The Studio Open House

We, and I do mean we, are very busy getting ready for our Studio Open House which is next weekend. Saturday, Aug.2 from 10-4, and Sunday, Aug. 3, from 1-3.

It takes weeks to get ready for one. This time it has even taken longer because of the renovations to the studio, just this week my lights went in...now we have recessed eye-ball lights to make everything sparkle!

For the first time ever, when you all come to the studio, you will get to see all of the choices of fabrics. You can special order whatever you want! I am very excited about this, because everyone always wants to know "what other fabrics do you have" and now you can see. You will be able to choose the outer fabrics, the liner, how many pockets, what kind of closure, the length of the straps....etc.....the choices are limitless.

Once again, if you are not on our mailing list, I urge you to sign up, simply send a note through the "Contact Us" link on the website. Include, if you will, your mailing address as well as your email. Also, you can subscribe to this blog by using the link on the right sidebar. Then whenever there is an update it will automatically send them to you. You can also go to the bottom of any of these posts, and where it says "0 Comment" you can highlight that link and it will take you to a comment box......where, you can leave your comments...imagine that!

Have a good Wednesday,
Thanks for stopping by,
Laura

The Cutest Little Painter

Until today, I have not been very motivated to get my studio underway....although I had already finished 2 of the walls, I have not had the desire to finish painting the other 2. So, this morning when Hunter, my sweet little step-son, decided that he would love to paint, I thougth "Why not?". Karl, my dear husband, will do almost anything for me, he will build whatever I want (more on that later!), he will shop all day long if I want to, just whatever I want to do is always fine with him, BUT HE WILL NOT PAINT. Not for anything. The answer is NO. So, when Hunter offered to help me today I quickly took him up on his offer.


And, because of his help, we are finished painting everything except the ceiling. I will finish it on Saturday, and then the lights go in, 2 sections of track lighting and 9 recessed lights. After that I will be putting Karl to work on my display cabinets....I hope to finish all of that by July 8.

You can check out the "Events" page on the site to see all of the Open House Events that will be held at my studio over the coming months....the first one will be the first weekend of August. Remember there will be ready-made bags to choose from, and tons of fabric samples so that you can put together your own original handbag.

I will post another update on the studio soon...

Have a good week!
XO
Laura

My Studio

OK, it is hard for me not to talk about what all I am doing...so here goes.

LFW is making some changes. All of them for the better! The biggest change is that we are going to start allowing you the client to have more choices about the handbags that you purchase. More say in the design....and every say in the fabric. You will design your own handbag. Doesn't that sound like fun? Of course there will always be ready-made bags for your immediate purchase.....we wouldn't dare take that away!

But first, (and isn't there always a but ?) the sewing studio has to go under some serious renovations. All of you who know me, know that I do truly LOVE to redecorate, so a few renovations shouldn't hurt me to badly!!!

As you know, the studio is currently white. Originally it was blue, and blue is my favorite color, but for a studio it just wasn't working, and white seemed a safe choice. Well, now that I have a clear picture of where I want to go with the studio I had to make decisions on color. Years ago when the webdesigner was working on our website, she said I had to choose 3 colors. THREE. I was stumped, and had no idea what I wanted.....I had some idea of what I did not want, but as for what I wanted I didn't even know where to begin....at that time the hottest selling handbag was one that I called "Happy Plaid" (and how I would love to still have a bolt or two of that laying around!). Happy Plaid was a white background with pink, apple green and turquoise....so that morning I chose those 3 colors and I think they have looked great on the site. So, fast forward to this morning when I stood in Lowes trying to decide what colors I would choose for the newly remodeled studio, and once again I called on "Happy Plaid". Pink, Apple Green, and Turquoise. Pale pink is going on the wall this afternoon....we'll see if I made the right decision!

Any way.....the point of this blog is to let you know that soon you will be able to pick out your fabrics, and have your bag customized just for you.

I am aiming for the middle of August, but will keep you updated on the progress....of course there will be a big Open House to celebrate, and to let you begin designing you wonderful LFW Handbags!

Y'all have a great week......
:)
Laura

Just an average day in the studio....
However, I am thrilled to let you know that we will now be offering the appliqued bags shown below....aren't they adorable. Soon I will have the samples up of the different colors you can select from. The are approximately 8" across, 81/2" tall and 3 inches deep. They are $25 each, and can be monogrammed with any letter.
Just thought you would want to know!
Have a good Friday!
Laura

Open House

Thank you to everyone who showed up to make our Spring/Summer Open House such a success! It was such a fun weekend! Thank you, also, to Nancy Vorasso for coming and bringing all of your pretty handmade items (weren't they such a hit!). It is always nice to have you there to help me!

We are now concentrating on new bags for the Blueberry Festival on Saturday June 7, and then will begin working on new designs for fall. We will schedule another Open House for the last part of August. Of course, we will keep you posted!

Have a great week.....
Oh yeah, check back later today -I am adding a dozen bags to the "Ready-to-Ship" page on the website!

:)
Laura

My Little Tiny Baby Son

On August 23, 1991, my little tiny son came into this world, weighing only 4 pounds and 13 ounces. He was tiny. Tiny.

In my mind, he is still only about 4 years old. When I think of him and my girls throughout the day, I always see them as the tiny little children that they were. So, even though I see Tyler everyday, every morning when I go in to wake him up it is always a little surprising when a 6'2" young man gets out of the bed...how did my little tiny Tyler transform into this tall, handsome creature?

Two weeks ago, Palatka High School's very talented musical theatre class put on their spring musical, 42nd Street, Tyler played Billy Lawlor, and he was awesome. He wasn't the only one -----from Josiah playing Julian Marsh, to Bethany as Dorothy Brock and Tara as Peggy, Mandy as Ann Reilly and every other member of the cast....they were spectacular. I say all of this to get to this point: Each and everyone of them looked (and acted) like a million dollars.

So, if they looked like a million during their awesome production of 42nd Street, last night for Prom, they were $100 million. ALL of them looked like movie stars....

For now, you will just get a look at 3 of the pictures that I took (and let me remind you I am NO photographer) but I promise-- as the really good photos start coming in --I will add even more.

Tyler and Mandy, Prom 2008. Aren't they just gorgeous? Look at her gown....straight out of Hollywood!

Thanks for visiting, and letting me run on and on about Ty.....but sometimes a mother just has to brag!

Have a great Sunday!

XO
Laura

The Palatka Daily News

Good Morning Everyone!

I would just like to say "Thank You" to the Palatka Daily Newspaper, and especially April Curtis and Patrick Leonard...the article is awesome.

Thank you, as well, to all of you who have come (or will come by today) to the website because you read the full-page spread on my "little" business LFW Designs.


Have a blessed weekend!
Laura