Archive for the ‘seattle’ Category

something tells me this was a very good idea

Tuesday, 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!

celebrating 10 years in business – a decade of purses

Wednesday, 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

Friday, 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

Thursday, 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

 

find Crystalyn Kae bags at a Seattle boutique near you!

Saturday, April 2nd, 2011

This week I made the rounds, delivering new spring bags to some of the best stores in Seattle. But of course, I’m a bit biased.  :)  I capped the whirlwind off with a trunk show at Edie’s Shoes in West Seattle.  You may have noticed that I have added quite a few limited-edition bags to my collection this spring, and these Seattle boutiques were smart enough to pick out a few OOAK bags for your shopping pleasure. . . . Yet another great reason to shop local!

 

p.s. Check out our list of stores that carry Crystalyn Kae bags: if your city isn’t listed – drop your local indie boutique a hint and tell them about us!

Andaluz in Columbia City - OOAK Metier

Retail Therapy on Capitol Hill - Recycled leather clutches and Troubadour totes

Sidecar for Pig's Peace - Colorful Medium hobos galore!

Edie's Shoes - Metier Totes for Summer

 

 

california dreaming: coping methods for winter weather

Thursday, February 24th, 2011

As much as I love living in Seattle, our winters tend to be gloomy, soggy, and drag on for-ev-er.   Today?  It hailed AND snowed. My preferred remedy during the slow season is to escape to a sunny locale. Unfortunately, this year I’ve got so many bags in the works, I can’t pry myself away from my sewing machine anytime soon.

So, I thought I’d share two favorite new methods to cope:

  1. Rock this NPR playlist “ Beyond California Dreaming”
  2. Design a virtual sunny-weather outfit on Polyvore, using their huge library of all sorts of fashionable awesomeness.
  3. However, if you’re one of the lucky bastards people to be in southern California right now – go check out Mixture in North Little Italy in San Diego.  You’ll be immediately smitten by open loft-like space, adorned with modern furniture and accessories.. .and some great handbags.

p.s. What are your winter-weather coping methods? Please share them in the comments section below. (And if you’ve created some outfits with a Crystalyn Kae bag on Polyvore, please post a link!)

2010 a recap in words and pictures

Friday, January 7th, 2011


Before I plunge in headfirst to this new year, I thought I would share my highs and lows of 2010 – it’s been a doozy!

On the bright side:

  1. I introduced the much-anticipated Mini-Soiree bag in a rainbow of colors.
  2. Traveled to New York City, Maui, and Vegas within a 2 month window. But none of those adventures could top our week-long ‘stay-cation’ here in the Pacific Northwest Coast. It proved to be the most relaxing and inspiring trip in recent memory.
  3. My parents helped us with some serious upgrades to my garage-turned-workshop
  4. We turned a truck-full of rocks into a english cobblestone yard, and got plants into the ground just before the fall rains came.

But not all was daisies and roses. . .I also had 3 significant setbacks that have proven to be learning experiences of sorts:

  1. I slipped off a rock at a difficult snorkeling entry in Maui, seriously dislocating my finger. Not having health insurance, it has been an expensive and slow healing process. I am grateful that I could have been worse.  As for sewing, I’m learning to work around it.
  2. I had to say goodbye to my furry friend Corgan, who passed away after 13 years together. I had no idea that losing a pet would be so hard.
  3. I over-ambitiously took on too many custom projects, and ran out of some of my best-sellers during the holiday season.  I’m going to be playing catch-up for a while, but I will not make this mistake again.

I certainly consider 2010 to be a success.  Perhaps I didn’t accomplish everything that I set out to do: I’ve always been guilty of having great expectations. But nevertheless, these lofty goals are the fuel that keeps me motivated,  looking ahead to 2011.

recession, reschmession: a near mob-scene at Urban Craft Uprising

Wednesday, December 8th, 2010

Wow.  Was this winter’s UCU show nuts!  From the moment the doors opened each morning, my fellow vendors and I were mobbed with record-breaking numbers of shoppers.  It was exhilarating to feel the support and enthusiasm of the Seattle community.

Not only did I sell out of nearly every one of a kind bag I brought, I also met so many fantastic people, including Callista, winner of my UCU interview giveaway and Anna with her original custom gray troubadour.  You have her to thank that I offer it as a core part of my collection today. I also somehow managed to sneak away from my booth to purchase presents for all of my nieces and nephews.  . .and picked up some perfumejewelry and journals just for me!

A big thank you to organizers of UCU and to the fantastic shoppers & customers who attended the show and spread the word!  We love you!!

Winter 2010 Urban Craft Uprising highlights

1. rebecca’s custom soiree, 2. crystalyn kae booth, 3. tako fibers, 4. Coco of Softlife, 5. Anna with her original gray troubadour, 6. crystalyn kae booth, 7. hassenpeffer , 8. beautiful crochet, 9. Crystalyn and Callista, 10. burgundy monarch, 11. hassenpeffer , 12. sweet anthem perfumes, 13. moxie on her scooter, 14. bella sisters jackets, 15. crystalyn kae booth

p.s.For those of you that missed out, if you’re going to be in the Portland area this coming weekend – you could check out Crafty Wonderland at the Oregon Convention Center.  Many of the same vendors will be there too!

two ways to buy affordable local art this weekend

Thursday, December 2nd, 2010
Forgotten Works Challenge by +Russ, via Flickr

My husband (along with fifty other local artists) recently created 30 paintings in 30 days, as part of the Forgotten Works Challenge.  Tomorrow, Thursday Dec. 2 each of the 1500 paintings will be on sale at the Tashiro-Kaplan gallery for $40 each.  Though the show is mostly marketed by word-of-mouth, it is a much-anticipated show which is celebrating it’s 10th year.  Part of Pioneer Square’s “First Thursday Artwalk”, I plan to be there early to score my favorites.

Tashiro-Kaplan Artist Lofts

115 Prefontaine Place South (Pioneer Square)

Thursday December 2,   5 pm – 9pm

view the event on facebook

Urban Craft Uprising at Seattle Exhibition Hall

And then Saturday and Sunday is Urban Craft Uprising, Seattle’s largest indie craft show – which will be at the Seattle Center Exhibition Hall.  I will be there with a selection of never-before-seen bags, perfect for holiday giving or receiving. The first 100 customers each morning, will get a swag bag filled with crafty goodness from UCU vendors – some will include a keychain made by yours truly.  :)

Urban Craft Uprising

Seattle Center Exhibition Hall

December 4 & 5  11am – 5 pm

See you there?

fabulous accessorizing at Best of the Northwest

Wednesday, November 17th, 2010

I just returned from my 3 day show at Best of the Northwest and my head is still spinning!  The show had moved to a new location and my fears that customers wouldn’t make the trek to Magnolia, were unfounded.  What a turnout! I met many loyal web shoppers for the first time and sold more one-of-a-kind bags that ever before!  In my few moments of down-time, I managed to do a little shopping: felted flower pinsglass garden sculpturesdresses and hats!  The slogan of the show is “Art made by hands you can shake” and it was truly fun getting to know the makers of each item. I felt truly honored to be included amongst such talented folks!

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