Magneto

These just in...more magnets from Found Image Press. Themes include vintage Seattle imagery, fashion, and Laura Bee Designs!


Isn't she glamorous? Stick her on your fridge, locker, or filing cabinet. Available in our shop for $4.50.

Leo Loves His

Our customer Erica sent us this cute snap of her dog Leo eyeing his new treat bag AKA our Happy Dogs Zipper case. Erica told us that she adopted her dog from a local shelter. Lucky Leo!

We love receiving pictures. Do you have any shots of your Laura Bee Designs products in action? Send 'em our way and we'll post them here on our blog. (Send images to laurabeedesigns(at)gmail.com.)

Shhhhh, Design in Progress

Do you see all those piles of fabric, bolts of ribbon, and swatches? That's evidence of an active design day in our shop. Between our Mother's Day rush, spring wardrobe refreshers, and folks visiting from out of town life has been seriously busy around here. We love it!

Many of the items ordered will ship to home towns all around the USA, and a few are even headed to South America and Europe. Thanks to repeat customers and newbies too for chosing LBD as your place to get a new bag!

More History

I told you about our tags here. Since that entry we've gone through our muted fall labels. As you can see from our newest additions, things have been busy around here. The current tag has a rasberry background with mint green lettering...very fresh and juicy.

Above the Store

We do all of our shipping upstairs in the studio apartment above the shop. Right now we're shipping many wholesale orders to stores around the country. The bins above are full of wristlets that are waiting for bangles before we ship them to Oregon, Michigan, and Nevada.

Shipping supplies aren't pretty, but here's a sampling: the trusty tape gun, business cards, fray check, scissors, and paperclips. We wrap each shipment carefully in colorful tissue because we know how fun it is to receive a sweet package in the mail.

We make all of our bubble jewelry and hairpins in the apartment too. I bought the little 'school lunch' trays at a grocery supply store. They're perfect for moving around groups of tiny items as glue dries, etc.

While we were in Vancouver....

Otis spent time with Ashley.

Running in Shelton.

Strutting around Greenlake.

Calling All Dog Lovers

As you can tell by looking at this blog, here at LBD we love dogs - small dogs, big dogs, mutts and purebreeds. Of course, we love Otis most of all since he's our mascot! We've decided to introduce a special quarterly charity project to raise money to help all of the pooches out there who are less fortunate than Otis.

We will donate fifteen dollars from the sale of each zipper case pictured above to a dog rescue organization. (Retail price $20.) We've chosen Seattle Pug Rescue as our inaugural charity for this program.

This entirely volunteer group takes in pugs and pug mixes, gives them medical treatment if needed, and works tirelessly to find new homes for each little wrinkled canine. In 2006 they placed more than 60 abandoned pugs in new, loving homes. I encourage you to check out their website to read more about their work. Seattlepugs.com

To purchase the Happy Dogs Zipper Case in our web boutique click here. Also available in our Seattle store.

Bridesmaid Clutches (from last year)

We made this collection of bridesmaid luxe clutches last fall for a terrific bride. My favorite approach to a group like this to is use a strong unifying color palette to make one of a kind bags for each attendant.

These bags feature rich silks, some vintage buttons, and the wonderful red, orange and chartreuse color combination that reminds me of my own wedding.

Weekend Getaway: Vancouver BC

Edmonds, Washington train station. 7:30 am.


View from the train window just outside Vancouver.


A charming corner near Stanley park.


I couldn't resist a fabric store visit.


Look at these dreamy trims...

It's belt (and flip flop) weather

Wristlet Subscription #2

What says 'Spring!' more than a songbird?


Learn more about the wristlet subscription.

Three Weeks Later (left side)

Coin Purses

Ashley made these little coin purse stacks last week. The tooled stack is bound for a store in Portland (Lemon Tree), and the dotty pile will ship to a shop in Michigan (Naka).

Earring Tree

Who me?

Gifts from Strangers

Some time ago a local sewing teacher dropped by our shop and gave us this sewing machine. She told us that although it still works, it is too delicate for her to use in her classes. We decided to display this old beauty in our studio. It's all metal, weighs a ton, and has such a mysterious quality too.

The teacher told us that the machine was formerly owned by a woman who used it to make all of her family's clothes starting in the 1940s. Once upon a time sewing was a common, practical domestic art. It used to be less expensive to sew your own clothes than to buy them. (Before most garments were made overseas using cheap labor as they are today.)

Customers who come into our shop often tell us that the hum of our machines reminds them of their grandmother sewing. Some enjoy poking around in our button collection because they remember their great aunt's button drawer.

When I look at this machine, I think about all of the seams that it must have sewn, all of the clothes that it must have made. I feel happy to give this old Singer a home in our shop window.

Introducing Amy for Spring

New Necklaces

Made of puffed sterling silver, these little charm necklaces are sweet and refined.

Best of all Oregon jewelry designer 'Big Girl Workshop' crafts each necklace by hand using the best sterling, pearl, and crystal components. (Prices range from $24-$40.)

Custom Order Pickup Rack

Carnival Owl

100 Years

My mom gave me this Art Nouveau jewelry box when I was a kid, back in the late '70s or early '80s. Sometimes I wonder about the Laura who owned this golden container back in 1907. What did she keep inside?



When I was in college, my mom gave me the little orange lacquer box on the left side of this picture. Since then I've built this small collection of these 1950s hand-painted Japanese tiny Jewelry chests. I even use them to store my necklaces and earrings.

Our Day Off

Today both Jeff and I had the day off, so we went here:



We bought these:



And these:



We headed over to the shop and planted two of these:



They may look a little sparse now, but in a few weeks the plants will expand and bloom. There's Jeff. He's the one with the green thumb. He made the planters too, out of recycled tires turned inside out.



While we were doing all of that, Otis was at home doing this:

Blooms Outside Our Door

A New Store Sample

Going to Switch

A fresh batch of mini wallets and belts headed to Switch Shoes, in Portland, Oregon.

Bright New Fabrics (in wristlet form)

Natalie (the bag),Otis (the pug) & Ashley (the handbag stylist)

Spring's Around the Corner...

A Recent Bridal Order

Matched Set

One Hot Mamma

Now Hiring

Once again we're growing! As we head into the spring, we'll need a new member of the LBD team. I've decided to post the job here first.

Interested folks should send a resume and a cover letter that answers the question: Why do you think you'll be the best person to join the Laura Bee Designs crew?

Interested parties should send their stuff to: laurabeedesigns@gmail.com. Please, no calls or in-store inquiries.

Studio Assistant

Come join our growing design studio and retail enterprise. We're looking for the perfect multi-tasker who is ready to roll up her/his sleeves and get to work. Essential job components include customer service, merchandising, light assembly, fabric cutting, organizational wizardry, packing orders, and some sewing.

We have tons of fun making things for a living in a fast paced, grass roots environment. We need team members who stay positive, cool under pressure, and strive for excellence in their work.

This job will begin with one eight hour shift per week, with room for growth for the right smarty.

Required:
Excellent verbal and written communication skills
Customer service experience
Strong design sensibility
Fondness for textiles and/or fashion
Basic computer skills
Excellent references
Willingness to work one weekend day each week

Bonus Points
Sewing experience
Experience in a production environment - food, manufacturing, coffee industries all apply

Guilt Trip Face

Little Otis is will turn four tomorrow! Unfortunately, he'll be wearing this 'snow cone.' He injured his foot last week and wants to nibble at the bandage. Poor puggie.