Helloooo! I'm Crystalyn. My blog is a peek behind the scenes of how I make my handbags, as well as the people and natural elements that influence my design process. I don't own a car, and live by the zoo with a big oaf and two savage kittens. 
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.
I have been putting the finishing touches on my fall collection – and I enlisted my facebook fans (you should become one too!) to help me name a few of the new fabrics. I think we all agree that it was very “Memoirs of a Geisha”. Chinoserie, yet slightly tiki . . .suggestions included: Japanese postcard.Tokyo memoir. Asian dream. Paradise Found. Geisha Pagoda. . hmm.. . it was a tongue-twister.
So, ‘Geisha Romance’ proved to be the winning name. It’s a lovely deep red barkcloth with lovely stylized black pagodas & teahouses with aqua florals. Available in Black and Navy Blue Soiree Messenger and a burgundy clutch.
I’ve been on a mission to find a new handbag for spring/summer. My problem is, I’m finding so many that I want, including those from today’s Daily Swank.
Crystalyn Kae Handbags are beautifully constructed from leather and often include vintage fabrics. I’m swooning the top left Picasso Abstract Floral
I love how the smooth leather paired with vintage fabrics gives each handbag its own personality. Handmade from start to finish you can find various bags and styles including one of a kind and my favorite the pleated clutches. Visit Crystalyn Kae to find our more.
Today I had the honor of having my bags featured on Treehugger.com! Wow! I still can’t believe it.
That squeaking sound you hear? That’s me trying to scrounge together enough pennies for one of Crystalyn Kae’s luscious climate-forward bags. Handmade in Seattle from start to finish, most of the designer’s distinctive totes and clutches are crafted from patterned vintage textiles—atomic-era barkcloth, florals, and prints from the 1940s to 1970s—that bashfully peek out from between the folds of her Soireé Messenger Bags and pleated clutches.
Also available are the boxy Metier Work Tote, sized and cut to fit your laptop and work files, and the roomy Troubadour Tote, its ruched surface dotted with silver metal rivets. The stage, however, has to be ceded to the curvaceous hobo, which comes in three designs: the vegan-friendly Topstitch and Monarch, as well as the newly released Bohemia, which features recycled leather corners on both vegetable-tanned leather and woven-fabric permutations.Each bag includes a one-year workmanship guarantee.
Please check out the feature on Treehugger, and let them know how much you love your Crystalyn Kae bag!
1. brown_orange_flower_field, 2. amethyst_tweed, 3. strawberry_watermelon_dots, 4. Vintage and Rare Fabrics, 5. Vintage and Rare Fabrics, 6. hibiscus_barkcloth, 7. blue_green_yellow_cosmos, 8. gray_tweed, 9. orange_navy_pink_dahlia_sm, 10. yellow_palm_white, 11. pink_orange_fruit_barkcloth, 12. Vintage and Rare Fabrics
I wish I had room to invite you all over to my studio to look at my fabrics, but alas, it’s very very tiny. So I did the next best thing: I scanned all of my lovely fabrics available for custom work and posted them on Flickr. These fabrics are intended to be tucked into pleats of the clutch, and Soiree Plus, any of the plaids are sturdy and waterproof enough to be the outside of any bag too! I’ll do my best to keep these updated, but don’t be afraid to ask me about one, if it tickles your fancy. Also keep in mind that this time of year (Fall & Holiday season) it can take up to 4 weeks for me to make your custom order.
So if you need some instant gratification – Shop by fabric on my website. Your bag will ship the next business day with FREE Priority Shipping to anywhere in the U.S.
oh, I am so excited to introduce some new colors and textures to my Fall collection! I have added 18 new bags in my Troubadour Tote and Pleated clutch collection – in lovely chunky tweeds, chanel-esque plaids and diamond-weave patterns. The quantities are extremely limited. . as in only 2 or 3 of each. Which one is your favorite?
p.s. Shhh! Savel 10% off your purchase thru September 30, when you enter discount code “fall” at checkout on www.crystalynkae.com
With the colder weather ensuing, you’ll need a bigger bag to carry more stuff- something to hoarde your cute shoes in so you can scrap the giant Sorel boots you were forced to wear one you get into the office, and a place to keep your gloves and scarf, oh and hat, and earmuffs and whatever else the winter blues may have you styling. Perfect for this purpose is the Soiree Drawstring bag from Crystalyn Kae!
This limited edition bag is not only functional, it’s stylish too featuring a funky, pleated design that lets vintage fabric peek out from behind. This oversized bag is made from a vegan friendly, water-resistant (another weather plus!) glazed material, is lined with ultra-suede and features an adjustable length strap and magnetic closure. Check out all the colors available in the Soiree, and find other innovative bag designs at Crystalyn Kae!
This utterly fabulous drawstring tote is for girls on the go who need bottomless bags to effortlessly accommodate everything needed for work and play. Local designer Crystalyn Kokorowski makes this very chic, pleated handbag with glazed fabric. She makes a half dozen other styles as well. Patterned vintage fabric (you get to choose from more than 40 kinds) peeks out through the pleats making each handbag one of a kind.
Handcrafted right in Wallingford, the bags come in black, ale brown, tan, green, burgundy and navy blue: shades that happily co-mingle with fall’s best fashions. The Ultrasuede lined interior has two pockets that are perfect for storing an iPod and cell phone, as well as a zippered pouch that will fit your makeup, keys, etc. Kokorowski’s bags are masterfully crafted and feature magnetic closures and adjustable straps. The only drawback to this drawstring is deciding on color and pleat fabric.
