Hello my darlings,
It’s been a minute, let me catch you up! Pride was a blast, met some great people and partied juuuuust the right amount :) Here at the end of the month of June, the weather on the east coast has been sweltering - but we are surviving! I’m trying to get a cute, well spf’d tan in, here and there. I’ve also been playing around on TikTok which has been surprisingly enjoyable. Not having a marketing budget is not an excuse these days! And the casual nature of the app relieves a lot of the pressure I feel on Instagram to look newborn and picture perfect at every moment of the day. One thing I’ve learned from moving home to DC is that perfectionism has never been my forte. I’m loud and slightly rogue, but handle my surroundings with grace, a smile, and a really good argument. Trying to smooth the edges is often a failed endeavor because I’m either too restless or truly don’t care enough to fit into the square box presented by people who do value conformity. And let me say it, conformity is good for building structure! I believe there is value in doing things by the book, because I don’t know, science and math are real. Data makes the world go ‘round. But in my old age (31), I’m familiar enough with the ways of societal pressure (and safe at home <3) so that I’m at the point where I feel comfortable questioning those brick buildings and asking where my talents can either be of value within those structures, or help improve them. There’s something about moving home and being confronted with the same feelings and ideas that you never really fit into this world, and finally finding power in that. That “Okay, fine. Now what?” And that’s exactly what I’m exploring: where to go from here.
So I’ve returned to one of my favorite and age-old methods of creative expression to help me sort through all the different voices in my head telling me how to move forward. I’ve been sewing a lot!
The Hawaiian candy striper print handbag is my most recent - and I had such a blast creating it. I found some coveralls made of this fabric in Southeast Michigan, maybe eight years ago, and held onto it out of sheer joy. I finally was inspired to alter it to completion and now we have a set!
I made this crossbody bag to wear during Pride weekend, and not to brag, but it was perfect!! Light weight and big enough to hold my phone and a water bottle.
It’s a little dingy in the corners as I didn’t make a prototype for this one and just “made it work,” but now I have the pattern worked out, so next time it’ll be cleaner! I love this almost-honeycomb fabric, and used a rainbow paracord for the strap as a wink to the gay celebrations I designed it for. The flower button appeared in my supplies and thought it was too sweet not to include in this design.
Lastly, I want to talk about these drawstring bags that I made! I made a few out of black fabrics and two out of beachy-ier fabrics for a customer.
This one’s for the sports girly, the athlete in me (and you!). It’s such a simple yet effective design and so easy to grab and go. I use it for work and the gym, to carry my uniform, change of clothes and shoes. It holds a lot! My customer bought them to take to the beach. They are machine washable, so all that sweat and sand don’t have to simmer. And in this heat you can’t avoid those bodily excretions!
They are not all for sale on the eBay site yet… I just can’t keep my mouth shut because I’m having so much fun making them! If you want one now - please email me or dm me and we can work something out <3 I’m in the process of uploading and simplifying the shopping experience, but e-commerce is difficult and glitchy and it’s a slow process…
Anyway, I mostly just wanted to stop in and say hello and send positive thoughts y’alls way! It feels like the world is getting more chaotic and out of control by the day. And sewing silences a lot of that noise for me, so I wanted to share. Where do we go from here?? I don’t know just yet, but whatever it is that calms your mind, I’d start with that.
Bisous,
Carson
Nice bags Carson. You write well. Keep it up!
I LOVE these bags. Can't wait to see where you go with this Carson! Will they be for sale eventually?