That trip home I took...

What can we say - November, and December have been busy. This post is the long over-due recap of our trip to Montreal and then back home - three heartwarming, inspirational weeks.

First dawn after an overnight flight. Coffee was a life saver for the first couple of days, helping to keep the energy up and adapt back to Eastern time. This was our first time to Montreal, and we loved it - it is a historic old world based city, with many lively neighbourhoods. You walk outside your hotel door, and it begins...

Early dawn

Shadows pulling away...

 It was four days of walking, picture taking, definitely lots of great food, gorgeous Fall scenery and even some snow...

View of Montreal - from Mount Royal...

J. being herself

River

Preferred low-rise scenery

 We scouted out various small neighbourhoods, local boutiques, cafes, etc. The weather was one of the best things about the entire trip, raining.. only once.

......... Then there was a short road trip to Ottawa - and the Parliament. Another first time, since J's arrival to Canada. There was some trolling in wind and rain (that's the only rainy day!), meeting the Cats of Parliament Hill, tour of the Building and the Tower, hot chocolate, sandwiches and then a beautiful countryside ride back to Quebec.

..........Then, after another overnight flight, we were greeted by perhaps the warmest October Vilnius has seen in a decade.... Glowing sunshine and 18*C. What more can one ask?

It felt like early September...

....Although the leaves were turning...

Again, lots of walking and observing the changing face of Vilnius everytime we visit... There was also lots of quality time with the family... And shoe shopping.

Castle reno - something most people do not see every day...

View from a restaurant courtyard at sundown... 

Wall.

My mother and I tested out a few wineries around town, as it was getting chilly in the evenings. 

Old winery space

Mother/ Daughter Friday

Raspberry beer - very light and fruity. Fringy items like this, is what I miss back in Canada...

When my mother had to go to work, there was another companion, who stayed home. So we could hang out. Sorta... 

Amelia falling asleep - again...

 

Sundown and city lights over City Hall

The three weeks flew by so fast - seems as though there is never enough time, when I'm home. there could always be another dinner party with long conversations, more places to visit, more walks to do and more memories to gather. I cant wait to visit my family again...


Posted by Jolanta http://jolavdesigns.com

Trunkshow recap

When things get this busy, there is hardly any time to say our proper thanks...
So here we are - all thankful to those, who came out to our first individual Trunkshow, with wine, cheese and purses; to our lovely host, Favourite Gifts boutique, and the Fall sunshine that made the day even more beautiful...

Here are a few snaps I took during the set-up:


We had taken over the shop!  Patchwork, sale items, samples and coin pouches - all decked out in the centre of the Boutique...

The Sample rack had some of the best deals to date - 45%  to 60% off on prototypes and one-off designs. You can check out the Tosca sample at our Webshop.

I've brought in extra stock for the Permanent Collection designs. Khela and Tasmain are always at the Webshop...

Sarah bags and new, one-off burlap designs... 

Belts, two section coin pouches (called Feather Lights) and more deals on samples...

In mid-afternoon, the refreshments came. I had to make sure I take a picture of the set-up before everyone digs in... Red + white, fruit juice, water, 3 kinds of cheese, M&Ms, and fruit. This is so far the most festive set-up I had for any event...

This picture was taken by Customer from the Trunkshow, after she flew back home to the Prairies. Her new - and our final, Katie, The Bag on a snowy deck in it's new home. We could not feel more gratified...

Missed this event? - our next one will take place next Thursday, November 29 at the Ayala Moriel Parfums studio... Refer to our Website for all inquiries, more info is coming up soon...

Posted by Jolanta http://jolavdesigns.com

Trunkshow - This Saturday, Nov 10 at Favourite gifts

We're excited to host our private Holiday event this Fall.

As an alternative to large, crowded art shows, we decided it is time to do something different, and invite our customers for a more of a face-time event, with afternoon wine, cheese and treats.

This Saturday, our very first Trunkshow will take place at Favourite Gifts boutique.
This is an all-day event, we will start at 10 am and continue till 7 pm (store closing time), with the refreshments delivered at about 4 pm.

All new Feather Lights

All new felted pouches for gifts

There will be lots of extra stock, besides what Favourite already carries, lots of new stuff we've just built, further discounts on sale items and samples (up to 60%, really), and even rare 15% deals on Permanent Collection... Some discounts will be at the Webshop as well for the day, so, tune in.

Multi-sectional Feather Lights

One-offs and samples - 35% - 45% off

15% of Permanent Collection

Styles of past seasons - up to 60% off

New deals added

And, of course, Custom Service!

Sat, Nov 10 10 - 7 pm
Favourite Gifts Boutique
Lonsdale Quay, N. Van 

Posted by Jolanta http://jolavdesigns.com

Press: Telia on The Vancouver Sun

Telia wristlet

Telia has been featured in a fashion article in The Van Sun last Sunday.

You can track the article down here.

Article caption

The feature also brought some calls to the Custom Service - here is a customized OOAK Cross-body Telia for a new customer we were very happy to build:

Posted by Jolanta http://jolavdesigns.com

Khela, progress

My latest Collection is big leap from the first attempts to sew leather three years ago. And, the very trustworthy new machine I got last year has been an extraordinary help. I am so glad I was able to do the kind of stitching I always wanted, and in the past, although I knew I had the skills to do it well, I simply did not have the machine, that does not let me down in those critical moments. I like exposed stitching, pleats, folds and sculpting, and this Collection has been based on that...

My new confidence has delivered perhaps the most complex crown to date - a low-key and  functional one, which was the true intention behind it. You've probably did not even notice it, yet is has been relentlessly doing its job - on Khela bag... The bat-wing zipper expansion....

The zippers inserted into the crown of Khela allow the wearer a wider access to the inside of the bag when needed, and close it when not needed. I came up with that idea after once trying to quickly allocate an umbrella inside one of my bags. What if there was a space inside a bag, I thought, where I could stand the umbrella upright, with the handle right at the top, so I can pull it out in a split second...

The zips are facing the outside, and the nubuc of the 'bat wing' faces the inside. I need to do at least four inversions of the bag parts, before I can fully attach it to both  - front and back of the bag. Then, four more for the other side...

Now, it is time to connect the top of the crown and enclose it: two more inversions to the inside-out to stitch, and back again - to, later, top-stitch. I love top-stitching, and do it whenever possible. The varying tensions bring out the colour properties of leather. Here, a Khela is being built in gorgeous Harness Brown - coming soon for FW 2012...

Top-stitching is the most demanding part of the build. It comes, when most of the bag has already been assembled, so way too late to mess up - and practically no room to start over...  Yet, top-stitching can be the most important detail of the design, and it can be the one trait, that grabs the eye. The zippers get sewn in twice - on the bad side, and then, top-stitched on the good side.  Those are some firmly holding zips...

 The top-stitching also follows through the very centre of the bag - this is where I tend to go really slowly, especially through those centre folds of the outer shell. It pays.

And then... some fifteen inversions, countless folds and pleats later, we have the assembled bat-wing crown of the Khela...  Lastly, on comes the flap closure and the strap holes. The zips look gorgeous, and really do serve a purpose. See a Khela wearer pull out a water bottle right out of that corner, or swing out an umbrella in a second, makes it all worth the effort and the handiwork.

This is how they look like, when complete: Mahogany, Harness Brown and Cafe.  

Khela bags are available at the Webshop and Favourite Gifts in North Van


Posted by Jolanta http://jolavdesigns.com

"Gather" recap

Because of how unusually rainy the Spring and early Summer were in Vancouver (and by our standards here, things are rainy in general - but the stats for 2012 surpassed the wet weather averages by three times! - so that is no joke), we decided to opt out of the outdoor events we were so immersed in the previous year, and take our Summer event indoors. Luclily, Gather Pop Up, came to Gastown in late July...

Taking place, literally, a block away from our studio, in a beautiful space, previously occupied by a restaurant, and organized by the founders of Cargoh and OOAK Vancouver, gather Pop Up was an easy pick. It was the first event of it's kind so far, and we were so lucky to be part of it. It was about time the bags 'got out to socialize', especially since there were some new designs appearing for the Summer...

Gather was not like many other handmade shopping weekends in the city. In fact, it defined just what we were looking for in a great event - it featured Media night on the opening evening, workshops, an art show and fantastic decor, ambiance and music - and received some serious press coverage in Canada.

... it also had a very unique way of spreading the word throughout the city - with beautiful 2-wheeled messengers equipped with fliers and lots of smiles.

On the set-up day, we loaded our bins on a dolly and carted them down the street, without needing to worry about loading the car, finding parking... making Gather the easiest and most pleasant set-up to date.

The set-up - thanks to Claire for the pic...

I brought some new designs, made especially for Gather Pop Up - and, Summer season in general. These will later on turn up in all leather as well...

Burlap and leather prototype... all new!

Because Gastown is so popular with visitors, the bags ended up traveling to their homes in otherwise unusual places further away - like Australia, Spain; some went to Ohio; and some stayed in town. It was very inspiring to see how aware tourists are about Indie fashion and art movement, and how willing they are to support small makers, like us.

Goodies...

Gather Pop Up was a great experience, time well spent amongst shoppers and fellow artists; and we would love to return for more.

I even treated myself to this cutie by VisaMexicana...

image sources: myself, Cariann, Planet Claire


And also - do not forget our SALE (60% off + prototypes 35% off - and more) August 11th at 
Favourite Gifts...

Posted by Jolanta http://jolavdesigns.com