Oscar(R) gowns and clutches
OMG, if you guys could see my site stats during the Academy Awards show! It looks like ALL of you are watching it ‘cuz you can hear a cricket chirp on this blog. 🙂
I was inspired by the colors, textures, cuts and styles of the many beautiful women. So of course, some clutches came to mind while I was watching the show. Yes, they telecast it here live as well. It’s the only awards show that I can watch on TV live in Viet Nam. All other shows like the Golden Globes(R) and Grammys(R) are not televised here so I watch it on my Mac via a live stream that I dig on the net to find. I watch zero sports and ALL awards shows (Country Music, Emmy, People’s Choice… all of it). Eye candy.
As a huge movie fan, the Oscars is the biggest night for me. I love seeing the film clips, hearing the speeches, watching the “In Memoriam” piece (hey, wasn’t Esperanza Spalding great?)… hey pretty much all of it.
So here are a few of my favorite gowns for various reasons along with some clutches that popped into mind. They are not meant to go with these gowns rather I’ve paired them with clutches whose characteristics are evoked by the gowns featured. Check out the gowns and I hope they will inspire you to create some great clutches for the spring and bridal seasons!
Click on the images for a bigger view. Please note that all photos are courtesy of Getty Images.
Best pleating. Clutch by http://www.etsy.com/shop/JCarterHandmade.
Louise Roe.
Best contrast (black blunt hair, white dress, red lips). Clutch by http://www.etsy.com/shop/pennyroyalty
Rooney Mara. First movie in ages that I had to fast forward through a scene because I couldn’t stomach it.
Best structure. Clutch by http://www.etsy.com/shop/HOLDFASThandbags
Michelle Williams slays me in every film she’s in. Time for a comedy, Michelle!
Best beading. Clutch by http://www.etsy.com/shop/ClutchChic
Octavia Spencer looks amazing! Have you seen “The Help”? It’ll stay with you long past the viewing.
Best shine. Clutch by http://www.etsy.com/shop/bagsbystacey
Jane Seymour looks amazing at any age!
Best bejeweling (bedazzlin'!) Clutch by http://www.etsy.com/shop/BelleJouJou
I love this woman more than the dress, but the bejeweling brings some sparkle to an odd-colored gown. Miss her as Sookie!
Best spring - green. Clutch by http://www.etsy.com/shop/AnOrangeBlossomBag
Viola Davis. Granted I haven’t seen Meryl Streep in The Iron Lady but Viola was incredible in The Help. She is equally stunning in this green color, especially with her au naturel red hair! 🙂
Best simplicity. Clutch by http://www.etsy.com/shop/MadeByPoppet
Gwyneth Paltrow. My favorite look for this body type. Both the cape and floral embellishment enhance the simplicity in the dress and clutch without overpowering either.
The fun is over. Until the next Oscars! 🙂
Coming this week: PDF revision for the clutch tutorial – free update with your password
I like to think I’m ahead of the guys over at Rovio who make Angry Birds. Do you know how they give you free updates such as “Ham ‘O Ween” as long as you purchased the original Angry Birds? Except when it’s completely new and different, like Angry Birds Rio, then you have to buy that new game.
So where am I going with this, other than you all now know that I play Angry Birds? Well, I just updated the clutch tutorial and wanted to let you all know first! I’ll be back with a post when it’s updated on this blog, but it’s coming out this week. PLEASE wait until I say “go” to download. It’s not up yet so I don’t want you to waste your time. 🙂
The hard copies will not be available for another week. We have to send it to our guy, a professional printer. He uses 70# ultra-white paper. His ink is incredible. The booklet is so thick that we have to use a commercial stapler to staple it together! Yes, every booklet is cut and assembled by hand. As always, the tutorial and templates are formatted to be printed on regular 8.5×11 without any need for you to rescale. You just click on the links, download and print.
I have been working really hard to incorporate some of the hints that I have blogged about here. I have rewritten almost 80% of the entire tutorial and I have 95% new pictures that are bigger and more detailed. What I’ve written in the new updated tutorial are basically the shortcuts and time-saving tips that I employ in making clutches myself. I think they will help you.
What you will get with this update:
*Tips to improve your craftsmanship and productivity.
*2 options on how to make a clutch: with a bottom seam (my favorite way), and without a bottom seam (makes for quick work and good for smaller clutches)
*A shortcut that will minimize the wrinkling of the fabric and allows for easier insertion into the frame
*Pictures on how to insert the frame
*Tips on what interface to use
Take a peek:
More pics, more tips, and learn how to make a clutch in 2 ways!
The new updated tutorial has also been formatted as a booklet as was before. This was designed so that it will allow you to flip each page per step and not take up a lot of space at your sewing table.
How do you get this update? If you bought the PDF tutorial, you were sent the password with your order. It’s a really detailed (some say long-winded) email saying “Keep your password” as all updates to this tutorial and templates are free as long as you have your password and if you don’t have your password for any reason, it will cost you $5 to resend it. So I hope you heeded it.
If your laptop was stolen (yes, that happened to a customer last week), it crashed and you didn’t back it up (PCs all the time…), you lost it or for any other reason, then order this listing shown here:
This is only for previous buyers who need their password.
These updates, revisions, and new templates are always free to you as long as you keep your password! I am working on a template for the 12×3.5 size frame. It’ll be a big bag – perfect for winter and overnights – and I’m trying to make sure the template can be printed out without any scaling on regular desktop 8.5×11 printer paper. Quite the task since the 10×3 required splitting it into 2! 🙂
So be on the lookout and I’ll be back to give you all the “go”.
Warmly-
Winn
Back in Stock: 12 x 3.5
Hi!!!! I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas and New Years! 🙂 We’ve had our first Christmas here in Vietnam and my 9-year old said that it was “the best Christmas EVER”. We brought along our trusty Christmas tree from Costco (and all of our other furniture and furnishings) and put up stockings on our electric fireplace mantel. It worked to preserve and continue our Christmas traditions. The kids were worried Santa wouldn’t know where they lived in Vietnam (they assumed New Jersey was well-known by Santa and his elves) and the fact that we have no chimney for Santa … but thanks to Norad, Elf the movie, and some great books to help explain it all. Oh, the magic of Christmas!
My kids on Christmas Eve.
During the holidays, International schools here let kids out for three weeks in order for expat families to return back to their home countries. And since the kids and I only got here in July, we stayed here during the holidays. After celebrating 30+years of snowy and cold Christmases in the Midwest and NJ, it felt really weird not having the cold weather for Christmas! I’m sure that is nothing new to those in the warm climates though.
Here’s my family holiday card to you all. E-card this year via Smilebox!
Hope your holidays brought you many smiles. Smiling's my favorite! Name that movie (super easy...).
So with 3 kids home, you can imagine what little work I’ve got done. But thank goodness for my sisters, Thy and Y who have been working quite hard. Thy missed Christmas altogether due to illness! She’s on the mend but her little one who’s only 4, is just recovering from another bout of something! I miss the cold but I do not miss cold & flu season.
Oh, I’m a couple weeks late and giving you the news but I just want to let you all know that the 12×3.5 nickel-free frames are back in stock. This one is a bit hard to manufacture and carry since it’s our costliest frame with all the iron and the large surface making a superb finish harder to achieve. But with winter here and winter bags, this large, heavy and sturdy frame is ideal for the big bags. This frame has been used to make the bigger carry-all bag. It can support leather, vinyl, upholstery-weight and other heavier fabrics. I designed a wide u-channel to accommodate both the heavier, thicker fabrics and the fusible interface/fleece. The walls of the u-channel were also designed to be higher. Check them out!
12x3.5 nickel-free purse frame
My internet connection has also been very frustratingly troublesome. I get very slow service and when I do, I get disconnected frequently. I have a fiber line but it gets throttled due to the servers here. 😦 Makes for long hours and a low productivity rate. Alas, I will be back to sewing once I clear out a few things off my desk!
So since the kids went back to school today (yay, thank you teachers!), I will be able to work more (yay, my sanity returns!). Love my kids, but I miss working. Miss you all! Thanks for your messages!!
Hoping you all are healthy for 2012!
~Winn
If you are near, check these craft shops out!
Just read a quick article in USA Today’s Travel section. Thought you might like to check these excellent craft shops out.
As you can see, these craft shops are trending up so if you are near, go take a look! See what crafts are displayed. If the store’s aesthetics fit, inquire about having them display several of your handmade, one-of-a-kind clutches! It would be a great coup!
Check out the list of the top 10 places to shop for crafts by clicking on the pic below:
10-great-places-to-shop-at-crafts-galleries
Have a great weekend everybody!
~Winn
2nd week new Twitter promotion
Just up on Twitter: the next group of clutches made by clutch makers on the Sellers page.
I’m getting great comments on this exposure. Will endeavor to keep promoting your work!
All are directed to the Facebook fanpage where they can go directly to your shops!
New Twitter promotions
Hey guys!
Check out the Twitter wallpaper that I have up! I will be rotating these with another set in a week. All to promote my clutch handbag makers who use my fine metal purse frames in their craft.
I tweet about clutches. Please follow to get the latest tweets!
All will be directed to the Facebook album that I created, which contains a direct link from the clutch to the clutch-maker’s shop.
If you are interested in becoming listed as a seller and get included in my marketing and promotions, please read this post.
Thanks and have a great week!
~Winn
Thank YOU!!!!
Thank you for all of you who have purchased my Snappy(TM) Clutch Wallet PDF and my upcycled purse frames at my PurseFramesOutlet.Etsy.com store!!!!
Upcycling evolved out of recycling. Upcycling “is the process of converting waste materials or useless products into new products of a higher environmental value.”
This is great video explaining the trend of upcycling:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3qZvwxhqf2k
By offering a new design – my Snappy(TM) Wallet Clutch – I am able to re-use a subset of my useless, defective frames in a way that results in a new product that is better on the environment (it doesn’t have to be re-melted, or stripped using harsh industrial chemicals and solvents, etc…) and gives YOU a bigger profit margin. You now have a new product to add to your product line at a different price point!
I know you all have been hoarding (there’s a show for that … :)) a stash of beloved scrap fabric, so now is the time to get those amazing little bits out and use them! Those of you who can only have access to quilting cotton, now this is the perfect solution!
Learn all about upcycling trends.
It’s been a roaring success right out of the gate, and my research has paid off!
Here’s a post specifically about the upcycling trend by Etsy artists!
http://brittanysbest.com/?p=1233
So thank you, thank you, for helping me to upcycle my beautiful frames that simply didn’t make the cut for WhileBabyNaps.Etsy.com. I would love to post pics of Snappy(TM) Wallet Clutches in a future post to see the many kinds of fabric designs out there! So convo me with those pics or email me. (I can’t re-post my email here since I’ve been getting spammers…)
Best ~ Winn
Debuting new 8×3 Goldenlock(TM) purse frame with LOOPS!
By popular request, here is the new 8×3 Goldenlock(TM) purse frame – now with loops!
Check it out ladies! I’m very happy with the warm – not brassy – finish, and this will coordinate with my Goldenlock purse chains!
These will be listed tomorrow for sale.
8x3 Goldenlock(TM) purse frame with loops.
Same Perfect Fit 6(TM) u-channel and sturdy kisslock balls.
Triplets! Nickel-free, Duskcoat Gunmetal(TM), and Goldenlock!
Great for your warmer fabrics and high-end custom clutches. Great for the bridal market! Be on the forefront and pare it with white! Gorgeous!!!
Debuting new 6×3 antique brass with loops purse frame!
I’ve been working on this finish and I got it! These bigger sizes always pose a problem for the antique brass finish, but for those who have bought my 8×3 antique brass, this is the same finish.
It’s just beautiful! Take a look:
6x3 antique brass with loops!
These will be listed for sale tonight or tomorrow!
Same style as my nickel-free 6x3 with loops! Same kisslock balls and Perfect Fit 6(TM) u-channel.
The whole family! Note: I am sold out AGAIN of the 8×3 antique brass. I should have it in 3-4 weeks as I just procured the raw materials.
Antique brass in 8x3, 6x3 and 3x1.5. The 4.5x3 might not be too far behind ... 🙂
WOW! You guys are quick! … Introducing PurseFramesOutlet.Etsy.com
Man, I did not know that WordPress also sends out an email on password-protected posts, too. Sorry about that guys!
And boy, you guys are quick! 🙂
And no, the newest password-protected post will NOT work with your current password since it is a separate PDF tutorial that I’m launching with my new PurseFramesOutlet.Etsy.com business.
I just got done with the PDF tutorial and the templates for that.
As I’ve mentioned a while ago (OMG, I’m soooooooo swamped with the move and the kids), I am launching a new business. It will be up within 2 weeks! (Well, it has to since I’m moving out of the country and all…) *hehe* No pressure!
Here’s a sneak peek to you all first:
Introducing the new Snappy(TM) wallet clutch!
Q: What is PurseFramesOutlet.Etsy.com?
A: It’s my secondary business that I’m launching that will allow me to up-cycle my frames. These frames were from my sister shop, WhileBabyNaps.Etsy.com.
Q: What kinds of frames are sold at PurseFramesOutlet.Etsy.com?
A: After years of inspecting for the finest frames at WhileBabyNaps.Etsy.com, we have amassed a trove of frames that while the kisslock balls, hinges, and inner surfaces are still good, the outside surface has little marks that render them defective for our high-end line of frames sold at WhileBabyNaps.Etsy.com and used by the finest clutch makers. The cost to ship, melt, and re-work these defective frames were too costly on the pocketbook and environment. We have saved them so that we can still work with a subset of these defective frames.
Q: How have they been used before?
A: Frames like these had been donated and sold at a discount privately for those in need (single moms, women who lost their jobs, women who were otherwise in need of side income but didn’t have the money). We finally have enough to do this on a large scale.
Q: Why can’t I buy your frames from WhileBabyNaps.Etsy.com to make the Snappy(TM) wallet clutch?
A: You still can, but why not pay a fraction of the full price for defective frames when you will not see the defects in your final product? You pay less, and we get to up-cycle our fine frames with defects.
Q: What else do I need to know?
A: *They are all trademarks of WhileBabyNaps.Etsy.com and Khuong LLC.
*They are NOT returnable to PurseFramesOutlet.Etsy.com OR WhileBabyNaps.Etsy.com.
*They have all been tested for lead and they all have a proprietary 2-coat process that allows you to wipe off fingerprints easily.
*They were made in the same high standards, but had been weeded out for their minor defects from shipping or otherwise.
I am so thrilled to be launching this to you all first. This new design will add another product to your lines of clutches. It’s easier to make, adds another price point, AND….
*Lowers your material cost by having lower priced purse frames.
*Lowers your material cost because you can use scrap fabric from other projects.
*Lower your material cost because you can use the less expensive quilting cottons that are perfect for this project and are easily found at your local shops.
And lower material costs means a BIGGER PROFIT for you!
Thank you for your support of using our fine frames (however defective) because it also allows us to up-cycle these otherwise great frames.
So stay tuned! It will launch within 2 weeks. It will start shipping out June 21. I will keep you posted and you will be the first to know!
About
I am the #1 US seller of purse frames and I’ve been incorporated since 2001. This blog is mainly aimed at my audience of clutch handbag makers. I have a very small niche that is comprised of 99.9% women. I am loyal and promote handbag makers who are loyal to me by using my fine purse frames. When they are successful, then I am successful.
The two businesses that I own are:
*purse supplies, Gutermann glue, and DIY clutch kits at whilebabynaps.etsy.com, whilebabynaps.com
*up-cycled purse supplies PurseFramesOutlet.etsy.com
To find clutches made using my fine metal purse frames, LOOK to see “Trademarks of WhileBabyNaps.com and H&D LLC” and you’ll know the clutches are made using the finest metal purse frames that are tested for lead and that have a protective coating to lengthen the life of the clutch. You can go to any of the sellers on the Sellers page.
****NOTE: If you want someone to make a clutch for you, please contact any of my sellers and inquire. They will gladly make custom orders!****
Interested in reaching my audience? Advertise. Contact me here.
Thank you for stopping by for a look.
Warmly,
Thy Khuong
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