Falling Back in LOVE...

with handbags. seriously.
as promised, i've been working diligently on new handbags and
consequently have the calloused fingers and sore back to prove it.
pain aside, i'm happy with the work i've produced in the past few weeks.

i even patterned a new style...
AKS


my new favorite:
DRINI 1007





other highlights:
handle it 406





The Batsy Bag 711




For more new handbags available visit my etsy shop!

i HAD to include this new goliath wallet XIII...
i lined this pattern up like nobody's business!





almost sold out of all my chloe headbands and hair combs, so i worked with a yellow theme this time and produced 13 newbies...
perfect for spring!




i also experimented with putting the leaves in a circular/flower arrangement:



it's a green theme next, i'm almost done with this batch...


i've updated my website and etsy shop, so check 'em out to see new phea jean goodies and what's currently available for purchase...hint hint.

which leads me to the subject of buying phea jean...
why you should you???
because i'm awesome.
no, seriously, because i design, pattern, sew, etc. everything and it's all one of a kind. i'm totally dedicated to this craft and work at improving and learning every day. if you don't find something already made, i can colaborate with you to create something fabulous. phea jean makes for great gifts. did you know i have gift certificates available?! yup, i'm fancy like that. i know buying handmade can be a little more expensive than going to a retail store, especially in not so favorable economic times; however, if you want to have a discussion on why it's oh-so-good and important to support local, independent businesses and why it's cool to buy handmade and sustainable products, call me up. i make this stuff in my house in south philly for pete's sake!

i also have to not give away free merchandise.
i know no one ever expects for me to give them free things, but, hell, i want to do it. but apparently that's not good for business...who knew. ha.
i always talk to my other crafty/artsy/small business friends about what their "policies" are on selling things to friends and family. some friends have a set discount that they give to friends/family.
here's my dilema with that...
what's the criteria one must meet for me to give them a "friend" discount (i know who my family is, obviously, doesn't mean i like them though, does it?!)? should i start rating people on a scale of 1 to 10 to determine how much of a discount (you'd all be in trouble, haha)...
if i like you at a 10 you get a handbag for free,
if i like you at a 1 you get a free button...
or how long i've known you...1 year gets $1 off, 10 years gets $10 off.
and then you tell your friends (which i infinitely appreciate) and they think they are going to get things for the same price. WHAT?! no.
bottom line, it's weird. i feel awkward about it.
i don't think there is a fair way to do it, at least not that i feel comfortable with. i get stressed about it. and i don't want anyone to feel slighted that i gave "x" to someone else and not to them. it's happened. so i either give things to everyone or no one. obviously, this is a business and i need to make some money so it's gotta be the latter option. i sometimes need to be reminded that logistically speaking, it is my time and energy that produces everything phea jean, so yeah i should be compensated for it.
this is not to say that i will not make you something as a gift ever again, say for your birthday (if i remember, or you remind me). or as a "thank you" if you give me a bunch of supplies, or save my puppy from a burning building.
and one day when i marry rich, win the lottery, and find a duffle bag of unmarked bills everyone will get whatever they want. promise.

now don't feel bad if i gave you something already.
we all want discounted/free stuff, i know i definitely do!
here's a way to get something for free...have a phea jean party at your place (or possibly mine, if you live in philly)!
email or call me up and ask me to come over for a little get together in which i bring handbags, hats, wallets, headbands, etc.
you invite your crew and make some snacks (i'm a vegetarian, thanks) and drinks. it's a fun time, right. depending on how much i sell, i'll kick you back a little something for hosting. easy. its a win-win situation!

i'm also working on coming up with some kind of "frequent buyer" and "refer a friend" incentives.

wow, this blogging thing just clicked for me.
i feel better now.

oooooo, almost time to reveal super exciting phea jean news, but i think i'll wait til next month when the weather warms up a bit...
speaking of, anyone in philly want to model for me? please let me know!

xo
amber

Mew Fundraiser @ South Philly Tap Room

Win fabulous stuff (photography, paintings, prints, jewelry, clothing, zines, candles, ceramics, and sooooo much more!!!)
Come out and support local artists!
I'll be donating some phea jean goodness!
This is going to be sooo much fun!
!!!

Ready for the catwalk...or should I say "dogwalk"

Any dog who runs with me has gotta look fresh,
so since Apollo and I have been spending a lot of time out on the town together I decided to make him this new outfit.

The outfit was surprisingly easy...
could a line of dog clothing be in the future for phea jean...?!


He's such a good model!

I'm one step away from making us matching outfits, but perhaps that would be going too far...

February Update!

Two summers ago a friend gave me some fabric he had saved from an old chair. I took that fabric and made it into a newsboy cap which sold at
Mew Gallery. I wish I got to see who purchased it!


Newsboy Cap A9

I wanted to somehow show my appreciation to my friend for giving me such cool fabric. I still had bits of the fabric in my scrap bin so I decided to make him a wallet and incorporate the fabric he gave me. I made the wallet pattern on a whim and it turned out pretty good, so I quickly produced 4 more. I thought this could be a good alternative to the goliath wallet which is larger and basically for women. This new mens inspired wallet is smaller and I'm calling it the Apollo Wallet.





And here's my baby Apollo...

Apollo Wallets are now available on etsy and at Mew Gallery.

More headbands! These are selling fast!
I will be listing new headbands on etsy over the weekend (Apollo is visiting and he doesn't let me get much work done), so for right now the new batch is available at Mew Gallery!


Mew Gallery and The Philadelphia Sewing Collective will be holding a supply swap on February 21st from 1:30-4:30PM! Hopefully I'll be able to clear out some of my old fabric and not take home too much.
BONUS: After the swap there will be an art opening at Mew, so it will be a jam packed day of fun. If you're smart you'll swing by!Oh and Channel 6 did a little piece on the swap...check it out HERE
I make a little cameo in the background!

Currently, I'm working on handbags for a party I have coming up.
I've also already signed up for the Trenton Avenue Arts Festival on May 16th. I did this show last year and it was a lot of fun.
Coinciding with the festival is a kinetic derby!
The spring shows are starting to be announced so I will keep everyone informed on the phea jean schedule as I sign up.

I'm getting better at sending these updates...
and I've got a lot of new things I'm working on which I'll unveil once the weather gets a little warmer!

phea jean joined twitter!
Follow me!

xo Amber

ps check out the upcycling post below this update if you haven't already!

2+1+1+1

so, as you should all be aware by now, i'm awesome and sometimes i even amaze myself...

upcycling, recycling, repurposing
-whatever you want to call it-
i'm sooooooo into this process of making something new from something old!

my latest upcycling challenge was to create a newsboy cap from 2 plaid button down shirts, 1 t-shirt, 1 polo shirt, and 1 pair of pants

BEFORE


AFTER







i used the pair of black and gray pinstriped pants to construct a basic phea jean newsboy cap, with the exception of the brim, which was made from the black t-shirt with the japanese writing. for the top detailing, i knew that i wanted to keep with a geometric theme because there are already so many straight lines to follow within a plaid pattern. first, i removed both plackets from the each of the button down shirts (plackets are the vertical center-fronts of the shirt that overlap, one side with the buttons and the other side has the button holes). i cut the plackets between each button/button hole and was left with approx 3" pieces. then i "buttoned" the plackets together with the opposite shirts (the button hole placket from the red shirt with the button placket from the white shirt). next, i sewed all the pieces together into a "diamond" shape. lastly, i lined the newsboy cap with the striped polo shirt.
tricky, tricky!

over 2008, onto 2009

another year and another holiday show season has come to an end...
as some of you may know, a mysterious injury left me on crutches for the month of december. i really thought that attending the holiday shows would be near impossible. however, with the rallying support of family, friends,& fellow vendors i(we) got through it.
sooooooo to everyone who helped me set up
and kept me company
THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU.
just another reminder that phea jean would not be possible without those people i am lucky to have in my life. those people are, of course, all of YOU.
i've still got one good foot, luckily my sewing foot, so that means i've been busy!

new phea jean hair accessories!
chloe
hair combs
and headbands
named after my pretty chloe!


last year around this time i made two knit hats: one for me and one for a friend. even though i'd been rocking the hat, i never made any more until a few months ago. i'm happy to report that the hats started selling and the
nix knit hat
was (re)born as an official member of team phea jean.



the hats have a vintage feel to them, especially when adorned with vintage buttons. can't really go wrong with buttons, i say!
while out in philly i even spotted a stranger wearing a nix knit hat that sold at Mew Gallery! it was a cool moment shared with my friends sondra and lis who i think were equally excited.


also a favorite this year are the
goliath wallets!
4 separate compartments in this puppy


and of course the newsboy caps are as popular as ever!
lots of new and fantastic newsboy caps just dying to be worn. guaranteed to keep you looking good and keep your head warm too!


with all the new accessories i know what you may be thinking,
and the answer is:
NO, i haven't given up on the handbags! this past year, it was nice to experiment with other aspects of phea jean and expand my repertoire. i found that the other accessories have a quicker turn around and are less labor intensive (yet no less special). and with each year, gaining more experience from doing shows and selling at Mew Gallery, i've found that customers like to see a range of items...shows i'm no one trick pony, so to speak. and for those who cannot afford my more expensive handbags, it's still possible to find the meticulous sewing and great many quirks of phea jean in something less expensive like a hair accessory. it's also nice to know that phea jean can be successful selling other items aside from the handbags.
as always, i am still committed to making unique, one of a kind items.

along with this blog update, i have also updated my official website pheajean.com so check out the gallery to see new items!
for everything available for purchase online at this time check out my
etsy shop!

PHILLY LOCALS: phea jean can be found at
Mew Gallery
906 Christian St.
Philadelphia, PA 19147
215.625.2424
Mew is a fantastic boutique featuring handmade goods by local artists.
really, there are about 100 things in there that i NEED at this exact moment!
if you are in town be sure to stop in, you may even find my shining face behind the counter, dancing, or just hanging out with owners and talented ladies i now call friends, lauren and carolynne! lots of my creative friends also sell items at Mew so even if you don't pick up anything from phea jean you'll still be supporting the local community and that rocks!

interested in custom ordering? want to host a handbag party in 2009?
rocking a phea jean and want to show it off on the website?
please don't hesitate to contact me: pheajean@gmail.com