+Sneak a peek - beach-y blues

Remember a couple of weeks ago, I posted about how I am so inspired by fabrics with hues of blues to create my beach-y blue bags? Well, I've been really busy trying since to get at least two new designs out by beginning of March, which is, yikes!, tomorrow. OK, so I am running late AGAIN! I most likely missed the Spring Break but these designs will be around for the entire spring/summer, possibly longer. I am just loving my new blue fabrics. LOVE LOVE LOVE them all. For now, here's a sneak peek at the first two bags. Stay tune for more later. If you don't want to miss any announcements about new releases, you can subscribe to Paco+Lupe's newsletter.

+She's back!

Just when you thought winter is ALMOST over, she's back with a mini-vengeance. It's the second day of a 7-day rain/snow/rain/snow stretch. With the temperatures being above freezing, it's unlikely the fluffy stuff is going to stay. It's the perfect snow, though, for a snowball fight! According to the forecast, it looks like the sun will reappear next Monday. For now, enjoy the snow/rain and hope this is it! Right? Do you hear me, Mother Nature?

+Monday Pic - View from my atelier

Working from home certainly has its perks. However, it also has some downsides. I've been asked "don't you feel isolated working at home?" Sometimes, I do. We are social creatures, after all, and we crave social interaction. So twitter or facebook is not exactly the norm, but I do spend a few minutes...ok, maybe a bit more than that..."socializing" online. My business depends on the internet world so it's important to keep a finger on the pulse. Besides that, I try to step out of the house by making one or two trips a week to downtown and meet up with friends or my husband for lunch, dinner, movies, whatever, just to change scenes. I call up some friends. I even take the time to talk with the Canpar guy that delivers my fabrics for me.

I do accomplish so much more being at home. My time tends to be relativey undisturbed. There is little distractions, except the TV and lately, the Vancouver 2010 Olympics. My sweet husband calls me from work from time to time, which is a nice distraction. I can have my coffee breaks outside in the spring, summer and fall. Winter? Not so much. I get to catch up with houseworks so our weekends would feel longer. When I have the urge to design, the peace and quiet is so appreciated. I can't wait til spring so I can work in the garden and start my vegetable patch.

The long winter does sometimes contribute to the feeling of isolation, though. Our winters are long...way too long. We would go without seeing the sun for days. So, when the sun does decide to peek through the grey clouds, it definitely perks me up. So today, I had to grab my camera and take a shot of what I see from the window of my atelier, which is in the basement. I can't wait when that white stuff melts and I start seeing the tulips from my windows.

What would be ideal is that my business flourish to the point that I have to move out of our basement and into a sexy loft workspace somewhere downtown-ish. I can have staff and we can go down to the coffee shop next door to chat about the next trends to watch out for. Wouldn't that be great?!?!? Uh, a girl can dream...

Have a great week!

+Featured in Wolfram Magazine March Issue

Today, the March 2010 issue of Wolfram Magazine was release, a magazine based in Orange County, California. Check out the online version. We're featured in it. YAY!!! It's always nice to see your work being featured anywhere. To me, it's a kind of recognition. Maybe I am producing some great things and people are starting to notice? Yay! It motivates me to create more. It's a nice feeling, indeed. Plus the exposure is always welcome. There are so many creative people out there. It is a constant effort to get yourself notice. It feels fantastic to be chosen among so many talented and creative people...and to be included with some of the many best. In this article, we represent the letter "P".

+End of Winter SALE

It's that time of the year again...END OF WINTER SALE! I've taken off 10-15% off on selected items. Some have limited quantities. This is an effort to make room for Spring/Summer stuff. No matter how well I plan this, I am always in panic rush to post new items for the next season? Hmmmm...need to work on this. Anyway, please go check out what I have ON SALE at Paco+Lupe.

Thanks!

+Monday Pic - End of an Era

I saw an ad on Craigslist Montreal last week. I entered the word "closing" in the search box, as usual, hoping to score on some real great bargains. Below was one of the results. On the ad was a link to a blog - Mile Endings. On it, Sarah Gilbert tells the story of the Maple Leaf Hat and Cap Company that has reached its end. It is a touching story. It tells how Barry Shinder had succumb to cheaper mass-production. Unfortunately, he is not alone.

The Monday pic (top) is a shot of the many wooden fitted hat sizing blocks. Those, too, are for sale. We left with a box full of zippers for just $10. There are over 600 zippers of variable sizes, from 16" to 38" long. Believe me, I counted. The box was just sitting there for ages. Barry was just glad to get rid of it. Despite his luck, he is optimistic about his future and was quite funny last Saturday, the day we visited. We wish Barry all the best.

Have a great week!

+Felicidade enfim verão sem fim

Today is not suppose to be a sad day. It should be a happy day. I should be happy. Then why is this dark cloud hanging over me when it is so gorgeous and sunny outside? You see, a friend of mine who has been dreaming of leaving his job to travel the world, for the second time, is finally leaving today. He will be travelling for at least a year...or whenever he runs out of money. He has been talking about this for ages. It started when I met him about 11 ½ years ago where I worked before I ventured into my own adventure and started my own business. Since then, it was always in his future. I just never imagine, nor did he, that this day has finally arrived. Today...or rather tomorrow, he will be arriving RIO DE JANEIRO, just in time for the carnival. Thai-Binh, you're going to make it this time! YAY!

Thai-Binh has been a man in my life the longest...except for dad and my dear husband, of course. We have gone through amazing years. Our friendship is filled with so many laughs. More laughs than tears! He gets me. I get him. He tolerates me. I *sometimes* tolerate him (hehe). We used to go to photography classes and spent many weekends in the darkroom creating "art" as we wanted to think of them. Shopping was just fun with him. He would never, and I mean NEVER, let me look bad. And when I did, he would say "what's going on here" pointing up and down to my outfit. "uh uh...NO!" and sent me back to change. It was just easy to spend a day with him mucking around.

Best words to describe Thai-Binh are: unselfish, loyal and full of life. All qualities of a BFF. No matter what happens, an argument, disagreement, whatever, we reset to our normal. It really should be that easy.

So today, tomorrow, next week, next month, I don't know for how long, I will miss him. I will miss him like crazy! I know he's coming back but it just seems so far away. Days of just calling him up to meet for coffee, dinner, movies, etc will have to wait. I don't know if I can get used to that even for just awhile. I am being a baby, I know. BUT I guarantee I'll always be thinking of my *high-maintenance* BFF. I just have to think that maybe someday, hopefully in a few months, we will get to visit him wherever he may be in his travels. Argentina, we are hoping! Get a nice place, Thai-Binh, 'cause we're coming!

So wipe off the tears..again. Geez, he's just an email, facebook or blog away. Thai-Binh, you better be posting on your blog or I'll start worrying! Stay happy and stay safe. BOM DIA RIO, my friend...and see you later!

Felicidade enfim verão sem fim...Happiness at last endless summer

+Send the winter blues away

Is there such a thing as "winter blues"? I am telling you, personally, it does! I must have been dreaming when I woke up and walked to my window to look outside to see the green grass, flowers, birds,... POP! Crap, it's still winter. There it was..and still is. SNOW. OK, maybe not as much as previous years *knock on wood that I just didn't jinx myself and summoned a winter storm* so I guess we can consider ourselves lucky that we didn't have to strain our backs so much this season by shovelling. According to Punxsutawney Phil, we still have another 5 weeks of winter. So don't pack away those winter clothes just yet.

BUT who says I can't escape the winter blues? Even just in my mind? Warm sun...no wait...HOT SUN, feet dug into the sand, lathered up COMPLETELY in sunscreen (at least SPF 45, can't be too careful), drink in one hand, book in the other, sounds of waves, ....aaahhhhh POP! And we're back in the real world. I guess the only way I can "escape" the winter blues is to think of new designs for that beach-y look. What I have in my hands are the new samples I just ordered from my fave fabric store. Here they are. They will definitely help me conjure up that beach-y vibe. summer days...beach...sun...fruit drinks...bbq...hammocks...flip-flops...linen dresses...cotton dresses...

+Monday Pic - Winter Shadows

Have a great week!

+Introducing - RED #5 handbag

Here's the 5th addition to my special Valentine's Day RED collection... RED #5.

LIMITED QUANTITY: Only 3 made and ready to be shipped the next business day. Depending on popularity, I may decide to include her as part of my collection. Both available at Paco+Lupe and Etsy stores.

+Introducing - RED #2,3,4 handbag

More RED bags listed!!! Limited quantity...I just didn't have time to make more. Depending which ones are popular, I will think about making it part of my regular collection. For now, they are here especially for Valentine's Day.

Available at Paco+Lupe and Etsy stores.

RED #2 RED #3 RED #4
Available only at Paco+Lupe.

Stay tune for more red bags in the works...back to my atelier where I am surrounded by red threads, red fabrics, red etc...

+Monday Pic - Poire @ Marché Jean-Talon

A trip to Jean-Talon Market/Marché Jean-Talon...pears for $2/basket.

Have a great week!