Ready to Ship Duffles Now on Special

If you have been saving up for one of my fabulous travel bags, now is the time to get the best deal. I have 7 bags made and ready to ship. Go to my duffle section to choose one, and enter the coupon code RTS20 to get $20 off at checkout. This special applies only to my ready to ship duffles pictured here. There is still time to order a custom duffle for Christmas. Those are regular price and we need to talk fabric ASAP, so contact me if you want something other than what you see in this photo. Happy Thanksgiving to all of you. We are heading to Seattle to enjoy it with family. More Israel and Egypt photos coming.

My Carry-on Backpack

My Carry-on Backpack
Originally uploaded by studiocherie

I made this bag specifically for the Israel/Egypt trip. I wanted to test a large backpack for the person who wants to travel with only one bag. I made it to the maximum carry-on size for Delta Airlines which is 22x14x9 inches. It fit into the overhead bins nicely. I did carry it just about everywhere. Here it is pictured at the Roman ruin of Bet She'an. There are a few changes I will be making as I put it into production and prepare the pattern for release - like adding a belt strap to take some of the weight off the shoulders. I had a blast making it and figured out an awesome way to line every part. It really is a serious piece of luggage. Part of the joy of making it was using Etsuko Furuya's fabrics. Watch for bags like this one in my shop soon and the sewing pattern Spring 2011.

From Western Stairs at Dome of the Rock

From Western Stairs at Dome of the Rock
Originally uploaded by studiocherie

Correct me if I am wrong. Maybe there is a better name for this location. (I am sure that invitation opens a can of worms.) This may be one of the most controversial places on the planet. Believed by both Jews and Muslims to be the location of the creation of Adam, and the location of the sacrifice of Abraham, this spot stirs the heart of both faiths. Jews still refer to it as the temple mount, the site of their only temple, destroyed in 70A.D. Currently, it is the site of a golden dome memorializing a mystical visit by the muslim prophet to this place. The heart of Jerusalem for Muslims is the famous golden dome (my back is to it in this photo,) while Jews seek the heart of Jerusalem underground (literally below my feet.) We walked through the tunnel that is under the Western wall of the city (some of you know it as the wailing wall,) and witnessed devout women fervently praying underground, as close as they can get to the Ark of the Covenant, buried in the Holy of Holies beneath the temple mount. I think my word for Jerusalem is Layers. Our trip was all about geography and history (we covered a lot of both.) I would love to go back again and just have the time to be a person instead of a tourist.

Art Galleries Netanya, Israel

Art Galleries Netanya, Israel
Originally uploaded by studiocherie

My first impression of Israel was peace, the second impression - respect. The artwork hung outside the galleries which you don't really see in the US unless the watchful artist is present. I wondered, Can they really trust one another to this degree? We happened upon this place on the Sabbath, so there were only us Christians wandering about. There seems to be a genuine respect for family and tradition in Israel - so many businesses closed for an entire day every week. I was starting to feel how intimate this country is. There are so many ways I can describe Israel, yet I feel I don't really know Israel at all. The portrait in the foreground looks like the Israel I met. She is dressed for work. In fact, you can see she has been working hard, yet her hands are behind her back. She is young and fragile. Larger than her borders. Simple and beautiful. Unfinished.

Gate - Netanya, Israel

Gate - Netanya, Israel
Originally uploaded by studiocherie

My first impression of Israel was the Ben Gurion airport just outside of Tel Aviv. Quiet. No music. No TV's. No ads bombarding my senses. Even though I had been travelling for about 24 hours to get there (stupid long layover at JFK included) I had a feeling I was going to like this peaceful place. A short drive North to our first destination, Netanya, revealed this tranquil corner. This is the backside of a Mediterranean beach front home. Yes, I would Summer there. White sand, finer than sugar, small town, art galleries, restaraunts. Click on the photo link to go to Flickr where you can see it larger.

New Lines and Personalization on Etsy

Etsy's Guide to Custom Work is a thorough treatise on the tricky art of successfully listing and selling custom handiwork in a venue where people look and click to buy without reading much. Anyone who sells on Etsy can get ideas from the article. I can not recommend it highly enough. Here is my personalized gift guide.

'Personalized Gift Guide' by StudioCherie

Great work everyone. Loving these personalized options.

8 x 10 print with your vows,... riricreations $35.00	personalized just for you - ... thefuzzymonkey $17.00
Personalized gift tags shape... rasamalai $18.00	Custom Initials Pendant sarahndippity $50.00
The Poppy Collection - Perso... thesweetunfold... $22.00	The Simple Name Double Disc ... TinyBellesBout... $37.99
Rustic sterling silver patte... tinahdee $	Custom Initial Brooch .. Ice... TheFancyLamb $22.00
Bible Verse Belt Custom Leat... Geralyn $119.00	Make it Personal Monogramme... sentimentalsto... $10.00
Pumpkin Spice Pillow Monogra... letterperfectd... $65.00	custom family tree -- brown cozyblue $30.00
choose your Destination - B... nextdoortoheav... $35.00	Slice of the Pie - Address L... KumquatDesigns $5.95
House Numbers Sign - Rusted ... metalgardenart $65.00	PERSONALIZED geography lesso... cutiepiecompan... $28.00

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Sarahndippity, as I have mentioned before, is a talent to watch and collect. In addition to these initial pendants, she has also started a new line of more affordable stone and filigree pendants in her shop. I predict they will be a big hit. My friend Kim of SentimentalStones has been doing a lot of custom work off Etsy with her stone coasters, creating special designs to commemorate weddings in a stylish way. Kim has discovered this can be her mainstay on Etsy as well.
Megan, another sweet friend from the Eastern Washington Etsy team, found her business really picked up when she added her hand stamped jewelry to the mix at FlowYogaMats. She has a real knack for choosing the words and phrases that people want. I have been kidding around with her about how someone like me needs "um" rather than "om" and "blog, just blog" instead of "breathe, just breathe." Come to think of it, other people might like to choose their own phrases too....Hummm. How to do that personalized thing? (Hint: read the article.)
There are other new lines I want to mention. Maybe I can squeeze in another post before I hit the road and fall off the radar for a while...

Cherie rambles a bit on artwork licensing

There were a few more people I met on Etsy who have licensed their artwork and it just never worked out to do a full interview. Etsy did a quit your day job article with Becky of PoshDots, who is still in the throes of licensed products launching. Her shop remains impressive even as busy as she is, she has even expanded by putting her artwork on fabric.
By the way, for artists who might like to try their hand at designing art for fabrics, there is Spoonflower. You upload your artwork and spoonflower prints it on a variety of fabric types. You can even let people order your designs directly from Spoonflower. They have frequent contests, so there is a way to see how your work might be received. A number of Etsy sellers design fabric and have it printed at spoonflower, then sell it in their Etsy shops. Click this search to see items listed under the supply category with Spoonflower as a tag. Fabulous! ScarletFig is now licensed with Robert Kaufman Fabrics. I believe the contests at Spoonflower were instrumental in launching Laurie as a fabric designer, but I could be wrong. Laurie is writing a book...I am writing patterns, going to Israel, etc. I will ask her for an interview when I get home. How is that for journalistic instinct? Write about someone then ask for an interview. I think I am fired. Oh, that's right, I am the boss. Still, I think I am fired.
I want to mention KiriMoth, while we are talking fabrics. She is working with HautTotes and designing exclusive fabrics for Melissa's shop.
Reading the full shop announcement for Suzanne Woolcot's Shop, Gorjuss, is impressive. Obviously, a lot of licensing going on there. I hope you get better, Suzanne.
AudreyJeanneRoberts has quite the portfolio if you want to check out someone who has been successfully licensing for a while.
Okay, so now everyone here (I mean literally here) including me, is wondering what is for dinner. I need to answer this question now, even though I have not illustrated this post with any of the many lovelies that could have spiced it up so well. You will just have to click and explore for yourself. I hope you do. I think all of these gals are inspiring. I appreciate their talents and their dedication.