SOMPbags
  • Home
  • Events
  • Blog
  • Shop
    • Ready to ship
    • For Retailers
  • Look
    • Wristlets
    • Fobs
    • Zippies
    • Painted Zippies
    • Totes
    • Bridal

SOMP blog

Vacation: Lake Leelanau, Michigan

7/10/2014

 
Picture

At the end of June, the fam and I headed north. Our friends Tom and Anne invited us to come to Camp with them at Lake Leelanau, where her family built a wonderful 4-cabin establishment years and years ago. What a fantastic time we had! Lovely people, fun adventures near and in the water, and outstanding food: the chipotle cherry hummus is not to be missed.

Picture
SOMP delivers to Camp!
Picture

What a nice surprise

2/2/2014

 
Being a person who makes a lot of things out of fabric, I occasionally (or all the time) find myself with pieces and usable scraps that are too little for my projects. Being a person who is a Mennonite and a Midwesterner, I have a pretty hard time throwing away a perfectly good thing that could potentially have another use somewhere, someday.

The wonderful ladies at our church make stuff year round for MCC--bags for kits, quilts for auction, comforters for people in need. I've been able to recycle perfectly beautiful pieces of fabric, clear out some space in my workshop, and help out the sewing group with my small pieces.

And then this happened:
Picture

Of course I'm not surprised that the ladies at church can make a beautiful blanket. I guess I shouldn't be surprised that Ora and her friends made this for me and my family: these are, after all, some of the same people who welcomed us so warmly into the congregation (and fed us so much non dining hall food) years ago when we were visiting college students. But you know, I was totally surprised, and in the best possible way.

The Summer Market Rocks

7/28/2013

 
Picture
The last weekend of July has meant only one thing to me for the last 6 years, and that thing takes place on Lake Erie's shore with dozens of talented vendors and thousands of visitors. It is the one and only Summer Market. And let me tell you, it was incredible as always.

In the spring of 2008, Erin contacted me via Etsy and wanted to know if I'd like to set up shop at the Market that summer. It was my first big show for sure, and maybe my first show ever. (I was also 7 months pregnant at the time, but that is another story.) It is cool to reflect on how my designs have evolved over the years, and empowering to see that indeed, I have learned some things. For instance, my first display hardware was a laundry rack with shower curtain hooks. Yes, you read that right. I regret to inform you that I have no photos of that gem.

It's a process. Even this spring--7 years into this venture!--I figured out a new way to construct my totes. The Summer Market is cool because of so many things--Erin and Kristen, the event's amazing hostesses, the never-dull venue at Veteran's Memorial Park, the Market Chicks and Market Dudes and their helpful ways, the awesome live bands, the food--my gosh, the food--the good will and the sheer talent that all comes together during this event make it an outstanding art show. The Summer Market keeps me on my toes, too, which is important: How can I improve my bags and my booth this year? I am so thankful for that.

I am also thankful for the fact that the Summer Market is a two-day date for the Husb and me every year so far. This year, the newest member of our family came along. It was a great show. Thank you, Erin and Kristen, thank you Market Chicks and Dudes, thank you visitors and friends who continue to support this endeavor.



Picture
We're so cute.
Picture
This dood is cuter. Meet Bune.

Many Thanks, Good Buddy

7/2/2011

 
Picture
Last week we had the great pleasure of visiting with our friends in Cincinnati.  Thanks so much for hosting us. Mel, keep an eye on the mailbox! (I know, I know, it would have been a more effective surprise if I didn't post this, but I couldn't wait!)

Incidentally, this is a slightly new design for SOMP... just a little taller than the clutch and a little wider than Zippy Classic, plus the detachable handle. I'm thinking I might need to invest in a riveter for nylon webbing straps. But this works too.  :)

    by the Seat Of My Pants...

    the stories behind the bags and beyond.

    Picture

    Archives

    February 2018
    January 2016
    August 2014
    July 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    August 2013
    July 2013
    August 2011
    July 2011
    June 2011

    Tweets by @custombags

    Categories

    All
    American Standard
    Amish Country
    Avon Lake
    Babykid
    Baggie
    Beautiful Day
    Big Guy
    Binding
    Blanket
    Blanket Fairy
    Bolt
    Boy
    Broken Needles
    Bulletin Board
    Bune
    Bunny
    Chaos
    Charm
    Cheerio
    Classroom
    Cleveland
    Cleveland Map
    Clutches
    Cool
    Craft Show
    Curse
    Dog
    Dolphins
    Dood
    Doorknob
    Etsy
    Euro Pro
    Fans
    Friend
    Gardening
    Getting Ready
    Grandes
    Guinea Pigs
    Heartsy
    Holey Jeans
    Homeward
    Hook And Loop
    Hot
    Ice Cream
    Inspiration
    Joking
    Kids
    Lake Erie
    Large Tote
    Looks
    Loose Thread
    Love
    Machine
    MCC
    Medrona
    Mennonite
    Minky
    Modeling
    Nature
    Nerd
    Not Instagram At All
    Ohio
    Oops
    Outing
    Peaches
    Pencil Bag
    Perfectionism
    Phantom Of The Opera
    Photography
    Pond
    Problem
    Productivity
    Pto
    Quilt
    School
    Service Day
    Sewing Day
    Sewing Machine
    Shoes
    Show
    Simple
    Singer
    Snacks
    Snap Flap
    Somp Of The Month Club
    Somp Set
    Stitching
    Summer
    Summer Market
    Sunflower
    Surprise
    Teacher
    Teaching
    Thank You!
    The Fabric Shopper
    To Go
    Treasury
    Vacation
    Velcro
    Vintage
    White
    Zinnia
    Ziplining
    Zoolander

    RSS Feed

Proudly powered by Weebly
  • Home
  • Events
  • Blog
  • Shop
    • Ready to ship
    • For Retailers
  • Look
    • Wristlets
    • Fobs
    • Zippies
    • Painted Zippies
    • Totes
    • Bridal