gorgeous buttons

in my quest to produce knitted accessories that have texture and versatility,  i am always searching for perfect buttons and fasteners. 
i wanted to spotlight the buttons that I source from etsy seller: a remark you made

these buttons are hand crafted from a tree branch of a fallen maple tree in hopes of giving it a second chance at life.  they are absolutely stunning!  the marbling and neutral colors give wood an expensive look. you can find them on my londonderry scarf which doubles as a wrap and as an option for my manchester circle scarf.  one button on each piece is hand stamped with the bungaloe logo.

i'm so excited...and i just can't hide it

fresh off my fingers is bungaloe's newest design: meander - a chunky cable knit cowl.  i named it that because the cable patterns remind me of a meandering river: twisty and turny and soothing.  in the front is a cable pattern and around the back and sides it is a seed stitch.  the way this cowl lays is almost like a necklace, a really chunky, warm cozy necklace.  i love the way it came out. 
get one if you like at my etsy store.  you can find a color chart there if you would like to order this piece in another color.

introducing a new color TEAL!!! metallic too

oh man, is this color amazing or what? i've got the super pleated tote and the woven clutch in teal.  new in my shop!  the super pleated tote is a great size for everyday use: work, shopping, lunching etc.

the clutch is a little smaller and converts from a clutch to a shoulder bag, part of the woven collection.

 

did someone say....ADJUSTABLE STRAP?!

this is very very exciting for me. have you ever had a clutch and wished it was a shoulder bag or vice versa?  let's face it, girls are incredibly indecisive.  now you can have your cake and eat it too, because most girls can look at cake and not eat it for fear of gaining a few lbs.  or you could liken this bag's versatility to superman.  by day he is an intelligent, good looking writer and by night he is an ultra sexy world saving hero of a man.  this bag is not world saving or an intelligent writer but it IS just as versatile.

the point of this long winded story is that you can now have the super pleated clutch with an adjustable strap that allows you to carry a clutch, wristlet or shoulder bag, plus if you think the strap is too long, just knot up the middle, it also adds another element of design - and it comes in this amazingly fabulous metallic bronze eco-conscience non-pvc faux leather material! and as always it is handmade!

drop by my shop and get yours!

new in my shop...

just finished the SUPER PLEATED tote bag in moss fleather.  the big sister to the super pleated clutch.
roomy enough to tag along with you everywhere but not so big it looks like you are going away for 12 weeks.  carry it to work, use it to hold knitting projects, it's great for everyday.  the pleating gives the material a certain creamy-ness.

the handles are triple stitched and attached with rivets, the inside has one slip pocket and one magnetic closure pocket, the whole bag closes with a magnetic snap.  i made myself one of these - i have been using it for a couple months and i just love the simple complication of this design, the pleating gives it movement & interest but it's kind of understated too.  that is for the most part how i like to design my bags.

wish list

i hate clutter you would never know it by looking around my house.  things prevent me for being able to organize my stuff, mostly funds.  i need funds to buy the storage objects and those purchases fall way low on the priority list.  today i thought i'd pretend i could buy some things to start getting the house organized in style.  i love vintage, and mixing vintage with simple modern decor so that the style of the vintage object can shine.  here are some things i would use for storage:

ooooh the things i could put away in these!  going clockwise from the top left:

large vintage metal basket from neatokeen
vintage hardware parts drawers from luckylittledots
antique whisky farm style crate from ingenuity on display
vintage mail bin from vintage jane

new in my store!

it's big, it's pleated, it's cranberry!

GIVEAWAY and NEW DESIGN!

ok kids! so today i will announce the winner of my giveaway, it'll be very soon......
in the meantime lay your eyes on this - announcing THE SUPER PLEATED CLUTCH!!!!

YAY!!!! this has been in my head ever since i designed the super pleated tote.  it's the perfect sibling!  it's super sized with gorgeous side pleating and it has a zippered closure.  take this baby out for a spin! get yours here.

new design - the broome street clutch!

i am so excited tonight.  it's been my mission to make some classic designs for bungaloe that could be my staple, signature designs.  so far the super pleated tote is one of them - the next addition to the bungaloe family is: the broome street clutch!! named after the street my mom grew up on in nyc.

i love the design because it's pretty classic, just straight up sleek.  it's made from reclaimed leather, has a flap with a hidden snap closure, riveted detail and you can stick your finger inside the strap for easy access.  it's very large approx 8.5" l x 12.5" w.
i have this obsession with making clutches that are perfect for going out with: on a date with your man or a new date, for a nice lunch or dinner with friends and i think this one fits into that category perfectly.  get it here!

GIVEAWAY FROM BUNGALOE

i think it's about time i host a giveaway, in these stressful economic times it's hard to scrounge up the cash to buy the fun things in life. it's 7am on a wednesday and i wanna spread some joy!
YOU can win this screenprinted bungaloe canvas clutch handmade by me!

featuring 2 snap closures, an outside pocket and houndstooth screenprinted detail, measures approx 11.5" w x 6.5" l, made with organic canvas and waterbased ink.

here's how to win:
1. look thru my blog and note your favorite post in a comment on this post. (you MUST leave a comment because this is where i will choose the random winner from!)
2. take a look thru my etsy store and heart your favorite item.
3. if you have a blog become a follower of my blog.

pretty simple! you have until 12am tuesday march 16th.
i will choose the winner at random by next wednesday 9am and announce it on my blog!!

GIVEAWAY from the {NEWNEW}!!

i am a member of the {NEWNEW} etsy street team and this month, The {NewNew} Blog will be offering fabulous giveaways TWICE A WEEK from many of its talented members. From unique ceramics to glamorous jewelry to incredible paintings...each post will bring you a chance to win a {NewNew} item from some of the best Etsy shops in New York! Please share these amazing contests with others, and please visit this blog often for updates!

We kick off this Month of Giveaway Madness by featuring well known {NewNew} member MAY LUK a Brooklyn based ceramic artist who creates a line called TAKE ME HOMEWARE.

What better way to set a fresh and exciting Spring table than with items from May Luk's shop? AND GUESS WHAT? YOU CAN WIN THESE TWO GREAT PIECES!

A pair of his and her ditsy bowls for holding all your precious things. These will make a beautiful addition to your home.

HERE'S HOW TO WIN
Make sure you are a current follower of this blog. Visit May Luk's shop and take a look at all of her beautiful work. Then visit the newnew team's blog here and post below in comments and let us know what your favorite item is. You may comment one time only, but if you tweet or blog about this giveaway you get an extra entry, so mention that in your comment! CONTEST ENDS MARCH 7. Sorry- US entries only.

Good Luck!

2 in 1 clutch combo!!

this one needs a name cause i think i'll actually keep this design and recreate it in different leathers, faux and reclaimed. did you ever take out your clutch and find you needed more room all of a sudden? i have worked all weekend on this problem and come up with my clutch combo.
should you need more room all of a sudden just unfold this clutch and move a couple straps around and voila!!!!! and really sleek hand/shoulderbag!

here are some more views:

new stuff alert!!

adventures in leather, this hobo is zippered, has two front pockets and one interior pocket, organic canvas lining and a neat-o houndstooth detail on the front panel. let me know how you like or dislike the design, i'm not sure if the strap is too thick. the front pockets come in handy for easy access. i have been experimenting all week with reclaimed leather.

new stuff!

i hate to start every entry with 'i've been so busy i haven't been able to blog', it's so generic. but it's true. i really have been dedicating lots of time to making bungaloe a success. so in the last couple weeks i have been researching where to get leather to reclaim, and scratching my head on how to sew it together. i don't have an industrial or commercial leather sewing machine so there are many trying times when sewing. and i am self taught, mostly through trial and error and internet research. it takes time - lots of time. anyway i have to get back to work so here's a new bag you can buy it in my etsy store if you wish!

it's made from reclaimed leather, features verticle ruffles and studs, a zipper closure and removable strap and of course is completely hand made!

sneak preview part 3

friends think maybe i am making things too complicated on myself by creating different accessories. but i say i have creative A.D.D. so i don't know what else to do with myself. maybe it also comes from the fact that i have a hard time buying accessories for myself so i have been having fun making them and it's really neat to make things that i haven't seen anywhere.

anyway here's a sneak peek at some more jewelry that will be at my HOLIDAY TRUNK SHOW on dec 12!

delicious town

i can't believe how amazing etsy is. i have a hankering for some type of maple syrup dessert. within seconds of searching on etsy i found this:
vegan pumpkin spice whoopie pies with maple cream filling!!!!! looks scrumptious for sure, i will have to order these VERY soon get yours by visiting nubbycakes etsy shop.

oh YEAH!

most of the time i am a terrible procrastinator. i mean really really bad. i will walk by a pile of clean clothes 20 times and not fold them. it's really not cool at all. shamefully i will tell you that at times the pile of clothes will be on the bed and we sleep with them in the bed. gross.

it is a SHOCK that only yesterday i mentioned reusing leather from previously worn garments to create some of my clutches, and here is one already! amazing.....
i am keeping this one cause i think i should. take a look at my etsy store for more clutches.

faux get about it!

new stuff in my store:

take me to delicious town

i drove out to meet my bff in bklyn one night to pick up some stuff. after blabbing about whatever we decided to have something to eat. i remembered her telling me that there was an Ethiopian restaurant nearby when she first moved there. i really wanted to try it but there was also a BBQ place nearby (i heart BBQ, we both do) so we decided to scope out the Ethiopian joint and see if it was something worth giving up the precious space in our tummies that could've been filled with BBQ madness otherwise. there really wasn't much to debate it looked amazing, we could get BBQ anytime.

photo courtesy of Bati's website

the place is called Bati, located at 747 Fulton Street in Bklyn. it was really good, it's the only Ethiopian food i have ever had (yet), so i am no aficionado of African cuisine but we had an amazing time. it had the prefect amount of lighting, i hate eating in really bright places, i like ambiance, it was byob which was cool, our waiter was awesome and the food was great! i loved eating communally with my bestie and tearing off the injera to scoop the goodness into my face.

so i have been a little obsessed with our meal that night, for one thing, i'll eat meat, (the chicken stew was spicy goodness ) but i don't really like to eat too much of it. they had a variety of lentil, pea and chick pea dishes that i really liked and the collards were amazing! i needed to figure out a way to spice up my lentil and legume dishes so i started a search last saturday to find out more about Ethiopian dishes. i found out that there is a spice blend called berbere. i really didnt feel like going on a mad search to find all the spices to make a mix myself - i know laaaaazy! and cheap! hey, i am too busy sewing to be tracking down spices and grinding them up to make my own spice mixture. could i find it online?? could there be someone cool enough to make this blend on etsy?? oh there was!!!!!

step in emburke, a great spice shop i found on etsy: freshly made berbere!! and you get a really good amount i was scared i wouldn't get enough but it's a generous portion sure to keep me busy. smells amazing. put some on my tongue tastes amazing. now i just have to obtain some recipes.

printing elbow and much more.....

my elbow is killing me. i can only think that it's from a print job i did for a local church here. 200 shirts in one day all by myself, woe is me (it took me a couple tries to spell woe).

in other news, i'd like to share the process in which i make new screenprints. as you know they are mostly if not 100% inspired by my surroundings and in keeping with that here is the story about building houndstooth:
i really love the houndstooth pattern. i have a pair of flip flops from reef that are houndstooth patterened and they rocked, super rocked. but one of them broke......le sigh.
so i created a new pattern, it's houndstooth but the shape for the pattern is made from this picture of the dayton towers building in my town of rockaway:

so from here i used my trusty computer to create a houndstooth design and cut it out from a spot on the picture:

the next step was to take this and turn it into a pattern:

after that i printed it out on transparency film, and used the film to create a screen, which i used to screenprint this design onto my fabric and then i sewed my fingers to the bone to create bags like these:

and that's that!