well, I plan to keep on working my buns off, and refine some of the design ideas I have been playing with. It also may be time to look for some more outside help, (keeping in mind my word of the year this year: Balance) even if it is just with cutting out bags and linings. This bag maker just can't do it all and keep up with the demand! And I'm sure that Menehune Man would appreciate me not cracking the whip on his days off from his other job!

So, there you have it! Right now, I am just taking a deep breath and hoping to survive the holidays. I believe I surpassed my 2010 goal this week, but haven't done an actual tally. I will let you know.

a hui hou

Chicago Screws

2010-10-06T15:07:00.003-10:00

While I was in Idaho I stopped into a Farm and Garden store and found some Tandy leather supplies. I bought some Chicago Screws in different sizes and designs to try out. I know I can order them elsewhere in bulk but always wanted to give them a try without purchasing 500 of them!

Today I made one of my Big Kahuna bags and used the Chicago Screws to enhance the strap. They add both strength and style (IMHO). Okay, they are a little more work...but sometimes to make a better product, it is worth it! Here is a photo of the bag I made today with the new addition. What do you think?

For those of you who may not be familiar with Chicago Screws, they look pretty much like a rivet but instead of schmushing (go ahead, look it up!) the two pieces together, you poke a hole, in this case, in the webbing, slide the shank of one end into the webbing and then screw the other side into that shank. It is a neat look and adds more hardware, which appeals to many of my customers. This bag was a custom order that included the 1 1/2" O-rings attached to the straps.

a hui hou

Sasaki Bags on your Christmas List?

2010-09-25T20:53:00.004-10:00

Okay, it's official. Christmas is 3 months from today! How many of you are procrastinators? I tend to fall into that category (I say shamefully, while hanging my head)

Who among you loves to get those lists out of the way early? Well, thankfully, I seem to have lots of "non-procrastinating" shoppers who had Sasaki Bags on their Xmas list this year. I have been seeing a steady rise in customers finding me online. Many of them have purchased my bags for themselves while on vacation and are contacting me to get some of those names checked off their lists.

Tonight I was preparing some invoices and decided it was a good time to do an official tally of bags sold for the year. As you know my goal for 2010 was to sell 2010 bags. I only have 344 to go! Since opening the Waikiki stores this summer, I've been selling about 300 bags per month so I am pretty confident that I will reach my goal.

What else am I up to? Always something! I have a new twist I am putting on my market totes. The hardboard bottom will still be covered in a coordinating fabric, but now on my boutique bags, I will make it reversible to a different accent fabric to switch up the look.

I am planning to unveil my new "Aunty Tutu" carry-on bag at the Kona Coffee Festival in November. I used it on my trip out to Idaho, have done a little tweeking to it, and have it almost ready for public consumption! I loved that it fit perfectly under the airplane seat in front of my cramped, puffy feet. (I really need to drink more water on those flights!) I will also tell you that the design includes a zipper on top and an adjustable, removable shoulder strap. I haven't posted any photos of it yet so I'm trying to keep it a mystery of sorts.

I am just trying to keep it fresh and interesting for all you ladies out there (and for the few men who buy my bags as well!)

Remember that I always love hearing from you and I do listen to your suggestions. Drop me a line anytime at SasakiCreations@aol.com and I will get right back to you.

** kitten update:
While I was in Idaho, Menehune Man tamed the kitten! Now whenever we open the door he RUNS to the door and tries to get in. He loves to be petted and even lets me hold him! That is huge progress since before I left he wouldn't even tolerate being touched. He is simply adorable!

a hui hou

Love trumps passion!

2010-09-18T18:22:00.003-10:00

Life can change so quickly. A couple of weeks ago my dad's health suddenly became critical and he was admitted to the hospital. Mom and I traded off every other night staying with him so that one of us would be rested. After lots of meds, IVs and tender loving care he came home after 8 days, to be doted on by my mom, my sister and me.

From the beginning of his journey with cancer we decided that when possible, his doctors take the weekends off so we would too. It is a nice break to not have appointments, treatments, and procedures. Just lay low, watch some movies and nap. It's funny how important time with family has become, once again.

For the most part my customers have been very supportive. They know that when I return to Hawaii, I will do my best to finish all the bags I have on order. I apologize for any inconveniences. My parents need me right now and my love for them trumps my passion of making bags.

Today, however, I did take a little excursion with my mom and I found a store selling burlap coffee bags from companies that I didn't have. Some are from Guatemala and Brazil. My love for Kona Coffee and the culture from my hometown is still a priority but I think the green frog coffee bag from the Rain Forest Alliance will be fun to work with! Debbi from Farm and Home in Coeur d'Alene was so kind to dig through her pallets to find me some interesting bags. Hopefully, she will find some more fun coffee bags for me before I head back to Hawaii.

Fortunately, my Menehune Man has been continuing to cut burlap and make linings for me while I am gone. Have I mentioned lately how lucky I am?

a hui hou

Sasaki Bags has a new mascot

2010-09-05T06:58:00.003-10:00

Who could resist a face like that? This little guy showed up at my 14 year old cat's bowl a month ago and has decided to call us his family. Menehune Man gets a kick out of him, for a guy who doesn't like "kids or cats"! In fact, MM even named him! It's official! Meet "Shiro", which means "white" in Japanese. The kitten looks to be part siamese but his tips are sort of orange with some stripes on his tail. He has the bluest of blue eyes and has stolen my heart. But he is still very wild. I don't think he had any human contact before pilfering Shima's food. I am determined to tame him though. So whenever he eats, I sit very close to him so that he can get used to me being there and trust me. Last night he did take some tuna from my fingers but usually he is just so skiddish that if you flinch he goes running! Patience....not my most developed of virtues!

Yesterday I was outside cutting fabric and he stayed close by. He still has that cute kitten "mew". My poor old cat has been surprisingly tolerant of this new kid in town. In the beginning he could have killed him as I have seen him take on rats that size! Shiro was trying to nurse on the skin that hangs on Shima...and that didn't go over very well! Shiro goes tearing through the yard and running up trees with all the energy of a kitten, and Shima just looks at him as if he were crazed!

Shima is still king of the house though. The new wild baby needs to come a long way before he will be welcome to wander my halls. It is kind of fun having a "kid" around again though.

a hui hou

Haute Potato Purses and more!

2010-08-23T06:46:00.003-10:00

One potato, two potato, three potato four! Who remembers that game from your childhood? Maybe it was just us Idaho girls that played it? I don't even really remember what the game consisted of, but the phrase stuck with me!

Yesterday I added a "Haute Potato" bag to my inventory. I got a wild idea and followed through on it to add piping along the fabric accent on the bottom. I really am pleased with the finished look!

My Kona Mountain Coffee stores in Waikiki are living up to my expectations. I have already shipped out 140 bags to them this month and they have 140 more on order. It is funny to me how those numbers have come to sound so run of the mill to me! I remember the first wholesale order that I ever got for 100 bags and I just couldn't even imagine how long that may take me to complete. I do things assembly line now and buy in bulk. Last week I purchased over 300 yards of lining fabric!

Business is looking good for next year. I am working with some incentive groups for possible orders in 2011. It looks like January, February and March may be very busy! I don't see any time to rest up after the holidays!

Over all, life is good. I am meeting new people, experiencing new things and staying very busy. Whatever happened to those days I used to just lay on the beach??? They are but a vague and distant memory.

My boss (that would be ME!) just cracked the whip and insisted that I start my day, so I better sign off!

a hui hou

Catching up

2010-08-17T22:23:00.004-10:00

Well, another day is coming to a close. I've turned the sewing machine off and unplugged the iron. (double checking....yep! its unplugged!) Sitting back and feeling pretty good about all that I accomplished today. *sigh*...Excuse me while I pat myself on the back!

Business has just been incredible! I was chatting with my fabric rep over on Oahu this week and she was lamenting how so many of her customers are still really feeling the crunch of the economy. I feel blessed because here at Sasaki Bags, things are exploding. I get on the average, 2-3 inquiries a week from stores that want to carry my bags. I have had to create a file with contact information so that in the event any of my current accounts fold, I have backups. But that file is getting pretty thick!

Recently, I have been enjoying having my customers find me via facebook. A few of the gals have even given me a call and chatted at length. I love it when they realize that there is a REAL person behind the name! I love connecting with people. Just this week, women from Idaho, Georgia and California have picked up the phone and called me! Thank you!

The new Kona Mountain Coffee store opened in Waikiki yesterday. It is a large store about the size of my house! Not huge...but large enough! I am truly appreciative that I am included as part of their ohana (family). I have been providing bags to their store for 3 years now (almost) and have been enjoying the fruits of their expansion to the outer islands. They have also been so supportive of me during this time that I need to be with my family more. It just doesn't get better than that!

So that is the news from "the rock". Just working hard to make my dreams come true and enjoying the journey!

a hui hou

2010 Goals

2010-08-07T08:24:00.003-10:00

As my loyal readers may remember, I have a goal set before me by the ever competitive MOI! Yes, I do compete with myself! I chose "2010 bags sold in 2010" for this year's goal. I just finished crunching my numbers for the first 7 months and I am still on track to reach this aggressive goal! So far I have sold 1062 bags this year. That is just 300 short of what I sold last year! With my new store opening in Waikiki next week, and the holidays ahead of me, I am feeling cautitiously optimistic that I will be doing a happy dance before the year is out! Care to join me?

a hui hou

Idaho Potato Commission

2010-08-03T23:03:00.003-10:00

It is that time of year once more to renew my licensing with the State of Idaho. It seems that many people arent aware that in order to use an Idaho Potato sack, you actually have to be licensed through the Idaho Potato Commissioner. Thankfully, they are a joy to deal with. Kathy Ware has been most helpful in assisting me. At this time, I am the only person licensed to use the bags in the production of purses. So some of the wording of the contracts had to be customized to fit the purpose that I use the bags for.

I know, some of you think that I only use coffee bags but I also get a kick out of making my "Haute Potato" bags. This year I added two new designs that were approved by the commissioners office and remain on file. They include my Holualoa design with the bamboo handles and the Kaloko design with the zip top and adjustable shoulder strap.

Just a few more things to keep me busy!

And speaking of busy...

The newest Kona Mountain Coffee store opens in Waikiki in 13 days! So I am sewing feverishly to build up the stock to open the new store with. Oh My but the holidays are going to be amusing this year!

a hui hou

Mahalo to ReallyHawaiian

2010-07-23T21:32:00.002-10:00

A big Mahalo to Ginger over at ReallyHawaiian.com who featured Sasaki Bags in an ad in Ke Ola Magazine. It looks great and has already brought me some new customers! Check out her website for other wonderful items that are made right here in Hawaii.

a hui hou

Back on the Rock!

2010-07-23T21:17:00.003-10:00

Well, after a busy and full week with my family, I am back in Hawaii and have the treadle to the metal! My latest diva is in the Holualoa design (bucket bag). She is 100% silk. Her exterior was once an obi and her lining was a haori (short kimono jacket type of garment). Kiku was hard to photograph because 3/4 of her exterior is gold metallic threads. Luscious!

I also got an order from the featured ad in Ke Ola Magazine for a Buddha's Cup bag. In addition, this week I found time to finish another bag from my order list. Thank you again to my wonderful customers for your patience and understanding while I spend more time with my parents.

Postings can be expected to be brief as I just have SO much to do these days, but I wanted to atleast drop by and let you all know I am alive and well!

With regards to my dad, he begins treatment to fight the cancer on Monday. He is such a strong and inspirational man! I am really proud that he is my dad! Right now he is doing very well. Thank you for your good thoughts and prayers. He is in good hands with my mom. The doctors have put her in charge of his nutrition. I pity the person who tries to get between her and dad right now. She vows to be glued to his side through all of this. As she pretty much has been for the past 53 years! I truly am blessed.

a hui hou

The Day the World Stood Still...and then started spinning

2010-06-27T23:07:00.005-10:00

This blog, as you know, is about more than just my bags. It is about my thoughts and my journey as I realize my dreams. It is about my successes and even my failures. It is about me and my family.

My family has been fortunate in many ways. For the most part, we've been healthy and when most of my grandparents have died, it has been after a full life while into their 80's. I've even had relatives live nearly 100 years! Friday, I felt that my luck ran out. My dad went into an outpatient clinic for a procedure to find out why he has been having difficulty swallowing. With the time difference, with the time it took me to wake up and check my email, my dad had been diagnosed with a 4cm squamous cell esophageal carcinoma. I know my mom well enough to read between the lines of her cryptic email. "Hi honey, the procedure didn't take long...call me when you can so I can try to explain what the doctor found". You see, I know that my mom doesn't believe in delivering bad news via email or voice mail. So when she said to call, I already knew that it wasn't good.

I am thankful that they live in an area that has excellant doctors. I am grateful that they have loyal friends. But I feel so very far away right now.

There have been times in my life when I put my job ahead of everything else. I needed the money so badly that I feared losing my job if I put family first. I won't do that again. I am older and wiser.

My mom told me that she felt like the world as she knew it changed in the instant she heard that her husband of 53 years, has cancer. I understand to some extent. I must remind myself to breathe deeply, as I keep finding myself taking in short rapid breathes of air. This is my dad!

I know enough about his type of cancer to know that the next few months are going to be the hardest days of his life. My dad has never 'done' hospitals. He doesn't even like the smell of hospitals.

So today, my bags are packed and I am headed out to be with my mom and dad. I have wrapped up most of my larger pending orders here and notified other customers that their order will take longer than I initially expected. EVERYONE has been so supportive.

My "Menehune Man" is helping me so much. I even left instructions for him on how to ship one of my large orders. He will be popping a couple hundred packages of Kleenex into silk tissue totes for me, then boxing them all up and shipping them out! Have I ever told you what a special man I am married to?

I still have much to do this morning before flying out so I had better get to it. Please keep my family in your thoughts and prayers.

a hui hou

New Design

2010-06-23T21:36:00.005-10:00

I was visiting with the management of my primary wholesale account a couple weeks ago and we decided that with so many people getting into the burlap coffee tote bag biz, that it would be prudent of me to come up with a fresh design to keep my bags recognizable. With the increase in business and the addition of two new stores, I needed to keep the design simple, yet also wanted to add strength and durability to the design.

I am so very pleased with the result of measuring and remeasuring. The final product just has a much more designer look to it with a splash of color. I have added fabric to the bottom and lower edge of my Omiyage and Deluxe Omiyage tote bags to match their linings. Yes, it is more work, but I feel confident that the extra workmanship will pay off. For some of them I have even added nickel hardware to the straps but will keep it simple by only adding that on request.

I look forward to hearing your feedback. Let me know your thoughts.

a hui hou

Welcome Kendra!

2010-06-23T21:28:00.003-10:00

Kendra is my newest Diva bag. She is made from black dupioni silk and lined with a leopard print cotton. Her straps are black faux leather. Black feathers accent her front side and she is crowned with a black feather boa. There are two decorative buttons on her front and a pocket on her backside. The interior has ...a magnetic snap closure and two more pockets. Kendra is a sassy girl with a wild side. She likes to party but will look just as good with a pair of tight jeans as she does with your little black dress.

She was born on June 23, making her a Cancer.

Holualoa Farmfest 2010

2010-06-18T20:33:00.002-10:00

You all know how much I adore the sleepy little town of Holualoa. Well tomorrow it is going to come alive with the 2nd annual Farmfest and Ukulele Jam. There will be 3 stages stategically placed on the mainstreet of town so that you will probably be able to hear music playing from any of the stores and galleries. Around 25 vendors will be selling farm grown fruits and veggies.

I dropped off a supply of Sasaki Bags to Janet at Pacific Islands Gallery today so she should be fully stocked. I did see my Koloa bag, Holualoa bag, Kaloko "bag on a string", and market totes upon quick glance. She also has some affordable jewelry and artwork for everyone.

If you are looking for a fun way to spend your Saturday, take the scenic drive just 5 miles from Kailua Kona and enjoy the day.

a hui hou

If your life was a book...

2010-06-05T20:39:00.003-10:00

Have you ever thought about that? What if your life was a book?

Today I got up early and took a 2 mile walk down at the beach. It had just rained and the roadway was still wet and scented with the sweet wet aroma. I never know where my thoughts will lead me when I am all alone with them. Often times they bounce back to a bag design that has been tumbling about in my head and I try to work out zipper challenges or pocket placement to pass the time. But today I was thinking about my life.

If my life was a book, what section of the bookstore would you find it in? Drama? Adventure? Romance? Self Help? Humor? And would it be interesting enough to read? Would you recommend it to friends?

This thought first came to me many years ago. Perhaps it was when I was struggling through the fallout of a divorce. I tried to imagine that my hardships were but a single chapter in my "life story". They weren't the whole story!

What do you look for in a good read? I like a little mystery, with a hint of romance and adventure and it is best if it also makes me laugh out loud a couple of times. But I like it to keep moving. I like characters with colorful personalities that are sprinkled throughout.

I hope this photo makes you laugh outloud! It was my 46th bday and the prop is a candy cigarette and the lips are wax! No mom, I haven't started smoking! And no lip injections for me!

It isn't always the case, but I would like to live my life so that if it ever were to become a book, it would be one you just couldn't put down. What happens next??? How did she overcome that??? What crazy friends she is blessed with!!! I want it to be a "feel good" book, not a "look at all the mistakes I made" book!

All I really want before the last page of "my story" is one more triumph than there were tragedies! And maybe a few more laugh-out-loud moments! I hope to have many more chapters to work it all out before you see:

"... happily ever after. The End"

a hui hou

And the Winner of the May Give Away is:

2010-05-31T07:22:00.004-10:00

Today is my birthday! First thing I did was become a brunette today. The next thing I wanted to do was to give a gift to one of my "fans". Thank you to all of you who left me messages this month on my blog, facebook and twitter. Please continue to do so because it really keeps me in touch with what women are loving and want to see when it comes to the next Sasaki Bag!

So without further adieu, *drum roll please*, the winner of the May give away is:

MARILINDA SAVAGE PASSON!

Marilinda, I will be in touch with you to see where you would like your bag delivered to.

But for now....its my birthday! and I am off to see what kind of trouble I can create for one day! Sorry girls, no sewing today!

a hui hou

Tomorrow, Tomorrow...

2010-05-30T21:36:00.003-10:00

Tomorrow is the big day you have all been waiting for! Who will win my May Give-away? At some time tomorrow, I will announce the winner so check back! I have all the names printed out onto strips of paper and nestled lovingly inside a Sasaki Bag. Don't be hanging around here all night now...go on...go to bed! Check back tomorrow!

Another day in Hawaii

2010-05-15T11:52:00.003-10:00

This morning I had the joy of driving up to Holualoa to make a delivery of bags. Would someone please remind me to take my camera next time? Some of the things I saw were reminders of just how unique this beautiful place is that I call home. So here is my attempt at a verbal scrapbook:

Holualoa is a sleepy little town smack dab in the heart of coffee country. As I drove up the narrow winding road I avoided some wild turkeys and got behind a truck with a guy sitting in the back of the bed. As I got closer, I saw that there was a huge dead wild pig lying next to him. The hunting dogs were looking mighty proud, too!

Then up a little further there was a sign that read, "Yard Sale"....but there was no yard there! It was simply the side shoulder of the road and some people decided it was a grand spot to have their "yard sale". It cracked me up! there was the armoire, recliner, TV....it just didn't happen to be in their yard! :)

Around the next curve in the road I saw a mango tree so burdened with beautiful mangoes hanging from it like beads of water about to drop. A reminder that mango season is upon us! Who says we don't have seasons??? We have whale season, mango season, avocado season, Jacaranda season, Night Blooming Cereus season, Royal Poinciana season.....How lucky are we to have SO MANY seasons!

Across the road I observed a young woman prepping the side of the road to set up her coffee stand. I see her there often, usually with her small child, but today she was alone and sweeping the roadway with a primitive looking broom like I saw in Thailand.

A bit further, I see a little girl of about 4 years old, proudly mounted on a strawberry roan. I love that kind of horse! She was with an adult and it looked like they were about to make some memories of their own. She was so cute with her little legs barely able to hug into the horse. She was wearing a pink bicycle helmet. Safety first!

Once I arrived at the Pacific Islands Gallery, I had the honor to meet a couple who had been admiring my work and came back to see my latest bags. They were from Indiana and seemed to be thoroughly enjoying their vacation.

It was a beautiful day and what a treat to be able to invigorate all of my senses! But next time...I need to bring my camera!

Cinco De Mayo!

2010-05-05T20:08:00.003-10:00

Okay, here we are into the first week of May already and I have a funny story to tell you that...well, maybe I told it before but I'm telling it anyways! Infact, it has sort of become a little tradition of mine to share this silly story around this time of year.

Let me preface this story with a reminder that I am a caucasian girl who grew up in North Idaho where we didn't have the advantage of meeting too many people from other cultures. Pretty much everyone I knew was white, so although I was raised to embrace all nationalities, I was not culturally savvy!

With all that being said, when I was about 28 years old, my little brother got married down in the Los Angeles area. I flew down by myself because my family couldn't afford to have everyone attend. So I met up with my mom and dad and spent a few days in "Sunny California". This was my first trip to California as an adult and I was awestruck by all the flowering trees and swimming pools visible as we were flying into the airport. I even photographed a palm tree as I was leaving the airport because although I'd been to Disneyland as a small child, I didn't remember ever having seen a palm tree. (Imagine that now that I live in Hawaii!)

We all had a great time, the wedding was beautiful...yada yada yada.
Then on the flight home, I got on a small plane in Seattle that would take me back to Spokane's airport. It was a tiny plane...quite an experience in itself! After we got settled, the Captain announced "in honor of Cinco De Mayo, we will be passing out complimentary Dos Equis beer to anyone who would like one!" Well, this white girl had never heard of Cinco De Mayo before! My mind conjured up an image of some famous Mexican hero or perhaps a Presidente! Senor De Mayo! **I extend my hand for dear Cinco to gently kiss it as I bow in his honor...all in my mind**So as I was taking my complimentary beer in hand, I raised it and said "Here's to you Cinco!" Infact I may have even seen the bottom of two such brewskis before the short flight was over and probably toasted him again.

I don't recall who actually later told me about Cinco De Mayo....that it wasn't even a person at all! But I do remember the embarrassment I felt! And for some reason that embarrassment has brought me a little bit of joy, every year since then! I find myself quietly giggling at my own expense! Always this time of year, I begin to joke about "Cinco De Mayo must be coming up soon....but I can never remember what day! "

I have some fond memories as well. My dear friend Erica, who was born in Mexico, used to live a few miles from me here in Hawaii and She and her husband were known to throw some pretty great BBQs "around the 5th of May". Lance could whip up some mean margaritas with a little li hing mui on the rim! So on this 5th day of May....I am missing my friend, who moved to Seattle...where my whole Cinco experience began....20 some years ago.

***Just for the record....the day that I flew was NOT on May 5th. My brothers wedding was towards the end of May....so even for the culturally challenged, there has to be an excuse in there somewhere!

a hi hou

Sasaki Bags May Give-away

2010-04-30T18:37:00.007-10:00

Tomorrow is May 1st. That may mean many things to many people. It is May Day. As a kid I recall something about may baskets and flowers. In Hawaii, May Day is Lei Day. Everyone wears a lei and there are extraordinary leis entered into contests. The school children hold Lei Day celebrations with a Royal Court, hula dancing and all sorts of festivities.

But for me, May 1st is the beginning of my birthday month! My bday is the last day of May. I thoroughly enjoy having birthdays! It means I am still alive! For me, my birthday is like New Years Day for other people. I love to take the day and reflect on the past year and think about ways I can improve as a person in the coming year. One year, my sister bought me 31 presents and I got to open one every day of the month. It was so much fun!

So this year, I want to make some other lucky girls' day by giving away a Sasaki Bag on my birthday. I have not made the bag that will be given away. I am not sure which one it will be yet. I am hoping you all inspire me to create something that all the girls will envy. To qualify here is what you can do:

1. Each time you comment on my Sasaki Bags Facebook or Twitter pages I will write your name on a slip of paper and put it in a bag.

2. If you comment on my blog, you will also be entered into the drawing.

3. If you go to my Discussions page on Sasaki Bags Facebook and leave a comment or start a new discussion, you will be entered again and again!

Then at the end of the month...did I mention that is my BIRTHDAY?, I will draw a slip of paper out of the bag and announce the lucky girl!

I am doing it in this fashion so that a girl who REALLY wants a Sasaki Bag can increase her chances of getting one by leaving comments. In the past, I randomly chose a name from my list of fans. What I really hope to accomplish is to get to know my customers and friends a little better. Tell me what you like, what you don't like. Give me your ideas! Lets just have fun connecting this month!

a hui hou

Barb

Mommy and Mini-Me

2010-04-11T22:13:00.002-10:00

Sometimes I just have to take a day and sew something new. I have so many ideas floating around in my head but so little time to try them all out! Today I wanted to make a special bag with Mother's Day in mind. For a long time I have been thinking of making a bag with a matching bag for a young daughter. The first bag I finished within 2 hours. The matching "mini-me" bag took me about 5 hours!

I only had to throw one away. But had to rip this one apart twice. It is a tricky thing to get the proportions similar to the Mommy bag and yet making it small enough for a little girl....a daughter young enough to still think it is neat to look and dress like her mommy! I also had to use similar but smaller bamboo handles which my own "mommy" was kind enough to scout around and find for me. Often, living on an island, I can't find things at affordable prices so I send my mom on a scavenger hunt on the mainland to see what she can find for me! But in the end, when I finished them both....I have to say that I am so pleased with the outcome. At this moment, I can't remember anything that I have ever made that was SO cute!

I would like to start making these "mother/daughter sets" if there are enough women who would like them. But I need to make a few, first, to get my time down that it takes to make them. This set has to be given as a gift. If I charged by the hour today, you would think that the handles were gold plated!

a hui hou

Kona Cloud Coffee Estates

2010-04-05T18:55:00.002-10:00

I am having so much fun working with the bags from the Kona Cloud Coffee Estates! I have to play around with the bag to see what design best carries the logo etc. So since Thursday, whats that? Four days ago? I have made two Kona style bags, two market totes, two Holualoa style "bucket bags", and 4 deluxe omiyage tote bags. I have several orders going out to stores and galleries in Hawaii and will be using these latest creations to help fill those orders. Friday I was up at Pacific Islands Gallery in Holualoa to drop off her order and sold two bags before I even left the store! Infact, they hadn't even been tagged yet! One of them was a Kona Cloud coffee bag and the other was from the Kona Pacific Farmers Co-op.

I am wondering which lining will do best in Arkansas in the tote bags. I sent Jim Ameika 3 samples. One had a bright, bold, fun aloha print, another had a earthy greens and browns aloha print with tropical leaves, and the third was a cotton print of coffee beans. I know that the wide variety of customers I have in Hawaii have quite varied tastes. They will buy a bag even if it has dog bones printed inside!

If anyone out there from Arkansas reads this post, please tell me your preferences. At this point I think that about 12 of the bags I am sending out will have the coffee beans and the other bags will be a variety of aloha prints. I will try to compliment the coffee bag, as always.

Earl is off work tonight so I am off to spend some time with him and shut the sewing studio down for the night.

a hui hou!

First Quarter

2010-04-01T21:07:00.004-10:00

Today we turned the page on another month. So it was time for me to see how I am doing on my goals. As far as balance goes....well, I am trying. I have been taking time away from the sewing room and doing "other" things ....a little bit. I still need to work on balance when I am at home. A little yard work would be good for the soul...and the waistline!

And how am I doing on my numbers? You know my goal for bags made for the year is 2010 bags in 2010! To accomplish that I have to make 167 bags per month. In March I exceeded that. 192 Sasaki Bags were made last month! But for January and February I was low. I am about 100 bags behind as I go into the second quarter. So I just need to readjust my "sails" and tack into the head wind! I do think it was a rather ambitious goal...but I still think it is possible. (Where are my cheerleaders??? "na-na-na-no-body messes with my sewing machine!")

Tomorrow I am shipping off some sample bags to Arkansas. I usually enter into new business relationships with a bit of trepidation these days. I have been burned a couple of times and have grown cautious. But for some reason, I am very excited about this prospect of selling to this client. Once I am sure that they want my bags, (and I can't imagine why they wouldn't!) I will share more details...just in case you are ever in Jonesboro, Arkansas and needing a Sasaki Bag! I will be shipping them 25 bags this month and am working on 35 bags for a different corporate order that is due in June. I also have the new store opening in Waikiki this summer so I have about 50 bags already made and sitting in my living room awaiting their grand opening. Sorry menehune man! Right now I have bags in all four corners of my living room! They are separated by location so I don't send the wrong bags to the wrong location! Yikes...even just hearing myself say that puts fear in my bones! *shudder*

It feels so good to be able to plan ahead and not feel so rushed and panicky! Lots of irons in the fire but it is a controlled burn!

Oh, and let me just share my opinion on the economy.....It's picking up! I started my little biz smack dab in the middle of the downturn. Yet I have seen continual growth. But recently, atleast three of my accounts are calling me weekly to place additional orders. That means people are buying more, and if they are buying my bags...they are most likely spending money on other things as well. Yeah!

Tonight I had so much to sew. By about 8pm I was pooped so I had to do little things to entertain myself to keep the sewing interesting. So, I made a watermelon bag...those always crack me up! And then I decided to play on the "Beverly Hills 90210" and create a "Honaunau, Hawaii 96726" bag. It made me smile. Most people probably will wonder..."why are those numbers on the bag?"...well, the coffee bag I used was from the Gold Mountain farm in Honaunau....so I just decided to have some fun with it!

a hui hou!

My little business is growing!

2010-03-29T19:21:00.003-10:00

I have so many wonderful opportunities that I have been both enjoying and looking forward to. Tonight I spoke to a businessman in Arkansas of all places! I will give more details as I see appropriate, however, I WILL tell you that I am expecting Sasaki Bags to be available in Jonesboro, Arkansas within the next couple of months. It is one hour from Memphis and I think he said about 3 hours from Branson, Missouri. I have never been anywhere near there but maybe one day I will have to check it out!

So, sorry not too many details, for now...but I just had to share!

a hui hou!

Saturday on the Big Island

2010-03-27T17:35:00.008-10:00

How are you spending your Saturday? Me? Funny you should ask! A couple months ago a girlfriend (thats her in the photo) told me about a cooking class that was coming up. It was all about Spices and Thai cooking. She invited me to come along. So I just paid in advance and decided nothing would come in the way. I am SO glad I went. It was held up in Waimea at the Anna Ranch, which was a very nice facility. Chef Nicolai Winkler was our chef du jour. He was very friendly and personable. He taught us how to make 3 different curries. Red, Green and Yellow. He also taught us a lot about the herbs and spices that can go into making a curry.

For instance in his yellow curry, today he included tumeric, ginger, golongal, cumin, hot pepper vinegar (more about the vinegar later) lime juice, sea salt, garlic and 1 thai chili. He taught us that the easiest way to begin muddling the mixture is to start with salt in the mortar bowl as it keeps the garlic from slipping around as you muddle it. Finish "mushing" (a technical culinary term) the dry ingredients before adding the liquids to maintain a paste texture.

Today's red curry included 1 thai red chili, red chili flakes, christmas berry or red pepper corns, sweet paprika, ginger, garlic, lime juice and rice vinegar.

The green curry we made today included basil, lemon grass, lime zest, kafir lime leaf, cilantro, green chili pepper, nutmeg, and chili pepper vinegar.

Now to make something with any of these curries, you can add coconut milk or some kind of stock such as vegetable stock, chicken stock or fish stock. Then thicken it by using the old stand-by of corn starch in a little cold water. You can serve it over rice and add a salad for a complete dinner!

He also said you can saute up a little aromatics including lemongrass, ginger and garlic, then add one of the curries above before stirring in a little coconut milk. Yummy!

One of my favorite things to get in a Thai restuarant (but something I never did see in Thailand!) is summer rolls. They are such a healthy little appetizer filled with fresh herbs and vegies and wrapped in rice paper. We all had the opportunity today to try our hand at rolling a summer roll. I still need to practice my technique, but wouldn't get fat eating my mistakes since they are so low calorie!

Of course a summer roll needs a dipping sauce. I usually have a little sweet chili sauce with peanuts on top, but today Chef Nicolai made four sauces. For the green sauce he started with sugar in the mortar to which he added mint, cilantro, chili pepper, and a substantial amount of fish sauce (aka patisse). That was very crisp and fresh tasting!

Sauce numba 2 was a citrus soy sauce. It was very simple with sugar, lime juice, chili pepper vinegar and soy sauce (aka shoyu).

The 3rd sauce was a homemade sweet chili sauce made from the red curry past to which he added sugar and more chilis. That was also delish!

Sauce numba 4 was a bottle thai sauce to which he added coconut milk.

To wrap the day up he finished with a quick to prepare green papaya salad. The prep included using a mandolin (not the musical instrument...the kitchen appliance!) Then he juilienned the papapya. To the mortar he added sugar, red curry paste, red onion, and water. He tossed the papaya with small yellow grape tomatoes and then added the dressing.

Everything was spicy...but nothing was so hot that it burned. It was just very tasty!

I do wish his class would have included lunch since it was from 11-2pm (lunch time) and it did cost $55. I think we were all expecting to be able to eat more than just the one bite of summer roll and one mouthful of papaya salad. For my critique, I would recommend that he show us how to do something and then let the "students" do the muddling and prep while he continued on. He could have prepared in advance enough papaya salad and summer rolls so that we could have made a little plate and sat enjoying those while he did a summary.

I wish menehune man would have been able to attend with me just because I think he would have enjoyed it too. I am actually in the mood to try out some of these recipes....and I am not one that can usually be found in the kitchen!

Chef Nicolai had bottles of his special rice wine vinegar that he had infused with chili peppers available for sale. I purchased the large cruet because it appeared to have a secure topper whereas the smaller bottle had an open hole in the top. When I was about 3 miles from home I started smelling something pungent. The cruet had tipped over and spilled out about a cup of vinegar all over my car! Oh my!

One more suggestion, Chef, please place secure tops on bottles you are intending to sell!

So, anyways...that was my day! It was fun and relaxing (except for shampooing my car) and a nicely timed break. As our day was wrapping up at the cooking classes, a herd of white cattle came meandering down the hill behind the building we were using. So you can get a glimpse of Waimea...paniolo (cowboy) country

NOW...back to the sweat shop!

a hui hou!

My family has grown!

2010-03-25T13:56:00.002-10:00

Last night I finished what ended up being a 2 year labor of love. When I first began making my diva bags, I bought this beautiful obi from a fellow in Kanazawa Japan. It was my first obi and it was so incredibly hard to cut it all up. The fabric is just amazing! At the time I cut most of it into kimono keys but I saved a piece of it and cut it into a handbag. But for some reason, I just couldn't finish this one. I couldn't decide on the lining. The flowers in the silk are such soft tones I was thinking I might find a delicate looking silk to compliment the obi. And then I was looking for some special handles. So she just sat up on my shelf, always in the back of my mind. Yesterday I worked all day on some orders I am trying to complete and then chatted with a girlfriend while I had my dinner. When I got done, I just didn't feel like going back to burlap. So I got out my two big bins of silk. One is full of obis and kimono, the other is predominantly dupioni and Thai silk. I fingered through them, as I so love to do, and was moved to take out a cream colored dupioni silk to use as the lining and a golden bronze silk to make custom piping out of. Since the obi was from Japan, I decided to add a little more international flair to this gal by choosing a golden silk for her straps that I purchased in Bangkok, Thailand at the Jim Thompson silk factory. I have told you before how that is just a piece of heaven for this bag maker!

So in what was only about a little over an hour, I accomplished what I had put off for almost two years. Please help me to welcome Yukiko into the world! Her name is Japanese for "rare child". She is indeed a rare child since there is no other bag in the world that looks like her. She has an abundance of metallic threads, both gold and silver that add a luscious sheen to her "complexion".

Born on March 24th, she is an Aries. Being made from a vintage Japanee obi, Yukiko is respectful of her ancestors and interested in history. Her curiousity abuot the world has lead to many adventures but her favorite place is Hawaii. She is a confident and wise woman, but has been knon for her impulsive nature. Life is never dull with Yukiko as your friend.

Yukiko can be found lounging around the Pacific Islands Gallery in Holualoa, Hawaii on the Big Island until someone takes her home. Stop in and check her out!

Palm Palm on Kauai

2010-03-15T22:20:00.004-10:00

I spent the whole day today making linings for my Big Kahuna bag that I sell to Palm Palm boutique on Kauai. I finished 8 and have 5 more cut out. I have felt so bad because I haven't been able to keep Marjorie stocked with bags for several months. So I am determined to complete her order this week. Tomorrow I will work on all the exteriors and then I need to make cosmetic bags, card holders and key fobs to match each bag.

Still working on Balance

2010-03-14T06:53:00.004-10:00

Where did this week go to? I did get a lot done but had much more on my list! My biggest accomplishment, however, was finally purging my house of excess junk! Oh sure, there is still more....but back in December when I was trying to clean my house before the new year, I started in the back of the house and went through closets, getting rid of anything that I didn't use, need or love. I kept hauling it all out into the dining room because, well, we don't use that space much for one, and secondly, because it is the closest drop next to the garage where I had intended to hold a garage sale. Please let me repeat that was back in December....3 months ago!

Well, you all know what happened next. I got that order for 100 bags that had to be done in one week and then I just never got caught up so there sat my junk...out in the dining room. Finally on Friday morning this week, I got up early and made my coffee and it hit me! I could not stand to live with that mess any more! Not for even one more day! So I started hauling it all out and pricing it. Priced to sell because I was NOT going to bring that stuff back into my house! I had several boxes of items that were priced by the box! Take the whole box! Fabric, CDs, movies, just take it! I got up early yesterday morning and made my "sale" signs. I drove up to the corner and was placing them when 3 carloads of garage salers spotted my sign and started to follow me! Yikes! I sort of wanted to get to my house before everyone else did! So I let them drive past my street before I put out the next "arrow". Phew! I made it!

As I was walking down my driveway, 5 cars pulled up. This was the busiest garage sale I have ever had! After 3 hours, all I had left was a door, some long flourescent light bulbs and some fabric. I had made a bucket of money and decided that was all the time I had to devote to that. I had some people who wanted to buy just one movie or piece of fabric. "Its priced $10 for the whole box, how much is just one?" My reply was "ten dollars". "But I only want one". "I understand, but I do not want that back in my house. Its a better deal if you take the whole box!" So they did! I sold a huge box of lace curtains for $20

Spending time on things other than my business is all part of my "Balance" goal for this year. Honestly, I am not sure how I found the time to take most of two days to prepare for and to have the garage sale. But it needed to be done. A little Yin with my Yang!

Today we have a guy coming over to give us an estimate to tile our bathroom and shower. We have been without our master bath for about a month now.

This week is going to be marathon sewing days. I have cleared my appointment calendar so that I can just sew and get some more orders shipped out. And with a clean house, I can do that free of any guilt! Balance....balance...balance!

Have a great week!
a hui hou

Stop and smell the plumerias!

2010-03-05T15:36:00.003-10:00

Today I took the day off! MM and I hadn't had a day off together for over two weeks so this morning we got up and went to Kona Mountain for a "cuppa". Then we went to a couple of Granite places to see what is on island right now. We are re-doing our master bathroom, following the leaky toilet mishap. While planning that, we came across a nice slab of granite for the kitchen island....oh and then we may as well do the countertops too! We won't be able to do it all at once, but are having fun with the selection process.

For lunch today we rode the motorcycle out to the Queens shops by the Hilton (19 miles away) and had an Arbys roast beef with horsey sauce! It was more about the company than the food!

While he was taking a little nap I finished up a custom order (I know, I said I was taking the day off....but this hardly counted! Earl was asleep!) And in a few minutes we leave for a matinee movie.

This evening we will be going up to his mom's for dinner and then home fairly early. Maybe because I don't have days like this very often, I really appreciate them! I have to remember to "stop and smell the plumerias!"

a hui hou

Really Hawaiian is Loving Sasaki Bags

2010-03-03T14:13:00.007-10:00

I woke up this morning to a notice that my bags were selected to be featured on Really Hawaiian's website. A big MAHALO to Ginger Hall for sharing the love! Their website features all kinds of items from salt and coffee to...well Sasaki Bags that are made in Hawaii. Check out the other items Hawaii has to offer!

http://www.reallyhawaiian.com/huli2/2010/03/sasaki-bags/

Car Wreck, Tsunami, oh my!

2010-02-27T16:03:00.008-10:00

What a week I've had! I have been helping out the hotel all week serving breakfast for 160 folks from New York. Some are famous....many are not. For the past 7 days I have been getting up at 2am to get a shower, brew some coffee and be to work on time.

On Wednesday, I got 4 miles down the road and was stopped by the police at the airport intersection. There had been a horrific accident the night before and it was still being cleaned up and investigated. It ended up taking 10 hours to open the road. So, I was instructed to drive 58 miles the other way to get to the hotel. Normally it is only a 12 mile drive! That made me an hour late for work...but I decided there was nothing I could do about it. I didn't know at the time that a 17 year old girl had been killed by a drunk driver. I didn't know about the 88 year old tourist from France who was medivac'd to Oahu along with the girls mother. I only could assume there were fatalities and I felt gratitude for not being involved in it. So I turned up the radio, silently thanked MM for filling my gas tank up the night before and enjoyed the fact that I had a full cup of (kona) coffee to consume on the long ride to work.

Then today happened! I awoke once again at 2am to the news about the terrible earthquake in Chile and soon discovered that all Hawaii islands were under a tsunami warning. (the highest alert). The quake had generated a tidal wave that would take several hours to reach here, but we were told it was coming. So I called my daughter since she was up already living a couple time zones away...and then called my mom to wake her up and tell her I would be safe. I felt a little on the insane side because I was doing the total opposite of what we are instructed to do in a tsunami situation. I was headed to the beach to serve 160 of my closest friends breakfast. Do I need my job that badly??? Couldn't they have eaten donuts on one day? **me thinking out loud!**

Upon arriving on property we were given a form to fill out. I was told that without it I would not be allowed to leave today. I quickly signed that and stuck it in my pocket.

Then we were informed that the beach breakfast was cancelled but we would be involved in the evacuation and feeding of the resort guests at a location out of the tsunami zone at a private golf clubhouse. Coffee was brewed by the gallons. sugar baskets....check! Juice...check! water...check! But before we headed to higher ground, I decided I was going to drive my own car because if a big wave hit...I did not want to lose my "paid for" car! I also stopped at my locker, grabbed my purse, my civilian clothes, and my car keys and phone. The last two items I stuck in my pocket in case I felt the urge to "get out of dodge" later!

The group we were serving had one young girl as one of the contacts in charge. When I took coffee to their office, I saw that she was so scared she was crying and evidently had been for quite some time by the redness of her eyes. I went into "mom mode" and gave her a big hug and assured her that she was safe, we would take care of her and everything was "okay". She later came up and gave me a hug, thanking me. :)

I did mention that these are New Yorkers, didn't I? You see, not so many years ago, my baby girl was in New York on "9 11". She was scared and traumatized. I couldn't be there. But New Yorkers took care of her and today I felt like I was in some small way, able to pay them back. No, it was probably not the same people, but in times of emergency, everyone should pull together as a family, right?

We served breakfast. Not just pastries, mind you, NOOOO a continental would not have done! This buffet had fruit including papaya, pineapple, strawberries, cantaloupe, and honey dew melon, eggs, hashbrowns, fried rice, bacon, turkey bacon, mango chicken sausages, and we did an omelet station just to further the "wow".

At some point in the breakfast, the director of Sales and Marketing was going around with his phone cam and interviewing people, asking them how the breakfast was etc. One table of people were hamming it up a little and "tongue in cheek" said, well, I was a bit disappointed that there were no pancakes or waffles!". The manager immediately "apologized" and said that for the NEXT tsunami he would be sure to have pancakes. I heard that and could not pass up an opportunity to impress them! You see, I knew that the chefs had made pancakes....HUNDREDS of them infact...but someone had forgotten the butter and syrup so we didn't put them out. I scurried into the back, plopped 3 pancakes on a plate and rushed out to the table asking, "Did someone order pancakes?" Everyone laughed. Only at a 5 star hotel! The guest then said, "what would happen if I had said I wish there were Bloody Mary's!"? I couldn't help him there!

Then 30 minutes after shutting down breakfast, we broke it down and set up lunch with vegies, rice, fresh fish, chicken, pasta, burgers and hotdogs with chips, deli sandwiches, salads, AND dessert!

Ouch! I should remember to stretch before patting myself on the back that hard! :)

The wave was expected to hit Hilo which is 90 miles away and on the other side of the island, at 11am. At that time we were too busy serving lunch to think much about what may be happening a few hundred feet below us on the coastline. They brought in entertainment to sing and put on a little hawaiian show. I must say, though that part of it struck me as a little bit "Titanic-esque". "and the band played on...." But I'm sure the guests enjoyed it.

By 1:00pm, I was pooped. It was HOT, I hadn't put any sunscreen on that morning so I was sunburnt, and no one would tell us we could go home even though we had stayed past our shifts. So some of us just let them know that we had families and we had done our part. I am sure many people may have stayed. Kudos to them! But I had all the fun I could stand for one day!

By 3pm the surges of waves had mellowed and the tsunami warning was cancelled. So I guess I will be getting up again in the morning at 2am....to go serve those 160 New Yorkers breakfast again. I wonder if they will remember all that went into keeping them safe today....*sigh*. I guess it doesn't really matter. I did what I needed to and I felt good about it.

In the end, we served breakfast and lunch to 600 guests. The 160, were the ones we were scheduled to serve...the rest were other hotel guests and homeowners at the resort.

So much drama. Please let tomorrow be boring!

http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/5054655

a hui hou

Kawaii = Cute

2010-02-22T17:44:00.003-10:00

Yesterday, I just could not sew one more burlap bag! I was craving the creative part of my job. I wanted to make something unique and try out something new. So I took the "day off" and just sewed on things that made me smile. I cut out obis and kimono to make some cosmetic bags out of and then I made this cute little bag. In Japanese, Kawaii means cute. It is sort of an inclusive word to describe adorable cartoons, toys etc. I bought this fabric when I was in Walmart the other day. I don't know that I would use it for lots of bags, which is why I didn't purchase it from Trans Pacific wholesalers. Not sure if I could sell 20 yards of it! But for this little bag, it made me smile. It has pirates riding the backs of turtles, dogs, cats, pink pigs and other silly creatures. I combined it with layers of a black and white pin dot fabric and I like how it worked together. I made a matching key fob that can double as a wristlet when attached to the bag. It also comes with an adjustable, removable shoulder strap.

Today....its back to burlap!

a hui hou

Labels America

2010-02-20T15:33:00.003-10:00

I had been wanting to order some special labels for bags that I sell in boutiques. Some of my bags are exclusive to particular boutiques and I do not want to encourage their customers to contact me directly to try to avoid retail pricing, so I did not want to include my website on the new labels. Once again, I called on Linda at Labels America to make it happen for me. The labels are beautiful with the "Sasaki" in gold lurex or metallic thread. It really pops! Below that are the words "Boutique Collection" in my "Sasaki Purple". I am very happy with how they turned out and am looking forward to sewing my first one in a bag SOON!

PS...If you also sew for a living or just want to make your items even more special, I would highly recommend having woven labels made. For information you can contact Linda at

info@labelsamerica.net

Lipps-Sasaki Bag

2010-02-20T13:35:00.003-10:00

One of the galleries that sells Sasaki Bags is Pacific Islands Gallery in Holualoa, Hawaii on the Big Island. The owner, Janet Lipps is a talented artist as well as a designer. She had a giclee made from one of her original paintings and gave it to me a few months ago to see what I could do with it. This morning, I woke up at 5:30 and for some reason was inspired to make a bag out of Janet's giclee. She had a special finish put on it that allows it to be wiped clean and will ensure longer durability. The Amy Butler polka dot print I used with it just happened to be the only fabric I had in my studio that complimented the colors in her painting but I think it adds some whimsy.

I can hardly wait to give it to her to see what she thinks.

Marrying two art forms that "work" thrills me. It is unexpected...so it is what I strive to do with much of my work, in case you haven't noticed! ;o)

Free US Shipping Today Only!

2010-02-19T07:35:00.001-10:00

As a gift for reading my blog, following me on twitter or becoming a Facebook Fan, if you would like to make a purchase from my Etsy store TODAY, I will ship your items for free to any US location.

Thanks for following my journey!

a hui hou

New Bags

2010-02-17T13:34:00.004-10:00

Here is a sneak peek at a new style of bag I have just released. There are some new components that I haven't implemented in one design before. It has a hardboard bottom, a magnetic snap closure, a cell phone pocket on one side, and a zippered pocket on the other. I used Amy Butler designer fabrics for a touch of "sassiness" and topped it all off with bamboo handles. This bag shown was made from a Hula Daddy coffee bag.

Sasaki Bags Productivity

2010-02-16T22:42:00.003-10:00

Aloha one and all! What a week I am having so far. Sasaki Bags has been so productive and it is only Tuesday! I rarely make one bag at a time anymore. I find I can get more done by sewing assembly line style. So one day I may make several linings, cut out straps etc. Another day I may make the exterior of the bags. Then on the third day I see the results. So far this week I have completed 22 bags and 53 linings! I am going back through my customer requests and keeping them in mind as I do all my prep work. Being in Kona, I tend to focus primarily on my coffee bags, but with the beautiful photos in GreenCraft of my potato sack purses, I realize I also need to make some of those. (Suzanne, I have not forgotten your market tote).

My original wholesale account is opening up a new store on Oahu in Waikiki. They have asked me to provide bags for the new store as well, so even though it won't open until summer, I have started designing new bags for that store. I am really excited at the opportunities this new store will bring to me. They are encouraging me to make some "higher end bags". I am anticipating an increase in productivity of about 80 bags a month. To make this happen, I have had to hire a seamstress to assist me. I am already planning for the 2010 holiday season so that hopefully I won't be so far behind this year. Christmas stockings are being prepared NOW! Bags are being cut out. Fabric is on my shelves....It is only February and I feel like I am ready to wrap the year up!

I want to let my readers know that I am planning a "special" coming up soon for items in my Etsy shop. The deal will only be available for my blog readers and Facebook Fans. More info will follow in the next few days on my Sasaki Bags Facebook Fan page. If you are thinking of making a purchase....become a "fan" and wait just a few more days. I will make it worth your while, I promise!

Well, this day has come to a close. Morning will come soon, so I must go catch some ZZZsss.

a hui hou

Catching up

2010-02-14T20:52:00.003-10:00

With so much great press lately via blogs, the Honolulu Advertiser and Greencraft magazine, this bag maker finds herself unable to catch up! It's all good though! This week I have cancelled some appointments and plan to lock myself in the sewing studio for long days of stitchin'. I even told MM that I can't be moseying out for coffee with him and sitting after lunch doing the crossword this week. I HAVE got to get caught up on all my orders. Tonight I cut out 60 bags of various designs that I honestly hope to complete before this week is through! Wish me luck!

Have a great week!
a hui hou

Happy Birthday Kikuye

2010-02-13T07:34:00.004-10:00

Today is my mother-in-law's 90th birthday! Her whole family has made it home to have dinner with her tonight. One of her grandsons she hasn't seen for over 2 years and he has been hiding out to surprise gramma tonight. My mother-in-law's name is Kikuye Sasaki but since most haoles can't pronounce that, she also goes by "K". She is a hard working woman. Infact, she probably would not have retired 2 years ago if her kids hadn't insisted. She ran a gas station for nearly 40 years and even at age 86, you could drive by the station and see her pumping gas or standing on a milk crate with squeegy in hand to wash the windows on a truck. She is a tiny woman, not even 5' tall but as sharp as a tack. She has been known to enjoy the slots but going to Vegas is getting difficult for her. She loves ...LOVES! sports and watches them all on TV. Sometimes she will call MM just to tell him that UH (the Hawaii team) is playing volleyball on channel 5 at whatever time! She adores tennis and it amuses me that she goes for the cute guys! She used to like Agassi but wasn't thrilled when he shaved his head.

Kikuye lives at her own home and takes care of herself. Her kids come by often to share a meal an can usually find her out working in her yard. She has a huge area that she takes care of and loves her rose garden.

So today, even though I know she will never read this, I want to send out a big "happy birthday" to my "other mom".

Sustainable Living

2010-02-10T22:52:00.003-10:00

I just found this quote on "articlegarden.com". I had seen many of the quotes before but I liked it and decided to share!

Instructions for a Sustainable Lifestyle...
Eat alot of brown rice.
Give more to people than they expect and do it because you want to and like to do it.
Don't beleive all you hear. Don't spend all you have and don't sleep as much as you would like to.
When you say 'I love you, really mean it.
When you say you're sorry, look the person in the eyes.
Never play around with other peoples dreams.
Love deeply and passionately, you might get hurt, but it's the only way to live life complete.
If you're not in agreement, remain loyal. Dont insult.
Dont judge anyone by their relatives.
Speak slowly but think fast.
If someone asks a question you dont want to answer, smile and ask why they want to know.
Remember the biggest love and greatest successes involves the greatest risks.
Phone your parents.
When you loose - dont loose the lesson.
Don't let a small missunderstanding destroy a beautiful friendship.
When you realise you've done wrong - correct it Immediatelly.
Smile when you answer the telephone, whoever has called will be able to hear you smiling.
Spend a little time alone.
Open your arms to changes, but don't let go of your values.
Remember sometimes silence is the best answer.
Read more books and watch less tv.
Live a good and worthylife. When you get old and remember what has been, you can enjoy if for a second time.
A loving atmosphere at home is important. Do all you can to create a calm & harmonious enviroment.
Read between the lines.
Share all you know. It's a way to reach immortality.
Be kind to our planet.
Never interrupt someone.
Don't stick your nose into everything. Don't be nosey.
Never trust a Man/Woman who don't close their eyes when you're kissing Him/Her.
Once a year go to a place you've never been to before.
Remember that sometimes not getting what you want is sometimes a great blessing.
Learn all the Rules and break a few.
Remember the best relationships is where the love between 2 people is stronger and bigger than the dependence and need one has for the other.
Judge your goals in relation to what you have to give up in order to get there.
Approach your kitchen and Love with the same reckless abandon

Just some stuff to make you/me think!

a hui hou!

Honolulu Advertiser Island LIfe

2010-02-08T20:10:00.004-10:00

http://www.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/20100208/GREEN02/2080314&template=greenhouse/+Green++bags+go+local

What a nice surprise I got today. I was fixing lunch for MM when a friend, and coffee farmer, called to let me know that my one of my bags was in an article on "Green Bags" going local in the Honolulu newspaper. My bag is pictured along with 7 other artists. They mentioned a store on Oahu where they got it and the pricing along with my web site.

I would just like to thank Melissa May White of HiFi (Hawaii Fashion Incubator) for bringing my bags to the attention of the fashion editor Paula Rath. I appreciate evert opportunity for bringing recognition to my bags. So, mahalo nui loa!

Yesterday I only had 41 fans on facebook so I decided to put the word out that I was pushing for 100! Since I reached my goal in less than 24 hours, I am doing a give-away to a random "fan" tomorrow. I haven't decided yet what to use as the give-away. Hmmmm maybe my new cell phone bag that I made today? Or...maybe one of my Kaloko bags like this Hula bag with the detachable adjustable strap? I need to decide BEFORE I draw the name. Any suggestions?

Silk Yoga Mat Bag

2010-02-05T16:54:00.003-10:00

Today I took a break from burlap coffee bags and brought a new diva into the world. This gorgeous (truly she IS!) gal is "Keiko" which means "happy child" in Japanese. Whenever I make a diva out of a kimono or obi, it just feels right that I give her a Japanese name.

I just can not tell you how content I feel right now. I have not had an opportunity to be creative in months. Just been pumping out those tote bags! So this was definately a therapeutic treat for me. It feels like I have been to the spa! *sigh*

Keiko was born on February 5, making her an Aquarius. She is a joyful girl with a sunny disposition who was gifted with the ability to live in the moment. She is fun-loving . Your life will be enriched when you have Keiko as a companion.

GreenCraft Magazine

2010-02-03T08:13:00.004-10:00

Big news for Sasaki Bags today! My bags are in a magazine! Several months ago...infact nearly a year ago, I was contacted by someone asking me to mail them a bag or two to possibly be included in an upcoming magazine. It would be the first edition so there was nothing for me to reference. Honestly, I felt a bit skeptical. I had heard of scammers who send out emails like that to just "get free stuff". But I decided to trust. I sent them two bags and didn't hear much for several months. When I did hear from them, they told me that I would not be in the first edition but would be in the next one. The magazine is only published twice a year.

So long story, longer...

I emailed them yesterday and was told that indeed, my bags were included in GreenCraft Magazine's February (Vol. 2) issue. I have not seen it yet but they said they shipped me a copy.

It feels much like something I experienced years ago. My exhusband and I (at the time he was my husband) were in a commercial for Silverwood Theme Park in Idaho. We spent several hours filming a 30 second clip but had fun. At the time, we didn't even own a TV! So people kept coming up to me saying, 'we saw you on TV" and I wasn't sure if that was a good thing or a bad thing because I hadn't seen it!

Like that, I do not know which bag they chose to use. I don't know if they used my whole "interview" or parts. But I am celebrating a little recognition today by....SEWING!

a hui hou

Happy Ground Hog Day!

2010-02-02T22:14:00.003-10:00

I heard that Puskatawny (sp) Phil saw his shadow...so if you are not in Hawaii, I guess that means six more weeks of winter. And Phil is correct 39% of the time! Bundle up!

But if you are in Hawaii, you know what a beautiful weather we have been having. Today I completely ran out of Hula Daddy coffee bags so I had to drop everything and drive up to their farm. Actually, I always look forward to that. They have a cozy visitor's center with koa rockers overlooking their farm and looking further out to the coastline. It really is breathtaking. I planned my trip for the late afternoon when I knew I would be dragging a little bit and really appreciate that shot of caffeine I would be getting there.

(If you look very closely, at the photo with the rocker, you might just see my very own Bolton-Sasaki Bag perched on the couch)

So now I am sufficiently stocked with my most popular bags and can keep busy making bags. Last month I made 120 bags....and sold 125 bags! I can't keep that up very long or I will be starting a waiting list again!

I am also busy designing and redesigning some new bags for Kona Mountain Coffee. They will be opening a second location early this summer and they are interested in some more high end bags. Today I dropped off a gorgeous two-tone red silk bag that had burlap pockets with their logo. They loved it! It may sound a bit strange...but the extreme textures of silk and burlap somehow make a nice marriage (IMHO). The staff and management at KMC are amazing. They really feel like my ohana. (family) They give me creative license to try out new designs and always make me feel appreciated. That is a nice bonus that a business person doesn't expect! I want to have 200+ bags ready for them to open up the new store so I am starting early. I don't like to function in "emergency mode". Planning ahead and breaking it down into manageable tasks fits my nature much better.

Big news tomorrow....drop in to find out what has me all excited!

a hui hou

So much to report!

2010-01-27T13:48:00.005-10:00

I had surgery last week to remove the cancer from my leg and it went well. They said that they got it all and that Menehune Man had better figure another way to fund his retirement besides my life insurance! (kidding) I still have a "crater" in my leg which I am referring to as Halemaumau, and I think it will take awhile for the scar tissue to fill in. But all is well. It set me back a few days on my schedule so I am once again playing "catch up". Did I mention that "catch up" IS NOT one of my favorite games???

While over on Oahu I decided to take advantage of being able to tour some of the wholesale fabric companies on that island and set up some accounts. With the 100's of yards of canvas and lining fabrics I use each year, it just doesn't make any sense to be paying retail prices. It is so funny how my mindset has changed in the past 3 years. I used to go to the fabric store and really feel like I was splurging if I said, "oh, go ahead and give me...*while biting lip*... 3 yards of that one!" Now, I just purchased 300 yards of fabric this week! I found myself saying, "well, that is only 600 tote bags...maybe I should get more!"

One thing that I am having a conflict over is that since I have gotten into corporate sales, I sometimes feel like I am a tote bag factory. Maybe that is because...I HAVE become a tote bag factory! Although it is nice having a large order and getting paid all at once, I really am missing being able to spend time making purses and design new bags. I have had to set aside my creativity for awhile and I am not loving that! So with that being said....I think that unquestionably, my word for the year must be....(drum roll please!)

BALANCE!

I'll let you know how that goes.

I recently told a girlfriend that I feel like I am a circus act, juggling so many things at once and living in fear that one of the balls will drop. I have learned very recently that a couple of my accounts that I have been doing business with don't behave honorably. How very disappointing! In a way, that has been very liberating to realize this because in this next year, I have decided that I will concentrate on my loyal customers who value my product and pay their bills on time. I have also learned that I must include a few extra words in my contracts to protect myself. As long as we have breath, we should be learning, right? Well, I am learning a lot. And I must say that Menehune Man has been my hero this week. Knowing that I have been under quite a bit of stress in the past two months, he stepped up, as President of Sasaki Bags, and took over the task of collecting money that is overdue.

a hui hou!

Thanks for sharing

2010-01-11T20:18:00.004-10:00

I just want to take a sec and thank everyone who emailed me with your best and worst of 2009. I have to tell you what surprised me most! For more than half of you who wrote to me, you listed both your best and worst as the same thing. I find that so interesting.

I guess that is really making lemonade out of your lemons! I think that shows such a positive outlook. AND gives hope that none of really know what the future may bring and maybe this path we are on will lead to much needed change for a productive and healthier life even though there will be bumps along the way.

So far, for me 2010 is starting off with a bang! We had New Year's breakfast at my mother-in-law's house. Menehune Man's sister made Ozoni which is a Japanese traditional new years soup with all sorts of ingredients for a healthy and prosperous year. I am not big on fishy soup...but hey! If it can't hurt...and might help....I'll try it! I even ate the squid!

Then the fun began. I got another corporate order that sort of popped up out of nowhere. They needed 100 bags in 10 days! So I spent the first week of the year working 15 hour days sewing coffee tote bags. Last January I only made 68 bags....so far this January I am at over 100 and the month is only 1/3 over! This goal of 2010 bags in 2010 may actually be a possibility!

Last Saturday I went on a buying trip. I spent 4 hours going from farm to farm and hand selecting my coffee bags. I actually love this part of my job. Reconnecting with the farmers and hearing what a great year this has been for their coffee makes me feel good. I really feel like a partner of sorts with them. I buy their bags which reduces their cost of doing business and makes for a larger profit margin. Then I make them into bags that I can sell at a profit to me and the world continues to spin.

I have also been on a mission of sorts. I am sorting out and tossing out! I just have had it with clutter so am going through each room, and closet with Hefty bags in hand! I may have to have a garage sale, but one way or another...this stuff is gone! I rearranged my living room, washed the windows and am happy to have at least part of my house organized and looking nice.

Usually at this point of the year, I have come up with my "word or phrase of the year". It is a little ritual of mine. In the past I have used words to inspire me throughout the year such as "educate", "organize", "gratitude" and "no!" In those bygone years, I took classes, created files, purchased bins, journaled, and said "no!" more. Wow, I loved the year of "NO"! This year, though, my desires surpass a one word theme for the year. I am leaning towards something like, "aggressive growth through controlled management". My real goal is to feel in total control of my business. I hate it when it begins to control me! Truthfully, that goal probably can be summed up into one word....It just escapes me at the moment. I want to have a schedule and plan ahead to avoid crazed weeks. I want to have time to go home to see my family, keep my space neater and have pearls on when my MM comes home (*kidding*). I would even like to take one day a week off with NO SEWING! *gasp!*

Oh...I am such a work in progress. I am 48 years old and still trying to "figure it all out". But, I am having fun...and I AM making some dreams come true. So thanks for joining me on my journey. Buckle up!

a hui hou

2009 Best and Worst ...Its kinda like a battery!

2009-12-31T07:07:00.004-10:00

It is funny how fast the years seem to slip by as one gets older. When you are 4 years old, why a year is a quarter of your life! When you are younger, and something horrible happens, you have no idea just how you are going to EVER get past it...and yet you do.

And when you live long enough, you realize that events in life come in cycles. There will be good times and not so good of times. The good times give us hope and the strength to survive the bad times. To quote my dad, "You know, Barbie, ....it is kinda like a battery! You've got your positive and you've got your negative." Boy, how I used to hate it when he would say that! He was just boiling life down to the simplest of things....and sometimes my life didn't feel all that simple! "No, dad, life isn't like a battery! Sometimes it is complicated and so complex!" But, guess what! My dad was right! (Dad are you listening?) He knew then what I have come to appreciate as true. And, if you don't have both positive and negative in a battery, you have "no juice"! That energy or life just won't exist.

So, what things added to the positive and the negative of 2009 for me? A year is made up of so many moments. Professionally, I had some amazingly inspirational things happen. A couple that stick out are landing the corporate account that topped off my year with a sale of 235 bags in one order and pushed my total sales above my goal! Also, being 300 miles from home and having a woman come up and say, "Where did you get your Sasaki Bag?" That was cool!

But this year, the best and worst for me were personal, not professional. As most of you know, I live in Hawaii and my family does not. I don't often get to see or hug my kids, parents or siblings. But this year, in April my "baby girl" flew out here. That was truly the best thing of 2009. It was the highlight of my year! She moved away from home right after graduating high school and went off to explore the world. She finished growing into the woman she is, while away from me so at times I still marvel that she is no longer a kid. She is an amazing, beautiful woman!

The worst thing to happen to me in '09 had to be the diagnosis of skin cancer. Not so much the cancer itself, but what it may mean for me in the future. You see, I rarely share this with anyone, but I still have an outside job. I have worked at this separate employment for 13 years. This year, I worked so hard on building Sasaki Bags so that I could possibly quit my other job in the future and just solely work for myself. But when I got this dx, I guess I felt like my dreams were being sucked away....right into this hole in my leg. How can I quit my other job and give up my insurance benefits? How can I keep up this pace of working two full-time jobs and not collapse? It really made me feel sad. Before the dx, I knew that there would be an end in sight. Now...I can't see that.

So that is my best and worst of 2009. Somehow, putting it in writing makes it all sound....so simple....."kinda like a battery". (I love you, Dad!)

a hui hou

An alternative to resolutions

2009-12-30T08:13:00.002-10:00

Several years ago I was working at a luxury hotel in Hawaii on New Year's Eve. I overheard a conversation with two little girls and their grandparents that has continued to touch my life. "Gramma" asked each girl, "What was the best thing that happened to you this year...and what was the worst?" Each person shared the best and the worst with each other. The message was that "you survived even the worst thing that happened...and also had something wonderful happen this year." It gave hope.

Every since that year, my siblings and myself, though separated by 1000's of miles, email each other with our "best and worst". I love this tradition much more than making resolutions. Some years it has been easy to come up with both a best and worst...other years, I had to ponder a bit longer. It isn't always something "horrible and grand".

I have already chosen my best and worst of 2009...but must wait to share until tomorrow. If anyone one else would like to "play along", please leave a comment about this past year. I would love to hear what has been going on in everyone else's lives.

a hui hou

A peek inside my studio

2009-12-25T20:02:00.003-10:00

So, on most days, I wouldn't think of showing you my work area! But today, with my new shelves and after a day of cleaning and organizing my area, you are allowed to peek inside my studio! I am now able to have my designer fabrics, most of which are Amy Butler, in one area, my aloha prints in another and my themed prints in yet another. Wow! Thanks Menehune Man! I still need to pick up some empty bolts to fill with fabric but for now, this is a good start.

Next stop...organize the closet in my bathroom....

a hui hou!

Wrapping up more than just presents!

2009-12-24T22:49:00.004-10:00

I am wrapping up for this year. Menehune man is going wild making me new shelves, slots and cubbies to help me to get more organized before the new year. I am taking a break from the dreaded task because I came across a final tally for this year. As you know, I set a goal last January to sell 1000 bags this year. Well, I reached that goal in November and the final tally for 2009 is *drum roll* ....1,311 bags! I am very pleased.

*twirling around, doing a happy dance*

The bag pictured was my 1000 th bag of the year! It went to Janet Lipps of Pacific Islands Gallery.

Only by setting a big goal and breaking it down into monthly, weekly and daily goals, was I able to achieve this total.

Going into the new year, I am already thinking about new goals that I will be setting for myself and my business as a whole. I am trying to manage the growth of Sasaki Bags so that I am able to keep up with projected sales in my existing wholesale accounts. I feel that is more important than adding new venues at this time. Not that I won't be....In fact, I have an exciting announcement that I will be sharing in the coming months. It is pretty big news...but I must do all things at the appropriate time so the announcement must wait.

For me, it isn't about having my product in every store that says they want to carry it. That is flattering but I do not plan to saturate the market in any location. For example, some of the bags that I sell in boutiques, I sell exclusively to those locals. And they are doing a great job of keeping me BUSY! And just because I make bags out of Kona coffee bags, I do not aspire to have every coffee shop carry my bags! I am working hard on "branding" Sasaki Bags so that they can be recognized even before seeing the label. I want to KEEP them in demand...KEEP people wanting more!

So, I have many wonderful things to look forward to in 2010. I am scheduled to be featured in Green Craft magazine in February if all things go as planned.

I will be expanding my business to a place that makes me feel like I have come "full circle". I am really looking forward to sharing that story with you. I love stories that reinforce that there is an unknown reason for many things that happen in our lives...and if we just stick around long enough....we may be blessed with finding out how it all connects!

But none of this will happen if I don't get this studio put back together. This is the stuff night mares are made of! I have found "dust bunnies" the size of Jack Rabbits! So back to the grind...if I may use a coffee phrase...

a hui hou

Amy Butler "Love"

2009-12-19T21:49:00.002-10:00

Today I finally received my 13 bolts of Amy Butler fabric! I am SO excited to have some beautiful new fabrics to work with. I primarily use them in the production of the bags that I send to Kauai. Palm Palm likes the designer fabrics and has great success in selling whatever I make! Tonight I was supposed to be working on one thing....but couldn't resist cutting out some linings for Big Kahunas. Tuesday is the last day I can ship interisland before Christmas so must get crackin'.

Baby Mikayla

2009-12-18T22:51:00.002-10:00

I just wanted to give an update on my friends' tiny little baby girl. She is just over 2 weeks old now and thriving at just about 2lbs. This week they removed the oxygen and the IV. She has been off the respirator for a week. This little girl is a fighter. My heart goes out to their family as I know their lives changed so much over night! Thank you to all who believe in the power of prayer that have included little Mikayla. All I know is that the doctors are amazed. I have seen photos of this little girl who came into the world weighing 1 lb 1 oz., and she is simply a miracle with everything so perfectly formed. Keep her in your thoughts and prayers.

a hui hou

Remembering Janelle Morse

2009-12-13T13:28:00.004-10:00

It was a year ago tonight that a beautiful young woman, who I knew so briefly, died due to a car wreck. Today I am remembering her and sending my love to her friends and family. Janelle Morse is not forgotten.

Here is a link to the posting I wrote following her beach memorial at the Four Seasons Resort Hualalai. http://sasakibags.blogspot.com/search?q=janelle

a hui hou

What a Week!

2009-12-12T14:18:00.003-10:00

I share this photo as a mere warning! It is of my shin on my left leg. It is cancer!

I haven't posted for quite awhile. Life got in the way! A week ago last Tuesday I had a biopsy on an area of my leg that I have been concerned about. I first noticed it in August or September...who writes those things down??? I had it frozen in October when we returned from Molokai but it never healed...so I went in for the biopsy. They said I would have results in a week, so imagine my surprise when they cheerfully called the next day to tell me that I have cancer! It is a squamous cell carcinoma to be medically correct...but when you hear that...all you hear is CANCER! Because they have already froze it and burned it...the next step is to have surgery to ensure that they get all the cells. I am flying to Honolulu to have the Moh's procedure preformed in January.

At first I was just going to keep this to myself, but after telling family, I decided to call one of my dear friends who lives in Seattle to tell her. We have been through much together. She once sat with me waiting for the ambulance following my car wreck two years ago which was near her house in Kona at the time. Then she sat at the hospital with me and fed me ice chips for 7 hours and put vaseline on my swollen and bruised lips. She was there with Menehune Man and I and offered much support and comfort. She had been in a bad accident a year before. Flipped her car....rolled it and skidded on the pavement while trying to hold her head off of it! She knew what I was going through!

So with that background info said, I called her but she didn't answer and a day went by...then two days before my phone rang. She was calling from the hospital in Seattle. Only two weeks previous, she had discovered that she was pregnant and on this day, had been rushed to the hospital for an emergency C-section. She now has a tiny, 1 lb 1oz baby girl to add to their family. Yes, that weight is correct! 1 lb oz.!!! It was touch and go for a time and my friend nearly lost her life due to complications of the pregnancy. That does still happen, even in this age!

Somehow, hearing of her brush with death, helped me to put my own ailment into perspective. Funny how that works. I guess a premature baby and pre-eclampsia trump skin cancer any day! I am just thankful that both momma and baby are doing so well. Infact, baby Mikayla has almost doubled her weight in one week! Everyday I wait to hear updates on her and was thrilled with a photo of her yesterday.

So to my customers, I share this as an explanation for why my bag production was down this past 2 weeks. Sometimes, life just happens. I am still looking at about 71 bags on order that I hope to have done before Christmas. Keeping my hands busy also helps to keep my mind occupied while I await surgery.

According to the USPS the last day to ship to the mainland US is December 17 and shipping interisland has a cut off date of December 22. Knowing that, I am planning to close shop from December 23 - January 4th to take inventory, clean house, enjoy MM and regroup for a BUSY new year!

a hui hou

Snow on Mauna Kea

2009-12-01T06:11:00.003-10:00

Yesterday I had to drive out to one of the hotels to deliver a tote bag that the sales department was planning to send to a client. It is about a 12 mile drive from home. Somedays, when I am out and about, I realize how much time I spend INDOORS! So yesterday I was really enjoying my drive. On the makai (ocean) side, the water was so blue! I even saw my first whale of the season! Well, sort of.... I saw its SPLASH! So at least I do know they have returned.

Winter is my favorite time of year in Hawaii. Some people think that we don't have seasons but we do. You just have to look for them. We have Jacaranda Season when those beautiful purple trees are blooming that goes until about March, we have Night Blooming Cereus season which starts in June and we have Whale Season which is usually December to April. And there are other seasons as well.

While driving to the hotel, it was so clear that there were few clouds on the mountain so I could see the fresh snow on top. There wasn't as much snow as I have seen in the past. More of a dusting I would guess, but I had to pull over and snap this photo. Hawaii is such a land of contrasts. You can have tropical landscapes AND snow! Perhaps that is one of the reasons I love it here. I enjoy contrasts! Even in my sewing. I enjoy working with burlap coffee bags because they offer a uniqueness...but give me some luscious silk and I am thrilled!

Speaking of sewing...I better get back to it.

a hui hou

Turkey, Sushi, and family

2009-11-28T22:30:00.006-10:00

What do you see on your table on Turkey Day? If you live in Hawaii, it could start out with something like this.

We were invited over to Menehune Man's sister's house. She always works hard to put on a spread for family. Our dinner consisted of Turkey, Ham, garlic mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, dressing, carrot souffle, cranberries of 3 varieties, sushi, sashimi, poke, weiner wraps, ceviche, chips, 5 pumpkin desserts and an apple crisp.

The guest list is almost as varied as the food. A few years ago, in order to share the holiday with her husband's children, my sister in law started inviting his ex-wife to join us. I really admire her for this because not everyone could do that. But it works! And all their kids and grandkids are able to share the day with both of their parents without feeling divided.

My 90 year old mother in law enjoys watching football. She knows all the teams, players and can tell you what game will be on what channel on what day! She is so sharp still.

My brother in law flew home from Oahu. I think at one point I saw him and MM and one of the kids all snoozing. My nephew who recently moved to LA called and chatted for a bit to be part of the festivities.

Oh and the Buddhist Minister and his wife joined us as well. I believe it is the 3rd year. Mrs. always brings her carrot souffle which is delish! I thought it was so funny when they told me how they had met at a Karoke bar and later married. He is Japanese, from Japan. She is caucasian. One of the grandchildren said she wanted to "Thank Jesus" for the food, but this didn't bother the Buddhist Minister. He simply said, "it is good to be thankful.", and encouraged her to say "two prayers". Kudos to him!

It was nice being with family for the day. That is something I do miss. I miss my own family. I miss the way we interact and kid each other. I miss the way dad teases my mom and how she always predictably reacts! "Gene!" I miss eating, resting, and eating again! I miss my mom's sour cream lemon pie and fresh huckleberries. I miss my dad's homemade wine that he is so proud of. I miss my sister and my brother and maybe even his dry sarcasm! It has been more than 2 years since I have seen my family. I hope to remedy that in the next few months. Life gets so busy at times but sometimes you just have to make the time to do the things that matter.

Jackie Rey's Restaurant keeps giving

2009-11-25T13:22:00.002-10:00

I just wanted to give a shout out to the great folks over at Jackie Rey's in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii. It is one of my fav places to eat all year around. But something they have become well known for is their generous spirit during the holidays. Tomorrow, they will be closing down their regular eats and offering free dinner to anyone who for any reason may want to join them. In the past they have served as many as 400 dinners (according to my sources) but this year, with so many out of work in the area, they are expecting around 800 turkey lovers!

This is available to people with children, homeless people, lonely people...etc. So if you are in the area and can help out in any way via volunteering today doing prep or tomorrow serving, bussing, cleaning up, please do what you can. If you want to help, give Anna a call at 808-327-0209.

Life often goes around and comes around so do what you can, when you can. You never know when it may be you on the other end of the serving line.

a hui hou

November update

2009-11-20T13:16:00.003-10:00

So, despite my little "mishap", we had a fabulous show on Saturday at the Old Airport. I wasn't sure what to expect because they had a change of venue this year and I was afraid we wouldn't get the foot traffic, but the plentiful free parking seemed to have lured in both the locals and tourists alike! There was a nice mix of both!

About my "mishap"...

Well, I was scurrying about setting up my booth on Saturday morning...hanging xmas stockings for display etc. While cutting the ribbons to hang the stockings from, I missed the ribbon and took a BIG bite out of my finger with my Fiskar scissors. Not nice sharp-edged pointy scissors...but thick, blunt-edged, (yet sharp), scissors.

note* this may be a good time to have the squeemish leave the room.

I knew immediately that it was a bad cut. I felt the force with which I had tried to sever my finger! That and the fact that blood pumped out of my finger in tune to the rhythm of my heart.

I was so glad that I had already set up my silk tissue totes to sell because I knew I couldn't wrap the finger in burlap so I grabbed one of the packs of Kleenex out of a tissue tote and wrapped my finger tightly. The girl next to me offered me her chair because she said the color all drained out of my face and she thought I was going to hit the ground! Someone offered me a band-aid but I knew it was too bad for a little band-aid. But I wasn't about to leave before my show even started and go to the ER. I had worked too hard preparing for that show! So I just got fresh tissue, wrapped it tight and held my clenched fist close to my body above my heart for most of the day.

When we got home, it took a bit of soaking before I could get to the wound and see how bad it was. The scissor blades are so wide that even though I didn't actually cut a chunk of flesh away, it had left a crater in my finger that would not close up. So I let Menehune Man finish his cigar, since I had lasted that long already, and then had him drive me to the urgent care.

In the end, the dr. didn't want to put stitches in because he said there was nothing to "stitch it to". I hope I made the right decision to accept his opinion. To tell you the truth, he didn't instill much confidence in me for that clinic. It seems that the first two dressings that he requested my finger be wrapped in, the clinic had quit purchasing due to the "cost" so in the end, he had his receptionist put on a ....BAND-AID! That is a $100 band-aid! And no, they do not accept my insurance!

Later, in talking to some friends who had also gone to that clinic, I have decided to not ever go there again. This is simply my own opinion, feel free to form your own, but I would not go to the Keauhou Urgent Care unless all other options were not available.

Luckily I finished my big order that was due today. Menehune Man and I delivered 225 bags to a local hotel for a big group that will be staying there in a couple of weeks. What a relief to have that off my plate! Plus it was very nice that they had the check ready and waiting for me as well!

I am also shipping off a box of bags and xmas stockings to Oahu today to the Na Mea (Native Bookstore) in Ward Warehouse. We will see how my new Kaloko bags do in Honolulu. They are small zippered bags that have coffee bag burlap on one side and fabric on the other. They have an adjustable strap that can be worn across the body, over the shoulder, or around the waist like a fanny pack. I have been using mine for about 3 weeks and love it. It holds all the necessities.

That is all for now.

A hui hou

Kona Coffee Festival 2009 continues

2009-11-14T06:27:00.002-10:00

Well, I am up before the sun this morning getting all the last minute things finished to take to my final show of the year. Menehune man took the day off from his regular job to help me with my booth today. I worked hard this week and made up several little bags that were so popular last weekend at the gallery. Some are made from kimono and obi, the others are coffee bags. Some have shoulder straps, some just wristlets. They are the perfect size for a cellphone, lip gloss, credit cards and sunglasses. Grab and Go!

So anywho...if you are in Kona today, stop in and say hi. I am giving a free gift to anyone who mentions that they read about the show online. My booth is in a new location this year. We will be under the tents at the Old Airport Beach Park Pavilion. The Kona Coffee Festival parade starts at 9am at Huggo's and ends up at the Pavilion. There is lots of free parking and many other booths to see as well. See you there!

a hui hou

Holualoa Coffee and Art Stroll 2009

2009-11-07T17:31:00.005-10:00

What a fabulous day! First of all, thank you so everyone who stopped by the Pacific Islands Gallery for my trunk show today. Since the gallery is a little out of the way, I didn't know what to expect as far as traffic. I met some great people today from all over the world including Canada, Norway, Switzerland, Korea, Japan, the mainland US and even lots of locals. Big Mahalos for supporting the local farmers and artisans. It really does mean so much to us.

Janet Lipps went all out today for her gallery. She hired a top notch musician who kept us all entertained throughout the day with his Flamenco guitar.

King Coffee was on site freshly grinding and brewing up their coffee and there was even a local artist working her magic on canvas.

Menehune Man helped me set up early this morning. I love it when my man does some heavy lifting! Then, once it was set, I pretty much I sat on the lanai all day, sipping coffee, chatting with visitors and realizing why I love living here so much. It is definately a package deal.

Right now I am trying to figure out why I am so tired after a pretty easy day. And alas, the diet is on hold tonight! Its a Digiorno pizza and a Guiness beer for dinner for me! I actually think that the entire pizza may be in danger....fair warning!

Now I am headed back to the Sweat shop to start all over again for next Saturday at the Old Airport. See you there!

Hapa Hale

2009-11-06T11:11:00.002-10:00

I want to send a big Mahalo out to Leigh at Hapa Hale who reminded everyone about my upcoming trunk show. Check out her weekend spotlights here: http://www.hapahale.com

As a reminder, tomorrow, I will be at Pacific Islands Gallery and gift shop, from 9 am - 3pm.

Now back to the sweat shop so that I have some products to share!

a hui hou!

Coffees of Hawaii

2009-11-01T13:40:00.003-10:00

I just had to share these bags with you that I made yesterday because...well, because of the "too cute" factor! I now sew for Coffees of Hawaii on the island of Molokai and this shipment will go out to them tomorrow. Molokai is known for its mule train that ventures down a steep hill to Kalaupapa. So one of their bags is "Mule Skinner Coffee".

These Christmas stockings are just very cute. I made some as sets and others are one of a kind so that if a family wants to buy one for each kiddo, they will know which one is theirs!

Tally - Ho!

2009-10-31T22:03:00.002-10:00

As you know, my goal for bag making/selling for 2009 was 1000 bags. Well, I just did my tally for the year, since we are through with 10 months and (drum roll, please....) as of today, I am at 980! I have approximately 100 bags on order and the holiday season is still ahead of me so I am feeling pretty confident that I will reach my goal this year. At this point, I am guessing that I may even reach 1200 for this year.

So, how should we celebrate when I reach that 1000 mark? Hmmm... any suggestions?

Today my favorite mailman brought me 4 new obis and 2 kimono! I would SO love to open them up and start cutting, but I am pooped! I got up today at 5am and made 12 Xmas stockings with cuffs and 9 tote bags to ship off to Coffees of Hawaii on the island of Molokai. That finished up my order that I can ship out on Monday. I will post some photos before I ship them because I LOVE them! I am very pleased with how they turned out and had fun working with their handpainted bags. But for now it is 10pm, I have been sewing for just about 17 hours today and I think it is time to hit the hay!

a hui hou

Trunk Show

2009-10-30T23:40:00.002-10:00

I will be having a trunk show on Saturday November 7th at the Pacific Islands Gallery in Holualoa, HI. It is all part of the Kona Coffee Cultural Coffee and Art Stroll. Holualoa is a quaint little artsy town. The gallery I am working with is just south of town. I am so excited to have been invited to be a part of this year's festivities. Janet Lipps, at the gallery has been so supportive of me this past year. She carries several of my diva bags and painted bags.

I will be offering my new Kaloko bag with the debut on Saturday. It is a small-ish bag with a zip top and convertible, adjustable straps. You can wear it across your body, over the shoulder, around the waist or take the shoulder strap off, attach the wrist strap and carry it as a wristlet!

This is a great time of year to be visiting Kona. There are activities daily starting on Sunday with a concert at the Old Airport Beach Park. For more info on the activities, go to http://www.konacoffeefest.com/

If you are on island, stop up and say hi to me on Saturday. There will be live music, fresh hot kona coffee from the Kings Farm and an artist in house working on a painting.

a hui hou.

Green Craft Magazine

2009-10-25T07:06:00.002-10:00

For those of you who don't follow me on Facebook or twitter, you may have missed my big news this week. My bags have been selected for an upcoming issue of Green Craft Magazine, a magazine that features items made from recycled goods. I am very excited about this opportunity and hope that it will bring me even more business.

Just had to share my big news! More details to come in the near future.

Become a Facebook Fan of Sasaki Bags and see my latest photos and news. Just clik on "become a fan" on the Facebook box I have installed on this page over there on the left upper corner....see, right there! now, clik! Mahalo.

a hui hou

Kauai Coffee

2009-10-22T19:05:00.002-10:00

I just finished up an order of 20 bags for Kauai Coffee today. Here is a sneak preview. I LOVE their 2010 coffee bag. They have a new logo printed up for every year. I wasn't crazy about 2009's bag....It made a nice Xmas stocking but it wasn't striking like the one this year. It is a hula dancer rising up out of a cup of coffee! I made a small omiyage out of one of them as you can see in the photo.

More Molokai

2009-10-22T05:57:00.003-10:00

One of the great places on Moloka'i is the Kualapuu Cook House. It is very near to Coffees of Hawaii and a "must do" for dinner on a Thursday night because that is when they have live music! We chose to sit outside on the picnic tables so we could enjoy the music. They have a BYOB policy there so customers are seen with their coolers, enjoying a bottle of wine or a 6 pack of beer. My dinner was fabulous! I had the opakapaka that was sauteed perfectly and had a del-ish sauce. Dinner began with a nice salad and then was served with baked potato and vegies. Yum!

Have you read the stories about Kalaupapa? I bought a book at Kalele Bookstore on Moloka'i that had excerpts of letters parents had written to Father Damien to inquire about their children who had been forced to live in exile for fear they had Leprosy. I can't even imagine such a thing!Some parents, if they were allowed to, chose to live in exile as "helpers" to aid their own children or other Leprosy patients. The life was very difficult and lonely. I highly recommend reading about it before you visit the area. It heightens your appreciation of the island. I also learned a few things (thats always a good thing!)

1 out of 500 people on earth have leprosy.

The name of the disease was not changed to Hansen's disease until the doctor (Dr. Hansen) discovered the cure.

The disease is not contagious once you are being treated.

It does not cause your extremities to fall off but at times they must be amputated.
Most patients with leprosy just want it to be known that "they are not a disease". Don't call them "lepers"! Anymore than you would call a cancer patient "cancers". They are "leprosy patients". A people who suffer with a disease....not the disease itself. This photo was taken from above the settlement of Kalaupapa from the lookout.

And here is an ironwood forest on the walk to Phyallic Rock. It is near the Kalaupapa lookout, just up the road from Coffees of Hawaii. It was so peaceful there.

Now don't you just want to go to Moloka'i? All these photos were just from my little digital camera. I have a couple rolls of film to develope from my BIG camera...so you will no doubt be seeing more of Moloka'i.

A hui hou!