The Sartorialist Book giveaway
We have a winner of the horse changepurse contest. Please picture a squirrel doing a tiny drumroll…Makiko!
You are a one in 13 girl! Everyone else, thanks for playing. You’ll have another chance at a win next week when I’ll be giving away a brand new, uncracked copy of The Sartorialist. In case you don’t know, it’s a compendium of street fashion photos by Scott Schuman, mostly taken in New York but on the streets of some other cities too. He attempts to portray people in the way that fashion designers see them when they’re out prowling for inspiration. He posts the pictures on his very successful blog and now has a book published. I find the book to be a great inspiration in putting outfits together, as well as some A-1 people watching.
The draw for that prize will be next Friday as well. If you’d like to be in on it, sign up for my newsletter by sending me an Etsy conversation with your email, or tweeting me (I’m bonspiel on twitter). Or you can reply to this blog. 
Next up in my news: I have found a sewer to help me with my clothing production. This will enable me to expand not only in terms of type and amount of goods but also give me more time to design and get arty. I used to make clothing too, and I love it, but had to put it on hold during the financial downturn last year. Now it’s time to expand again, and so we will be starting with colorblock underpants made of modal/spandex, as well as a modal/spandex ballet dress (a fitted tank dress with a flowy full skirt). I am hoping once we have some momentum that we will be able to have these clothing items in stores as well as in my etsy shop.
We all have certain amazing power-center people in our lives…people who come along offering inspiration and resources we never would have predicted, but who appear just when we need them most. One of these people for me is Vanessa, her company is called Isadora–she makes beautiful dresses and here’s the link to her etsy shop http://www.etsy.com/shop/isadoraclothing She offered me the offcuts from her dresses (bins and bins of it!) so my underwear will match all her dresses! She also gave me a huge stack of fashion mags so I can add to my scrapbook–yay Vanessa!
Are you planning to be in Vancouver during the Olympics? I’m not, but my products are! They’re going to be sold by Sara, a woman who has a company called Lotus, at the Celebration Village thing in the Plaza of Nations. I just found out about this because she just found out about it too, she was on a waiting list and never thought she’d get in. She’s featuring local designs from a just a few designers…I’m excited for people from all over the world to take home some Bonspiel–I’m going to print maple leaves (like the one on the canadian flag) on some underwear and hope that the olympic committee doesn’t try to claim copywrite.
If you’re in Vancouver but want to avoid the whole Olympic thing, you can still take the free bus down to Granville Island and visit Paper Ya, which is the most beautiful shop and carries my changepurses, debit card sleeves and large zip pouches. They have made a special big Bonspiel order so they will have lots of selection.
I have an intern now, too! Her name is Diana, she’s an astonishing resource of design world awareness, materials sourcing, and she cuts things out really really well. She gave me some tough love about neglected areas of my business (such as this newsletter!) and I really appreciate everything she’s done for me. And we’ve only just begun.
The last bit of news is that my Cactus Green and Vintage Camel leathers have come in, and they are glorious! I can’t wait to make more doctor bags and overnighters. The Cactus green is top grain, super smooth and almost laquered looking, and the color of overcooked green beans. The Vintage Camel is also top grain, a pale camel color, with a slight pebble texture. They are top quality leathers. As soon as I get my Paper Ya order and the Olympics stuff done, I will make more big bags.
Over and Out for now–have a great week!
Love, ellen
6 Responses to “The Sartorialist Book giveaway”
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Bonspiel Randomizer
January 25th, 2010 at 8:55 pm
Love your creations! I have a black Hosta belt and adore it for its beautiful lining! Can’t wait until you have one in turquoise! Happy Sewing!
February 1st, 2010 at 2:17 am
Thanks Leisha! Turquoise belt would be sweet indeed :D
March 3rd, 2010 at 2:24 am
But I wish I was!!!!….your intern that is.
Look for me on Etsy, I’ll be buyin one of those damn bunny wallets.
April 27th, 2010 at 4:41 pm
Well, two dianas would be good too, dammit!
June 6th, 2010 at 4:49 pm
I don’t intend to be too rude with this, and I know it’s completely inappropriate but I will just say it anyway! Whhhhhaat the heck has Obama been smoking these days? There, I got it off my chest! :)
June 11th, 2010 at 2:15 am
Random?