What's in a Name?

I have a double life... and it's about to be revealed!

I often forget that most people don't know I am really two businesses: AnvilArtshop, my online boutique of leathergoods and fashion accessories; and Abbey Hill Design, in which I design couture suits and one-of-a-kind eveningwear for diplomats and CEOs.

While there is some crossover between the two lines -- from techniques to supplies to logo -- the styles are quite different.

Here's an example from my AnvilArtshop boutique on Etsy:

Here's an example from my custom Abbey Hill Design portfolio:

Textiles and surface design pieces can fall into either camp. I have the fun, sassy pieces listed on Etsy...

... and the more serious, "status" silks are made-to-order for my clientele.

So the next time you see me with two hats on, don't be concerned... it's all good!

Trunkt Show

I was very excited this week to have been featured on Trunkt's Fashionable Finds blog, in a brief article written by my good friend Darlene from BijouxBead (http://www.bijouxbead.com/).

A photo of my Red Paisley Leather Obi belt (above) also made it into the article, it's my new favorite design and is sweeping the runways for Fall 09. (Hint: try one over an eyelet dress for summer, or over a boyfriend jacket or slouchy sweater for fall high fashion!)

My obi design can transform you from glamor puss to corporate maven in seconds -- just slide off the obi and you're left with a beautiful topgrain leather belt that can hold up your pinstripes in style!

http://trunktfashion.blogspot.com/2009/03/fashion-agenda.html

Belated Blogroll

Sometimes it IS better late than never... I found out late last week that one of my leather cuffs had been featured on this blog:

http://gilbea.blogspot.com/2009_03_01_archive.html

I'm joined there by several other members of the Etsy Leather Team, in a collection of cuffs and leatherwork that is so striking when seen en masse. Thanks for including my "Wishbone" cuff!

Bon Voyage!

My Victoriana messenger bag is on its way overseas this week... thanks to Etsy and its international fanbase of handmade artistry.
I love the mix of sturdy leather and mannish messenger style, alongside the more delicate elements like the vintage cameo and a feminine ruffle of Italian leather. I hope the new owner in Istanbul will enjoy it as much as I did creating it!

Eyelet Ecstasy

The leather eyelet jacket begun earlier on this blog (see my post of February 4, 2009) was completed and delivered to a *very* happy client this past weekend!

As a plus size, she'd never believed she could wear a leather jacket. To her delight, I created a jacket style for her that was both slimming to the eye, and lightweight to wear.

The reverse side of this purple embossed ostrich was an amazing coral-red shade; thanks to the hand punching, the coral tone peeps through each eyelet and adds depth to the design. Oversized antique brass hooks form the closure for the jacket, unusual in that the hooks are "on display" on the front side rather than hidden underneath.

When my clients are happy, I'm happy! :D

Pod People

Isn't it crazy? I didn't blog for a month, and now two entries in one week... but I'm just so excited about my new backpack design that I've gotta share!

The "Pod" is surprisingly roomy while the slim, curvy shape hugs the small of your back -- you barely can tell that you have it on. On this prototype, I paired caramel brown leather with an Italian suede that has chromosome shapes scattered across it (one of my all-time favorites) plus goldtone hardware, from rivets to zippers to a huge ring for those times when you hand-carry your bag.

I loooove this bag, and can see it in so many different color combinations for Spring...

Leather Confetti

I began work on a custom leather jacket. First step seems to be, making a mess.

This is my new leather hole punch, along with some of the zillions of "holes" from making leather eyelets in the new jacket. Each panel of the jacket will be entirely punched by hand, creating a feminine, lacy effect in the leather.

The silk charmeuse lining will be a gorgeous lavender shade, just one tone lighter than the plum leather -- you can see here how the leather was originally embossed to look like ostrich. I'm scattering my eyelets in triangular-shaped groups of three, a nice odd number. (Ever notice how jackets always have either three, five, or seven buttons? There is a DaVinci code for fashion too!)

There's lots of work yet to be done -- the amount of punching is actually bruising my hand, ow ow! -- but I am *so* pleased with the effect.

In the Beginning

We all start somewhere, right?

Today, I began my blog. My audience is few -- alright, only my cats -- but I hope they enjoy it nonetheless. Stop looking out the window, boys, the good stuff's right here.

I completed a new handbag design yesterday, the Solaris. I'd received a shipment of new hardware, including some jumbo gold rings that definitely looked a lot smaller in the catalog than spilled across my lap.

Let me just say, I love hardware... and hardware stores. I'm a sucker for things that clip and clink, that click shut and snap open again. When I was a kid, I used to design earrings from bits of circuit boards and multicolored telephone wires -- none of which clicked or clamped, which would probably explain why I gave up on them so quickly. Little did I know that I just hadn't found the right medium yet.

These jumbo gold rings were begging to be... well, clipped to something, and gold-studded straps became the answer. My original inspiration was a retro brass sunburst mirror, mixed with a dash of "Gladiator" thanks to Jack Whyte's Roman-to-Arthurian-Camelot history series ("A Dream of Eagles") which I've been re-reading lately. Salve, puella!