Spring Cleaning

I don't know about you, but I'm not really "in to" spring cleaning. I mean, we clean our house on a regular basis, but we don't do the whole "spring cleaning" thing, where you open all the closets and change out all the clothes, the linens, wash the curtains, clean the cobwebs and dust bunnies from the ceiling corners, etc. Every now and then, we'll get on a kick to do some purging, and cleaning is usually involved there, but it's not the big Spring event.

I do, however, think that Spring cleaning is good when it comes to your handbag or purse! I don't know how I end up with so much junk at the bottom of my purse. Maybe it's because I'm the mom. Who knows? But I think it's time to clean out the purses, and maybe even find a new one.

Hubby would love it if I carried THIS Spring Green "ESSENTIALS" bag from Xcessrize shown above. He loves the color for me, but I'm not so sure. I usually carry black or brown purses. I know, boring! Right? But I do have two pink purses. Maybe I'll have to break out of my "purse shell" this year, and just get something fun for the fun of it.

Tuesday's Treasures on Etsy

EtsyBuy Handmade P&L Creations

EtsyBuy Handmade Paul Dolanjski

EtsyBuy Handmade Warm and Soft Designs

EtsyBuy Handmade Sand & Sea Designs

xoxo Michele

Friday Feature No. 33 -- Featuring Jenny Karlsson

Well, it's late, and I have a toddler, who just got up from his nap crying, sitting in my arms. Please forgive me if there are typos that I don't catch.

You might have noticed that we have not had a Friday Feature for the past two weeks. This is much my fault because I sent out my reminder emails a little too late...like the day before! I have been sick, and so has our little guy, so things aren't getting done as well as I had hoped.

Today, we are featuring Jenny of Jenny Karlsson Design. Jenny lives in Sweden, and is one of a very few featured guests who live outside of the USA! Jenny's shop is a delightful display of cozy items, such as crocheted flower brooches, unique (and numbered) handbags, and more.

Here is a little interview with Jenny:

TDB: When did you first get into crafting, and who taught you to craft?

Jenny: I think it must have been my mother at some time. She used to make some of our clothes when we were younger, and also some soft toys. I remember getting a simple little loom that you could weave scarfs & such in.. At least I know that now - back then I made mats for my dolls' house :) But I have always been interested in making things, the creativity have always needed to come out somehow. I am mainly self-taught I guess..

TDB: From where do you get your inspiration for your crafting?

Jenny: A lot of it comes from nature, flora and fauna. Some times it's things that I see that inspires me, most times though I think it is that the things that brings me energy is the things that I get inspiration from. The will to make something must be there. Then I also love beautiful magazines, children's books, art, history, times past. I like a lot of old things. They have feeling to them.

TDB: What is your favorite thing to create?

Jenny: I like variation. Simple and complicated. I do love to do embroidery and such and would like to have time to make more intricate things. It is easy to get caught up in the 'must make & sell'- circle.. Then again one of the best things with handicrafts is that it must take its time, and then it turn out best. When I have made something it has filled its purpose for me somehow. It's the making that I like, and I don't have trouble parting with my work. I rarely keep something for myself.

TDB: Please tell us a little about your family.

Jenny: There's my beloved one, mom, dad, two brothers and Lilly the dog. I live on my own but I talk to my parents really often and one of my brothers lives in the next door house :) I talk even more often with my beloved one, we live about 300 kilometres apart at the moment..

TDB: If you had 3 wishes granted to you, what would you wish for?
Jenny: Tricky question.. Hm.. I think I would have to be a bit materialistic and ask for 1. 'never have to worry about money', you know - so you have enough to get by and a little more. 2. For my loved ones to be happy and live well. 3. Being able to teleport myself all over the place (would be very practical).Hm, that last one might change a bit, but the other two will stay the same. :)Then again, you gather wisdom all your life by living & learning.

TDB: If you could travel back to any time period in history, where would you go, and why?

Jenny: I have thought about this sometimes.. and there are a few options.. victorian England, 1920's, beginning of the 19th century and perhaps Egypt. These are a few of the time periods that fascinates me and I find a lot of inspiration in. I guess it is also down to The Pre-Raphaelite movement, Arts & Crafts, Arthur Rackham-Edmund Dulac-Walter Crane ( illustrators), The House of Eliott (series) & Jane Austen.. Oh and Charles Dickens.. I do like times past. I can get quite nostalgic about periods in time that I haven't even lived, but am longing for somehow.

TDB: Please share 3 random, little known facts about you
Jenny:
* I was in a youth circus when I was younger. Doing simple acrobatics dressed up as a native american (in a shirt & pants made out of brown flanell that my mother had made, and with red & white stripes in my face).
* I really like playing computer games, especially where you get to chop around with swords and such..Guns works too :) .. There must be a plot though, adventure and excitement. My favorites are Monkey Island x 4, Morrowind, Fable, Half-Life and NoOneLivesForever.. Those are the ones I've played the most. I think...
* I have never smoked a single cigarette. Er.. Oh well, I couldn't come up with any other fact just now.. :)


Thanks Jenny! It was great to find out a little more about the woman behind the designs!
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The Giveaway: A $15.00 "Gift Certificate" to Jenny's shop on Etsy.com.

To Enter: Please visit Jenny Karlsson Design, then come back here and leave a comment about either your favorite item in Jenny's shop or what you would spend this gift certificate on, if you are the winner. Please be sure to have a VALID email address attached to either your comment (like this: downtownboutique (at) sbcglobal (dot) ne), or your Blogger account. You do not have to have a Blogger account to enter, as long as you have an email made available to us.

For one extra entry: Please blog about this giveaway and leave a separate comment with the link to your post.

For another entry: We'd love to have you follow our blog! You will get updates in Blogger with each new post. Yes, you must have a Blogger account for this one. No, it doesn't count if you are already following.

Deadline to enter: Thursday, November 27th at Midnight PST. Giveaway is open worldwide.

Have a great weekend!
Angie

It's In The Bag

I was looking through Etsy today for a great bag. I wanted to get a bag that could work as a diaper bag, but could also look like a purse or a great tote. I could only afford up to $45, so I limited my search to $0-$45.

Here's what I purchased from Janine King Designs (On sale for $29.99, down from $59!!!):

Here are some other cute bags (from other sellers) I found while searching (click on each photo to link to the listing):

Gypsy Rose Handbags

By the way, if you go and purchase a Gypsy Rose handbag, please let them know that Angie, from The Downtown Boutique sent you. If 5 people purchase from my referral, I could get a FREE handbag!!!

Clutterbags

Baffin Bags

The Kat Sak

Sew Gracious

You can't tell that I like blues and greens can you? So, if you're ever wondering what to get me for my birthday, which is in a little over a month, now you know! :-)

Angie

Wordless Wednesday Featuring B Charmer

Featured Business: Sew Gracious Bags

Sew Gracious Boutique Bags are handmade one-at-a-time. Using fabrics by popular designers such as Amy Butler, Michael Miller & others, every bag makes a statement. Colors, patterns & textures are carefully combined to produce gorgeous bags which are sure to bring compliments to the ladies carrying them. While some basic bags are always available; most are limited edition and many are one-of-a-kind.....OOAK. Sew Gracious Bags are offered in many styles & sizes to suit the needs of our customers. With the selection of handbags, diaper bags & the new market totes; a Sew Gracious Bag is sure to be "just right".

Sew Gracious Boutique Bags and Accessories can be found at Pam's website and her Etsy shop.

Have You Seen It?

I added something new to this blog yesterday. Have you seen it? Over on the right...yep, scroll down just a little...stop! Right there! It's "My Faves". Every now and then I will see something that I really like, and want to feature it. Each picture has a link back to where you can purchase that particular item.

Want something of yours featured? Just let me know by leaving a comment here, giving me permission to go looking around in your shop/site, and grabbing a picture to use here. You never know...yours might show up tomorrow!

Sew Gracious Bags

Sew Gracious Boutique Bags are handmade one-at-a-time. Using fabrics by popular designers such as Amy Butler, Michael Miller & others, every bag makes a statement. Colors, patterns & textures are carefully combined to produce gorgeous bags which are sure to bring compliments to the ladies carrying them. While some basic bags are always available; most are limited edition and many are one-of-a-kind.....OOAK. Sew Gracious Bags are offered in many styles & sizes to suit the needs of our customers. With the selection of handbags, diaper bags & the new market totes; a Sew Gracious Bag is sure to be "just right".
Each bag is is fully-lined & fully-interfaced (exterior, lining & handles) for a sturdy, durable bag that will look great for years. Inside, the lining fabric compliments the exterior fabric and there are always lined pockets to hold necessities within easy reach. All ribbons are securely sewn on, never glued & ribbon ends are heat-sealed to prevent fraying.
Sew Gracious also offers a great selection of accessories, with new items being added for 2008. Monogrammed key fobs, checkbook covers & ponytail holders have long been customer favorites. A personalized item is always a welcome gift for friends, teachers, secret pals or yourself! The newest addition to the Sew Gracious Accessories line is the mini wallet. It's the perfect size for business cards, driver's license, debit cards...even some cash. More new accessories are coming soon in 2008.
The Sew Gracious studio is a clean, smoke-free environment. Only the finest fabrics, trims, ribbons & supplies are used to create the bags & accessories offered. Handmade with professional precision and an eye for detail, Sew Gracious Bags & Accessories are well-known for durability and style-ability. Pam, the creative force, designer & seamstress of Sew Gracious, brings a lifetime of sewing experience to her finished products. With her background in many types of needlework, sewing, heirloom sewing & an entrepenurial spirit; Sew Gracious combines her talent, experience & love of creativity to produce beautiful bags & accessories.

Sew Gracious Bags & Accessories are available at the website, http://www.sewgracious.com/ and also at the Sew Gracious Etsy shop, http://www.sewgracious.etsy.com/