Changing focus

Almost three years ago, I took the opportunity to quit a job I wasn't keen on and take care of my aging dog while working full time on my business.  Since then, I have sold many bags and really enjoyed so much about the process.  But my favorite part has been working with people to create a custom bag for them.  I like coming up with crazy combinations on my own but then the bag sits there, and at times, for a really long time.  Creating custom bags is obviously different.  I am helping create something that someone wants and that has been the highlight of the past several years.

So I am changing my focus.  I am trying to clear out what bags I have on hand and will go to making custom bags exclusively.  So, that means sales in December!

20% off December 1st through December 12th

30% off most items December 13th through December 24th

40% off most items December 25th through December 31st

Waiting will result in a better deal but less selection as well.  Anything that is left after the 31st will remain in the shop at full price until sold or the listing expires, whichever comes first.  And then it's gone from the shop!

January 1st will see the reopening of custom requests.  More details on that later!

Post Thanksgiving sale coming up!

Bags are currently on sale if you want to have the full selection but if you're looking for the best deal, Saturday through Monday (25th-27th) is the time!  Bags will be on sale for 40% off and free standard shipping within the continental US!  Get your holiday shopping started early and not worry about if it will arrive in time!  =)  I plan to have other sales going on in December but this is the best sale that will happen if you don't want a potentially late gift for Christmas.

TL;DR - Big sale starting Saturday, November 25th in my Etsy store!

Sale in the shop!

It's Halloween season and that means a sale!  At least in my shop, that's what it means.  =)  All bags are 10% off and free standard shipping!  There is also a partial Viserys Targaryen costume for sale that I made earlier this summer for a masquerade entry at San Diego Comic Con.  This was worn just for the masquerade so barely even worn.  It was made for a fairly tall guy (6'6") so the fit might be off for a lot of people out there but if you're a tall person who never has sleeves long enough, this might be for you.  Check out the listing for details and contact me with any questions!

It's July and that means San Diego Comic Con!

Instagram has pretty much taken over my posting time so the blog has been rather neglected.  I sit down to write a post and realize that I've already posted everything on Instagram and tell myself I'll leave something for the blog next week.  Oops.

In shop news, I'm not accepting any custom requests until the end of July.  With San Diego Comic Con approaching, I don't have enough time to properly address any requests.

However, I will be showing my bags at the SDCC Art Show this year!  The location has moved to the Manchester Grand Hyatt in Grand Ballroom C on the lobby level of the hotel.  With the move, they have made it open to the public!  Even if you don't have a badge for SDCC, you can stop by and check out the art show.  If you do have a badge but not for all of the days, you can go on a day you don't have a badge.  Hours have also been changed - Thursday-Saturday: 11:00AM-9:00PM and Sunday 12:00-7:00PM.

I have been posting pics of the bags I intend to take on Instagram so check that out if you're interested in a sneak peak.  Almost done posting the DC comics based bags and will be moving to Marvel on Monday.

And because I like to post pics (hence my Instagram account getting all of my attention), here's a pic of the last custom request I had!  A spindown was requested and I will probably have to make more even though it was difficult at times to remember that the numbers were to be sewn in a different order...  =)

ConDorBag!

I tried vending at a convention for the first time at ConDorCon March 3-5.  I met a lot of great people, sold a few bags, and learned quite a bit.  Not everything went smoothly but it was a good weekend overall.  And I now have a few more ideas to try out!

Since this was my first time vending, I was a bit unsure of what to expect.  I was going to bring knitting because I can't seem to just sit and wait.  Bryan suggested bringing a bag to sew and I stared at him in stunned silence.  Why didn't I think of this on my own?  And why didn't this idea come a bit sooner?  Kinda of like, why didn't I think of embroidering Isoppie shirts until it was too late to find shirts to embroider?  As it was, geeky shirts were more fun anyway and I had just enough time to embroider a new bag before we had to leave.

And this is the result!  And why I call it ConDorBag.  I worked on it Friday, Saturday, and a little bit on Sunday.  It is a dark navy with rust colored numbers and a batik lining.

Hogwarts themed dice bags!

All four Hogwarts houses are now represented in d12 dice bag form!  I came up with the idea and had the fabric printed last spring but hadn't gotten around to actually working on them until now.  I started with Slytherin, then Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, and finished with Hufflepuff.  And I think Hufflepuff might be my favorite.  The gold just pops against the black.  But it's in the back of this pic because the gold does pop so much it would still be seen but the numbers on Ravenclaw would blend right in.  So, the hardest to see up front and the easiest to see in the back.

The wands used as underscores for each bag are different...because I could.  The outer fabric is a black wool gabardine that I used to make my own robe so I think that adds an extra level of geek to them as well.  And the linings were based off of the tie design used in the movies - can't see it here but the links above to each bag show the lining.  These were so much fun to make!

New dice bags in the queue!

I really do love going through and coming up with new ideas for dice bags!  I had a request earlier this week and in the process of pulling options, I couldn't resist coming up with just a few ideas for other bags.  These aren't guaranteed to be made - I've already made a couple of changes since I took the pic - but it's a good starting point.  I can look at the pile and decide which one looks the most fun to make at that moment and then new bag!  As always, I'm willing to take suggestions or if there is one in particular that looks interesting, I can move it up in the queue.

A few dice bag possibilities...

And that brings me to my next piece of news - I will be an exhibitor at ConDor in San Diego on March 3rd - 5th!  This is my first time exhibiting anywhere so I'm excited and a bit nervous.  As I am holding back the comics related bags for San Diego ComicCon, I feel my supply is a bit low so I'm hoping to get through as many of the planned bags above as possible!

I've also decided to focus on making d20 dice bags rather than the d12s.  So most of the new ones will be d20s.  Not all as I have some custom printed linings that are for d12s and I have some fabric that I want to use but the fabric isn't suitable for a d20.  But out of the nearly thirty I have planned, only seven are d12s.

Time to get to embroidering!