{gettin' hip}

This little lady seems to be the bag of choice this Fall. If you are looking for something smaller and quite convenient {erika} is your girl! She is flat out FUN with fun fabrics that pop with a coordinating top panel, full-size interior pocket, magnetic closure and an adjustable messenger-style strap. She's fully interfaced for shape and stability and has double stitched corners for added strength.

As described, this bag is $35, plus actual shipping. Any changes outside of my basic design may result in a slight price increase. I do my best to ship as inexpensively as possible, but, shipping is usually Priority due to the weight. If available I reuse shipping materials to help save the earth of unnecessary waste. However, I will only use materials in respectable condition.

{yummy fabric}

A friend from high school caught up with me last week (who I haven't seen since high school!) and asked if I had time to make his wife a bag for Christmas. He said he wanted something unique and thought of my bags. So flattering! So, I told him yes, I would love to! He chose my {gina} purse and said his wife likes "vampy chocolate", but would be happy with anything I put together. So after a little research I don't think I really hit "vampy chocolate" on the head, but I have a feeling that I did okay. I love this fabric and have had it in my stash for a long time just waiting for the right project. I'm not terribly happy with the pics, but sewing is my thing not photography. *smile*

Tina Givens "Treetop Fancy" Line

The coordinating fabric has birds on it. The blue you see are their tails.

{creating again}

I'm finally finding a little time in my crazy mom schedule to spend time at my sewing machine. Oh, and let me tell you, it feels good! I have a few more orders to finish and then I have plans to work on some new bag styles. I can't wait! I also have a few non-sewing items to add to my PeridotLane blog. I'm so excited!

So while you wait, here are some pics of a couple bags I made for a my friend, E. She came over to pick out fabric for one and ended up ordering two because she couldn't decide on fabric! She chose a "serious" one and a "fun" one. :) Both of these are my "Erika" hipsters. These are so much fun to make and what a great little bag when you don't have much to take with you. But don't let the size fool you! Even though it is my smallest bag it is amazing how many things you can squeeze in it. The adjustable strap is such a nice addition to this bag. You can cinch it up and use it as a purse or leave it long to sling across your body messenger bag style. Either way you are sure to get a lot of use out of this bag.

Click here for a detailed description of this bag along with pricing. Enjoy and please feel free to contact me with any questions . . . peridotlane@yahoo.com.

Amy Butler Lotus and Anna Marie Horner Chocolate Lollipop

{spring calls for fun fabrics!}

I am so happy to be sewing again. I am catching up on my long "to do" list and it feels SO good. My first order of business was getting a great little hipster ready to ship for, L, a friend of The Maternal Lens blog. L chose gorgeous fabric from Amy Butlers August Fields home dec collection. The quality and weight of this fabric is just delightful. After using it for a holiday order I promptly ordered more. I can't wait to turn out more items from this line. Pure bliss for a fabric lover like me. Thanks, L, for your order!

{life got in the way}

OMG! I am so behind in my business goings-on. What happened these past two months? I have been going nonstop for the past eight weeks and that has left me with very little time to sew. :( I am missing choosing beautiful fabric, cutting it out and creating beautiful, gorgeous bags and purses. And what about my summer wardrobe. I have dresses, skirts, and haltertops just waiting to see the sunshine. And my girls. Funky fun fabrics waiting to be transformed into funky, fun clothes. There are photoshoots to be scheduled, new blog entries to be made. I need my sewing time back. To those of you that are waiting on me, I apologize. But I am happy to say my final was today, school is done, and I have completed my first semester back in school. I am ready to sew, ready to create, ready for some yummy items to slip out of my sewing machine. I'm back and ready to sew!

{a huge thanks!}

A huge thank you and internet hug from everybody that wanted to win my java jacket on The Maternal Lens blog. :) They got about 30 love notes (entries) for the free giveaway. Also, thank you to those of you who stopped by to visit my blog. I have received some wonderful words regarding my items and I greatly appreciate it. Please continue to stop by. I hope to have some new pics posted over the next few weeks. I have lots of orders to fill, therefore, lots of work to do. Thanks again to my friends and readers for the great support. Without all of you, there would be no point in me having this blog! Adios and good day!

{free giveaway!}

Okay, readers and followers you have to check out my dear friend's blog, The Maternal Lens. Every week or so they feature a free giveaway of various sorts of awesomeness. This week the featured giveaway is one of my java jackets!!! You will find all the giveaway details right here! I'm so excited! So get yourself entered and maybe you will be saving the planet of unnecessary waste in style. ;)

Be sure to come back and post a comment if you win! If you don't win come back here to contact me about ordering one. I would be happy to hook you up! :)

{all the credit goes to . . .}

I have recieved so many compliments on my business card and blog that I felt I should give credit where credit is due. Last year I found a wonderful graphic design shop on Etsy.com, pixelbypixel. She created a beautiful custom design for my business card that has now found it's way onto blog, my labels that I sew into my bags, tags and now a second label and stickers. I will continue to return to her for any graphic design or promo needs that I have. Please visit her by clicking on her ad below. She is so talented and has great promotional items for your business. Thank you, pixelbypixel!

{may i reacquaint you}

May I reintroduce you to this gem in my sewing jewelry box. This little darling is "Shaine", named after my sister, J. :) This tote is one of my most ordered items. It is a wonderful basic tote with lots of personality thanks to the yummy fabrics that I have the pleasure of working with. This bag is great for any of your bag carrying needs. Mine started as a diaper bag and moved onto such jobs as gym bag, market bag, book bag, yoga bag, piano lesson bag, etc. The list goes on and on! The possibilities are endless!

Shaine is about 15" h x 17"w (at the top) and 4 1/2" deep. It is fully interfaced for strength, shape and stability, has two large interior pockets and closes securely with a magnetic snap. I use only designer fabrics in my adult bags and pride myself on using these high quality materials. All my fabrics are prewashed and pressed.

This bag sells for $42, plus shipping. Any changes outside her basic design may result in a slight price increase. Also, I do my best to ship as inexpensively as possible. If available I do use previously used shipping materials to help save the earth of unnecessary waste. However, I will only use materials that are in respectable condition.

{passport please}

These three "Erika" Hipsters took a long trip recently. My friend, J, turned her mom onto my little bag here and she ordered three of them! One for herself and two of her friends for a girl's trip to Thailand. My bags have gone international!

This casual bag is one of my favorite accessories, especially for the summer (which will hopefully come sooner than later here in Montana!). It is such an easy little bag to throw on for just the bare essentials. Mine easily carries my wallet, lip gloss, phone, business cards with room to spare for other small odds and ends.

"Erika" is 8" wide x 10" tall x 2" deep. It has a messenger style strap that is 47 1/2" long. For an extra $4, an adjustable strap can be added so the strap can be adjusted to fit your body or to be used as a purse with a shoulder strap. As described (without the adjustable strap) this bag is $29, plus shipping. Any changes outside of my basic design may result in a slight price increase. Also, I do my best to ship as inexpensively as possible. If available I do use previously used shipping materials to help save the earth of unnecessary waste. However, I will only use materials that are in respectable condition.

Pack your bags girls! We're going to Thailand!

Timeless Treasures Modern Love Line, Tina Givens Zazu Line

Tina Givens Zazu Line, Posh by Chez Moi for Moda

How About a Little Bling?

While making a bag for a friend yesterday I remembered that I was never able to find ribbon to coordinate "perfectly" with this fabric combination. In an effort to add a fun embellishment to the bag I remembered some great vintage pins that I found at a flea market/craft bazaar last year. I just love the uniqueness it adds to the bag. I need to start antiquing and find some more pins. (That will make my husband happy!) What a fun addition to an already fun bag. Just like every girl, every bag needs a little bling!

Again, these awesome pictures are compliments of my friend S of Thousand Words Photography. Please visit her site at: http://www.thousandwordsphotographymt.com. She's amazing!

The Fruits of my Holiday Labor

Wow, it has been awhile since I have updated my blog. I appologize. The holidays were crazy. I totally underestimated the time I would need to complete all of my orders and gifts. A lesson learned from my first holiday season with PeridotLane. I had orders for 33 of my java jackets. Wow, is all I have to say to that. They were a big hit and so much fun to make.

I was also busy filling orders and making gifts for friends and family. Below you will find several of the bags I completed during the holidays. As always, my favorite part of my bags is the fabric. I love, love, love them. In the pics below I think my favorite is, um, well, oh, it's hard to choose . . . the last bag! Oh, I love the colors and the big bold flowers. Maybe leave me a comment and let me know which fabric you enjoy the most.

My Gina bag, great purse size tote. This bag is made with Amy Butler fabric, August Fields home dec weight fabric.

Three little pockets, one is a cell pocket, magnetic closure.

Amy Butler Birdie Sling. I love this bag! You could fit a small child in here. :) This is made with Amy Butler fabric, Slate Morning Glory and Full Moon Dot.

My Shaine Bag. I made the straps a little longer on this one. I think it makes it more of a shoulder-tote than a hand-tote.

Aren't those flowers amazing?