Move over June Cleaver!

These aren't your average aprons. I've been inspired to make hostess aprons, so I'm in full on sewing mode. Must be the holidays, with all the cooking and entertaining that goes on this time a year. You just have to look good while you do it all. Even if you aren't heavily into the cooking part, you can look like it and be stylish too.

Here are a few I've made so far.

Indie Finds Holiday Guide

Looking for something different to give for the Holidays? Then head on over to Indie Finds. Think outside the mall.

The Ultimate Holiday Guide

Indie Finds is a collective of over 150 indie designers. As you begin your holiday shopping, look to these talented designers for unique gifts and handmade items!

• Accessories


• Bath & Body


• Clothing


• Crafty Supplies


• For Kids


• For the Home


• Handbags


• Jewelry


• Stationery

NaNoWriMo...

So, I "participated" in NaNoWriMo this year. The goal, 50,000 words in 30 days, a Novel/Novella. I put participated in quotes since I got about 400 words in and just died. On the page that is.
I like to consider myself a closet novel writer. I have plots, a list of cool titles, some starts to a couple of synopsis/outlines all on my handy dandy flash drive in a folder titled Novels. Did you catch the plural novels not singular. Yeah, I have high hopes.

I was jazzed, I had a plot sort of, but I just couldn't get passed those first couple of paragraphs. There are tricks to expand your word count, of course. My favorite suggestion I read on the forum was to type potato after every word. i.e., He potato walked potato gingerly potato across potato the potato damp potato foggy potato field. Nice! I could do that, I still have until midnight, (evil laugh) but I won't. The point is the journey not the destination as the great thinkers say.

In my defense, I didn't do the prep work. I didn't have a synopsis, no outline, charactor names...title. Two days before November 1st I signed up. I jumped in both feet. It works for some, but didn't for me. I could have just hit the 50,000 word count and "won". Which is fine, it does jump start creative juices and thats the point. But me being me, I would like to have a semi-complete first draft of a novel on my hands and not mashed potatos.

It was fun though, and here at the end, I have a plot, some very cool character names, and a rough and I do mean rough outline. Next time I'll be prepared, yep I'll do it again. I recommend everyone try it. They are going to do a scriptwriting NaNo in June. hmmmm...I'm going to try it!

Bird is the word.

She's Crafty...

I try to keep crafty doing other things than sewing handbags and clothes. It helps to keep things interesting. So, I've been looking for the perfect camera case and haven't found one I liked. Of course, I hade to make one.


I didn't need anything bulky since when I take my camera its in my purse. Its a blanket stitch. I know its backwards, but I like this look better. What you don't see is a little button hole at the top for the strap to go through.

Music Meme: If your life were a soundtrack...

I am a big time music lover. I use it to concentrate, to relax, to amp myself up for a project, just about everything. I also like a diverse range of music. So, when I saw the post on Lark Studio's blog, I knew I had to see what my soundtrack would be.

Media Player Meme

If your life were a soundtrack, what would the music be?

Here's how it works:
1. open your library (iTunes, winamp, media player, iPod)
2. put it on shuffle
3. press play
4. for every question, type the song that's playing
5. new question -- press the next button
6. don't lie and try to pretend you're cool

opening credits:
"Ping Island/Lightning Strike Rescue Op.[movie score from The Life Aquatic]" by Mark Mothersbough
(told you I like music from all places)

waking up:
"Danger" by Erykah Badu

first day at school:
"Suga Baby" by Cee-lo

falling in love:
"Rusty Cage" by Johnny Cash (hmmm, interesting!!)

breaking up:
"Let Go" by Frou Frou

prom:
"Black Sweat" by Prince(I didn't go to my prom, maybe I missed something! lol)

life's okay:
“Rock Star" by N.E.R.D (Rock on!!!)

mental breakdown:
“I Want You" by Erykah Badu

driving:
“Play" by David Banner (This one doesn't make sense. I haven't listened to this one in months.)

flashback:
“I'll be Around" by Cee-Lo and Timbaland

getting back together:
"King of the Dancehall" by Beenie Man

wedding:
“Broken" by Seether

birth of child:
“Get Up" by Ciara (well, that one is way off)

final battle:
"Hips don't Lie" by Shakira

death scene:
“Soul Survivor" by Young Jeezy

funeral song:
"Gold Digger" by Kanye West (LOL!)

end credits:
"Sinnerman" Nina Simone and Felix Da Houscat

This doesn't even touch on all the songs I have. Weird how some of the songs popped up but fun.

Keep A Lid On It!

leopardJaguarhat
Originally uploaded by designerdiva.

I am such a hat person. I can't wait for the leaves to start to turn and that slight chill in the air that signals Fall. I then can drag out my many hats from the closet and go on the hunt for more. Of course, I can't go without making some myself. I am a designer after all. So, I've added a couple of winter hats to the Soleil Rouge repetroire. Faux fur...of course!! I'm planning to add more hats before Jack Frost gets to town.
Just call me the Mad Hatter from now on 'til Spring!

Still in de-clutter mode.

I'm in a de-clutter mode. I took a ride down to the local Goodwill this weekend and donated a haul. Some 10 books, a tv stand, some curtains, 2 fans, etc. The attendant there asked me if the fans worked, of course! What heartless S.O.B. would donate something that didn't work? Apparently it happens. Way to help out dude, NOT! There are still lots more I need to donate/sell/purge but its a start.

Fabric Withdrawal

I am a addict... a fabric addict and I'm going through withdrawl. I haven't stepped foot into a fabric store in 2 whole months. Its a push to get me using my substantial fabric stash, some of which has traveled cross country from La-La Land, Los Angeles, California. I do have my favorites and for the life of me, I-can-not-cut. Crazy, I know. But I'm on the right path.
To start it off, I made this one of a kind dress. I bought the snazzy, retro, high heel fabric from a fellow craft diva and fabric addict.(ENABLER!) ;-) She lightened her stash and I brought it home. ha-ha!! Right now, I'm day-dreaming of going to Mood, the fabric store featured on Project Runway. I could get lost in there for days! More to come later.

Its too darn hot!

As if you don't know. I still had to throw my 2 cents in. Record high heat across the nation.

Today I have a gripe about the amount of bugs flying around. I must be sweeter than I thought because I've been stung twice by mystery flying bugs this weekend, on my head! Since I am anti-bug but don't want to gas myself with bug spray all the time, or not outside long enough to deal with lighting the cintranella candles, I'm going to share a tip I heard of somewhere that works. Dryer sheets!! Dryer sheets will repel the flying buggies. Great for the porch, a screened sunroom, etc. Just leave a sheet or two in the middle of the patio table. They will repel for about a week or so as long as they still have the smell. After this weekend I'm contemplating hanging them off my ears, but I'll fight the feeling. :-P

Knee deep in mud...cloth!

I have a new handbag listed on Soleil Rouge. YAY! It features authentic Mali, West African mudcloth.

For those that don't know what goes into making mudcloth, it’s a loong process.
The Mali men hand spin and loom weave the cotton into 5 to 9 strips of cotton. These strips are then sewn together to create a panel and boiled to shrink it down to size. Then the mudcloth design and dyeing is handled by the Malian women. The panel goes through a process of 2-3 mud "dye" layers, then dried in the sun to ferment for up to a year! Symbols are then painted on and washed and dried in different natural herb and leaf solutions (depending on each Malian artists' technique) to set the design that can take several weeks from start to finish. No panel is ever the same and each tells a story through the symbols on the cloth such as family history/status, proverbs, etc. The mud cloth I used in this design features the symbol depicting good fortune/wealth and the symbol representing a spindle (the 3 lines) a traditional mudcloth design.

Come what May!?

I can't believe its May and already halfway through the month. Well, Spring Bada-Bing happened and Richmond got a taste of what the new craft movement is all about.

I have to start with the rain. It freakin' RAINED! Drizzle, showers, down pour, thunder and lightening. In no particular order, all day!
Despite the weather, Spring Bada-Bing! The BOSS of all craft shows, went on without a hitch. Our vendors were total pros and Richmond craft lovers came out in the storm ready to shop.
Here are a few pics from the event. My booth set up and me at the helm of the red sun, Soleil Rouge in rain. Holding it down and keeping it real. ;-)


Don't forget, if you are looking for shows to vend at or attend and shop indie craft shows in your area, check out http://www.indiecraftshows.com. Easy peasy to remember and self explanatory.

It's a crime to miss this event!

Chained to the sewing machine...

Has anyone seen the movie, The Wiz? I've been feeling like I've been working in Evileen's sweat shop. But in my case, I'm the worker and Evileen! Cracking the whip to get the sewing done for two upcoming BIG shows in April. Fool for Art, (April 1st) and Richmond Craft Mafia's Spring Bada-Bing (April 22nd) and revamping my website. Soleil Rouge will have a new clean and bright look for 2006. After much brain drain in learning Dreamweaver, its almost finished. I think it looks good, if I do say so myself. :-)
Sneak peaks on new designs at Soleil Rouge.

Spring sneak peak!

Well, the groundhog saw his shadow. No wonder with all the flashes from the media. Poor little guy. That means 6 more weeks of winter to go. Bummer!

But that doesn't keep us from starting to think spring. Here are some of the new spring fabrics that will be featured in my spring collection.



I am also working on a new look for Soleil Rouge. Stay tuned!

Chinese New Year!

Happy New Year!! Year of the the Fire Dog (Bing Xu).
I've had my very own fire dog for about 4 years now.
Ain't he cute!
Happiness and success to you this year!!

Moi?!?!

I have been informed by a friend of mine that I have been neglectful in updating my blog. (You know who you are :-D) Well, I do have some news. I don't want to jinx myself and I'll believe it when I see it. Anywho, lil ole Soleil Rouge may have some handbags and fabric pictures in a local magazine here in Richmond. I'll name names when I get a copy and confirm it with my own eyes. *hint* The magazines initials are R.G., and thats all I'm saying for now. I'm doing a little happy dance.

I have been working on a couple of revisions of my exsisting handbag designs for the spring collection. This is a revision of my Sela bag design. Although its availabe now in a really nice fall/winter burgundy moleskin fabric, It will look fabulous in spring colors. Here is a sneak peak.