Crystalyn Kae Blog

Here at Crystalyn Kae we outsource our fabrics in a variety of different ways. And, quite frankly ways you wouldn't even think of, or (expect)! So here is the FULL rundown you all should hear, especially with holidays creeping up,...

  Why do we need to invent new fabrics, if we have so much waste? Having more than 20 years of experience in the bag-making industry, I've found myself thinking the following: Why do we need to invent new fabrics,...

*Cue the drumroll...* WEDDINGS ARE BACK! With the world opening back up again, weddings are finally making a COMEBACK! Chances are you or someone you know had to reschedule, rebook, and then reschedule two more times to finally have their...

In the heat of the summer, some festivals are starting to pop up as some are continuing to carry on the show! And you know what that meass: a go-to festival bag is a necessity, especially a chic and stylish...

Crystalyn Kae meets Dave Clark, CEO Worldwide Consumer. It was a normal, average day in the office… (or should I say workshop) until I get an email regarding a visit with Dave Clark of amazon to MY workshop. Mind blown....

From grandma’s couch to a timeless handbag — see how we transformed stacks of midcentury vintage upholstery swatches into one-of-a-kind floral bags. A behind-the-scenes look at our process, from washing the fabrics to cutting them into new life

Memorial Day is around the corner and did you know, that one of the symbols for it is a red poppy flower? Why is poppy a symbol of Memorial day? Red poppy is a symbol of both Remembrance and hope for...

"Avoid these 10 common mistakes and turn your next craft show into a success! Learn how to prepare, set up your booth, and interact with customers to boost sales. Craft shows are a fantastic way for handmade businesses to connect with customers and make sales. However, navigating the world of craft shows can be tricky, especially for newcomers. This guide explores 10 common mistakes crafters make at shows and offers practical tips to transform your booth into a customer magnet.

Most likely if you've made the transition from commuting to the office, to working at your kitchen table. . .your favorite everyday work bag has been a little neglected.  But take it easy on yourself: we have gathered a few ideas of how to take your bag out for a spin, or at least make strategic use of it to still be the envy of your colleagues. And maybe it will inspire them to treat themselves to a sustainable and ethically-made handbag from us as well!

Up-cycle a Coat into a Purse: FRIDAY, 2:00 - 4:30 PM (PST) SUNDAY, 11:00 AM - 1:30 PM (PST) Have a favorite coat or jacket that no longer fits? Let Crystalyn show you how you can deconstruct any jacket into a useful purse! You...

Interact with us on on social media: Write a comment on my Facebook posts, and share my Instagram stories.  Not only is it fun to engage with you there, but your comments and views help my business get seen by a larger audience. (Here's how to make sure you'll...

Living in New York, I learned to create new holiday traditions since I couldn't always celebrate with my family back home on the West Coast. So this year, even though we have left NYC and are much nearer to our families,...

Here's a roundup of our favorite handmade gifts under $50 and supporting small business. Bonus? All of these gifts are handmade in the USA.

Whether you're moving for a new job across the country, or escaping the city during a global pandemic, or clearing the estate of a loved one, it's easy to go into panic mode and spend WAY too much, because of time-constraints. So here is how we moved cross country on a budget (under $10k), using a pod system and independent movers. 

Once relegated as an upholstery fabric until made fashionable by Coco Chanel in the 1950's this textural fabric called Boucle has become a classic staple of French style. Popularized further in the 1960's by Jackie Kennedy, boucle has become a mainstay of today's fashion.

 

While thrift shopping in Seattle, Crystalyn discovered an entire roll of unused boucle fabric that just begged to be made into bags.

 

 

The decision that changed my business, my creativity, and my life. For 8 years, New York was the city that shaped me. I scaled up my handmade bag business there, made lifelong friends, and fell in love with the hustle...

Don't toss your kitchen scraps. . .We've complied a few of our favorite ways to repurpose kitchen waste into something useful! 

1. Make a healthy (and free!) vegetable stock.

2. Create your own victory garden buy planting the trimmings of your vegetables and fruit seeds 

3. Create natural dyes using food scraps

4. Create stamps to print on practically anything

As a result of the actions we've been forced to take during the COVID-19 pandemic, there is every reason to be hopeful, and pay attention to the good news in the world today.  

1. We are beginning to slow down and gain perspective.  We are seeing that those little things we stress about aren’t really important.  
2. We are seeing the positive environmental impacts and benefits for our planet because we are slowing down. Maybe this can be a turning point: we are seeing the impact in the decrease in air pollution. In fact, here's a cool interactive map. 
3. We are learning how to be  a bit more self-sufficient: cooking at home, and maybe even doing some gardening
4. We appreciate our teachers more, and saluting our doctors and nurses, 
5. Companies are re-thinking their supply chain, and valuing more than ever, locally made goods.
6. With the very real possibility of our favorite small businesses closing forever, hopefully we will see how important it is to support the little guy. 

As we all face the reality of WFH and stay-in-place measures, I started a list for myself that I'd like to share with you, to help keep our nerves at bay and make the most of this uncertain time. 

During our annual Super Bowl party, my friend Meagan teased me about the green onions I was growing in my houseplant.  

I wish I could remember how I learned this trick, but it got me to thinking that there are probably a lot of vegetables that you can re-grow from scraps.  So I've started an experiment trying to grow my own garden in a sustainable way, using nothing but kitchen scraps.

Zippers are one of the most overlooked components in a handbag — and one of the most important. With decades of experience designing bags, we explain why YKK zippers matter, how they’re chosen, and how small decisions like hardware can shape long-term wear.