Holland Lops

Halloween 2008

My daughter spent the entire summer working in her garden growing these beautiful pumkins. They were 28 and 25 pounds each. Last night she worked on a beautiful design so that she could display them tonight during Trick or Treat Time.

I love halloween!!!!

FORUMS ON ETSY

I'm finally getting the idea of promoting on ETSY.

You must read, read and read some more. Read as many forum posts as possible. Activitly participate in the Forums. That means posting new topics, answering questions and promoting your shop in the Promotion Section. Then there is the Saturday Night Specials. Those are fun. You must first decided what your special will be. It runs from 5 p.m to 6 a.m. Eastern Time. The you must be ready to post your Saturday Night Special on the Official Saturday Night Special Thread. There is a new Official Thread every Saturday Night at 5:00 p.m. Be ready, you want to try to be on the first few pages. I've only been able to get on page 5 and that is being ready right at 5:00 p.m. with my Post.

I have also discovered BNR's. I don't know what it stands for, but I need to search the Forums to find out. Read the BNR and find one that is right for you I have had 7 sales this week just from participating in them. They are a lot of fun and it is a great networking opportunity!

Good Luck Everyone.

LOVE DOGS!

How ironic are these two things. My mother, Aggie, loved Bull Dogs. Growing up, we had pictures and figurines of bull dogs all over my house! Myself, I went to Bryant College in Rhode Island many years ago. Their mascott at the time I attended was an Indian. My daughter, now in her second year of college, attends Bryant University in Rhode Island. My mother passed away while I was in high school, so she had no influence on these changes of events. I never discussed with my daughter which college or university she should go to, she chose Bryant on her own to my surprise, as we never discussed Bryant together. Now their mascott, is a BULL DOG. Love it.

New Handbag Designs

I have been busy creating new handbag styles. The bags have a pleated front and straight back. I have had several requests for the pattern, so for all of you looking to make this bag, I will be creating a pattern for you shortly. Keep a check at my etsy shop for the posting. http://www.fabricplace.etsy.com/ or if you would like to purchase any of my creatings, go to http://www.aggieray.etsy.com/!

Being Featured in a Blog: http://wearmycolors.livejournal.com/

Okay. I know my BLOG is lacking in content. I have been doing a few interview and I thought I would post my latest interview on my own BLOG. Here is my latest interview:

Interview by http://wearmycolors.livejournal.com/: Tell us a bit about yourself:

Hello, my name is Linda and I live in Rhode Island. I have been sewing since I was a teenager and I have always loved the creative process of creating beautiful items from fabric. After I purchased my first home, got married and had two children, I began sewing for my home to save money. Friends and family began to ask me to create custom work for their homes and I have created many curtains, draperies and roman shades. With the left over fabric, I began to have more fun creating handbags. I love fabric and creating new items with all the beautiful fabrics available through the world of the Internet.
How did you select your shop's name?
My shop name is a tribute to my parents. I lost my parents when I was 17 and 21. They were truly beautiful and caring people and their lives were cut short too soon. So, Aggie is my mother’s name and Ray is my father’s name, hence the name AggieRay.
What color would you wear all the time? You would not know it from looking at my colorful shop, but I like to where basic colors of brown and black. I then accent with a colorful shirt or purse!
Please describe your creative process.
My creative process starts with the fabric. Before I decide to make a handbag, I need to love the fabric. So before I buy fabric, I need to love it. I try to create 2 to 3 handbags a week. I have a process of laying the fabric out and just looking at it over the course of a few days. Then I decide what style best fits the fabric design and I create!
What makes your shop unique?
My shop is unique because I offer many different fabrics and styles of handbags. Most of my handbags are one-of-a kind!
What inspires you?
Good-quality colorful fabrics inspire me. Beautiful fabrics and textures allow me to create gorgeous items for my shop.
How do you promote your work?
I pass out business cards, carry my handbags, post in forums, my blog, FLICKR. I create quality handbags and take care in each and everyone, so repeat business is always good! Also being featured on great BLOGS like yours!
Any advice for fellow artists and/or our shop/blog?
Don’t give up creating. Do not get obsessed with what other people are doing. Be true to yourself and your art. Be positive, caring and giving and things will come your way.
Would you please tell us about 3 ETSY stores that you most like and why?
These are just a few of my favorites. They’re great shops with excellent quality fabrics and creations!. The ETSY community supports each other and even though they may be a competitor, they have been very supportive during my first 6 months on ETSY.
http://beanpicklesprout.etsy.com/
http://poppyfabrics.etsy.com/
http://mindysembroidery.etsy.com/Your Shops: http://aggieray.etsy.com/
http://fabricplace.etsy.com/

Block Island Trip

What a beautiful day. My cousin, Jean and I decided to go to Block Island for a hiking trip. We left Gallilee, RI around 11 am and arrived on the Island about noon. We walked about a half mile to a beautiful restaurant on the water called the "Oar". After lunch, with map in hand we proceeded to find the nearest hiking trail. Needless to say, we missed the trail and after walking for about an hour, decided that we were lost. However, we discovered many hidden gems in the woods, beautiful homes and when we finally found the trail and hiked it, we ended the hike at this beautiful farm. I believe the name was "Beacon Farm".

New Design Let me know what you think

The new larger Hobo. Very popular with teenager and on the Hollywood Runways...

LAUNCHING NEW EBOOK

Hello everyone. I know that I have not been great at posting, but I've been busy creating.

I have had so many requests for this Sassy Patchwork Tote that I created, that I decided to make an Ebook, now available at aggieray.etsy.com and fabricplace.etsy.com.

There are 24 pages of instruction with 62 color photographs. This ebook will be delievered to you by email, and shipping is FREE.

Moda Owl, Good Luck Charm

Say goodbye to another design, love this one too

Accessorize

Matching coin purse

Back view

Finished Handbag

Nice Job:

Inside look at the lining and pockets

Sewing the Pieces Together

Sewed Lining, Face Fabrice and attached handles

Started another project

Spent an hour cutting and adding fusible fleece to handbag pieces.

Sewed pocket together, then sewed button on.

Pieced together two fabrics for the handles.

Getting ready to sew the pieces together.

New Fabric New Project

Time to create a new bag. A customer contacted me and wanted me to make a custom bag. After several emails back and forth with Stacy, I will create from this fabric. I will show the progress..........

OK I think I have this blogger thing figured out

It took me awhile, I have finally linked by Flickr account to my Blog. Now I am in business.

I just sold another bag that I love. I fall in love with these bags and hate to see them go

oh well say good bye to this one

DESIGNS

My First Blog

Hello everyone, welcome to my Blog Page. I am new to this and have recently discovered all new possibilities with my discovery of the ESTY website for selling my handmade handbags and designs. I have been sewing for over 30 years, beginning with the desire to create inexpensive draperies for my home. That spun off to my friends and family asking if I could do the same in their homes. From there I have branched out to making custom draperies over the past 7 years with my friend Liz. We met through our daughters who are the same age (now both in college) and they both encouraged their "moms" to get together and sew. That has been wonderful.



I have discovered that I love to make handbags of all kinds with my fabric scraps and am addicted to fabric designers such as Amy Butler, Joel Dewberry, Free Spirit Fabrics and many more. I cannot believe what the Internet has done for all of us fabric addicts, the possibilities are endless
.