Fan Mail

(Sorry if it's immodest to post these props, but it just tickles me when we receive happy customer messages, so I had to share!)

Hi,
I can't help myself, I just had to write you guys a note saying how much I LOVE my photo wallet and wristlet. It is a mother's day present and my mom is going to love it!!! I am truly amazed at how incredible the quality of your works are, the friendliness of your staff, and the speed at which these were sent to me!!!! So, I just wanted to thank Laura Bee!

Sincerely,
Zaneta

She's a Keeper

One question that people often ask is if I have a huge collection of handbags. I think they picture a huge wall of purses that I can choose from every day and change frequently like shoes. Another version of this question is, "Do you ever make something that you just have to keep for yourself."

My rather disappointing answer is that I do have a bunch of bags, but they are usually experiments that I'm testing before I sell them. Since I make all of the patterns from scratch, I often play the mad scientist with structure. I'll change materials, or hardware, add a zipper here, change a closure there. So I like to take these experimental bags for a test drive - to really throw them around - before I launch the pattern into production.

The new bag above is the Amy sample that's hanging in the store. I made a coordinating wristlet for fun. These are definite Laura colors - green, rust brown, etc, so I'm tempted to keep her. But I'd rather send her out into the world on a fresh new shoulder to be filled with a wallet and keys, and other stuff that's not mine.

Mailing List Perks

She Sells Seashells

I made these new simple earrings recently, inspired by the lovely shell disks that remind me of summer. Above, pink shell with faceted bronze glass beads. $16

These abalone shells have so many colors floating in their steely depths. Pewter lotus blossoms dangle. $16

White shell glistens in the light, and sage Swarovski pearls float beneath. $16

See more jewelry.

You are Here

These glass pebble charms by Cyn City are quite popular in our shop. Pictured above are the best-selling styles. The Seattle map is a great gift for those who've moved away from our fair city. The Ballard map references our favorite Seattle neighborhood. To know Ballard is to love it for its mix of industrial grit, water views, and Nordic history.

Now for sale on our website too.

Silver Silk

We recently made this petite purse for a bride who wanted something to match the silver accents on her white dress. The silver dupioni silk purse with tulle and sequins embellishments is something she'll be able to use in the future for an evening out. How about honeymoon dinners and anniversary celebrations?

Going to a Garden Party

Too many toys

Tool of the Month - Rotary Cutter

At LBD, we have these supremely satisfying moments of sewing nerdiness. One such moment is using a fresh new rotary blade to slice through layers of fabric. Like a pizza cutter for sewers, a rotary cutter is an indespensible tool. The dangerously sharp blade glides through stacks of fabric, and makes precision cutting a breeze. The model pictured above by Olfa is the studio favorite. It's comfortable in the hand, durable and worth the few extra dollars more than the competing models.

Rotary cutters need to be used on cutting mats that absorb the blade and protect tabletops. You can see how much cutting we do by our worn out mat in the picture above. Those hazy white areas are supposed to be crisp yellow gridlines, but have been eroded by thousands of cuts made each month in the studio.

Fever

Daylight savings time means that when I close up shop at six, it's still light outside. It means that some of our potted flowers outside the door of the shop are blooming. It means it's time to craft a bright, bold spring display.

Early next week we'll change the window and center table of the shop and the theme will be Garden Party. I've been excited about this table for a while, but I told myself it had to wait until April.

In the meantime, I've been making these tissue paper flowers to use in the display. I love the way the tissue flutters and lets the light pass through. Here are two of my favorites. I've never been much for fake flowers, but these will do just fine.

Time for a Day Off

The view next to my sewing machine after a busy week.