News

Updates-Stepping back from the hamster wheel and changing things up

Mon, 23 Apr 2012 15:35:00 GMT

Hey everybody, to say that I've been a funk for the last few months is putting it mildly. The passion for product just hasn't been there and it has made it hard to get behind the sewing machine. I believe that discontent can be a sign of divine intervention. God's way of encouraging us to step off the hamster wheel, reflect, and reexamine our path. And that's just what I've done.

I wrote down the two main goals for my business. They are 1) Branding and 2) custom design. I thought, which road do I choose? Do I choose both? Can I do both? What do I really like? So, a friend gave me some guidance that really pointed me in one direction and two blog articles were posted within days of that guidance, that really struck a cord with me and I've made a decision. Chose a new direction, a new path. Pink Koala Design will go on but there will be some changes coming. How fast or how slow I don't know that yet.

You can check out the articles that I spoke of here Oh My Handmade Goodness and Designing an MBA. Both GREAT blogs! I'll use Megan words and say that I took a step back from the hamster wheel and now I see things clearly.

And you know what. I find that I'm excited again by my new prospects. I love design, all design (clothing design, interior design, surface pattern design whatever). I've never really thought about the common threads between them all, are the prints, patterns, and colors. That's what I'm drawn to and that can cover so many things. The thought of designing my own prints and using them on my products as well as licensing them to other companies are very exciting prospects. Honestly, I haven't been excited about the manufacturing for awhile but even that was more about using a great fabric to make a great bag. It's all about the print, pattern and color first and then the use and function. Do you get what I'm saying? This is like a whole new direction. It's taking a step back and reflecting and reevaluating and giving myself permission to change things up.

***UPDATE***

I'll continue to make product and sell at local shows and online throughout 2012 while refreshing myself on textile/surface pattern design through online classes and self study. I'll slowly begin to infuse more of my own prints and patterns as I further hone my skills. As my current supply of raw materials dwindle, I'll stop manufacturing (only sample making) and seek licensing oppurtunities through trade shows. None of this will happen over night but it will happen. I hope that you all bear with and support me when I launch a Kickstarter to purchase fabric yardage in my own prints. Until then I will continue to use other peoples prints to make beautiful bags and accessories.

Are you a Blog reader?

Thu, 29 Mar 2012 01:50:00 GMT

I could read blogs all day. I love finding blogs about natural hair, tidbits of history, mom blogs, crafty blogs, small businesss blogs and of course I love reading my blog. I've been working on restructuring it and I now have a schedule of when and what I will post, but I also be throwing in random posts in between. This is one of those random posts. I just wanted to share some great blogs with you all.

All for the Boys- is a cool blog for moms with boys (since I fit that description) http://www.allfortheboys.com/

Classic Play- is a blog by the creative force behind Ellie Bellie. Lots of great photos and fun things to do in the Baltimore area on this blog. http://www.classic-play.com/

Cool Mom Picks- you can find some of the greatest products on here. http://coolmompicks.com/ Also don't forget to check out the sister site for Mom Geek Chic features. http://coolmomtech.com/

Out of the Bag Ideas: What You Can Do with a Pink Koala Design Tote Bag or Accessory!

Mon, 19 Mar 2012 14:41:00 GMT

Pink Koala Design tote bags and accessories have so many uses. With such a wide variety of products, you can find so much to do with them. I've come up with 13 uses for my bags.

1) Fill a Market Tote with groceries and donate it to a local food bank organization.

2) Fill an Office Tote with office supplies and donate it to an organization like Dress for Success to help give a woman starting a new career a fresh start.

3) Fill a Joe E. Tote with crayons, markers, coloring and activity books to take along for a road trip.

4) Fill a small or medium Catch All Case with feminine hygiene essentials for a pre-teen or teen just starting on her road to womanhood.

5) Fill a Joe E. Satchel with fun school supplies and give it to a child in need to celebrate a new school year.

6) Fill a Downtown Tote with your gym essentials and go get your workout on.

7) Fill a Grande Mom Tote with hospital essentials and give it to mom to be or donate to an organization that helps new moms at a neonatal unit.

8) Fill a Charlotte Tote with beach towels, blankets and toys and surprise the kids with a trip to the beach.

9) Fill a large Catch All Case with a change of clothes, underwear (Underroos are still the best), and wipes and stash it in your car as potty emergency kit.

10) Stock a DiaperKeeper with diapers and wipes and toss it in the bottom of your stroller for a day trip to the park.

11) Fill any of my totes bags with mom to be goodies and create a great shower gift tote like a "play/read" kit with toys and books or a "splash splash" kit with baby bath essentials.

12) Fill a bento tote organizer with a great healthy lunch and pop it in your Office Tote on your way to work.

13) Fill a large Catch All Case with bride to be essentials like Hollywood Fashion Secrets and other "fun" items and give as a bridal shower or engagement gift.

These are all great ideas and I'll be doing all of them plus soon I'll be giving you the option of buying pre packed gift totes as well.

How do you use your Pink Koala Design tote bag and/or accessory?

Keep Calm

Wed, 21 Mar 2012 17:33:00 GMT

Smile. (Download the pdf version here.)

Video: DiaperKeeper

Wed, 14 Mar 2012 18:36:00 GMT

Video: Large Catch All Case Demo

Wed, 14 Mar 2012 18:36:00 GMT

Video: Pocket Tote

Wed, 14 Mar 2012 18:36:00 GMT

Video: Downtown Tote Demo

Mon, 12 Mar 2012 12:14:00 GMT

Video: Office Tote Demo

Mon, 12 Mar 2012 14:10:00 GMT

Out of the Bag Ideas: Destination Wedding Gift Totes

Tue, 06 Mar 2012 21:42:00 GMT

Another great use for a Pink Koala Design bag is to create the perfect welcome bags and wedding gift bag. Destination wedding gift bags are the perfect welcome to excite guests, show your appreciation for their attendance and prepare them for the fun ahead. Destination wedding gift bags can also be given to the bride and groom before they depart for the honeymoon. They can be catered to the couple or the destination. Whatever the case make it special and it will be appreciated.

Here are a few things to consider...

- Keep it simple

- Include non perishable items

- Avoid bulky items

- Choose items that are special for the occasion. For example:

- For tropical destinations

- beach towels

- disposable cameras

- books

- beach toys

- For colder destinations

- cute scarves

- hot chocolate packets

- throw blanket

- Or for spa essentials for a spa day

- slippers

- robe

- essentials oils

Don't forget to throw in some of the local fair from the destination as a memento for when your guest returns home. Also add personalized wedding mementos and monogramming the bags is also another special touch.

Ask the Bag Lady: Different Types of Totes

Wed, 22 Feb 2012 19:40:00 GMT

Tote bags are very common and are used for a variety of reasons, anything from heavy duty tasks to fashion accessories. Even though they are practical and functional they are fashionable and can accommodate more than a standard handbag.

Most commonly tote bags are broken down by function or task, like travel, family, day, or shopping. Here are a few types:

Beach Tote (That's my Charlotte Tote)-usually canvas, plastic, nylon, straw or mesh. Straw and plastic are most common because they resist moisture and heat. My beach tote is lined with a moisture barrier. Beach totes are usually open bags with no closure. They are used for beach/pool towels, beach toys, and pool items.
Mini Totes (That's my Pocket Tote or Joe E. Tote)- still spacious but small enough to be elegant. These can be canvas or leather or whatever material you like. The whole point is to minimize carrying size while maximizing the space. Handles can be long or short.
Leather/Luxury Totes (a la Michael Kors)- fully grain leather, corrected grain and suede, sometimes even exotic animal leathers. These are more expensive, fashionable, carried by high fashion lovers. They are used for fashion and for travel.
Sports Totes- nylon or canvas, sturdy and resistant, duffle bags, open tote bags, backpacks

My bags are mostly canvas tote bags. There are a wide variety of printed canvas' used in the home decorator industry and they are sturdy and practical. I line most of my tote bags with a natural canvas. Canvas bags usually have a flat bottom for stability. Most rectangular but a variety of sizes. Straps are long or short.

Tote bags are really defined by their purpose and can be large or small, canvas or leather, sporty or fashionable.

On the Move with Pink Koala Design

Mon, 13 Feb 2012 16:47:00 GMT

Have you been spotted around town wearing your very own Pink Koala Design creation? Take a photo and submit it to include on our blog and Facebook page. Each month one person will win a $55 Pink Koala Design gift certificate!

One winner will be chosen from a random drawing each month of all entries received. The winner will win one Pink Koala Design gift certificate valued at $55 to design their own bag or accessory. Email your photo, name and location to info@pinkkoala.com with "photo contest" in the subject line. Photos become the property of Pink Koala Design and will appear on www.facebook.com/pinkkoaladesign and pinkkoala.com/blog. Drawings will be held April 7, May 7, and June 7. This contest will run several times throughout the year.

The First Lady's Favorite: Tracey Reese

Sun, 12 Feb 2012 19:55:00 GMT

A woman after my own heart. Bold beatiful colors and bold beautiful designs. Tracey Reese made her move to New York City in 1982 after graduating from Detroit's Cass Technical High School. She attended the Parson's School of Design and graduated in 1984. For a time she apprenticed under designer Martine Sitbon while working for a small firm, Alequin. After a few years, Tracey decided to start her own line. She was 23. This first attempt failed to generate enough revenue (a common issue for black designers) and it closed it after two years. Reese went back to workin for other designers and after 10 years she relaunched her own collection.

Tracy Reese perhaps ranks as fashion's most successful black female designer.New York Magazine called Reese's style "unabashedly girly." She has a namesake label and has garnered recognition in many areas, from clothing and shoes to nail polish and hosiery. From a small girl, Tracey always knew what she wanted. "From a young age I knew I wanted to create beautiful things," Tracy told the Atlanta Post. "I was influenced by the femininity of women like my grandmother. After growing up in Detroit, I moved to New York to attend Parsons School of Design. Once I received my degree, I decided to move to Paris where I apprenticed under designer Martine Sitbon while working for the small contemporary firm, Arlequin. A few years later, I returned to New York and started working for Perry Ellis as the design director for Women's Portfolio."

Even after a bumpy first start, with a lot of hard work Reese has built an extremely successful comapny and sales topped $12 million in 2003. Still, she is engrossed in every detail of her clothes, right down to the stitching. "While I have a wonderful team to assist, I continue to build my brand with my own hands," she said.

Still Reese remains humble and has not let the fact the First Lady is one of her biggest fans. "While seeing my dress on First Lady Michelle Obama was one of the proudest moments of my career, I still design for the everyday woman," she said. "I design because I want women to feel good in what they wear and to help solve their wardrobe problems. Nothing is more satisfying than seeing a woman walking confidently in one of my frocks. It is also nice for the everyday woman to see the First Lady wearing something that they can also obtain."

Tracey is a great example of where drive and determination and a lot of talent can get you and she is certainly a great inspiration to me.

Ask the Bag Lady:The History of Tote Bags

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 15:27:00 GMT

Who doesn't use a tote bag? Tote bags are one of the most used types of bags no matter where you go and have been so for quite some time. That's because they can be used for a variety of purposes and that's probably why they are so popular. The tote bag is an American Classic. They are convenient and make carrying a lot of stuff easy. Most people don't know however, that tote bags have been around for centuries in one form or another. Let me explain!

What's the story with tote bags?

"Tote" means to carry and people of always "toted" bags, but the term tote wasn't used until the 20th century. Tote bags are simple large and open bags with a handle placed on the center top of each side. Typically tote bags are open at the top (which is the true style of a tote), although zippers, magnetic closures, and snaps are used for security purposes. The bags handles are usually arched.

Heavy duty cloth was used because these bags needed to be sturdy because they were purely functional but now they can be made from a variety of materials like leather and suede but typical materials are usually canvas, nylon and jute. The jute bags are more typical of eastern countries and have been used there for centuries.

In 1944, the American Classic Tote bag was born with the introduction of the LL Bean Boat Bag. This bag was their signature bag made of basic canvas, designed for boaters. However, the classic lines and sturdiness of this bag caught the attention of many and this bag still remains hugely popular today( I own a few). Of course, back then the bags were used more as luggage than for an everyday stylish bag.

It was during the 1950s that tote bags came into the everyday scene. This is when women began using the bags as their everyday handbags. Practicality and functionality were more important during those times and tote bags fit the bill for many women because they were clean, simple and extremely easy to care for. Because of this more women opted for these bags. However, tote bags still were not fashion items.

That all changed in 1960 when Bonnie Cashin released her own line of Cashin Carry Tote Bags. These bags took the practicality and functionality added a whole lot of style and made it a fashion must have. Bonnie embellished these bags and made them classier to suit the lifestyles of those who want style with practicality. Later on, during the 90s, Kate Spade helped transform the tote bag used as a travel bag or piece of luggage into a fashion bag. Since then tote bags have become part of the fashion landscape. By now, tote bags were not only being used for their practicality but also for their style factor.

Today tote bags are used especially by women for any number of functions. These bags are mostly used for heavy duty tasks such as grocery shopping, shopping in general, and carrying picnic items which is why I carry such a wide catalog of tote bags such as day, shopping, travel, business, and family. They serve a function but they are also fashion accessories. Depending on the material you can dress your outfit up or down and they can be used to add a style statement whatever you happen to be wearing. Even men use tote bags for various reasons.

History shows us that tote bags have always been a functional part of our lives even before we called them "tote" bags. But one thing is for sure, they are an American classic.

The Good Enough Mom

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 20:07:00 GMT

Forget being a "Supermom", I'm just trying to be a "Good Enough Mom". Whose that? Keep reading and you'll see. This is my second attempt to write this blog. The first one, I forgot to save. I found myself this morning standing in front of my hall closet exclaiming “I give up. I just give up”. I realized that I had forgotten my own coat and scarf after getting my son ready and in the car. I was already running late.

After I got to my mom’s I just looked at her and said “I don’t how you did it.” Four kids, working full-time, work during the summer and single. Are we just not as strong? No matter how much I try to organize my life and home, I still only accomplish ¼ of the goals I set for myself during the day.

Maybe this is why we carry so many bags. We’re bag ladies literally and figuratively. We carry the baggage of the day just like we carry a duo or trio of actual bags. So what do we do about it? How do we get in the moment and accept that we are "good enough" and that we don't have to be "super". Well here are a few tips courtesy of the Working Mom Survival Guide.

Not all the housework is going to get done, If you have to choose between ironing and playing with your kid, pick the latter.
Never compare yourself to anybody else, not another working mom, single lady and certainly not a stay at home mom ( they might be spraying the brown spots in the grass green) because we don't know their real stories.
Just accept that you can't and won't get it all done. I've accepted my 1/4.
Learn from your mistakes.
Laugh at yourself OFTEN!
Love your children and help them learn from their mistakes.
Be available to your kids.
Focus on one task at a time so that you don't end up short changing yourself, your child, your job or anything or anyone else.
Use your own best judgement when deciding what to focus on.
Learn to say no.
Keep your cool.
Keep your perspective and worry less. See a situation for what it is and realize that many things are really out of our control.
Be thankful for the good things you have.
Give yourself permission to recharge (however you may decide to do that).
Write it down. Your thoughts, the day's tasks, your dreams and goals.
Find some inspiration.
Reconnect with your aspirations. Stay in touch with yourself (you can do this with a journal).
But most of all remember that this too shall pass. NO situation is permanent.