Thursday, June 27, 2013

Spanish Moss & Gilded Leather

Hello all! 
    There has been so much rain here in Savannah lately, but it has it's benefits. Outside of everything looking gloriously green, it forces me to put some of my late night epiphanies into production. I am a firm believer in the shower mindset, that whenever you are doing something that distracts you or seems mindless, you come up with the best ideas. Since my last post I have finally been taking some steps into the bridal world. I mentioned in my last post that I had been thinking about, and talking out this idea back in January with my aunts in Chicago. I have been wavering between creating the bags in the bridal collection to be a one time and memorable accessory, or making them so you could use them after your special day. I want to start out with a 4 piece collection and then go into custom purses from there. The custom side seems to be growing everyday. Here's a look at the first 2 pieces of the collection. 
Savannah,GA: Tester scraps for Bridal Collection: Gold leafed & Stamped with "I DO" and filled in with gold enamel. 
Savannah,GA: Bridal Itty-Bitty with "I DO" Stamp: I love the bow!
Savannah,GA: Bridal Itty-Bitty: "I DO" stamp and pretty floral lining. 
                           
                         Savannah,GA: Bridal Itty-Bitty: Pale blue with hand stitched lace lining.
    From my 4 design collection, there are so many options for really making this purse a vessel for "something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue." I thought today about how the button on the Bridal Itty-Bitty could so easily be a cufflink from your father's wedding day, or a beautiful pear button off your mother's wedding dress. There are so many ways to make this little purse the perfect vessel for the love you have felt from your parents, to the hope for a beautiful future. I think it would be so great to screenprint a love note from the groom to the bride on the special day. I am so excited to put this design out there, and for brides to have this heartfelt wristlet on their special day.

    I have been crafting this delicate bridal collection and also doing my primary collection that I mentioned with swatches in my last post. I have also been working on something totally different that I have never done anything like before. I have been thinking about this idea for an event for a while, and feeling a need in my own business to help out a cause. Desoto Row is a tiny street that monthly has the Art March Indie Craft Fair, it is also lined with some great small businesses like a print shop and a coffee roasting company. I imagine Desoto Row lined with stands with umbrellas, almost like a grownup lemonade stand. Each table sells their special craft whether it be jewelry or handmade cards, and they also would decorate their umbrella to suit their business. It will be a craft market during the day at the beginning of September, and a percentage of each vender's total sales will be donated to a charity for child abuse. There is so much research to be done, and I am still in shock that this event might be a reality. I am trying to come up with some ways to start fundraising, but I really have a lot of hope that this will be a great event. There is a lot going on in the world of Well-Loved, but I love it and am amazed to have an opportunity to share love and my designs with the world.
Savannah,GA: I cannot wait to send this wrapped up Itty-Bitty to the Hercampus.com giveaway winner: She's from Chicago!
                         Savannah,GA: All Well-Loved purchases come with a handwritten card!
                         Savannah,GA: Foxy Loxy Coffee Shop: Gotta love the Savannah view.

Always remember you are well-loved♥
                      -Gianina

Wednesday, June 19, 2013

Planning and White Petals

Hello! & Thank you for stopping by,
     I have been so busy and so inspired lately, it has been a struggle for my hands to keep up with my mind. I am by no means complaining. I have definitely had weeks and months where I feel like I tried every trick in the book to be inspired and it just did not fly. Let me catch you up to what has been going on in the life of Well-Loved. I decided to make my purses available for wholesale, and it has been such a success for me. I was nervous even though I have spent many sleepless nights perfecting the bags and making sure they were durable and quality. Handcrafting something and then attempting to sell it really can bring up your own idea of yourself. I was worried that my products would be too expensive if I began doing wholesale to retail. When you sell wholesale, your prices on your website and the price that the store sells for our double what you pay yourself and what your materials are. It definitely puts you in a different price bracket, but it has been such a great leap for me. 

    After I counted every single inch of thread and went through every seed bead used on the handle of the Wallace, I had my exact material costs. I had my prices in hand and decided it was time to pitch my purses to some boutiques in downtown Savannah. Talk about a test of confidence! Firstly realizing that your product does not need to be desperately discounted, and then on top of it having a truly wonderful classy boutique, 24e,  decides to pick up two of your collections. Definitely check out the stunning display that their employees have put together, if you're in the Savannah area. 
* http://www.24estyle.com/products/itty-bitty-wristlet
I am now working on a bridal collection and my a new all-piece collection. This new collection will feature a bigger Itty Bitty, (now with space for your iphone) and cardholders. I am swooning over the colors right now, they are gorgeous. They remind me of 1940's handkerchiefs, and fields of wildflowers. I am in love for sure. 

 Desoto Row: Savannah,GA:  My favorite flowering trees that grew on my street in Chicago
 Savannah, GA: Playing with jewelry on a rainy Sunday: Made a necklace and earrings
Savannah, GA: Late night studio time!: Next collection in the work: Color Palette love
   
     The bridal collection is going to act as a vessel for the "something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue." I got some great pale blue leather 2 weeks ago at Measure: a Fabric Parlor, and thought about the pure amazingness this leather could contribute to a bridal collection. I dreamt about beautiful linings for the bridal collection back in Winter. I thought how gorgeous it would be to have a ivory or pale blue lining with lace stitched delicately on top  I thought it would be great to have the purses customizable. You could have a pearl button from your mother's wedding dress be the closure, or a appliqué of lace from her dress on the lining. I am working on the basic collection and a look book right now to better present these ideas. I also thought how wonderful it would be to be able to screen-print a message from the groom to the bride on the inside of the purse. I have been loving working with lace and pearls the past few days. I have attached some photos below of the swatches for the bridal collection. Enjoy! 


Savannah,GA: Well-Loved's Bridal Collection: White leather, blue cotton and dotted lace
Savannah, GA: Well-Loved's Bridal Collection: Pale blue leather, ivory lining, and thick lace

I Hope you guys enjoyed the photos and an update of everything going on with the business. I am going to make my best attempt to update every Wednesday. I hope you a lovely week for you all full of sun and wonderful things. Always remember you are well-loved. ♥

-Gianina