dresses that weren’t asked to the prom, reinvented as handbags!

September 30th, 2011
I was recently asked to participate in an upcoming fundraiser for the  Ruby Room, which will be hosting a Fashion Show and auction featuring reworked fashions by Seattle designers, tomorrow night.  Earlier this year, I got to visit the Ruby Room myself and choose the “dresses that weren’t asked to the prom” to re-invent into a limited-edition collection of bags that will be auctioned off tomorrow night. Here’s a few photos of the behind-the-scenes at Ruby Room, a a local non-profit that provides formal gowns to low-income high school girls for their proms and homecoming dances.

 

I selected cast-off dresses that had a sturdy weave, and a lot of texture to experiment with. After cutting the bags apart and reinforcing the fabric pleats with interfacing – I created a collection of handbags that are luxe yet durable enough to be worn everyday.

Suggested retail on these one of a kind bags is $198, with all auction proceeds going to benefit Ruby Room.

Fashion Faux Pas to Fashion Fabulous

Benefit Fashion Show and Auction 2011
Saturday, October 1, 2011
Doors open: 5:30 p.m.

Campion Ballroom, Seattle University Campus
901 Twelfth Street, Seattle, WA

Chicago is my kind of town

September 19th, 2011

Last weekend I attended my very first out of town show: Renegade Craft Fair, which was also my first time visiting Chicago. The first two days were spent vending at the show – where nearly 50,000 customers came to shop. I couldn’t get over how genuinely friendly everyone was – and it made the weekend fly by! I had been warned by veteran Renegade vendors that I’d be swamped with customers, and they were totally right: I actually ran out of business cards on the first day, and by the second day I had nearly lost my voice! I sold nearly every bag I brought with me, and I spent an extra two days exploring shopping Wicker park, taking an architecture boat tour, and indulging in some delicious food along the way!

the view on our walk thru Wicker park to Renegade

a huge suitcase packed full of purses

Metier totes in my booth at Renegade (photo via MakingItLovely)

Medium hobos were a hot seller at Renegade (photo via Makingitlovely)

a happy owner of a OOAK Metier at Renegade

this breakfast bagel is what held me thru a 10 hour day of sales

twilight and a full moon at Renegade on Sunday night

leopard coats in vintage shop on Milwaukee

the 'bean' in Millennium Park

deep dish Chicago-style stuffed pizza

beautiful front yards in Wicker Park

unique skyline of Downtown Chicago

a gleaming tower in the Chicago skyline

we took a boat tour on the Chicago River

huge blue skies above the skyscrapers

Returning home, I found out I was named one of the Top 50 Renegade Vendors by one of my favorite bloggers. Thanks Nicole!

press features in September

September 1st, 2011


I am honored to be featured in the September issue of Seattle Magazine not once, but twice – both bags are one of a kind bags crafted from recycled leather!

Somehow I missed the memo until I spotted a re-run of TLC’s “What Not to Wear” where my brown topstitch hobo was featured in one of the final 3 makeover outfits. So excited that Stacy & Clinton are giving some love to smaller designers like myself!

And Ecouterre also included my Troubadour on their blog on how to take your back-to-school look up a notch.

And last but not least – after completing a whirlwind trip to Chicago for Renegade – I was selected amongst the Top 50 designers at Renegade Craft Fair:

i left my heart in San Francisco (and brought home some great fabric)

July 1st, 2011

I have just returned from a 4 day getaway with Mom and Grandma in San Francisco.  A mix of business & pleasure: I managed to share my most beloved facets of San Francisco with my two favorite gals, and found plenty of inspiration along the way.

Mom, Grandma Nancy, and I

butterfly gate

my Metier tote at Stuf

the best coffee and pastries in the city

Balenciaga at the DeYoung

vintage fabric porn!

decisions, decisions. . .

I cannot wait  to show you all the amazing fabrics I brought home for my Fall handbag collection!  Stay tuned. . .

a danger you can’t resist

June 24th, 2011

Today I took an impromptu excursion on a ferry to visit my brother, and on the way I stopped in a boutique on Bainbridge Island that carries my bags. Located right on the main street in a spacious storefront atrium is Danger. Literally. Filled with drool-worthy furniture, modern glass, metal wall sculptures, and organic jewelry: I dare you to resist picking out a treasure for yourself.

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view from the ferry

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amazing jewelry and glass sculptures made by the owners

 

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red sofa? yes please!

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the English Tea Metier tote looks right at home

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Orange Soiree - a pop of mod color

something tells me this was a very good idea

June 14th, 2011

Wow, thank you to everyone who came to my 10 year anniversary sale at my studio last weekend. It was an overwhelming success – and I couldn’t have done it without the help of my awesome neighbors, family and loyal customers!

The night before the event I plastered the neighborhood with flyers. . . my poor staple gun died halfway through the barrage. My neighbors helped me clear out the courtyard, ditching our garbage cans into a garage and hefting my pop-up tent outside.  Early the next morning I  opened up the garage door and began setting up. I spotted a few early birds hovering for a deal, but thankfully they waited until 9:59 to walk down the driveway. The morning was a blur, selling bags and re-arranging my display with new merchandise – without a bathroom or lunch break in sight. Thankfully, my sister in law managed to pull herself away from customers to picked up some fruit & pasta salad for me to nibble on between sales. Then my fellow London study-abroad roommate Emily surprised me with a visit and stayed the rest of the day running credit cards and helping customers.

Not only was it my best day of sales in 10 years of business, but I also gained much-needed feedback. This is the first time I’ve invited customers into my studio to test out my rough-draft bags in progress and I am tremendously inspired to finish work on several new bag styles.

And if you missed this sale, I have a feeling I’ll be doing it again one of these days. In the meantime,  your next chance is at next month’s Urban Craft Uprising July 9 & 10. Or check out the new sale section on my site.

(p.s. Since it was so hectic, I was unable to take a single photo – thankfully Emily and the lovely Tina (of Glamspoon fame) took these photos. . thank you ladies!)

one of a kind bags galore!

a studio sale of mythical proportions is tomorrow!

June 3rd, 2011

In case you hadn’t heard – tomorrow I’m hosting a sale at my home studio, to celebrate my 10 year anniversary of being in business! In addition to my core collection, I will also have plenty of one of a kind designs, and sale bins priced at $25, $40, and 50% off!

This is a rare opportunity to come to my workshop and see where the magic happens. . .and score a sweet deal on your favorite bag. Please bring a friend!


look for this sign on the street

 

 

 

Crystalyn Kae Studio Sale

5611 Phinney Ave N.

(between 56th & 57th:- across from Woodland Park Zoo’s west entrance)  MAP

Saturday, June 4

10am – 4pm.

 
 

 

p.s. A big thank-you to Ali for the awesome exposure for my sale on NW Source!

 

a sneak peek at some of the sale bags

 

 

celebrating 10 years in business – a decade of purses

May 25th, 2011

It’s hard to believe it was 10 years ago that I quit my day job and embarked on this crazy ride. My business has grown exponentially over the years, and sometimes it’s a challenge to keep my sanity and still manage to be creative. I am fiercely independent: I draft the patterns, make the bags, answer the phone, and lovingly wrap each bag in tissue before taking it off to the post office.  I like keeping it small. And I couldn’t have done it without all of your loyal support. I have compiled a little photo montage of the highlights of the first 10 years. . .hope you enjoy it.

2001 - 2006: Crystalyn's first store: artist's collective Fotos and Frocks

photo by Justin Gollmer

2002: Crystalyn's first collection of bags made from wool plaid pants

2003: Fall collection of bags featuring vintage Mod prints

2003: Gibbous large hobo, crescent small hobo, and belt

2004: Applique beach bag, small orbit satchel and asymmetrical clutch

2004: The first Topstitched hobo, belt, wallet and Tweed Tree totes

2005: Convertible small hobo/clutch, storefront, large sash hobo

2005: Metier tote, storefront converted to studio, applique tote

 

2006: Introduced the Soiree, moved to Stone Way, married Aaron

2006: Monarch, Troubadour and sales trip to NYC

 

2007: leather clutches, business is booming, leather pleated satchel

2008: block-printed my own fabric, rooftop purse sale, california sales trip

2009: buying our first home, Urban Craft Uprising, Phinney studio


2010: back to my roots: tweed! trunk shows at local boutiques, and a new mini-soiree

 

 

thaw fashion show – pop up shop

May 6th, 2011

I was delighted to participate in the annual Thaw Fashion Show, featuring a live auction and a pop-up shop of independent designers. The event is a fundraiser with proceeds benefiting the Hungtington’s Disease Society of America. Each year the show is located in a different industrial space in the SoDo: this time in a loft-like unfinished penthouse with sweeping views of downtown Seattle.    Guests were treated to great food, drinks and music by DJ Darek Mazzone and performances by Mad Rad and Champagne Champagne.

hanging in the Thaw Shop with my purses

quite possibly the most fun display, ever.

 

fashion show finale

afterparty music

the seattle skyline view

a sewing machine walks into a bar: Fashion Feud

April 14th, 2011

I recently had the chance to see my friend and talented designer Tina “Glamspoon” Witherspoon’s fashion design genius at Fashion Feud: which is like a live version of Project Runway, minus the over-produced drama.  For this competition, each designer was given a bag of fabrics, a model and a hair & makeup stylist. . and one hour to complete a chic dress.  In front of a live audience. . in a bar.  Yikes.

I was impressed by Tina’s ability to stay focused in such a noisy environment and complete a finished (gorgeous!) dress within one hour. And as you’ll see in the last photo, the finished product was the pure essence of the Glamspoon aesthetic: bohemian chic. Not surprisingly, Tina’s design won, and she will go on to compete in the Fashion Feud finals on May 18th at Citrus Bar in South Lake Union . This will be a rare opportunity to watch fashion designers create on the spot – and sip on a drink with the Seattle night skyline as a backdrop. . .what’s not to love?

 

just a girl and her sewing machine

the tools of the trade

 

the finishing touches before judging

 

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