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.

a perfect winter hat - choose your color

bungaloe's slouchy side button hat can be made in any of these 6 colors! let's get ready for winter!

where have i been?

i took a hiatus from bungaloe to GET MARRIED!!  talk about a diy wedding! the reception was on the beach, we rented a HUGE tent, John made the floor, i designed the invites, my family helped me make the favors, there were handwritten signs, i could go on & on.  I'll post more pics soon.

In the month leading up to the wedding, I was crazy busy with all the little details that come up especially when you decide not to have a reception in a hall and you have to put lots of the wedding together yourself.  i also started re-evaluating bungaloe and what i want bungaloe to be. and what i want to be when i "grow up".  i'm still working on that. 

but in the days after the wedding we had some very autumn-like weather and it planted a knitting bug in me.  last winter i designed a slouchy hat that i love.  I designed it because i couldn't find exactly what i wanted in a hat anywhere else.  my mom taught me to knit several years ago and i always looked to knitting as a very relaxing and grounding hobby.  but i love the design i came up with and i decided to add it to my bungaloe store.  with fall coming i think it's a good idea.  maybe bungaloe will turn into a full accessories shop someday.

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!

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 - super pleated tote

i featured this style tote a couple weeks ago but didn't have the time to talk about it much, so hear it is:

i love this tote!!! i first started making hand bags with the intention of one day making a bag like this, i didn't know what it looked like in my mind years ago. it's been a process for sure. it's the fruition of everything i've always wanted in a bag for myself but couldn't afford or find.
the super pleated tote bag is a design that you could use everyday and feel like your carrying your belongings in something special. i love pleats, but i wanted to use them in an unexpected way - they are on the sides of the bag in a scattered pattern to create movement and scrunchyness.

the pleating created a really cool shape for the bag. the handles are riveted on. i wanted to keep the overall look simle by leaving out o rings and d rings and buckles.

the inside of the bag has 2 pockets. the outside is made from reclaimed leather and the interior is made with organic canvas.

pro to type

working on some new designs, i think this is pretty much what the new clutch design will look like except a little wider, a little more fold-over action and some rivets, the strap will be more finished too, and probably a removable strap.

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!

i'm back!!

the holidays kept me pretty busy this year. but here i am to share some news. my trunk show was fun and successful even though i didn't get many visitors. i think i will chalk that up to the fact that i didn't really promote as much as i should have. but one really amazing lady did almost all of her shopping at my show. she bought 8 items! her husband dragged her out before she spent another dime at one point and then she came back.
christmas was awesome, we got a gorgeous tree. i got a nintendo ds FINALLY!! so exciting!

and below take a peek at some of the new items that are in my etsy store right now!

pardon my absence

from your life. I have been undergoing much thought about bungaloe, where it's headed and what i like to create. i finally got the faux leather i ordered about 2 weeks ago just in time to make something new and exciting for the Henri Bendel "open see" which was held on Oct 23rd.

well things just weren't going the way i thought they would, i didn't go. BUT i am not too sorry. the last two weeks have been again filled with doubts and questions about what i am doing and what i WANT to do. i spent a lot of time knitting - which is another creative outlet i really want to explore - and just letting things come. here's my newest design it's part of my 'fleather' line of bags and accessories.

that's it for now! i have more designs in the works, one of my other dilemma's is how to change my esty store, stay cohesive and not freak people out because i am completely changing direction.........

getting ready for the winter

every winter it's a struggle to find a hat that i like, is comfortable, not kiddie looking and doesn't let wind in my ears. so last year i bought a hat that was long and slouchy, it covered my ears, and was good but not tight enough around my ears. so i took what i liked about that hat, searched around at other hats for some inspiration and knitted this up by modifying an existing pattern i have for a ribbed hat:

it was pretty easy, if you like this hat and would like the pattern just leave me a comment!