Every year, I challenge myself a little to make an awesome homemade cake for my babies. This year was a little different. I did not need to make anything fancy, we are keeping it a small, simple birthday. All she wants is a fire, hot dogs, and to go see the new Barbie movie. Which makes this Momma very happy, as Barbie was my thing in the 90s. (Which may be a whole other blog...)
]]>Every year, I challenge myself a little to make an awesome homemade cake for my babies. This year was a little different. I did not need to make anything fancy, we are keeping it a small, simple birthday. All she wants is a fire, hot dogs, and to go see the new Barbie movie. Which makes this Momma very happy, as Barbie was my thing in the 90s. (Which may be a whole other blog...)
Read below, to follow the making of this 15th Birthday Cake, AND what little surprise is hidden in the cake. You can also download the recipe for yourself, under downloads!
This is a chocolate cake. The best cake you will ever have, and it is super simple to make. Plus it also only uses one bowl.
It is the same recipe I used to make her first birthday cake, way back in 2009! Probably 100 more cakes since. It has never failed me, and even works when I use gluten free flours.
I can honestly say, she eats a little neater at 15! Look at how adorable she is.
You are going to start with mixing all the dry ingredients together: easy. I use this glass pampered chef, which is amazing on it's own.
2 cups flour
2 cups sugar
1/2 cup cocoa
2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
Next: Stir in the wet ingredients, stir until well combined:
1 cup vegetable oil
1 cup buttermilk (I have NEVER used this, and use a non dairy milk)
2 eggs
1 cup hot water
We made a giant cupcake this year. I used a Wilton cake pan for this. In a past life, I made a lot of cakes and cupcakes. In this life, my body, my stomach, and my skin do not love cake as much as my heart does. I still have a small variety of cake pans!
Pour the batter into a greased cake pan of your choice, or you can make cupcakes. Bake at 350*F for 35-40 minutes. This took a little longer as it is pretty thick.
Once cooled, we can get to the fun part. Once you get these out of the pan, which sometimes is a little challenging. It takes patience, and being prepared to glue a few parts back together with icing. BEFORE I glued (with classic buttercream) the top to the bottom, I dug out some cake from the bottom. This is a great opportunity to taste test.
I filled the hole with CONFETTI (really just sprinkles). I have never done this before, so we will see if it is a Pinterest fail.
Spread some buttercream frosting (or whatever frosting you choose), between the top and the bottom. Gently piece them together. Then have some fun with the9 frosting!
Classic Buttercream:
1 cup butter
4 cups icing sugar
4 tbls milk (again I used almond milk)
4 tsp vanilla (we don't have vanilla, we just use whatever alcohol is laying around)
Whip your butter, add 2 cups icing sugar and whip. Add 2 tbsl milk, add remaining icing sugar, add remaining milk and whip. Add your vanilla and whip.
I have no idea if this is actually classic buttercream or not. This is what I have always done, and just memorized the recipe a LONG time ago.
To decorate this, I started at the bottom. I used plain white icing, and a thin tip. Once I got the icing on the bottom which would be the "cupcake liner", I smoothed it out as best I could, with just a butter knife. It was hot and I was running out of time. For the cupcake top, I made it pink. A couple drops of pink food dye, and a quick mix. Then I used a floral Rosette tip (maybe #2) and made some quick swirls. I then put it in the freezer ASAP so the icing could stop melting!
I hope Lilli dives into her cake with the same gusto as her first birthday cake...although hopefully now she will use a fork, and not require a bath when she is finished!
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Business wise, engagement and views are way down. All the biz groups I am in are all asking the same questions..... what is the answer? Stories? Reels? Posting more? Posting less? Where are all the people? Pintrest is a wealth of articles talking about exactly this!
After everyone spending so much time on social media over the past few years...with online shopping booming, I think a lot of people are just pain sick of it. Are we all trying to break the social media habits? Maybe everyone is wanting more human contact and getting out to live life?
Maybe people are wanting to shop in person again, at stores and markets where they can touch and feel and chat with the makers? I know we are trying to do a few more Markets to give people a different experience than just ordering online. We want to meet more of our customers.
My personal Facebook feed is filled with sponsored ads, and nothing that I am that interested in. I spend a lot of time what I call 'doom scrolling'. I am looking for snippets of good news. I'm trying to find happiness with the scroll of a thumb. I am avoiding reality by watching animal videos. I am annoyed by all the fake reels, of people making up stupid videos, or people giving health info through videos with interpretive dance. *SIGH* I am generally annoyed by life floating by while everyone is head down staring at their phones.
As we sort it all out.... we want you to know we are still here slowly working away. While also trying to be off social media and getting out living life. We wish we had the magic fix.... how to make engaging and informative posts without wasting time as the social media Gods only want to show it to 12 people.
We love social media for the engagement we get, with people who love our makes and products. We love our customers and we don't want to be wasting your time either! That's why you just won't catch us doing interpretive dance videos while we point to imaginary bubbles telling you about our latest and greatest!
Anyways.... we would love to know your thoughts on social media lately. And well you are at it... be sure to follow us on social media! facebook and Insta!
]]>But then comes March. March is like the bridge between winter and spring! It can be a long bridge, but a bridge none the less.
The days are longer, the sun feels warmer, we are probably done with the real dreadful temperatures, and whatever the weather throws at us, we know the worst is over and we can do it. Because spring is just across the bridge.
So... before we get right ramped into the busy of spring ( I know, I know some are still in the busy of winter, and hockey playoffs, dance recitals etc ) with yard work, gardens, renovations etc , Pink Lilli Co thinks we all need a little self care.
So in our facebook group we have a little self care challenge event going on. BUT if you don't want to join in an event, we are giving you a 30 day calendar of easy self care actions that you can get done every day! Don't even try to tell us that you don't have time. Most of these are easy.
You can download it to save or print off here, for free.
Maybe some of them you will like so much, that they will become part of your everyday routine.
Let us know how you do!
Good luck and have fun, you deserve it.
Michele, Shoshanna and Lil . The Pink Lilli crew.
]]>( Photo from Angus Oliver Website)
Angus Oliver is a local-ish business to us, in Stony Plain Alberta, and they are passionate about sourcing amazing high quality products! We LOVE the quality and we have bought them to use in our bags and on our floors!
And now, we want you to know about this fantastic Alberta business too, so you will be seeing lots more of their rugs and cowhides featured at Pink Lilli Co.
We hope that you will check them out, and we have a treat for you to purchase your own luxury rug! We have a coupon code to save you $10 off orders with minimum subtotals of $130 !
If you want to surround yourself with a little bit of luxury and save some money, go to their website and when you check out, use the code RepFour$10 .
That's it! Use the code, save $10 and your beautiful rugs will be sent out to you amazingly quick! Natalie has great customer service!
Now... I am off to order some new sheepskins for myself!
Please when you order, and get your new rugs, tag us Facebook or Instagram!
As always.... we love hearing from you and we are grateful you are here!
Michele, Shoshanna and Lilli
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I have always loved house plants, and always have an assortment in my home. However...... I tend to over love them sometimes and kill them with water.
It's kind of how I show my love...but with water and not food! (I also have an overweight chihuahua.) I finally got a water gauge and every single plant I own, including succulents and cactus were wet to the bottom. Oopps. Thankfully most of the time, they are forgiving.
Shoshanna on the other hand, forgets to water. Her cacti are doing amazing! I am jealous.
Lilli is new to growing plants, but now has her own collection started...so we have yet to see which way she goes.
Did you know....that there have been actual studies on the benefits of houseplants? It is no surprise since plants are living things, and so are we, it only makes sense that plants can improve our life and we need to cohabitate with each other.
I will touch on the top 5 benefits here.
1. Plants can reduce stress levels- Studies show people who interact with plants feel calmer and more comfortable. When you are feeling stressed, take some time to be with plants, tending to them or even just having them around while you relax.
2 Plants may improve indoor air quality -The data shows that several plants could filter harmful chemicals such as ammonia, benzene, and formaldehyde out of the air. In particular, nearly every species tested was able to remove formaldehyde, which is believed to exacerbate cancer growth.
3. Plants may sharpen memory and attention span. - studies done on elementary students showed the highest attention spans and the lowest concentration of theta waves with a live plant in the room. These brainwaves are connected to daydreaming and are more common in children than adults. The students also felt calmer and more relaxed. So get some plants in those classrooms!
4. Plants can help recover from illness faster- numerous studies show that people exposed to plants and greenspaces had shorter recovery times. This is why so many hospitals are now installing plants and indoor green spaces.
5. Plants can be theraputic -Studies show that having access to plants and greenspaces can lower depression. In todays crazy world, who doesn't want that!
I hope those 5 reasons, make you want to rush out and get some new plants, or maybe go and show your plants some love today!
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So... now that I have discussed the benefits of plants, lets talk about 2 of our favorite local-ish places ( to us) to get a good dose of plant therapy away from the house! Especially in the dead of winter!!
De Herdts Gardens in Barrhead is more than just a beautiful store for plants. They have Elieneke’s Bake Shop which has an amazing selection of artisan breads including a sourdough that uses a 5 year old starter. The bakeshop is also a distributor for the famous Evoolution oils and vinegars, and she is a chocolatier creating fine Belgian chocolates, along with many other delicious desserts and treats! Our favorite thing, is they do offer a gluten free option. We have enjoyed the gluten free carrot cake cupcakes!
De Herdts has recently done some remodeling and re-arranging, creating a space to sit and enjoy your treat and coffee, either in their shop or in their greenhouse, with the plants! They specialize in a variety of fancy lattes and hot chocolates. In the summer months you can even treat yourself to an Italian soda. Best of all, they serve your fancy coffee in a fancy mug. Specifically mine was in a Pioneer Woman mug! If you are unfamiliar with The Pioneer Woman, climb out from your rock cave and google her right now…(this might even inspire another post! )
De Herdts has been in Barrhead Ab since 1993. They are setting up hydroponic veggies, and currently have lettuce growing and available for purchase. Their green house is warm and bright and decorated with an assortment of vintage and rustic items.
For us, it is a reminder of Grandma. Grandma always had the most amazing flowers planted in the most bizarre item. With this reminder, and the feeling of home and comfort, we actually ended up buying some violets right then and there. Grandma always had violets growing. These were then planted in a pink tea pot. Becoming a little reminder of grandma that we could see everyday.
De Herdts gardeners have a magic eye when it comes to their succulents and cactus also. The arrangements they make are stunning and the quality of these plants is truly top notch. You know they absolutely love this little piece of heaven.
https://www.deherdtgardens.com/
Another favorite place is The Muttart Conservatory in Edmonton which is one of Canada's largest indoor botanical collections, nestled in the river valley. We try to get there once a year or so.
Discover the four pyramids, and learn about more than 700 species of plants in 3 climate-regulated biomes. Arid, tropical and temperate. There is nothing like wandering through a tropical paradise or an arid desert when it is cold and snowy outside! And of course check out the feature pyramid where you can enjoy unique themed displays and fabulous seasonal celebrations. Plants can be bought there in the gift shop too!
Let us know in the comments if you are a plant lover too! Growing is such rewarding little hobby. Happy Houseplant Appreciation Day!
Michele, Shoshanna and Lilli!
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I love a blank, clean, white day timer, open on my desk! So full of possibility. (until I leave a coffee cup ring on it...*sigh*)
]]>I love a blank, clean, white day timer, open on my desk! So full of possibility. (until I leave a coffee cup ring on it...*sigh*)
I love the feeling of the possibilities ahead. I know we could pick any day to discover possibility, but January 1 matches up with my nice clean day timer...the one with the coffee ring.
2023 .....hmmm what will be up with that. Honestly, who knows. But here at Pink Lilli we will be doing just a small rebrand.
It is still the same people, Michele, Shoshanna and Lilli. We still have amazing purses! We are still hot messes, just getting through the day! ( we know we aren't alone in this, don't worry, we see you and together we can do it!)
But behind the scenes, we are busy working on a name change, ( just a small one,) and a fresh new website to match our ideas. And if you follow us, you know we are always full of ideas. But we aren't just purses anymore, and our new name will reflect that!
The economy is shaky, to say the least. Money is tighter for us all. The world also has a stuff problem. We fully believe in keeping a world that is sustainable and clean for the future. So what you will see from us is more products that have been remade, repurposed, reused. This is in keeping with our thrifty values, and will also help keep our prices reasonable. We believe unused and unloved things can have new life as something beautiful and useful, as well as affordable!
We also want to provide you with really useful information! Really fun Alberta places of interest to see, things to do, thrift stores to check out, ways to stay healthy and organized, and some DIY how to's. We want to engage more and waste your time less!
Also.... with social media as unstable as the economy lately, please scroll on down and subscribe to our emails, so that you will know about everything we have going on. This little blog place on the internet will be where all of our action is documented first!
We look forward to where 2023 is taking us, and we know we will survive whatever it throws at us. Together we got this.
Michele, Shoshanna and Lilli!
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Spring around here has busy, as we rebrand, try to do all the things and we are figuring it out as we go!
We want to continue provide you with a variety of up-cycled clothing, vintage clothing, really cool and unique finds, and some of our own handmade items. Not everything is on the website yet, and some items are strictly at markets or local pick up only.
I am still the maker of all the bags and purses. Shoshanna, when not watching her 11yr old goalie, or driving him to practice or goalie camp, sources our products and does the flannels. She occasionally gets creative and does some leather painting too. Lilli is 13 and is the budding jewelry maker!
Together we refer to ourselves as hot mess coordinators. Seriously.... we are winging it in yoga pants and rubber boots most days.
We are working on perfecting our photography skills and modelling skills.( YIKES) Along with making our social media top notch! This is scary for people who prefer to be behind the scenes…. We will get brave one day and even do a live video!
I am working alongside mentors in the Trailblazer Collective, here I am learning everything we need to know to make the magic happen! Shoshanna has been taking some small business management courses. We are doing all the things to ensure we can make this crazy vision a reality!
Our biggest and scariest goal at the moment is to finish the Hot Mess Express! This is our vintage fiber glass trailer that we are converting into our mobile store to haul around for markets.
We have alot of work to do on it, and the first thing involved cleaning it out.... the craziest thing we found was some false teeth. It will be a project for sure.... and we are about to find out if we are handy! At least we know people with skills.
So please subscribe to our newsletter or follow us on social media, to follow our Hot Mess Express makeover. I will be posting updates here on the Pink Lilli Blog as well! We would love to hear your comments.... just be kind!
As always we are passionate about supporting local, supporting handmade, supporting small business and creating a community! If we do not have something your looking for, reach out, we may have access to it, or we know another local creator!
]]>I wish I was one of those people who can eloquently ponder all the lessons learned from 2020 and write inspiration for the New Year. But I am not...so thanks for bearing with me.
I have thought a lot about what my plans are for this New Year, both personal and work wise.
I hate the word resolutions. They are something that you plan out New Years Eve and discard about now. And intentions sound so woo-woo and out there. Plus, I intend to do lots of things... it doesn't mean I do them. I usually go off chasing butterflies instead.
So I guess goals it is. I have a few goals. Maybe even a bucket list. Maybe I will add chasing more butterflies onto my bucket list. ( as long as those butterflies are not headed across the border I should be good, those butterflies probably will be told to stay around home *sigh*).
I also decided not all of these goals or bucket lists need to be figured out right now, in the first 2 weeks of January. So far on my goal list I have the word survive, and then a whole lot of question marks. Beyond organize my pictures, and grow an epic garden if I can look back on New Years Eve 2021 and say I survived.... I will call it a win.
( Nope.... no fitness goals this year. I WILL NOT make fitness goals)
I also tried to come up with theme words for this year.... because after spending New Years Day mostly on social media I learned this was a thing. Theme words for the year. I couldn't choose one. So I narrowed it down to 4.
Relax... I worry to much and try to do all the things.
Truth... focus on my own truth, always tell the truth, look for truth....the truth is out there ( watch more X-Files)
Refocus.... refocus on what I love, what is important and where I need to put my attentions.
Resilience..... I will not be left in a puddle on the floor. I will pick everything up, keep trying, keep adapting, keep going. Just like you will.
What I know for sure is my goal list is subject to change at a minutes notice. This year like last, so many of those changes will not be within my control. I won't say the name but 'Thanks C***D'. I suppose this is where we learn resilience.
And I need to make those goals attainable! I am really starting to hate anything goal related that feels it needs to be set in stone and that anything less is a failure. My goal is to everyday wear real pants, jeans to be exact, they are less forgiving. BUT I will be truthful with myself and admit that to make this goal successful and achievable, I would be better off to make it my goal to wear pj pants 3 days a week. Accountability problem solved!
Workwise... I have a few goals. Real goals, where wearing real pants are not required. Work a little more quickly through my wait list would be one. If I have kept you waiting, I apologize. I also want to keep work fun. Refocus on one of the reasons I started Pink Lilli, because it's fun to create. With all of the stuff going on in the world, we all need more fun. Keep learning. Keep developing my craft. Learn to like and embrace the trials of learning new skills....that is not something I am good at. But I will relax, have fun and roll with it.
Anyway..... I know it is a late Happy New Year Post. Honestly it was intentional. I didn't want to be one of those people saying 2021 HAD to be a better year. ( Plus I was distracted watching Bridgerton and Yellowstone) Because 2021 is going to throw us curve balls and challenges, but it will also be what we make it. Let's make it the year we really do learn and grow. Without all the superficial distractions. Embrace the people, things and ideas that are important and let the rest go. Even for just this year. Rest and let it go.
Tell me your thoughts in the comments!
Also if you want, subscribe to my page or send me your email. Just in case social media goes away!
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It is also no secret that we have some amazingly talented craftspeople, artists and entrepreneurs. I have read in numerous places that during a recession it is a great time to dig deep and revamp and existing business, start a new business or follow a new path entirely. It seems like that is what a lot of people are doing right now. Digging deep, working hard and getting on with it.
My husband and I were talking about how if everyone started to buy items local, from small business, or at the very least Made in Alberta or Made in Canada what kind of a difference would it make to our economy. Now I fully admit that sometimes I am pretty cheap, and used to occasionally buy a t-shirt from Walmart or SuperStore. But every time I looked at the tag that says Made in Cambodia, China or wherever I cringed a little inside. We have all heard about the unethical work conditions overseas, and if we won't work for $2.00 an hour here in Canada, why are we buying $5.00 t-shirts? ( that are pretty much garbage in a couple of months)
So in the long run is that $5.00 t-shirt really a bargain? What if we bought Made in Canada t-shirts? From a Canadian retailer, or from a small home business. Not only do we know that it was ethically made, we also know that we may be keeping our neighbour employed. We know that we are keeping money in our local community. We are helping a local family pay for their groceries or put their kid in dance class. We in a very small way can help eliminate corporate greed.....
The scenario of a $5.00 t-shirt may seem really small....but if everyone started to look at the labels of where they buy products from I think it would really make a difference. I know in my own life, I am looking at things a whole new way. Up front....it may cost a bit more to buy local. But in the long run supporting products made here saves us all.
The same goes for absolutely everything. Including our food. You can buy meat and produce direct from many local producers. This is vital since a lot of the meat packing plants are having Covid 19 issues and they 'the government, and the media' are calling for food shortages. There is no food shortage...there may be a factory food shortage, a grocery store shortage, but there is no food shortage. Find a local farmer!
Read your labels... where is your grocery store food processed and packaged?
Start your own garden, support you local greenhouses.
Support your small independent grocery stores. As much as I love Costco, it is time to let it go.
Support your local hardware stores.
My goal from now on is to buy as much as I can of locally made/grown products. Alberta made, Canadian made. I also want to move away from purchasing cheap, disposable products. Quality items can be reused, repurposed and resold.
Big box stores may save us a few dollars, but these corporations are not the heart and soul of our communities. Believe me, they are in it to win it for their CEO's.
I hope this is something everyone will begin to consider! Shop Canadian, Shop Albertan. Lets keep our own economies, our communities, our province and our country going!
]]>If you are a rodeo family, sooner or later you end up with dilemma that so many mom's message me about....What to do with all the rodeo coats hanging in closets all through the house.
Well...I have an answer! Send some to me and I will make you something from them.
When I started making bags, I was using upcycled thrift store leather coats.
One of my Facebook followers messaged and asked if would make her a tote bag from her daughters old rodeo coat. oh... what an interesting project. I admit that while I was nervous to cut into something so special, I was confident I could do something pretty cool.
I made the jacket into a fully lined tote/overnight bag.
I was thrilled with how it turned out, and so was my customer. Who promptly shared it on social media.
Since then I have done numerous other rodeo coat bags and each one is always fun and exciting!
I will share more bags in a different post, especially some of the more vintage coats that I have done. They are always exciting to see the different logos when they arrive in the mail.
Maybe throw cushions are more your style? I can do them too!
If you don't already, please follow along on my Facebook page. If you too have closets full of old or new rodeo coats send me a message or email info@pinklillipurses.com and lets see if we can work out some project ideas.
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The more we chatted, the more her vision became more clear. She wanted raw, she wanted rustic, she wanted it to look like it was worn by an old cowboy and drug through the dirt. She wanted it to look like it had seen some things and had stories to tell.
I got to work.... and the first draft was a disaster. Yup a f'n disaster and she HATED it. It was too pretty, too new, to symmetrical. Thankfully the way I work is that I only have it started, basted together and nothing was permanent when I sent the first round of photos. So.. I pulled it all apart. Now I knew exactly what she wanted...but I sent pics along the way to be sure!
One of the really cool things she wanted on her bag was a piece of horse hide from her beloved horse Ivan. She also had a tooth, and asked if that would be creepy. Well... it's your bag, but people hang bear teeth or antlers from bags all the time, and hang skulls on their walls, so in my opinion. Nope...not creepy.
I chose a new leather for her bag, but it was very distressed looking, with some holes, some brands and mottled shades of beige, brown and black. I then combined it with a redder shade of distressed leather for interest and contrast.
She had seen the pocket lining in a bag of a mutual friend of ours. She requested the whole purse lining be made out of this fabric. Luckily I had just enough! Scroll through the pics to see it! It is not for everyone, but suits her perfectly.
In the end.... she LOVED it. And a happy customer is why I do this. I loved every second, ok..almost every second, there was a few seconds of trying to get in her head that were frustrating for both of us....but I honestly just loved this bag. ( I would have kept it for myself had she hated it!)
Here it is! Let me know in the comments what you think. Be sure to come follow on social media! Facebook and Instagram !
Now this is a bag that will be noticed!
The feature of the bag is the horse hide. It is subtle, but there, as an ever present reminder of her beloved Ivan.
I used the raw edge of the leather hide as a detail of the bag, and also a piece of some old belt she sent along. The brushed bronze on all the hardware looks perfect with it.
The back of the bag features a raw edge pocket.
And fringe... a bag isn't complete without some fringe.
TSK TSK.... you naughty girl.
A recessed zipper and some rough wrapped edging.
And the tooth, all bleached and cleaned up! It looks perfect!
Thank you for trusting me with the project and not giving up as we worked through this together...to give you a bag that will last forever, get drug through the muck and in the end have some great stories to tell.
If you have ideas and want a totally custom bag, send me an email and we can get started. info@pinklillipurses.com
]]>But a customer asked me to make her husbands rodeo coats into 2 little vests for her little cowboy. He was to wear them when he watched his dad compete. Each vest would be worn at the rodeo it was representing.
I readily agreed, even though it has been a few years since I actually made clothing, and never leather clothing.
I drafted a pattern, using a knit vest she sent along for sizing. For the sake of keeping costs down, I opted not to put a lining inside, as the leather doesn't really need a lining. There is a zip closure in both and I tried to make sure I used as many of the original elements of the original coats as I could fit on such little vests.
I think they turned out absolutely adorable, and I was thrilled when she sent me actual photos of her wee man wearing them. That puts the cuteness level of the vest right over the top. And I won't lie, seeing MY work in professional photos gave me an extra thrill.
Have a look for yourself! If you have a project in mind never hesitate to contact me. info@pinklillipurses.com or leave a comment.
Rodeo is a family affair!
Oh that little bald head and those cheeks!
See... I told you it was cuteness overload!
Be sure to stay on top of all my new posts and new items by subscribing! I promise that I do not spam. Ain't nobody got time for that!
]]>I do love the look of an armful of bracelets. BUT I tend to find them annoying as they clink and slide around on my wrist. One day while staring at a bunch of small pieces of leather leftovers, I decided to put them to use and made myself a leather cuff bracelet. I added some fun bling to it, and gave it a try. I LOVED wearing it. It was soft, comfortable and made with an adjustable tie that didn't slide around on my wrist. I forgot that I had it on.
Because of the way my creative brain works, I only make things that I love and would wear myself, it's what keeps me excited about heading into my 'studio'.( in all actually it is a spare room in the upstairs of my house that holds all the stuff to keep me busy for days, but studio sounds way more professional) So I hope you love these new additions to Pink Lilli Purses as much as I do. I am sure they will evolve, as I try new ideas out. Like I said.... I am not much of a jewellery person, so a lot of this is all new to me. Let me know in the comments what you think.
I will be adding some that are available for purchase to the listings soon. If you cant' wait, you can always send a message.
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I am a rural Alberta Purse maker. My love of sewing has evolved over the years, and landed me here about 18 months ago. After a trip to Las Vegas and a visit to Kemo Sabe with fabulous western bags that were way out of my price range, I thought 'how hard can it be?" ( here's a secret...it was hard) and here I am ..... surrounded by leather, often upcycled from coats, boots, chaps, and anything else that has great purse potential. I do not consider myself particularly crafty or talented in the leather department, but I am lucky enough to do what I love to do most of the time. Which for the most part is dumping everything onto my cutting table and seeing where it ends up. Sometimes I am just as surprised as everyone else.
I really try to only create purses and bags that I love and would use myself. No pretty, dainty handbags around here. I like unique bags with a western/hippie/boho vibe that are rough and raw. I try to make each bag one of a kind, so no one else will have what you have. I also love the smell of leather, so I mostly use leather or a combo of leather and tapestry.
I know that everyone is busy, so I will try to keep my blog updates short and sweet, with the stories of the bags I am working on for customers, as well as ones that will be listed on the site for sale. Obviously blog subscribers and readers will see them first!
I appreciate all of the support my fabulous customers have given me over the last couple of years, and I look forward to many more fun and interesting projects!
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