It's been a full, full summer. Early in June, I discovered Heartsy and I knew I had to run a deal there. Early in July my deal went live, and in 2 days I sold 63 vouchers for deeply discounted SOMP creations. At the end of July we spent some time on vacation, at the Summer Market, and visiting family--and here are some pictures.

First things first: Haircut Day! (It hasn't looked like that since then. Do you like my lawn chairs?)

A cute Custom Order. I believe this print is from a line called Central Park.

I cannot express enough (or enough times) how much I LOVE MY NEW TAGS!

This fabric photographed so beautifully in our shady back yard. I like this photo so much that it's featured on my new business cards AND the gorgeous new SOMP Gift Certificates.

These are my pigs, Penny (brown) and Pearl (cow). They enjoy wading in the baby pool. Their deepest thoughts: "Is that food you've got?" and "Mmmm, I love eating this."

Cute Zippies Grande and Classic SOMP Set. Mustard Martini from Amy Butler.

Now you have to know I've never thought of myself as a "purple girl," but this fabric by Joel Dewberry--Aviary 2--might just be converting me. Favorite of the summer for sure! Here you can see a Medium Tote, a Grande, 2 Zippy Classics, 2 Mini Fobs and a Midway Zippy.

We brought along The Boy's "hamster"--he insisted we leave it in the car--and took some pictures of it on our trip.

The Hambone and the Husb.

Ziplining? Yes, please. As close to Every Day of my Life as possible!

So, if this whole bag-making thing doesn't work out, I could totally get into modeling...

This is a Large Tote, a Custom Order.

Medium Tote and Zippy Classic Custom Order

Have you ever seen a bag smile?? Well now you have!

This is a Medium Tote with a Snap Flap made out of a delightful organic cotton.

A super cute SOMP Set--Grande and Zippy Classic in Divine Damask.

The Midway. This one's in a print from Joel Dewberry's Modern Meadow.

The SOMP Set I made for the North Canton Buddy Walk.

It's a Medium Tote, a Midway Zippy, and a Wristlet Fob.

Another SOMP Set I'm sending to an (as yet) undisclosed location. This one features the perennially popular print Pet Deer.

Um, I'm a model, you know what I mean?

(This is a Midway.)

Last Thursday I made a super summery custom large tote for a writer friend of mine, Ginny. She picked my favorite fabric of the season, Alexander Henry's Avedun and Anemone.  I added a snap flap to the front--a nice touch, especially with this print. Ginny and I had a wonderful time catching up, thrift shopping, and beading in Medina.

Yesterday, since I am fresh out of zippers that match (never fear, 200 are on their way soon--and let me tell you, if you need zippers, Jennie of Zipit is the woman to talk to!), I made 2 more large totes: another Avedun and Anemone and a Cherry Blossom (photos soon). To top off a morning of sewing, I had lunch with my dear friend Cathy at the Pine Tree Barn: holy delicious chicken wrap, Batman.

The most exciting news for the last 2 weeks (the most exciting SOMP news, anyhow) is that SOMP will soon be featured on Heartsy--an awesome promotional endeavor! Shoppers will be able to purchase vouchers good toward any item in my Etsy shop. I will keep you posted on the date. And if you're unfamiliar with Heartsy, as I was until maybe 3 weeks ago, it is a super cool site dedicated to providing deep discounts on handmade items of every stripe.  Currently I'm stocking up inventory for that event as well as my biggest craft show of the year, the Summer Market.

Also exciting here at SOMP is my new pencil bag design.  I have been tossing around this design for probably a year or more, and tried a version of it in EVA plastic, to no avail (not yet, anyway).  About a week ago, I was pleased that the latest version of this idea went from mostly concept to prototype in under half an hour.  My son wandered into the workshop.  "Want to see what Mommy made?" I asked, and held out the pencil bag--a black and pink floral / polka dot fabric combo with a clip at the top.  "Ooooh," he said, and emphatically, "thank you!"  And that was that.  He wore it to the playground and hauled it to the sitter's.  I know for a fact that it holds at least a dozen pencils.  He loves the thing, and I love that he does.