Peace at Christmas

This week, I’ve officially declared myself to be on Christmas vacation. I think I’m well deserving of it! I’m pretty much burnt out from sewing several handbags (Sorry, I can’t mention show them in case I ruin the surprise for the recipients. But trust me, they’re super cute!) and a few other handmade gift goodies and decorations…and prepping for a dinner party this past Sunday that have kept me up until the wee hours of the night. The lack of sleep was a small price to pay to make sure that those packages were sent in time before the PO’s shipping deadline. I put so much effort into those gifts and I’d be damned if they didn’t reach their destination in time for Christmas!

Wes would have been disappointed if I didn’t make homemade stockings. (What you thought I could just sew handbags?!) Apparently, he’s just too good for store bought ones! Looks like I was a good girl this year since mine is extra heavy for its hook!

Paper garland, one of my many mini projects. 

Now that the rush is over, I can enjoy some peace without feeling guilty. And it feels so good! The last couple of days I’ve been catching up on sleep, watching cheesy ABC family Christmas movies and reruns of Greek (my new fave show to keep me occupied until Drop Dead Diva and Glee are back) and eating all the baked treats dropped off by my neighbors. Life is good! Oh, and Wes and I are heading to Flagstaff for our Christmas getaway. We weren’t able to fly to Hawaii or Indiana this year to spend time with either of our families, so we’re starting our own tradition of snowboarding on Christmas Day.

I should be well rested and itching to get started when I return from my mini vacation. I’m excited for all the new things that S&S will be featuring. Hopefully, Shar and I can introduce The Traveler on our Etsy site soon. I know I few ladies out there who are waiting for them! We may even take a poll on what fabrics you all like best. There are just so many lovely ones out there we’re having a hard time deciding. Shar and I tried weeding them out ourselves, but we likened it to choosing which one of our children were our favorite (not that either of us have children, but it was just so dang hard to decide!). Your input would be much welcome!

For now, let’s just all enjoy the Christmas holiday . . . and survive the long stretch into the New Year. Here’s hoping that your days are merry and bright!

Cheers,

Sherryl & Shar

It's the most wonderful time of the year!

Nothing could be better than the holidays! Holiday parties, snuggling under warm blankets with hot cocoa and marshmallows....stealing kisses under the mistletoe...*sigh*

WE LOVE THE CHRISTMAS SEASON!

But MOST OF ALL, we are pleased to announce that:

Sherryl & Shar is having a special online GRAND OPENING!!!!!!

Our inaugural launch features a selection of our first line of handbags, carefully handcrafted with love and packaged with you in mind. You are cordially invited to view and be the first to purchase a Sherryl & Shar handbag! You can reach our shop at www.sherrylandshar.etsy.com

or direct through our shop link on the sidebar of this blog.

As an added bonus, we are featuring FREE PRIORITY SHIPPING to anywhere within the US and Guam through the end of 2009!

Sherryl & Shar handbags make excellent gifts, but once you see one in person, we'll understand if you want to keep it for yourself!

Thank you!

From Shar . . .

Thanksgiving. There is so much to be thankful for this year. Sherryl and I put our positive vibes out into the universe and our nose to the grindstone, and voila! Sherryl & Shar took its first steps into the retail market! This company is truly our baby and ever labor pain will be worth it in the end because we know that we have the support of our friends, family, and fans. And, when I say "labor pains," believe me, starting a company has all the signs of birthing a newborn. Sweat, tears, late nights, early mornings, frequent appointments, temporary meltdowns, getting the crib ready -aka the website. It has been an exhausting yet worthy adventure. I am the luckiest person to have my best friend with me through it all. That said, I am also thankful for Beyonce's latest cd! If you are an avid reader of our blog, you will know why! :)

♥  ♥  ♥  ♥  ♥ 

From Sherryl . . . 

I am thankful for so much! So far, it has been an amazing year and it’s not over yet. The most exciting times are yet to come and it’s not just because Thanksgiving is here and Christmas and the New Year are right around the corner. Shar and I are finally seeing all of our hard work come to fruition.  I remember those days when all we did was dream and wonder what kind of business to start. At that time, I was in Indiana and Shar was in Rhode Island.  The two of us have come a long way since then.  We’ve criss crossed thousands of miles across the country, drank more than our fair share of margaritas during meetings and survived every crazy, exciting and surreal experience, all the while making S & S a reality. Though, we couldn’t have done it by ourselves. It’s still amazing to me how many people support us! I'm smiling to myself and shaking my head in wonder right now.   To each and every one of you (family, friends, FB fans, Twitterville, friends of friends and friends of friends of friends) that has sent Shar and I encouraging words, positive thoughts and good juju, I just want to say, from the tips of my magical sewing fingers, “Salamat Po . . . Grazie . . . Mahalo . . . Thank You!”  And to my BFF and PIC, “Love you, chica!”

♥  ♥  ♥  ♥  ♥ 

May your bellies be full, your home filled with laughter and your hearts overflowing with happiness this holiday season. Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

Love,

Sherryl and Shar

P.S.  We also hope your pockets are heavy! Teehee!  

Ode to Sewing

Courtesy of Crafty Chica’s Guide to Artful Sewing.  Every little bit helps!!!  I sang this with Beyonce’s If I were a Boy.  Yes, I know I’m a dork, but if you had the day that I did yesterday, you would appreciate this bit of silliness.  By the way, a very special thank you to my husband for wiping away my tears and drippy nose.

Oh great craft maker in the sky

Please, oh please!

Surround my workspace with good vibes, patience and creativity.

Guard these delicate fingertips from pinpricks and savage snips,

Whether by thimbles of steel or old-school divine intervention.

I don’t care, I just need hardcore protection!

Structured or freeform,

Let my needle sew straight and sturdy for stitches big and small.

And allow my scissors to fly through fabric upon my call.

Sure, I can handle ripping a seam, or even losing my pincushion.

But you know where I really need the lucky charms?

Bobbins, patterns and tension!

Silk, cotton, plastic, oilcloth.

Scarves, purses, journals, jackets.

I’m smart, savvy-and soon I’ll be a superstar stitcher.

Just keep it cool and I’ll follow through!

This will help me get through the days until the upcoming launch and prevent me from throttling my stubborn sewing machine against the stone wall (yes, the very same one that I used for my shipping experiment).  I just need to stay focused and keep up the positive juju…and sing every other hour!

Since everyone has been very patient (and kind for listening to me vent) you deserve a little glance at our final products. 

Sneak peek of The Diva, The Student and The Shoe Addict

One of Them Days

YESTERDAY:

I was SO excited! I even woke up before my alarm went off. It was a Monday, the first day to start sewing our actual products. To mark the day, I got all dressed up and did my hair and makeup.  “Look good, feel good” is my mantra. (It really does work!) And the whole time I’m dancing to Beyonce and Mariah Carey tunes to keep my energy flowing. I was convinced it was going to be a good day, the butterflies in my tummy made me believe it would be. I had a yummy breakfast . . . and that’s where the goodness ended. The rest of the day was filled with one frustration after another. I was repairing something, hunting something down or discovering I had done something wrong. Seriously, that’s what it was like and I was about to have a melt down.  I didn’t feel productive at all. I won’t go into details or else you’ll really think I’m a crybaby or make you wonder why I’m making handbags at all. The latter went through my mind for just a whisper of a moment, but I immediately squashed that thought. It wasn’t healthy thinking and I AM NOT A QUITTER!!! Though at 10:30 in the evening, with my fifth attempt at something, I decided to call it a day. Thank goodness there is a tomorrow. Moral of the story: Give it your best, but know when to rest.

TODAY:

. . . is another day and an opportunity to keep building our empire. I’m still optimistic.

Quote from Crafty Chica’s Guide to Artful Sewing:

“There are three little words that I love to say.  I use them when a friend points at something new that I am holding or wearing.  I smile, my chin juts out just a couple of milli-leters, my chest puffs the tiniest bit, my answer has just a trace of pride, and I say my favorite three words . . .”I made it.”  -Amy from Sydney, Australia

I know exactly how she feels.  That is what keeps me going.  That and the fact that I have an amazing business partner (she's only a call, text, chat, vchat, email or FB away and is ALWAYS there!) to encourage me every step of the way.  Having a Partner In Crime makes everything worthwhile.  We knew it wouldn’t be easy setting up shop for Sherryl and Shar, but thank goodness we have each other to lean on.  

Laboratory Testing

In S&S’s effort to guarantee that you will receive an undamaged product, I have conducted a test, simulating the journey a package would encounter during shipment from my doorstep to yours.

I know that the mailman probably wouldn’t do the things I did to the box (I know mine wouldn’t).  However, there is a possibility of him having an off day and grabbing any unsuspecting package (maybe yours!) and taking his aggressions out on it.  How many of you have thrown around a few things in the midst of an all out fury?  I know you don’t want to admit it, but burning off that extra bit of energy feels good doesn’t it?  Let me tell you, I can have a mean pillow fight all by myself.  Granted, I only pound the bed, but it still does the trick.  Anyway, I’ve said too much already.  So, lucky for you, S&S is taking this precaution to ensure a pristine handbag.  I opened the shipping box after my experiment and rest assured that the contents were as I had packed them.  Unfortunately, I can’t show proof.  Just trust me.  We’re saving you the pleasure for when you unwrap one of your very own.

I’m also testing these biodegradable peanuts.  Not sure if we’ll end up using them, but I was curious to see if they really do dissolve in water.  Another green attempt on our part! 

Like magic, it turns into foam!  

I was amazed so I did it a couple of more times to make sure it wasn’t a fluke. I know, the littlest things can entertain me!  Let’s see, what else needs to be tested before our treasures are shipped out to our fans?

The Shopaholic

The plastic bag reincarnated . . . only this time, it’s green! Something that us chicas try to incorporate into our daily lives.  I’m very pleased with the sample and it’s definitely one of my favorites.  I wish I could say that I didn’t have my head scratching moments (1 1/4 + 1 7/8 = STL needs to take a remedial arithmetic course.  I friggin’ hate fractions!) or cursed every time I stabbed myself with the millions of pins keeping the fabric in place (You would think I would be more careful by now.  Seriously, it was like sticking my hand into a gator’s mouth.) or . . . well, you get the picture.  It wasn’t easy!  I did learn how to make a French seam though.  In the end, this is what I’ve known all along: the projects that make your brain go into overdrive (that really want to make you pull your hair out) and make you think outside the box are the ones that you appreciate the most.  You want a little peek into my thought processing?  Scenario: I sent an email to Shar, trying to figure out how to give the The Shopaholic that extra zing.

Of course I had to sensor the competition!  Don’t bother asking who it is.  I’ll never tell!

Every now and then all I have to do is send Shar an email and ramble my way out of things.  It never fails that she always helps me, whether she’s physically there or not.  Drum roll please . . . . 

Tada!  So practical right!

Hurray!!!  All the Samples are complete!  Well, almost.  I just need to do a revise of The Shoe Addict, but that’ll be quick work.  Next on our plates, admin stuff: packaging, shipping, labels, hang tags.  Hmm, I know there’s more to do.  It’s all coming together!  SOON . . . very, very soon!