Aloha Friday

It is almost aloha Friday...and what a week it has been. I think I broke my own record of bag making by completing 50 bags this week. I'll have to double check past figures!

Tomorrow, I am flying off to Oahu for the Made in Hawaii Festival. My friend and fellow artist, Joan Blackshear, is having a booth as she has for several years now and has been very successful. It is a huge event. I am going so I can check it out and see if it is something I could ever attempt. Joan makes gorgeous silk table runners and wall hangings, but it all folds quite flat....my bags wouldn't pack so nicely. I was putting together some numbers and trying to figure out how many jumbo rubbermaid containers it would take, full of Sasaki Bags, in order to do the show justice. And how would I transport all of those containers to the airport and then to the event? But that is why I am going....just to watch and learn.

Also tomorrow is the grand opening of Palm Palm on Kauai. I am so excited for Marjorie! Her other store was so beautiful, I can only imagine what she will do with this one. I shipped off 5 Big Kahuna Bags and 21 Kimono Keys today. She should have them by Saturday.

So all in all, I had a good week and am looking forward to my trip to Oahu. I will be flying over with Janet Lipps, the owner of Pacific Islands Design Gallery in Holualoa. She will be scoping out the festival for fresh artists to feature in her gallery. It sounds like a fun and exhausting day!

a hui hou

Growing Pains

Remember when you were little and any aches and pains were explained as being "growing pains"? Well, these days, it isn't my body that is experiencing this, but my business! I have worked so hard and am seeing rewards in many ways yet it has come to a point where I have to grow. My wholesale accounts are doing an amazing job of selling my bags and my Etsy store is keeping up a steady sales pace. But that all means that I have to spend more money! Sometimes I feel like I am just spinning my wheels because I keep putting all my profits back into more supplies! Always preparing for bigger orders. Anyone who has known me since I was a little girl knows that I am not a spender. I am a saver! I remember my sister always spending her allowance as fast as she got it and I always had a little jar of money that she would inevitably end up borrowing.

(This is me and my sis probably about grades 3 and 5 looking ever so spiffy!)

This week I opened up a couple of new wholesale accounts to buy my supplies from. I remember two years ago when I was beginning to buy fabric, I would pick out a couple fabrics and maybe splurge and wince as I told the gal to "go ahead and cut 3 yards for me." Now I am preparing to order 11 bolts from one company! I already have 29 bolts plus flat folds of fabric in my studio! But it is all different! Some of it is aloha fabric, some of it is coffee themed fabric, some is just novelty fabric, and now I have orders that require Amy Butler fabric. Why am I explaining this to you....You know how it is! Atleast I do use my stash of fabric. I know some gals who really just collect it!

I should find out by September 1st if I am going to get the order for 200-400 bags. The final count hasn't been decided yet. Just doing the supply list for that is mind boggling. Over 300 yards of fabric, 400 grommets, 300 yards of cotton webbing, 200 magnetic snaps...and the list goes on! I just pray that Sven and I stay healthy until this order is complete! (Sven is my Swedish sewing machine)

(my daughter took this photo 10 years ago when we took a trip to Maui for her graduation. I was looking pretty reflective, which is how I've been feeling again lately)

It has all been a bit nerve racking! But even with all the stress, I am still doing well on my diet. I have lost 7.4lbs in the past 3 weeks. I do believe that weight watchers is probably the most healthy and supportive way to go. I get great tips from the others at the meetings. I have quite a ways to go...but I am headed in the right direction.

I keep telling myself that you have to spend money to make money. My daughter who is a bank auditor, reinforced that mantra the other day and assured me I am doing what I need to do. It's funny how the roles switch back and forth once your children are grown and become experts in their own fields and can offer you advice!

So even though the spending is stressful to me, I believe I need to follow this path and see where it leads me. Thanks for following my journey.

a hui hou

A good day...

Do you ever have a day that just feels good? I had one today. Menehune man and I got up and went to the Keauhou Farmers Market this morning just to set the pace for the day.

Then I needed to drive up to Holualoa to see Janet Lipps at the Pacific Islands Gallery and replenish her stock of purse hooks and Kimono Keys. I hadn't seen Janet for a couple of months so it was nice reconnecting. She has done such a beautiful job with staging her gallery. It just looks "alive". It doesn't hurt that she has a special corner dedicated to Sasaki Bags! I can't tell you how that feels to walk into a gorgeous art gallery and see your own works there! Is it possible to feel both humbled and gratified at the same time? If so, I was.

Today was also the first Saturday of the month which is also known as my "Stitch and Bitch" day. I have a close group of women that include me in their circle. We are sisters of a sort...brought together by a common bond of sewing...but then we dove deeper and found other things that bind us. These are the gals I will probably rely on in dark times...and laugh with on the brightest of days. Most of us met via buying our machines years ago at a local Viking sewing store. For us it was "the corner bar" where everyone knew your name. It was owned by a kind and quiet man named Ed who passed away due to ALS. We took classes together or would just meet up to chat or "show and tell" about the projects we were working on. They inspire me on days that I don't feel creative.

One of our gals has a sister who was recently diagnosed with cancer and is having chemo treatments. She lives on the mainland and none of us know her. But today, this great group of women worked on a simple project to send some Aloha to "Mary". I donated one of my autograph bags and brought in a couple of books with quotes. Everyone, signed the bag and we wrote encouraging, funny and supportive words all over the bag. I hope she will like it.

After leaving my girlfriends, it was "family dinner night" with Earl's family. We all got together at his mom's house and had a nice dinner and visited. It helps me to do this since my own family is so very far away.

So in the end, it was just a good day. Nothing outlandishly special. But time with my husband, time with my girlfriends, and family. Can't beat that....with a stick!

a hui hou

The end of July already!

Where did it go? Its been a month already since our anniversary trip over to Volcano. And as you can see, I haven't even posted much on my blog this month. I've been sewing. Big surprise, right? Kauai has been eating up my "Big Kahuna" bags at Palm Palm. I think I have sent about 16 of them over just this month. These are BIG bags! Marjorie's new store will be opening on August 21 so I will make sure she has a fresh supply for her grand opening.

I also did a redesign on my market tote as an alternative. I made it so it can have a drawstring and be cinched up. The idea actually came from a customer over on Kauai who was talking to Marjorie about the possibilities. I am working on getting my costs down and still use the designer fabrics I love.

I reconnected with a customer of mine in North Carolina who has a store in a 200 year old building. She has started selling my bags again there at Dwelling in Greensborro, NC.

Last night I got my hair cut and my fabulous hairdresser, Amber Savant, said she has an idea for a future trunk show opportunity for me. That is something I have been interested in pursuing so it sounds like fun!

My diet....is going pretty good. I lost a little over 2lbs last week. Menehune Man helped me pull my "Total Gym" out from under the bed in the "burlap room" and got it set up for me. My arms are a little sore today, but it feels good.

Today I worked on about 30 tote bags and got the exteriors all done. I like to work assembly line fashion when I am making the same thing over and over again. It takes the thinking out of it.

Thats about it from Kona. Just working hard and staying busy.

a hui hou

Another week

Wow, time is sure slipping away. It will be Christmas rush before I know it. Today I went to town to buy a few beads at Pikake Beads in Kona to hang from my yoga mat bags, and realized this was the day of the monthly block party in Kona. What a nice surprise! A couple of my friends, the Caputos were having a booth to sell Bobbie's artwork and there were lots of other vendors. Bobbie Caputo is a super talented artist who paints from her childhood memories growing up on a coffee farm. She uses bright colors and each painting isn't complete until she personally tells you the story behind it! Very fun! She is thinking of writing a book and illustrating it with her paintings to tell the story of Kona Coffee Farms of old...before the story is lost. It was a nice mix at the block party...but lots of touristy things. A little too much aloha fabric for my taste!

I am considering buying booth space because I think people would notice the quality difference in my bags compared to others. There were other bags there for $25...and if you just want a tote...they were of fine quality. But lets face it...they weren't Sasaki Bags! I do not say that to be rude or mean. It is just that my customers have come to expect details on my bags in the form of piping, key fobs, pockets, designer fabrics or magnetic snaps. My bags do cost more than that....some of them even cost ME more than that to make! I use heavy-duty webbing instead of the limper cotton webbing. I reinforce where needed and add hardware just to make it look nice!

I got a call from a friend of mine tonight. She was the person who about 5 years ago started encouraging me to get a business license and GO FOR IT! What a nice surprise to hear her voice. She was telling me that the Saturday after Thanksgiving, there is a craft fair up in Hawi...which is one of my favorite local yocal towns up north. That would be fun!

So many options...and yet today....I can't seem to get motivated to even turn "Sven" on! (that is what I call my Swedish sewing machine for those of you who may be dropping in for the first time) I have been putting in 12 hour days sewing and maybe I just need a little break tonight. So I went to the farmers market and bought some healthy veggies that I steamed up for dinner. Fresh broccoli, carrots, tomatoes and she threw in a ripe avocado for free. Can't beat that!

I started Weight Watchers this week. I haven't told anyone yet....for fear of failure I guess. But since I hurt my foot, I have put on some weight and just need a little encouragement. I had Menehune Man drag my "total gym" out from under the bed in the "burlap room" and really am trying to work on this. I knew I was out of control when I heard myself telling a girlfriend, "I sure hope nobody dies in the near future....because I have nothing that fits me!". Said as a joke....but I was kind of serious! And then my sister keeps reminding me that one of these days Oprah may just call and how would I explain to her that "I can't be on your show right now...because I am too fat! " Oddly enough, I think that if anyone would understand...Oprah would!

With that thought...I think I will sign off and continue enjoying the rest of the evening with no expectations or goals other than to maybe take a bath!

a hui hou

Sunday

I love Sundays! Menehune Man and I got up and went down to Kona Mountain coffee bright and early for a large dose of caffeine and we worked on our crossword puzzles. I had to check on my stock of bags there and saw that this week the market totes have been popular. They also can't keep the teddy bears in stock that I lovingly named "P. Beary" after the premium coffee bean 'peaberry'. So, it helps me to plan out my week.

I also got an email from Marjorie Desouza at Palm Palm on Kauai. The bags that I shipped out two days ago have all sold out already! She said she could have sold 15 more today if she had them in stock. This is the bag that is sold exclusively to her and no place else (which is what exclusively means, Barb!) and it isn't cheap. I am not positive of her final pricing but I know it is around $120.

I drove up to Holualoa today and stopped at the Hula Daddy farm to purchase more coffee bags from Karen and Lee. They have such a beautiful farm with a panoramic ocean view from their visitor center. While I waited for Karen to finish up a tour I helped myself to a little Hula Daddy dark roast. So good that I didn't even need cream and sugar!

After lunch I sewed two shoulder bags for Kauai coffee and then started on more bags for Palm Palm. Before I knew it, the day had started slipping away so I figured I better clean up my space so I can start the work week tomorrow in a tidy environment. Sometimes it helps me to think more clearly when my space is clean. I even cleaned up the "burlap room". Wow! ambitious!

This week I decided to expand my use of the word "Haute" to include not just my "Haute Potato" bags but...why not "Haute Coffee"? I can't remember why it suddenly came to me but it cracked me up so....I think it will stick!

I have a meeting this week with one of the hotels to discuss selling my bags to groups as an amenity. They already have my catalog with photos and bag descriptions. I am also offering a line sheet with items that I can fill the bag with. There is a large group coming in November that has samples and I am hoping they place an order. It would be for 200 bags! I wish it wasn't right during Xmas season...but bagmakers can't be choosers! I will work it out.

Menehune man cut out about 40 omiyages for me today before he left for work. So I am ready to sew! But for now, I think I will go to bed. Morning comes early to the sweat shop!

a hui hou

Add another Country!

I just woke up to an Etsy order to be shipped to the UK! That makes 9 countries now and 38 states! Okay folks, the offer is still on: mention that you are from a "hold out state" or that you saw this in my blog and I will ship for free until the end of the year! That will be a savings of about 9 bucks! Here are the states I still need:

Alabama
Iowa
Kansas
Kentucky
Maine (Maine order was mailed July '09)
North Dakota
Nebraska
New Hampshire
Oklahoma
Rhode Island
Utah
Vermont

You've Got Mail!

Oh how I love it when my mailman rings the bell. It usually means I have to sign for something...which in this case was my express delivery from Kanazawa, Japan. My new Haoris are here! I got 3 black silk and one red silk. One of the black ones has purple flowers on it. The other two are a tone on tone print. Very rich! The red one is exquisite! It has tone on tone fans and flowers. The lining is fun too! Be on the look out for these haoris in their "next life" as a Sasaki Bag!

Princess Aiko

Can I share something? Well, I piddled around all day working on that yoga mat bag I showed you (below) and after several hours of laboring....please let me introduce one of the most beautiful bags I have ever made! This is Aiko and I named her that because that is the name the proud emperor of Japan named his child. I must believe she is destined for greatness!

In the end, the colors of silk just came together....I changed up a few things...did some ripping out and the final product is just really beautiful.

Here is Aiko's bio:

Aiko was born on July 7, making her a Cancer. She is bold and vivacious. Aiko will always stand up, not only for herself, but for others when she believes in the cause. She is a powerful woman but sensitive to the feelings of her loved ones.

The Process...

Want to see something really scary? I just decided to show you what I am doing today. I am working on a new yoga mat bag so I dug into my silk stash and started matching up some fabrics to go with the obi I want to use. It has huge orange camelias on it with turquoise leaves and lime green leaves, metallic gold leaves all on a bronzy colored silk. It is stunning! (and I am not easily stunned! ha!)

I decided to go with a darker blue as the main accent color so that whoever takes this baby home will not be worried about soiling her. Then I started looking for other colors to wrap her in. I chose a nice dark lavender dupioni, a two tone lime/blue dupioni and a two tone irridescent orange/pink dupioni.

This gal is still a work in progress, but she will have a zippered pocket and an adjustable shoulder strap. I haven't yet decided how she will close at the top.....so many options!

In the photos you may notice the can of dust remover.....I was thinking I should just be able to spray a can of that all over my house instead of cleaning! ??!

You also may have gotten a glimpse of a new diva sitting on the purple rat tail cord. This is the stage that many of my divas get to for awhile. I am trying to decide on her handles. I believe I am going to try silken cording with gold tone hardware.....but that is why she is still sitting there....nameless and waiting for me.

Okay...back to the work in progress. Photos later!

a hui hou

Lei Chic

The day before we left for Volcano, I was contacted by Lei Chic, an online fashion magazine. We talked about my bags and "my story" about how I got started etc. and she told me that they would probably be getting back in touch with me after her editor looked over the info. Well...we left for Volcano, I put my Etsy shop on vacation mode which means people can't even view my items. When I got home yesterday, I had 175 new emails....many were from customers who had seen the feature that took place while we were "unplugged". It took about 2 hours to answer all the emails but I appreciate the fact that so many bothered to contact me.

This week I get another chance because it seems that Lei Chic loves my Divas and my Yoga Mat Bags too with the recycled kimono and obis. So they are planning a special feature. I am not sure what day it will go out, but am definately open for business!

Today I made this new yoga mat bag from a child's kimono. It is so colorful! It has peacocks on it that the fanned feathers look like brightly colored hearts. I wish I was a better photographer, because this bag is stunning. I added a hidden zippered pocket for that smoothie money for after yoga!

Our 8th Anniversary

Earl and I drove over to Volcano for our anniversary this week. I just love it over there. We own a little piece of land over there that we dream of one day building our own little cottage on. The cottage we stayed in this time was very charming. We enjoyed sitting in the hot tub out in the fern forest while it rained down on us.

I kept the woodstove going most of our stay which kept the chill off. It is at the 3000 ft level so it gets quite chilly in the evenings.

We took a 750 piece jigsaw puzzle and totally "unplugged". No sewing machines, no computers and no phone calls. Just US! It was a perfect get-a-way!

Moloka'i Coffee

Here is the new bag I just got from Moloka'i Coffee. I only have 4 of them but made this one into a shoulder bag with a coffee bean lining.

New Coffee Sacks!

Yesterday, Menehune Man and I drove up mauka to replenish my coffee bag supplies. I got a couple of new bags to add to my stash which is always exciting! I have between 70-100 bags all the time from various farms. I made 7 tote bags today and promptly sold 2. I think that the old style Heavenly Hawaiian bag may be a hit with graphic loving customers. It has a coffee cup with a donkey on it loaded down with bags of coffee on his sides. Trudy Bateman, the farm owner, told me that it was the original design for that farm before they bought it. They now have a very attractive coffee logo with a line graphic of an angel with a haku lei on her head.

I also received my bags this week in the mail from "Coffees of Hawaii". I purchased 4 bags that say "100% Molokai Coffee". I am pleased to add these to my stash as well. I don't think they will last very long once the word gets out.

Monday I am flying to Honolulu to see a specialist about my foot. I hope to stop by the Hawaii State Art Museum to see their display of Sasaki Bags and Kimono Keys. I have never been there and am anxious to drop in to meet Alice in person.

In other news....over on Kauai...

Marjorie Desouza at Palm Palm boutique is a Sasaki Bag selling maniac! I designed a huge ole tote bag for her to sell exclusively in her store and they are NOT cheap! But that gal has called me and emailed me twice already to add to her July order! I trick her bags out with a big pocket on one side that is secured with a magnetic snap, a cellphone pocket on the other side, and an attached swivel hook key fob for convenience. I am using bold Hawaiian prints and designer prints from the likes of Amy Butler for the linings. The exteriors are of course...what else??? Coffee bags!

Japanese Evening Bag

I have been wanting to try my hand at making a handbag with the nifty purse frames that are on the market. So I went to the expert, Lisa, over at U-handbags. She really does give great tutorials and also sells the items to make purses. She is, alas, over in the UK...but I did order from her because I have learned many of the techniques I use by reading her blog.

So tonight, the first day of summer, a new Diva was born! I am naming her Natsu, which fittingly means, "Born in Summer".

Natsu is a petite gal. I used an oversized purse frame that extends beyond the bag and doubles as a handle. I did also give Natsu a removable silver-tone chain as well for the girls who like to wear their bags on their shoulder.

I used the silk from two different kimonos to craft Natsu. The exterior is navy blue with silver kanji that says, "wealth and congratulations". Maybe this would be a great gal to take along to Vegas with you!

For the interior, I used a red kimono that has a tone on tone print of floral fans. It is stunning.

There are all sorts of undergarments at work on Natsu, so she will stand on her own.

Being born on July 21, Natsu is a Cancer. She is an intellectual gal but has a big heart. She is the one friends turn to in confidence with their problems because she is both compassionate and realistic. Natsu is a rare find, indeed!

A little Whining...

My favorite "whine" used to be "I want to go to Ha-wa-ii!" *said in a squeaky whiny voice* But for the past 15 years, Hawaii has been my home so I no longer whine about that. Infact, usually there is little I can imagine to whine about...but occasionally we all have pity parties and I am having one so you are all invited!

I have been rolling along for several months enjoying the ride of the success of my bags and all that life has to offer and WHAM! a speed bump! Nobody warned me about the speed bump approaching! It seems I hurt my foot. I went to the doc today and was told that I have Plantar's Fascitis and a possible fracture in my heal that I have to have xrayed tomorrow! Like I have time for that! I have bags to make and orders to fill! My days are planned out in detail so that I can accomplish everything I need to. But I have been ignoring my foot pain for about 3 weeks and it nor the swelling are going away...so I guess speed bumps are there for a reason. Time to slow down for a bit, breathe deep, and let my menehune man cook dinner. Tonight he made spaghetti! Love having a menehune man!

Since this is a pity party....what is YOUR favorite "whine"? Share with me so that I can quit thinking of my silly foot!

I promise to be more positive tomorrow...but for tonight....a little whining...a little wining (cabernet) and watching TV.

G'nite
a hui hou

"What is a Treasury?" you ask!

For those who don't know, Etsy is an online marketplace sort of like a huge mall with thousands of stores inside. That is where I have one of my stores. Everything is supposed to be handmade unless it is listed as a "supply" to make things from such as fabric or purse handles. One of the fun features of Etsy is the treasury. It is a curated area in which other etsy members select 12 items from the millions of items for sale and they feature them in their little treasury. Sometimes it is things that they personally have on their wishlist. Other times they choose items that go together for their colors or themes. It is just an honor because the ones making the treasuries are your peers. Most etsy employees are artists as well, so some treasuries are made by them but most are made by other sellers. There are a limited number of treasuries at any one time and you have to be super quick to snag one. Etsy staff chooses their front pages from the treasuries, so if you are featured in a well done treasury, it gives a wonderful opportunity to gain more exposure for your shop. Hope this explains it a little better.

Featured in Treasury on Etsy!

See if you can find the Sasaki Bag in this treasury! A big Mahalo to "TwoLeftHands" on Etsy for featuring my Haute Potato bag in her colorful treasury!

http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list.php?room_id=65267

Blog Love

Hyla over at Green Earth Journey has "blogged" me. She interviewed me a while back but in the meantime has had a new baby so is posting interview today! She asked me to let everyone know about the give away that she is sponsoring. Some lucky winner will be gifted with a Sasaki Bags "Kimono Key" made from one of my lovely new obis AND I will toss in a free silk tissue tote just cuz I want to! check out her blog for all the details!

Go check out her blog!

http://greenearthjourney.blogspot.com/2009/06/sasaki-creations.html
a hui hou

Summer Vacation is Here!

The above photo is from a family vacation from 1968. We were visiting an Indian reservation in Montana. Thus the teepee in the background. I am the one on the right...age 7...Oh to have those skinny little legs back! Mom isn't in this one because she is holding the camera!

So June is here. Remember when that meant school was out "for summer"?! *Alice Cooper anyone?* It has been many years....infact, if you are speaking Gettysburg-speak, it has been 1 score and 12 years ago since I left chalk and blackboards behind me.

When my kids were still in school, I loved summer vacation because I got my kids back! It seemed that during the school year they would learn "charming" new things from classmates that didn't make this mamma proud and it would take a few weeks to "unlearn" some of them. I loved having them totally under the influence of MOM! But now, even my youngest has been out of school for 8 years now. In the words of my great grammy Ridenour...."where does the time go?"

With all that being said, what plans do you have for your summer vacation? My 8th wedding anniversary to "Menehune Man", is at the end of this month so we are thinking about where to go...what to do! I would LOVE to go to Molokai, a Hawaiian island neither of us has been to yet... but I am thinking that a stay-cation may be the way to go this year! Perhaps we will go over to Volcano and enjoy the cool higher altitude. It has started off being really hot here this month. I know 89 doesn't sound all that hot if you are in Arizona or Nevada, but consider the humidity, deary!

I also really want to make it out to see my mom and dad before the summer is over. Perhaps Indian summer?

All these thoughts and yet I must reach my goal this month of 90 bags! I am still on track to reach my goal of 1000 bags for the year. I have actually turned down opportunities to sell to new wholesale accounts recently. That was a tough decision but I decided that I want to keep on providing the best service I can to all of my current accounts and make all the bags "in house"....me and "Menehune Man". Some days I feel like I am walking a tight-rope....balancing my retail and wholesale orders...trying to grow my business yet keep from becoming overwhelmed. It really is tough! But I am doing what I love and I believe that it will all work out.

Can you believe that I am already thinking of Christmas? I know that by June 1st, I have to start working on preparing stock for Christmas orders and for the Kona Coffee Festival which is in November. Last year was a real wakeup call! I had to stop taking orders by November 1st that needed to be finished by Xmas because I had so many requests! I plan to be more prepared this year!

I hope you have started your summer plans. It seems to slip away so fast. I would love to hear what plans you have.

a hui hou