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!

Party Preparations

This cell phone picture is a quick capture of our celebratory window post Friday install. The curtains are made with commercial pattern tissue paper. Thanks to my husband Jeff for spray painting the paper mache letters in metallic gold and gunmetal. Kim did a great job engineering the window installation. Next week I'll get out the good camera to better show the details of this diorama.

We only do one snail mailer a year, and the party postcard is it! Here's the back of the card. I used a background of scanned canvas and a collage of velvet ribbon and sequins from the great Pugly Pixel downloads.

 We also sent an e-invite via newsletter this week. Check it out here.

Glam for Good - Charity Spotlight

Our November 3rd anniversary party is fast approaching, and we're sewing up special bags for our annual Glam for Good collection of one-of-a-kind bags. We'll donate a percentage of the sale price to three of our favorite regional charities.

Chimp Sanctuary Northwest provides lifetime quality care for formerly abused and exploited chimpanzees while advocating for great apes. Located in Cle Elum, Washingtion, CSNW is home to seven chimps that were rescued from biomedical research. Visit their website to meet the chimps here.

Portland-based MercyCorps is dedicated to the mission of alleviating suffering, poverty and oppression by helping people build secure, productive and just communities around the world.

From their website, "We listen to locals and prioritize their most urgent needs. We fix market gaps to drive economic recovery. We bring groups together to negotiate conflict and strengthen civic participation. We think big, start small and take responsible risks to find solutions that benefit the greatest number of people."

Learn more about MercyCorps here.

Northwest Harvest provides over 1.7 million meals per month to its state-wide network of food banks and meal programs. Their mission is to provide nutritious food to hungry people statewide in a manner that respects their dignity, while fighting to eliminate hunger.

Learn more about their great work here.

Party Arrival: Amy Bengtson

Seattle artist Amy Bengtson crafts jewelry from various wood species using a laser cutting technique. We're proud to offer her line of necklaces and earrings at our anniversary party on November 3, 2012.

Learn more about the party here.

Glam For Good 2012

Every year we have an anniversary party in early November to celebrate our customers. This year is extra-special because we're celebrating ten years. I can hardly believe it: A whole decade making bags right here in Ballard. 

I can say for sure that I'm incredibly excited about the party this November 3rd and hope that you will join us.  We have incredible new merchandise from local designers ready for you to peruse.

Right now I'm putting that excitement into making our annual Glam For Good collection of super-special one-of-a-kind bags. All year long I've collected unique vintage materials, and now they are finding their homes.

Take the horse brooch above. It is the perfect topper for this Olivia Clutch. The brown and black plaid fabric is part of a vintage kimono stash that I have. (More to come.)

To learn more about our 10 Year Anniversary Party, click here.

Key

luxe_10years, originally uploaded by Laura Bee Seattle.

We're celebrating one decade of our retail store this year, and I'm preparing for our big party on November 3rd. I'm still deciding on the postcard, window display, and other marketing details. I thought this image was apt, as the anniversary is a celebration of our customers, who are the key to our business. The ten year mark also unlocks our future.

Cozy Hairclips

Crushed Velvet and Felt Barrettes, originally uploaded by Laura Bee Seattle.

Here's an example of handmade gift that's under $20. These little hair clips are sweet beaded felt flowers atop crushed velvet-covered tension clips.

Made in our studio, $16 each.

Store window display - 9 Year Anniversary

Store window display - 9 Year Anniversary, originally uploaded by Laura Bee Seattle.

Presenting our newest window installation featuring nine years of Laura Bee Designs sew-in labels. Kim hung them alongside a huge version of our party invitation. 

I got a little misty-eyed when I popped the ceramic owl in the lower left and stepped back to took at the whole display. I thought of all of the people and bags represented here.

What will the next nine years bring?

Party Prep - Finding the Perfect Button

I delight in pairing a special vintage button with its perfect match in fabrics. The vintage teal and antique gold pleat on this Edith bag is just gorgeous with the glass topper, don't you think? (The bag is part of the Glam for Good collection we're creating for our upcoming party.)


You can spot the Edith and a coordinating Luxe clutch in the lower left corner of this picture. This is a shot of Kim's work station at the end of a busy day of sewing on my part. Each order awaits Kim's expert finishing - rivets set, buttons stitched, straps applied. Each step is listed on the pink production slip.

Glam for Good 2011: Fancy Clara Wristlets

Champagne sequins Clara with layered ribbons

I'm making a huge batch of Clara Wristlets out of extra special materials for the Anniversary Party on November 5th. This popular design continues to sell like crazy.

Ivory sequins Clara with pleated ribbon and vintage button 

The Glam for Good collection gives me the chance to load up some readymade items with special materials and extra bells and whistles, such as vintage button embellishments and layered ribbons.

Macaroon Clara with metallic and green ribbon and vintage brass button 

The Clara features an exterior zipper pocket that is the perfect place to stash your smart phone.

Sweater Flower Collection

Taupe and green glen plaid clutch, $53.

I'm not sure who likes these sweater flower clutches more, me or the customers that keep snapping them off our store shelves.

Navy boucle clutch, $53. 

I've had the best time putting together each unique bag, especially choosing the vintage buttons for the flower centers.

Sweater flower clutches, $53. All one-of-a-kind readymade, not available custom.

Glam For Good 2011 - Lola Clutch

When former staffer Katie spent a semester in India earlier this year, she collected some gorgeous textiles for me including this gold and green brocade ribbon. I found a home for the metallic beauty on this faux sequins Lola clutch in champagne.

This one-of-a-kind bag will be available for purchase at our Anniversary Party on November 5th. A portion of the proceeds will go to two Northwest charities, Seattle Pug Rescue and MercyCorps.

Party Progress: Little Ruched Bags

We're in the midst of our Anniversary party preparations. In addition to labeling thousands of postcards, ordering delicious treats from Ballard's Bouteloua Bakery, and receiving goods from our favorite designers, we're sewing up special bags.

Each year we offer our Glam For Good collection. We use our extra-special materials to hand craft one-of-a-kind bags that will make their debut at our party. First up is this batch of ruched bags. These will be wristlets and cross-body pouches, each embellished with a gorgeous hand-picked vintage button.

Helping You Carry Stuff Since 2002

9years_web, originally uploaded by Laura Bee Seattle.

Well, I actually started making and selling bags in 2001, but I opened up my brick and mortar store in 2002, so let's stick with 9 years.

I hope you can come help us celebrate. We'll have some terrific new merchandise, one of a kind bags, prizes, and more!

Learn more here.

Thank You for Our Best Season Ever!

Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!

See you on Tuesday, December 28th at 10 am.

You're Invited!

Thanks and Holiday Deadlines

Brocade X Ribbons, originally uploaded by Laura Bee Seattle.

Thanks to everyone for attending the party on Saturday. I love seeing all of the familiar faces and custom bags coming back to visit.

We had a wonderful turnout (and terrific sales) to kick off the holiday shopping season.

If you missed the party, come check out our new displays of new merchandise. From fingerless gloves to French lockets, we have some great gifts at all price points

We are currently taking custom orders for holiday delivery. Depending on how fast our production schedule fills up, we will accept orders for delivery by Christmas through December 5th or so.

Glam for Good: Vintage Necktie Bags

 The tags I stitched inside this bag give a clue as to the featured vintage element.

I incorporated a vintage Christian Dior necktie into a wine-colored purse. The rich silk stripes, cut on the bias, are topped by a huge vintage button.

This navy version is the sister (or should I say brother) bag. The bright cornflower blue has gold and silver accents.

These bags will be offered for sale Saturday, November 6th as part of our Glam for Good collection.

We'll donate a portion of the proceeds from the sale of Glam for Good bags to three of our favorite charities: Ballard Boys and Girls Club, Pasado's Safe Haven, and Northwest Harvest.

Party Debut: Ollipop's Victorian Jewelry with an Edge

 Made by California artisans, the Ollipop line is Victorian-inspired with an oversized, rock and roll edge. (Rings $29)

Pieces like these work beautifully with modern contrast. For example, wear the girly earrings with jeans and motorcycle boots. (Earrings $26)

Encrusted with crystal, enamel and mixed metal details, the Ollipop jewelry pieces will make special additions to any woman's jewelry collection. (Locket charm bracelet, $42)