New Hangtags Featuring Umbrella Girl

We geek out over stuff like our new pink pinstripe hang tags.

Staff Picks: Fall Fabrics

Ashley chose this textured large-scale print as her favorite for the season.

"I love the dusty yet bright quality of the colors in this print. I'd pair it with our walnut faux leather on a bag design," she commented.

Thrift Score: Red Enamel Brooch

Crafty Sidewalk Sale Tomorrow

The fabric has been rolled, the beads organized, and the books priced. Our sidewalk sale, full of crafty goodness, is tomorrow - rain or shine.

Here's the info via Facebook.

Thrift Score: Rose Brooch

Introducing: Custom Photo Key Chain

If you're like me, you've had to dig for your keys at the bottom of your purse at least once recently. This key chain might help you eliminate this issue.

Simply clip your key ring in place, then drop the curved bar at the top of the above image over the edge of your bag. The photo stays outside your purse, while your keys stay in place inside.

Of course you get the bonus feature of being able to show off your favorite photograph or artwork to the world.

$16 for custom photo key chain.

Just Arrived: New Envirosax!

The latest Envirosax collection just arrived in our store and we adore these rich Asian-inspired patterns. The chocolate brown version above may be my favorite.

Each of these handy, durable shopping bags rolls up into a compact size that you can tuck in your purse or pocket to ensure that you always have a reusable bag on hand. Our customers tell us they also use Envirosax for travel and at the beach.

We've also just received these new Mini Envirosax, which are made from 100% recycled materials. These cuties make the perfect lunch sack, or shopping bag for light trips to the drugstore or your favorite boutique.

Regular Envirosax - $9.50
Mini Envirosax - $6.50

Great Deals on Laura Bee Bags Starting Tomorrow

Twice a year we put some of our ready-made bags on sale in anticipate of the change of seasons. The end of summer sale starts tomorrow, August 26th. Check out our latest newsletter for all of the details and some inside scoop.

New Fabric: Fall Cherry Blossom Palette

Store Event: Crafty Sidewalk Sale

I have a disease: Save-it-for-a-rainy-day-Itis. I like to save every little scrap and supply for the chance that I'll want to use it on a rainy day in the future.

Despite the frequency of rainy days in Seattle, there is no way I can possibly get to all of the great stuff I have stashed away. (After eight years in the same studio, I have a LOT of stuff!)

I've decided to part with my treasures by selling them to good homes at a Sidewalk Sale.

When: Saturday, September 4th, 10 AM to 5 PM

Where: Laura Bee Designs; 6418 20th Ave NW at the corner of 65th

To learn more click here.

I will be selling the following items:

• Craft books
• Fabric overstock
• Ribbon overstock
• Jewelry-making supplies
• Packaging supplies
• Small display fixtures
• Craft tools
• Rubber stamps
• Scrapbook paper
• and More

So Delicious: Santa Cruz and Ice Pop Molds

Rocket Pop Mold, Gift Boxed, $15

On a recent road trip, I found these fantastic ice pop kits at a little boutique. I scooped up this rocket set to give to my popsicle-loving husband, and quickly decided we needed to carry this line in our store.

Jeff and I have tested out a few recipes in the easy-to-use molds, but our favorite is simple. We both love the Santa Cruz Organic Limeade. You can find these juices at most grocery stores. We got our bottle sale for $2.50. So far we've made over a dozen pops with one bottle and we have more juice left.

Ring Pop Mold, Gift Boxed, $13 

This ring ice pop mold so so adorable! A child eating one of these babies as an after school snack would never know that she's tasting something nutritious! An adult eating one at a bridal shower would be equally tickled.

These sets and more styles are available in our store.

Chimp Sanctuary Donation

You may have heard of the Cle Elum Seven, a group of chimpanzees who reside east of Seattle at Chimp Sanctuary NW.

This group of six females and one male was rescued from lives filled medical experiments in Pennsylvania by some dedicated humans.

 Watching videos of these each of these playful, intelligent animals will tell you quite a lot about what it takes to be a survivor. The chimps' caretakers also write about them in a fascinating daily blog.

The annual Chimp Sanctuary NW auction is coming up. Our photo mini wallet was well-received last year, so we've made two things to donate this year - a photo notebook, and a mini wallet stuffed with an LBD gift certificate.

New Fabric: Autumn Spice Palette

I bought each of these fabrics at different times, but they work together beautifully as a palette for fall. I extracted the swatches at the bottom of the image directly from the image. I like the contrast of traditional fall colors with less obvious creamy yellow, ice blue, and soft pink.

Spicy Circles Cotton

Spicy Dots Cotton

Spicy Flowers Corduroy

New Fabric: Navy with Fronds

Gorgeous in its simplicity, this new cotton has a rich navy blue background with metallic gold and celadon spiky fronds.

New Fabric: Peacock Green Brocade

In person, this gorgeous fabric is even more of a rich teal green. It has shimmering accents of greenish gold.

Beaded Hoop Earrings

The glass beads on these pretty hoops have a way of glowing in the light.

Available in red-orange, aqua, and deep berry (not shown).

$16 pair. Available in our store.

Fundraiser: Pouches for Pugs!

It's been several months since we finished up our Dahlias for Haiti fundraiser, so it's time for us to raise money for another favorite cause. We're offering these pouches for sale in our Seattle store and website. Our goal is to raise $1000 by the end of September.

We love all dogs at Laura Bee Designs, but have a special place in our hearts for pugs and pug mixes. Otis the shop dog is a pug, and Ashley adopted Tucker through Seattle Pug Rescue (SPR)! (You might remember our other SPR fundraiser from a couple of years ago.)

SPR is an amazing all-volunteer organization that takes in all pugs, no matter their health or age. Volunteers from the organization work tirelessly as foster families and to raise money to pay for surgeries, dental care, and the Helping Hands program for extra-special dogs with extra needs.

Order the Pug Pouches here. We're offering free shipping and a chance to win a free photo mini wallet to all who order!

Tag Time: Help Us Decide

I've written before about how we change our sew-in tag color every 2000 tags. We're starting to get low on our current aqua version, so it's time to decide on our newest model.

Ashley and I decided to use rich berry and grape tones this time around - perfect for autumn/winter.

You can help us decide which of these three versions to use by visiting our Facebook page here, and 'Liking' your favorite!

Ribbon Rolls

Brocade Zinnia Ribbons, originally uploaded by Laura Bee Seattle.

Bargain Hunters - You Can Help the Pugs!

Click image to enlarge

Otis the shop pug wants you to know about a fundraiser garage sale this weekend. He helped me design this poster to publicize the event (his favorite color is orange these days - reminds him of carrots).

Otis hopes you'll post this on your Facebook, forward the link, and generally help spread the word about this fundraiser. Learn more here.

A Pop of Pink

This combination is an example of the type of images I send to customers for custom orders from afar. We often put together JPGs of materials for wedding orders before sewing them up to get approval. These pink fabrics are destined to become a Sadie Wristlet or Luxe Clutch.

Contest Prize: Lemon Applique Wristlet Set

In sorting my stash of baubles and ribbons recently, I found seven of these terrific oversize puffy lemon appliques.

Ashley made a batch of wristlets showcasing the luscious lemons and I chose this teal one as the prize for our current Facebook contest. I'm including a coordinating mini wallet that fits inside the wristlet.

This sunny set is perfect for packing up your essentials like cards and phone. Carry this baby on your wrist and head to Happy Hour to sip a Mojito, or your favorite summer beverage.

Enter our contest here. Just name your favorite summer drink in the comments and you're entered to win via random drawing. (It's great fun to read the yummy beverage ideas of others listed there too.)

Lemon wristlet - $30; Mini wallet - $14

Kiwi Mesh Mini Pouches

We've recently added a new Utility Mesh material in this fun kiwi shade. It pairs beautifully with our brightly colored zippers.

These little pouches are perfect for holding all of the junk that normally drops to the bottom of your bag - lip balm, snacks, coins, you know the stuff. It would also be perfect for stashing your iPod Mini or one of those tiny cameras.

Also available in Sandstone and Shale. $10 each.

Catching Up

Drinking Coffee by the Fire, originally uploaded by Laura Bee Seattle.

The shop was open as usual over the past few days. I, however, was out of town on my annual girlz weekend trip to the Oregon Coast with my besties.

Stay tuned for more blog posts later this week. I'm drinking coffee and catching up!

A Very Stylish Real Estate Agent

Our new customer is a real estate agent who came to us looking to design a bag that she could use to carry all of her work gear. In additional to property files, she wanted a good way to organize her door-opening gadget, brochures, client documents, and more.

She chose the every popular Kate bag for its roomy size and copious pockets.

Using her business card as inspiration,  she chose glossy black for the body of her bag, premium steel for the top strips, and pretty teal ribbon to layer over polka dots.

She even had us add handy business card pockets so that she can reach into her bag and quickly grab this important marketing tool.

Featured Bag Design: Doris

Doris is soft and slouchy with an inverted pleat. I made this one out of our distressed teal faux suede.

The top of the pleat is the perfect place to show off an interesting button. I chose an asymmetrical brown knot for this casual bag.

Doris is one of those bags that looks cuter when it's filled up and rounded out. This bag is for sale at the shop now for $108. Or stop by to design a Doris of your own.