I am a Seattle-based handbag designer creating hobo bags, pleated messengers, laptop totes and clutch wristlets that are unique and modern. I design my bags to be durable and immensely functional: in an eclectic mix of materials, useful pockets and adjustable straps. This fall, I am doing things a little differently. . and I am so excited to tell you about it! Starting in September, I will introduce a small collection of new bags each month. Here’s a sneak preview of a collection of tweed bags I created for Presents of Mind in Portland, OR.
So start making your wish list for an array of new bags coming VERY soon to my website or a store near you! 
Today, Academichic featured my designs again. . .this time, it’s my pleated clutch:
“Since I’m biking to campus these days, I usually go for my backpack to hold my laptops, books, and various other necessities. Upon arriving home, it’s been so nice to dump that backpack in a corner of my living room and transfer my basics – wallet, keys, cell, ipod, chapstick – into a small little clutch. And this one is just perfect, I’ve been in love with it since it came in the mail. I’m not much of a clutch wearer, and still I’ve found myself using this on a daily basis. Since my life resides in my wallet, cell, and ipod, this little clutch is all I need to grab my must-haves.
Why do I love it so much? Here’s a handy top ten list to explain:
And if you haven’t heard enough. . . you can read the whole shebang here. Thanks again, Academichic. . .and for all of you who have commented, too!
multitasking: shipping bags and making new ones, originally uploaded by Crystalyn Kae.
why is it, if there’s a large open expanse of space, I will easily find objects to fill it? My new huge work table has quickly been filled with projects: a few bags shipping out, nestled amidst fabrics for bags to be made.
buttercrunch lettuce and marigolds in wooden wine box, originally uploaded by Crystalyn Kae.
My new favorite thing is growing my own lettuce. For some reason when I buy lettuce, it goes bad in the fridge before I eat it all – but growing it myself lets me harvest as needed . .and it tastes truly delicious. (Who knew?)
Anyway, I got this genius container lettuce idea from the book: ‘Garden Anywhere’ by Alys Fowler. We have lots of crates left over from a booth display so I kidnapped a few. The book suggests to treat them with danish oil, but I have a big costco jug of expired olive oil – so I used that. My only recommendation is to use screws to keep the sides together – mine is bursting at the seams!
Well, it was a weekend for the record books for sure. . .the smoothest load-in for the show, an excellent booth location, and the largest amount of attendees visiting my booth wearing their Crystalyn Kae bag. . .It was fun to meet the owners of each style, and even more exciting to help them choose their next purchase.
I even managed to do some shopping for myself: I scored a skirt from Texture, a set of coasters from Dinah Coops, some wallpaper notecards from Sydney Designs, a lovely camisole from Glam Garb by Gunlis.
My Troubadour has been featured again as a versatile school & laptop bag! Heather – a writer at Prof Hacker and an assistant professor of Physics at Wheaton College – had a very specific list of requirements for a new laptop bag. I was delighted to read that the Troubadour tote passed with flying colors:
“The Troubadour meets all my criteria and I love it. My Troubadour bag traveled really well on a recent conference trip, and I like that there is a little stretch in the handles so that they give a bit in the course of being pushed and pulled. A great bonus to this purchase process is that through it I discovered a fantastic locally-owned store that I’ll return to for work clothes in the future.”
You can read the entire review and commentary here. . .
I really did my best to relax this past 4th of July weekend, but I still caught myself frequently obsessing about all the things I need to do. Although I have gotten better at the crazy balancing act of self-employment, I still battle moments of feeling completely overwhelmed. My trusty clipboard list of ”Bags to Make” next to my sewing machine has such a confusion of stars, underlines and circles, that it is hard to decide what really must be done before Urban Craft Uprising this coming weekend.
But things could be worse. I realize I should be grateful that I am busy. And come to think of it, this kind of pressure tends to be good for my creativity. So here goes: By Thursday I plan to have 8 bags finished for stores in Portland, and sew 11 custom clutches for a bride. Then I need to hang tag, stuff bags and pack my display for UCU to load in on Friday.
Oh, and our 4th wedding anniversary is on Friday, too. Yikes. Wish me luck.
Well, it’s T-minus 10 days until I will be selling my bags at Urban Craft Uprising at Seattle Center! This will be my third show at UCU, which is Seattle’s largest independent craft show, and every year it just gets better and better! This year’s exhibitors are more diverse and unique than ever before: including a mix of clothing, jewelry, housewares, children’s clothing, bath products and of course. . . my handbags!
Urban Craft Uprising is one of the best ways to see all of my bags in one place, and it is SO fun to get to meet all of you in person! So please, bring a friend and come check it out next weekend!
The details:
Free Admission and goodie bags to first 100 attendees each day!
July 10 & 11 (Saturday & Sunday ) from 11 am – 5 pm
Seattle Exhibition Center (underneath Pacific NW Ballet) 299 Mercer, Seattle WA 98109
Please tell your friends and become a fan of UCU on facebook!
The lovely Academichic blog, written by ‘three feminist PhD candidates on a crusade against the ill-fitting polyester suit of academic yore’ recently posted their review of my Troubadour Tote.
“Now I have the perfect school bag! This is the perfect sized tote – big enough to carry my laptop, a notebook, folders, a book or two, my wallet, computer charger, cell phone, and my pouch of school essentials. That’s what I fit in it today anyway and there was still plenty of room. The best part is, it can hold all this and not break your shoulder! This tote (like most of Crystalyn Kae’s bags) is made of is made of glazed fabric, making it light, weather proof, and durable – the perfect campus bag.”
Or you can read the whole article here.
The gray skies parted and the sun was glowing brightly overhead as I made my way to Portland, OR last weekend for my trunk show at Moxie. I spent the first day visiting Presents of Mind, Pie Footwear, and Tilde – to give them their first look at my new Matinee and Foxtrot hobos in colorful tweed. There must have been something about that Portland sunshine, because each store purchased a mix of purses in my brightest color combinations.
new bags coming soon, to a Portland store near you!
Portland has some pretty great grub!
In between stops, we managed to try a sampling of several of Portland’s culinary delights. My favorite meal was Saturday morning breakfast at Screen Door, which was totally worth the wait. Then I walked across the street to Moxie to set up my display of purses onto hooks and dress forms.
I spent the afternoon greeting customers, sipping on mimosas, and chatting with Dee and Sally – the hostesses with the mostest(es). After the show, Dee purchased several of my one of a kind Troubadour Tote bags and Bohemia hobos – so if you missed out on my trunk show – you can still get one for yourself at Moxie.
a beautiful day for a trunk show at Moxie
