::Big Changes::

This post is really important to me, because it signifies a big change coming to my shop, and the overall look of my products in general.

For months I've been pondering ways to make my high quality pouches and bags different from everything out there and let me tell ya- it's hard. There are so many variations of what I make that every time I would think I had stumbled on something original, I would get all excited (woohoo for me! These are going to be so cute!) Then I'd see it being done somewhere else and get totally crushed. Not only because you feel defeated, but because you're suddenly struck with an ethics check. You want to adore the things you make, but you also want to respect what's already out there.
I thought "Okay- I know my stuff needs an embellishment. But what? Ruffles!" So I made ruffles with printed fabric at the start of it all. But let's be real, there are a ton of other shops doing that.

Old-school photo of a whimsy lane pouch

So then I got the  idea to utilize my solid fabric by making ruffles...

...but then I saw that too. At that point you think "Well damn- I've already got all this inventory made and have somewhat established myself in the handmade world- what do I do? Keep making the products the way I have been? -the way I've loved?- or really rack my brain for a more original look to love?"
I decided to do the latter.
The answer for me was so much simpler than I had thought. Literally.
I decided to get rid of ruffles.
I know. It seems so anti-climactic! But for me this was big because with all the shops out there, I really don't ever see anything comparable to what I make without them. Or at least without some variation of them.


But that also meant other changes needed to happen. Like my zipper- I had always used white. It was kind of like "my thing". But with no ruffle, I needed a pop of color (you know how much I love my pops of color!) so I ordered up a bunch of crisp, beautiful, zany, fun, (and any other great adjective you can think of) zippers from my favorite indie vendor ZipIt, and made the choice that I was going to let the fabric speak for itself with the help of a great, well-considered, zipper. Of course that also means my zipper pulls will have to be more dramatic too...

Peek of my new look via instagram

As with any company -big or small- changes happen. Things progress, things evolve and change can be good. I hope this change will be good.
I'm still ironing out my options- like what I'll do for my bigger stuff. I'm not sure if items like big pouches and totes will look bare with no embellishment. I would love ideas or recommendations in the comments section on what to do with those! I often take to my facebook, twitter or instagram to get your feedback whenever I'm stuck in a rut, so chat away with your ideas! Until I am done getting some newbies made, my shop will be closed. I will keep you posted on the reopen so make sure to check back often :)

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So what do you think? Could you could love a bag without an embellishment?