You can see all her views here in my little corner of flickr…I had planned to make a larger market tote, a fourth style for the GoodyBag show in November, but I ran out of time, so the idea was always there, and I even took an order at the party for this larger bag and have been waiting for the fabric the customer wants me to use to be sent to me.  And then I went to the dentist, a brand new dentist because I’m still new here, so I saw an ad for a dentist that sounded decent and it was close to home, and then I went and I totally lucked out…not only is it a great dentist and staff, but the women,  they rock – not only do they make the whole going to the dentist experience a lot less painful in so many ways…they love my bags – oh, there’s not a crafter alive that doesn’t want that kind of instant affirmation.

One of the women ordered a baby bag – ahh…I said, it’s Evelyn, the larger tote I had always planned to make.  This custom order helped me to solidify some of the options – two 2-compartment pockets for a total of 4 pockets, each a bit wider and deeper than those in Frances, the final total size is 16″ wide by 14″ tall, and 15″ double straps, then the same button loop & button and a strap with ring as well.  Simple, no? Yes. And so easy to use, functional and yet pretty too.

It’s a funny thing, I had avoided custom orders for a long time, feeling that I’d let them down, perhaps not quite meeting their expectations…and then when I did venture into the world of custom orders…I …gee, how do I say it… I REALLY LIKE IT.  The whole interacting with the customer part and helping them get what they want – helping them figure out what they want and being there to make their ideas come true – THAT’S what I’ve always enjoyed about retail and customer service work – the creative interaction.  Yea, this is good…THIS – custom work, I can tell, is gonna go someplace…

p.s. Another GoodyBag party is in the works for Feb. 2008…stay tuned.