Anodyne Design » Bags & Accessories

Snow Day

Shannon — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 22:27:19 +0000

A winter storm rolled in yesterday and it’s been snowing big, wet flakes ever since. While I love the dreamy, cozy feeling of being snowbound, the reality isn’t always so nice. Slippery roads and cars in the repair shop are not dreamy or cozy at all. The plan for tonight is to make up this Chunky Celery Soup and some warm homemade bread and maybe settle down for a movie with my sweetheart.

Staying home has given me some time to work on some new wristlets, though, and I’m so excited to share them with you! I’ve been thinking spring, and I think that’s evident here. Butterflies and other insects, pale pinks and greens, and richly colored french velvet ribbon. Some of the bags are adorned with the ribbon and some with pretty vintage brooches. Some of these are intended for S’more Couture, but if you see something you like, let me know. With all this snow, I’m not going to make it in to S’more Couture right away, so you could snag one of these bags first!

Upcycling for Re-

Shannon — Sun, 13 Dec 2009 22:47:02 +0000

Upcycled Wristlets

This weekend I made up a few new bags to take over to Re-, as their supply of Anodyne Design wristlets was running dangerously low (hooray!). It’s been awhile since I’ve made wristlets from recycled fabrics, and I forgot how much I love transforming the unloved into the completely cute. I didn’t have a lot of time, but I did get three bags finished. Another one from the same white sweater I used before, and two from men’s dress shirts and twill pants. Instead of buttons, I accented each of these bags with old brooches I found at Goodwill. I don’t know if they’re technically “vintage,” but they are pretty and add a nice touch to the bags. And better they pretty up bags than languish behind a jewelry counter.

Wristlet for Re-

If you like these wristlets, you can find them at Re-, a cool shop full of all sorts of re-cycled, re-used, and re-purposed goodness, in the Peoria Metro Centre.

A Mini Coin Purse

Shannon — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 16:35:37 +0000

Someone at the farmer’s market pointed out that there was a chance coins could slip out of my card wallets. I hadn’t really thought about it, since I had made them specifically for cards, but it’s a very good point. So I went home and went to work on a zippered coin purse. The first one came out embarassingly wonky, and is now part of my private collection, the next was a tad too large, and the third was just right. (Perhaps I should have named it the Goldilocks Coin Purse if I’m going to tell it this way!) By just right, I mean it’s the same size as the card wallet, so they stack up nicely. Let me know what you think:

Coin Purse in Peacock Green

Imagine all the things you could keep in one these. Of course, my first thought was lip balm. But I think that may be my addiction talking.

Group Photo

Shannon — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 15:48:59 +0000

I made another stack of wallets. There’s something so satisfying to me to see a stack of matching items together. I’m not exactly sure what it is, but it makes me happy. So of course I needed to photograph the stack.

A fresh stack of card wallets.

Doesn’t the group just look so nice? I’m also loving the different colors of cowgirl snaps I used on the wallets. It’s so nice to have options now, instead of just the plain pearl and silver for everything.

Just FYI: I’m listing these wallets in my Etsy shop, in case one strikes your fancy.

A Sunny Saturday

Shannon — Sat, 16 May 2009 20:31:56 +0000

The sun is shining today, I slept in, and my sweetheart took me out for lunch. Mmm, tasty chips and salsa. What a lovely start to the weekend. Yesterday was absolutely awful, weather-wise, with rain and wind and thunder all over the place. The poor kitties had to spend a good portion of their time in hiding. To counter that, I made a couple of sunny, lemony wristlets.

Isn’t this Alexander Henry fabric just wonderful? I think it would be pretty hard to have a bad day if you were carrying this around, even if it was raining. Another good thing today: Needle ‘N Thread is having a stash giveaway. Share a little bit about how you organize your embroidery threads and be entered to win some pretty new embroidery thread and storage containers. Now who couldn’t use that?

Bag Love

Shannon — Fri, 08 May 2009 19:50:28 +0000

It sounds repetitive after awhile, but every new creation seems to be my favorite. Until I make another one, and then that one is my favorite. It’s hard to have so many favorites! But it is comforting to know that even if I have to part with a favorite, as I often do, the next thing I make will be the best thing ever again. I say all this by way of introducing you to my new favorite, the Carefree Wristlet.

I created this pattern at the beginning of the week, and was just itching to get through my work days so that I could make more. (Maybe you can guess what my plans are this weekend!) I hadn’t originally planned to include the button, but when I finished the wristlet it seemed like it needed just a little more embellishment. Pleats are pretty, but I think the button just makes it look finished. I made the covered button into a pin, since I imagine not everyone may think it’s as cute as I do. Or maybe they will want to move it around, or replace it with another pin. Either way, a pin opens up possibilities that a plain old button just can’t.

Sigh. *Love*

More New Bags!

Shannon — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 20:00:15 +0000

I made a few more tote bags.

I took SciFi Man’s advice and added a few interior pockets. He was right, they do make the bag better. And I think they look cute.

And then I listed them in the shop, to share the goodness. They are so perfect for spring, which seems like it might finally be settling in to stay.

A New Bag

Shannon — Sat, 11 Apr 2009 22:41:41 +0000

I made myself a new tote today. It’s a fairly simple design, with three pockets across the front. SciFi man tells me I ought to put a zippered pocket inside, too. That’s probably a good idea, and one I’ll try in the next draft. But for now, I’m happy with this little bag. What do you think?

And while we’re at it, here’s a gratuitous picture of a kitty soaking up the afternoon sun. Aww.

The Everyday Wallet

Shannon — Sun, 05 Apr 2009 19:27:33 +0000

Introducing the Everyday Wallet — the newest addition to Anodyne Design!

If you have been following the blog, you know I have been working on this design for awhile. It feels great to have settled on a final version! This new wallet folds shut and stays shut with a pretty little snap. Inside, you’ll find three pockets for credit cards, cash, and anything else. You will also find a zippered pocket to hold change and other loose items. Even with all that, the wallet is pretty thin and can easily fit into a pocket or small bag.

This is definitely a step up from the card wallets I usually make. And for me, it finally means that my card wallet can really be just for my business cards, and everything else I keep in my wallet can now be neatly organized with room to spare in the Everyday Wallet. Of course, if you don’t already have a card wallet, there is space in the Everyday Wallet for your business cards, too. I hope you will love this new design as much as I do!

Another Prototype

Shannon — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 21:08:57 +0000

Another prototype. A few more minor changes, and I think this new wallet should be ready to go!