Christmas Countdown: 11 Days Until Christmas

Christmas Countdown: 12 Days Until Christmas

Custom Photo Gifts - Featuring Your Favorite Image

This year we've had more orders than ever for custom gifts featuring children's drawings. The three above are customer designs featuring charming animal drawings. Each notebook features refillable lined pages for list-making and daydreaming.

 

We're still taking orders for Christmas delivery, but don't delay as our deadline is fast approaching. We accept digital files or hard copies and can work with you to select the perfect colors and cropping.

Order in our Seattle store, or online here.

New Lockets for Holiday Giving

We have many new lockets in stock in a variety of shapes and patterns.

We can personalize you purchase by editing, cropping, reproducing and inserting your favorite image in the locket of your choice.

A Bride and Her Mother

A couple of months ago a bride in another state got in touch with me about making two special bags for her wedding day.

She sent us a remnant of fabric left over from the fittings of her wedding gown. We made this ruched luxe clutch with the beautiful pearl-colored material. The button is her "something old," and we lined the purse in her "something blue."

She also sent this silver brocade fabric that she selected for her mother's bag. We paired the silver with a piece of the wedding dress material and topped with with a vintage button.

Gift Guide: Mom, Grandma, Aunt

Our custom photo gifts bring new life to treasured family images. Showcase a vintage picture on a tote or makeup bag.

 Carry a furry family member's image on a wristlet or wallet.

Or have us insert important milestone images in a locket that she will wear close to her heart.

When you order our photo gifts in our shop, we'll consult with you on cropping, color and design. Schedule an appointment by emailing orderdesk (at) laurabeedesigns.com. Or order online on our website. Ordering from afar but need help? Feel free to email us so that we can walk you through the process.

Gift Guide: Seattle Spirit

Our all natural lip balms are packaged in old school slider tins adorned with an 1899 map of Seattle. Perfect for coworker gifts, stocking stuffers, or hostess gifts, the balms are $5.50 each or $5 each when you buy 6. Order here.

Our mini wallets are useful little gifts for men and women. Enhance your present by tucking a gift card for your favorite Seattle experience or business inside. Order here.

 The 1899 map in this pendant has soft colors and shows off Seattle pride. Order here.

Toss a map pillow on a couch or chair for some cozy Seattle spirit. Give this pillow someone who loves his or her hometown. Order here.

The cotton canvas central panel of each pillow showcases a carefully reproduced map. We frame the image in buttery soft microsuede. Order the Washington map pillow here.

We're obsessed with Trilby Hainstock's new line of canvas totes and cotton tea towels. Hainstock's illustrations boast quirky details that wonderfully represent Seattle and Ballard.

She screenprints the illustrations onto useful USA-made gifts. Totes - $28, available in Seattle or Ballard themes. Tea towels, $20, available in Seattle or Ballard themes.

Available in our shop. Visit, call. or email to purchase.

One-of-a-Kind Bags

 I've added a selection of special bags to the One-of-a-Kind Bag section of our website.

 These purses are ready to ship once you order them, so our lead time is about a week.

 Or visit our shop to browse in person.

 We have more bags to choose from in our shop, and we can email you pictures if you're out of town.

Or schedule an appointment to design your own custom bag.

Custom Order Deadlines - Holiday 2013

Custom photo checkbook cover, order here. 
Custom phone mini wallet, order here.

Our branch of Santa's workshop is in full swing sewing custom gifts. We're open late during this busy season to make it easier for you to visit us. Check out our holiday hours here.
 

Here's our custom order turnaround time schedule:
Orders complete* by December 7 must be placed by November 19.

Orders complete* by December 15 must be placed by November 24.

Orders complete* by December 20 must be placed by December 1.

Orders complete* by December 23 must be placed by December 8.

*Please note that "complete" means ready to ship or ready to be picked up in the store during  business hours.

Visit our website, or contact us at (206) 789-4044 to set up an in-store design appointment.

Party Pairings

Our eleven year anniversary party is just a couple of days away, and we're putting the finishing touches on our special merchandise.

We're loving the limited edition butterscotch faux leather on this gelato purse. The bag is part of our Glam for Good collection, to benefit three of our favorite charities. Local jewelry designer Heather Lewis combines sterling silver with semiprecious stones. These intricate earrings make a perfect pairing with our bag.

We make our glass gem earrings in many colors and styles, including this new vintage brass setting, (left). I adore our newest premium faux leather, shimmer taupe. It is a mysterious neutral that complements any color, and thus makes a nice alternative to black for a bag. The Harriet cross-body bag is part of our special party collection.

Celebrating Eleven Years with a Party!

Our annual shindig is just around the corner. We're sewing up special bags, crafting new jewelry, and receiving deliveries from many of our favorite artists. I'll provide a sneak peek over the next two weeks.

View our Facebook event invitation here. Our party is open to the public, so please invite your friends!

More Map Wallets

Our stockist in Spokane recently ordered some custom map mini wallets. Ferrante's is an Italian cafe and boutique so they wanted some Italy wallets.

Of course they had us make some Spokane wallets to showcase their town. If you are in Eastern Washington, swing by Ferrante's, have a gelato, and say hello from Laura Bee.

Luxe in Eugene, Oregon commissioned wallets and coin purses for their gift shop. I love the colors on this vintage map. It nicely complements the Oregon Ducks green.

We're Hiring!

In search of a cheerful hard worker with rotary cutting experience: 

Laura Bee Designs is looking for the right person to help us with occasional shifts during our busy (October – December) season.  

Requirements:

• Rotary cutting experience
• Demonstrated manual dexterity
• Ability to multitask
• Weekend availability
• Ability to lift 25 lbs and work standing up

Sewing experience a plus.

To apply, please send an email describing why you think you would be a good fit, the times you are available to work, and a list of your relevant experience and/or a resume. 

Email: orderdesk@laurabeedesigns.com. Please, no walk ins.

Vintage Map Accessory Collection

New lip balms featuring an 1899 map and an old-school metal tin.

I can scarcely believe it's September. The Seattle summer has been gorgeous and sunny. It's been a pleasure to meet so many out-of-town visitors to our shop.

Caroline wristlet in premium teal with an 1899 map of Puget Sound. Order here.

We've shipped bags, wallets and jewelry to far off places like Florida, Virginia, and Wisconsin.

Caroline wristlet with 1899 map of Washington State. Order here.

Last month we unveiled our new map collection of accessories, and the customer response has been terrific. Men and women respond to these goods, often confessing that they are "map nerds."

Our ever-popular mini wallet design, featuring an 1899 map of Washington State. Order here.

We're proud to make our products in Washington State, and this collection is proof of our spirit.

Seattle necklace. Order here.

Our store is located in Ballard, a Seattle neighborhood featured prominently on this 1899 map. Back then, Ballard was its own town. Some residents still lament Seattle's annexation of the community in 1907.

Throw pillow featuring vintage map of Puget Sound. Order here.

Throw pillow featuring vintage map of Washington State. Order here.

There's a New Girl in Town

New materials sometimes lead to new designs. That's the case with this bag. We received some super-pliable faux leathers that take gathers and quilting beautifully. I've been wanting to create a new cross-body bag, and voila, here she is.

Next I made a fabric version of Fiona using this awesome circle upholstery fabric (the outlines are flocked!). Fiona is slouchy, but has a flat bottom that helps her stand up and keep her shape. She comes with an interior zipper pocket and lots of room to add more pockets if you are so inclined.

Store-Wide Savings!

Ready to Ship Bags and Wristlets

 Becky tote bag with two exterior pockets, available here. 

I've been posting bags that are all made up and ready to ship in one of the newest sections on our website, One-of-a-Kind.

Zig Zag Travel Bag, available here.

That way, far away customers can receive bags more quickly than our typical custom design process.

 Licorice squares travel bags, available here.

Once an order is placed for an item from this section, we'll pack and ship it within two business days.

 

 Art Deco wristlet, available here.

You can set up your order to ship directly to a gift recipient, or you can save on shipping by picking up your web order in our Ballard store.

 

  Quilted wristlet, available here.

The response to this section has been quite strong, we I'll continue to add new styles each week. Follow us on Facebook to learn about the latest updates.

Hair Accessories for Spring

 Here is an Instagram picture of me wearing one of my new headband designs.

We have these made up in cottons and silky materials ready for purchase. Or visit us to design your own. $18-$23.

We also have hair ties that are locally made by Morganopolis in juicy colors.

Plus, we have comfy headbands made of the same comfy elastic. $5 each, or 3 for $12.

I've also made some pretty bobbies using the same glass gems as our super popular earrings. $12 each.