snootsie

Vintage saddle bag replica.

2012-01-29T13:36:00.001-08:00

Finally finished it and it is more beautiful than I imagined. Can't wait to see in on a bike.

Dreaming of a Greener Place

2012-01-02T16:33:00.001-08:00

NEW for Handmade Holiday Sale

2011-11-25T08:41:00.000-08:00

Hobo Bags

2011-11-11T17:15:00.000-08:00

I still love this bag design after 5 years. Yep, it has been around for 5 years now. I have modified it a couple of times. Last year I developed a new style of strap. Every year I try to make at least two or three Hobos and usually they are the first bags to sell. I guess we'll see in a couple of weeks.

Sneak peak!

2011-11-10T21:44:00.000-08:00

I'm really excited about the bags I have made this year. I feel like a bit of a machine, but that's normal at this time of year. I seem to sew everyday, even if it is just a little. Working 8 hours at a fairly physical day job, doesn't make it easy. So far I have 6 new constructions, and 5 on the go. 4 bike bags need to be completed as pre-ordered. Depending on the time, I have three more purses I would like to complete for the sale... but that's really pushing it.

Come one, come all!

2011-11-05T16:35:00.001-07:00

Nov. 25th and 26th, come check out some of the best crafts Winnipeg has to offer. This will be the only Christmas Craft sale I will be partaking in this year. I hope to be in a spring sale in 2012, if you can't make it to Handmade Holiday. I have lots of new bags in production right now, come check them out, I'll even have a few bike bags. Check back for a sneak peak of what will be at the sale.

Cat Naps.

2011-10-07T19:52:00.000-07:00

All moved in, and fall has arrived. Lots of sewing to do for Christmas, I'm so excited. New Bags!

Prairie girl goes to the big city.

2011-07-23T11:28:00.000-07:00

I love it when I get a custom order that I was already intending to make. I don't do very many solid black bags, but this is one that I will probably be making more of. What a beautiful bag.

The most beautiful bag....

2011-07-05T20:05:00.000-07:00

I know I say this nearly every time, but this time I mean it. I love this bag so much, I don't know how I am going to part with it. If only this leather was easier to find. I guess I'll just admire it while it is in my presence. I'm pretty happy with this pattern too, it may just replace the Hobo Bag that I have been making from the beginning.

Inspiration.

2011-06-21T19:56:00.000-07:00

Just got back from a trip to Vancouver, refreshed by beautiful people and landscapes. Now time for a little creativity. Lots of western clutches to make. This Rust leather is some of my favorite leather I have ever found. Might be able to get another large purse out of it, but for now clutches.

Bike Bag-o-rama

2011-06-01T14:38:00.000-07:00

Phew! what an accomplishment. Sewing machine break down, Postal Strike, and I finished them all before my deadline to take them to Vancouver with me. hm... I could still make a couple more bags before I leave.

Muffin hates it when I sew.

2011-05-22T16:15:00.000-07:00

Gettin' a little crazy!

2011-05-22T15:26:00.000-07:00

After a week of stressing out and waiting for a repair man to fix my machine, I was happy to finish the next batch of bike bags. I was mostly excited to get to this one. I'm very happy with the way it turned out, and wish I would have ordered more blue canvas. Vancouver is creeping up and I was hoping to bring 5 bags with me, if they don't sell withing the next couple of weeks...

Vintage Inspired Satchel

2011-05-03T21:07:00.001-07:00

This bag couldn't have turned out better. Someone better buy it soon before I keep it for myself. I love the brown and black combo, it is so rich and elegant looking. I'm thinking of making it in blue, since I have all this blue leather that has been sitting around. I feel like I have been re energized these day. I have so many bags I want to get going on.

Bike Bag Mania

2011-04-12T07:12:00.000-07:00

Finally! I have all the details worked out. This isn't my preferred type of canvas but I really like the color of it, and it will do the trick. Still searching for a variety of colored canvas. I've got 5 bags I need to start working on, hopefully this weekend.

Crazy Blue Bike Bag

2011-03-28T20:01:00.000-07:00

This is a custom bag made out of a vintage tarp, as bright as the prairie sky. The final decision on the "brand name", I choose to use my name, it seems to have a traditional/classic feel to it. I hope it works. I'm excited to get going an a new batch of bike bags soon.

Saddle Bags.

2011-02-27T15:18:00.000-08:00

Sometimes, things don't always work out the way I want them to. Sometimes, I lack patience and things take way longer to make than I thought they would. These are my prototypes, I still have a few little tweaks on this design. But I am happy to see they have come together nicely. When I ordered the canvas I thought the green I was getting was a army green, to my surprise it was not. I wasn't sure how I felt about it, but I am really happy with the final look, kinda resembles something of a hunting style bag.

What's coming next...

2011-01-23T18:34:00.000-08:00

Fresh off the sewing machine.

2010-12-05T10:37:00.001-08:00

This leather was irresistible, and I'm so excited to be able to make quite a few bags out of it. I had just enough time to get another bag together for Ain't Your Gramma's Craft Sale, and this is it. I would have liked to have made another reclaimed leather bag but I made all of my used material up for the Handmade Holiday sale, and most of all of them sold. Which is great. Well, off to pack my van for the sale tonight. I've got to admit, I am looking forward to taking a break from sewing for the next months or so. My day job has been really taxing on me this winter, so to not have to spend more working after I'm done 8 hours of work... But, I am looking forward to exploring bike bags again, this winter.

Dear Hannah

2010-12-05T10:24:00.000-08:00

Thanks you for buying my bags. I always like brown and black together, it was a delight to get to custom make this bag. If I could do it again I would, and I would probably keep it for myself.

Craftarama.

2010-11-27T17:00:00.000-08:00

Here we are at the West End for Handmade Holiday. I'm happy with the turnout. I Enjoyed speaking with my return customers, and the customers that wished they would have gotten one of my bags at my previous sales, and had to come back to find me this year. One more sale to go, and a few more bags to make for it.

$$$$

2010-11-18T19:36:00.000-08:00

Just a week left for production. I am not getting half as many "special features" made, as I thought I could. But I am still going to pull off a few cool items. A dear friend of mine stumbled across these amazing old moneybags that I am converting into my own versions of a "money bag".

Sneak Peek

2010-11-14T12:01:00.000-08:00

This was a happy experiment. I've been lugging around this scrap piece of army blanket, from an upholstery project from years ago. Finally it has found a home. I'm going to have a hard time parting with this beauty.

Here we go again with the Holly Hobby Bags.
This is made from some wool tweed that I found in New york.
I will also have a few black and white tweed bags available.

I'm starting to get a little board of this design, but it still seems to be a popular one. This bag has got to be the lightest bag I have ever made. I found this retro upholstery material in a secret hiding spot, really great bag making material. It may show up a few times in the future.

It's Craft Sale time!

2010-11-12T15:16:00.000-08:00

Front Bike Bag

2010-09-19T09:03:00.000-07:00

First and only attempt at making my boyfriend's front bike bag. I only wish I had the proper machine that would have made finishing this bag easier. One year of prep for this bag, but we finally made it happen. If I didn't have any accomplishments this summer, I am sure glad that I made and finished this bag. Now time will tell if it will be able to withstand the nature of it's being.

Western Clutch

2010-09-06T18:41:00.001-07:00

Camera Shy

2010-07-08T12:48:00.000-07:00

This wasn't the most successful photo shoot. The look on my face is the result of being ravaged by blood hungry mosquitoes, and having to restrain myself from itching all the bites so we could get the pics over with. Next time I wont be so keen to take the pics in a park. Thanks Kevin! Sorry it was so hard to get a smile out of me.

Pink or Red?

2010-06-24T16:39:00.001-07:00

I say it's pink you say it's red...
I'm pretty sure I know what red is. I'm pretty sure that this is a shade of pink. It may be close to red, but it's more of a bright pink than a bright red, maybe muted red...?

Well I hope this customer is happy with this custom order. Thought I wouldn't mind doing a Rush order, but I am a bit worried about the red/pink thing.

Summer 2010

2010-06-20T13:13:00.000-07:00

I think I will call this over sized bag The Holly Hobby. After a comment I received about how enormous the prototype was, I decided to downsize it by a few inches. This may be my most complex bag to date. I even decided to make new labels for this series.

TootenTote

2010-06-20T13:05:00.000-07:00

This is a new design that turned out by surprise. A practical little pouch. This leather and textile combo actually took me by surprise. The leather was a score, buttery soft deer tan, and I think I have been holding on to the bark cloth for a while now. I'm so excited about using both of these materials, and ecstatic about the outcome.

The Classic

2010-06-20T12:16:00.000-07:00

I wasn't too sure about this bag in the beginning. Really all I did was enlarge my mini purse design, and change the strapping. The color combo is a little strange, but I think it turned out to be quite a classy style. I have decided to make this in black, with brown strapping, it's gonna be so hot, I can't wait to get the leather.

SUMMER

2010-05-29T20:49:00.000-07:00

It's nearly here! And what have I been doing? slowly but surely... They are coming along.

Mystery Braid

2010-04-10T13:34:00.000-07:00

About five years ago, I fell in love with this vintage leather crafted bracelet that I found in a thrift store. After many compliments on the bracelet, I decided I wouuld make them, and that is when I discovered this special bracelet was a puzzle, of one continuous piece of leather. I also decided this would be a good project to experiment with dyes. I came across these Eco-Flo water based dyes that create the most vibrant colors.

BIKE BAG

2010-03-21T13:01:00.001-07:00

I was a little intimidated to venture into this territory, but I am quite satisfied with the result. The sentimental value of the material I used, probably has something to do with the cool factor of the product. A couple years back my Aunt asked me if I wanted this giant US mail bag that she found... I took it with little intention of being able to make something of it. I really enjoyed the process of making this bag. Dyeing
the leather strapping was quite satisfying. I'm not sure how I am going to maintain the uniqueness of the material in further creations.

Miss Kitty has great taste.

2009-12-11T20:27:00.000-08:00

This was my show piece at the Handmade Holiday Sale, and I figured it would be the first to sell, I was right.

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

2009-12-11T20:01:00.000-08:00

I've been wanting to design a wallet for a while now. Took a few tries, then I got it right. They're kinda fun to make, well when I had lots of different colors of leather... my stock is running low now.

Holy Craft Sale!

2009-12-03T19:31:00.000-08:00

A week and a bit to go, and I sold way more bags then I thought I was going to at the Handmade Holiday Sale. This weekend I am gonna be busy, making up for the sold items. All the great feedback I got from the sale is a great motivator, for my last minute production.

Christmas is coming!

2009-11-16T16:02:00.000-08:00

what color is a camel?

2009-09-13T10:58:00.000-07:00

RED HOT!

2009-08-04T18:34:00.000-07:00

One of my first customers has ordered her second purse from me. This time I had to shop for some nice red leather. I feel like I have finally refined this design, now with a super adjustable strap. Think I may need to make myself one of these.

Yee-haw!!

2009-07-27T19:35:00.001-07:00

I guess this would be the Albertan coming out in me. I have always been a fan of vintage western, so this is my version of it. I have been saving this belt for a while now, not knowing what I would do with it. My mother gave me all this fringe she found at a thrift store. On my recent trip back to Vancouver my upholstery friend generously gave me a pile of leather, this off white leather was part of that. I'm so in love with this bag, I think I am going to keep it.

Mini Purse

2009-07-09T13:31:00.000-07:00

This has got to be my favorite of all my new designs. I had been saving up these skinny belts, and now I have found the perfect use for them. This bag is made with the softest of upholstery leathers, and is featured at Gentille Alouette, in Vancouver.

Nautical

2009-07-09T13:26:00.001-07:00

Is big really better?? This is one of my new designs, LARGE and round.
My kinda beach bag. This is one of the bags that are at Gentille Alouette, a new store in Vancouver.

Big Black Bag

2009-07-09T13:23:00.001-07:00

This is the ultimate bag. This time I used a light weight leather, so the bag isn't deadly heavy like the one I made for myself.

Earth Bag

2009-06-26T17:35:00.000-07:00

EARTH (sporty)

2009-06-25T20:28:00.001-07:00

I found this great material at V.V. a few weeks ago, I wasn't sure what I was going to do with it when I found it, but I instantly liked it, it is the same material (but green) as my 1950's couch. Green and brown is one of my favorite color combos. I guess calling this bag Earth would make sense. The leather was salvaged from a upholstery shop.

GOLD

2009-06-25T20:06:00.000-07:00

I guess this is what I would call Snootsie Sport...(mini) I'm not sure if I would ever make it as large as a real gym bag. I'm also not so sure if I would ever use gold again, this was a custom order I designed for my step mother.

Vintage sporty

2009-06-03T11:27:00.000-07:00

So finally I am happy with one of the new designs, although this will need some refining. This one has a detachable long strap making it very versatile. Made with all vintage material inside and out. The greatest thing I have discovered about Winnipeg is that the fabric stores have an enormous amount of vintage material, and I love vintage.

Vintage blue

2009-05-30T10:28:00.000-07:00

So I have decided it's time to come up with some new designs. I was telling a friend yesterday about what's going on, and the term "summer collection" was mentioned, but in that case, I would have to be working on my fall collection right now. I don't like to think of what I make as needing to be classified as a collection. The bags I make come to me as my ideas and supplies come to me. These purses are made with material that was from a retro skirt, and my left over blue leather matched perfectly. The clutch is an old design that I am still uncertain about how much I like. The mini purse is now one of my favorites. I always thought the bigger bag was better, but I think this tiny purse is so much more practical. I guess I need a picture so the size is comparable.

the most popular

2009-04-13T13:55:00.000-07:00

This seems to be my most popular design. I think nearly every one of my girlfriends have this bag, in various colors. Perhaps it is time for me to come up with a new top design.

my new bag

2009-04-13T13:39:00.000-07:00

Time for me to make myself a new bag. I have been obsessing over the idea of having a bright blue bag, then I found this Ocean blue. Then I realized I wear a lot of blue so maybe a blue bag wasn't the greatest idea.

Time to take a break

2008-12-11T16:47:00.000-08:00

Two more Uptowns.

2008-12-11T16:39:00.000-08:00

CLUTCH CRAZY!

2008-12-08T08:11:00.000-08:00

The one and only Choo choo train purse.

Trying to figure out what else I could do with a belt, these are what I came up with.

This purse actually surprised me. I didn't think I was going to like it, and it turned out so nice that I will continue to use the pattern.

cutesy clutch

2008-11-15T08:05:00.000-08:00

I decided to step it up a notch, after making way to many of the same old fabric clutches. With the few clip frames I have left, I though I would try and make something a little more special. My Japanese fabrics are getting a little sparse, so these will most likely be a limited edition.

one or maybe two of a kind

2008-11-15T07:42:00.001-08:00

One of a kinds are great, but once and a while I luck out with finding enough "reusable" leather that I can reproduce something a couple times. Either way it tends not to be a true duplicate because of the belts I use for the straps, and the material I choose for the lining.

Uptown

2008-10-27T16:33:00.000-07:00

This was one of my favorites, some how it ended up with being called Uptown. Made from recycled upholstery leather. I'm currently putting together a similar one in navy and beige leathers.

OWL crazy

2008-10-26T10:36:00.000-07:00

I was trying to savor my owl fabric by only making smaller items, but I had a vision of them in large. So used up most of my owls one a few of these bags. Well worth it though. I may just have enough to make one more black owl purse...

2008-10-25T09:07:00.000-07:00

I guess it actually all started with these silly things. I was so excited about this fabric when I first got it, I had to find away to share it and this is how I did that. I can't even count how many change purses I have made. If I was to take a guess, I would say at least 300.

In the beginning

2008-10-25T07:25:00.000-07:00

This is how it all started, about two years ago. I must have made about sixty of these clutches. Something that I most likely wont do again either. Considering my little factory consists of only me and my two hands. No heavy duty machinery that is probably made to clamp seal the metal from onto the fabric. I still have a few frames left that I have been saving, so I guess there are a few yet to be made.