Studio Makeover Continued...

Now all I need is an overhead lamp, curtains, and some artwork and personalizing to help me feel inspired, and I will be all set! A huge thanks to my awesome husband, Mike, for your assistance on this project. I couldn't have done it without you! 

xoxo, Kye

Happy Valentine's Day!

This past weekend was a crazy and productive one. Saturday morning, Mike and I headed out to Baby Waves in Independence, Ohio to have our 2nd and last 3D/4D ultrasound done before our baby comes. We didn't realize until we were about half way there just how bad the weather was, and ended up driving out there in the worst snow storm this winter. (It's been a very mild winter here thus far). We were both a little rattled after the  hour and 15 minute car ride, but am so glad we made it safe and sound. Our little girl was not very cooperative with getting her picture taken that day, but we managed to get a few beautiful shots of her....

After the ultrasound, we were back on the treacherous roads and headed towards Akron to make a KYEbags dropoff at NOTO. I have meant to get out to the boutique to re-stock since the holidays, but just haven't had the time. So, if you're local and a huge fan of either KYEbags or NOTO, be sure to stop in soon and check out all the new merchandise! I had a chance to browse the store, and boy are there some beautiful clothing selections for Spring!

On Saturday, Mike and I also stopped at Home Depot and finally purchased the shelving I have been needing to finish up my studio/baby room! I am thrilled, because this means I can now get things organized and finished up back there to make space for our baby's things and be able to be more effective in my creativity. It is a whole lot easier to focus on work when you know where things are! Now, if I can just get Mike to install them for me I would be all set! *hint hint*

Valentine's Day is here and it came up fast this year. This time last year, I was basking in the San Diego sun, living it up on an all expense paid weekend trip with my husband. It was one of the best and most memorably romantic times of my life. 

Yes, my husband even bought me this diamond flower ring which I will cherish forever!

Man, would I love to do that again! This year Valentine's Day isn't going to be half as glamorous... or maybe any Valentine's Day for a long long time for that matter. But one of the surprising things about becoming a mama soon is that I just don't care. I am thankful that God sent me on that trip when He did, and glad that I have all my photos and memories to look back on it. Maybe one day, it'll happen again... until then I choose to be content, even though we may be simply too broke this year to even have dinner out together. Because I know that some this year, do not have the luxury of being with their loved one at all. And the fact that I do makes me feel especially blessed.

What do you have planned for V-Day? I would love to hear....

xoxo, Kye

A couple things....

It's official!.... Yesterday I finished up the last of my scheduled custom orders and am now officially on 'maternity leave'. *happy dance* Which basically just means that I am no longer taking custom orders before our baby arrives, but will still be working on all the things I have wanted to catch up on for so long. 

I am definitely looking forward to almost 2 whole months (hopefully), of free time to catch up, organize, re-stock the online store and NOTO, and continue preparing for the baby. And taking a day out here and there to sit on my butt and do nothing! It sounds glorious.

So if you haven't already, make sure to fan KYEbags on facebook, for all the latest updates and news. New items are posted there regularly, and I plan on doing a few giveaways over the next few weeks too! 

Stay tuned!

xoxo, Kye

Last chance!

Today is the last day of the KYEbags 40% OFF SALE!

To shop, click on the link below!

http://www.etsyonsale.com/shop/kyebags

Hump day...

Is it Friday yet?...... Today I am taking it SLOOOOWWWWW. Because this pregnancy has me hurting, and I am getting low on some key materials. Soooo, today will be spent working on some small things, like clutches, and getting a much dreaded custom order done. Still though, I have somehow managed to accomplish quite a bit this week for it being only Wednesday! New swag bags are trickling into the shop, so be sure to head over and check those out. I am also working on some super cute new vintage style clutches that will be listed by the end of the week. 

This week has been a slow one as far as sales go, which means no income, which means I am low on materials/supplies. Which is a total bummer because I definitely have it in me to get a whole lot more accomplished this week! So again, if you've been hankering for a new bag or a little something to spruce up your wardrobe, check out my 40% OFF SALE, going on through the 31st. I could use the sales and space in my studio, and you can get a GREAT deal... so it's a win win. And be sure to spread the word! 

Needless to say... I am no where close to that goal of purchasing my mannequin this week, but I haven't lost hope yet, as it is only midweek. Here's a photo, just to keep us motivated.... she doesn't look like much now, but wouldn't she look fabulous sporting a KYEbag?

I absolutely LOVE Corset Laced Mannequins out of England, but they are WAY out of my price range, so for now, I can only dream. Aren't these pink one's beautiful?

Vintage Style Corset Laced Mannequin Dress Form - Velvet MINK

Or this one... I seriously love them all!

Petit Francais Mannequin Dress Form - Giselle

My customers never cease to amaze me, and even during the slow weeks, I am ever so grateful for each and every one of you! Just thought I would say it again, because it's true! 

I have been pondering doing a giveaway or two in the near future, just for fun. But will keep you posted on that one! Just a little something to look forward to ;)

xoxo, Kye

Mondays...

This week is off to a great start, almost too great for a Monday, but I'll take it! I have already accomplished so much today, and am hoping I can keep up the momentum throughout this week. Today, I finished up 2 new courier bags that I am super excited to show you, and also started working on some swag bags to re-stock the Etsy Shop and NOTO. I am hoping that by the end of the week, I will have plenty of new swag bags done and listed. They are so popular and affordable, they are hard to keep in-stock. Plus, Spring will be here before we know it, and swag bags are so handy in warmer weather.

Here are the Courier Bags I finished up today....

Courier Bag-- Red and Yellow Retro Mushroom Courier Bag

Courier Bag-- Brown and Red Retro Mushroom Courier Bag

Aren't they adorable? I think I like them even better than owl bags, and hope that they will be just as popular! I especially love the red and yellow one. I had a ton of fun making them :)


I am also LOVING the new camera Mike and I purchased after Christmas. Isn't the photo quality great? We ended up going with the Nikon Coolpix L120, and I couldn't be happier. The picture quality is excellent for being a bridge camera, although I am not a photographer and still have a lot to learn. My goal one day is to own a Cannon, but for know as a growing step, this camera has not let me down. Anyone looking for a step up camera from a pocket digital should check it out! 

Be sure to stayed tuned throughout this week as I will be listing swag bags as I get them complete. Also, just a reminder that this is the last week of the 40% OFF CLEARANCE SALE. I still have a lot of items that I'd like to clear out before Spring, so take a peak and shop shop shop! I am also saving up for a mannequin (which has been much needed for awhile), and if I can sell enough bags this week, I will finally be able to purchase her ;)

xoxo, Kye

Rainy day and no energy...

Today I feel so drained. Literally zapped of every ounce of energy, and lacking all motivation to do ANYTHING (Baby growing will do that to you). I have basically accomplished nothing productive today, took a nap, and am now just feeling lost. And the weather outside is incredibly strange for being the middle of January. It has been 50 degrees all day, dark and very windy, and now it has started to rain quite hard along with the wind and dark... it's eery. I think that the earth is groaning.
Last week, as I mentioned in my last post, did not end up slowing down, not one bit. It did just the opposite, and KYEbags business was just as busy as a holiday week in December. I had 9 orders I think, and pulled quite a few long sewing days. By Friday I was burnt out from sewing, and got an unusual burst of energy to get things done, so I decided to stay in all day and start the back room (studio/baby room) painting project. It was the perfect day for a project, as it was extremely windy and blizzard like, and I couldn't go out anyways.
The project turned into a weekend project, and I just finished up painting the remainder of the trim and touch-ups yesterday afternoon. I got a great start on Friday, working late into the evening and pushing myself too much, as usual. It felt so good to finally accomplish something back there though. The whole ordeal was a BIG chore. The room is packed with stuff, (as you saw in my previous photos), and therefore, I had to work on small sections of the room at a time. Clearing each area first, getting it all painted (ceiling, walls and trim), cleaning up, and moving stuff back to make space to work in the next area. It was a pain, but by Friday evening, I had about 2/3rds of the room complete, and might have had more done if I hadn't run out of paint. I sent Mike to the Sherwin Williams near his work that evening, and he brought more paint home with him so I could at least get the ceiling finished up. The rest we worked on on Saturday afternoon. It was nice to have Mike there to help me out a bit. He mostly sanded and did the prep work to many doors and woodwork, which was awesome, because I hate prep work. And I found out that he is an excellent sander :)
Instead of pink, I decided to go with 'Shagreen' on the walls instead. I am so glad I did. Shagreen is a color I had in our old bedroom/loft in our last apartment, and I will probably always have that color in at least one room of every future place I live in. It's one of my favorites, along with the 'August Moon' color I always paint my bathrooms. Plus, it was a lot easier of a color to tie the whole studio/baby room together. The green will still look striking alongside all of baby's things, and also goes well with my sewing table and style. The white ceiling and woodwork really brighten it up back there and give it a much cleaner look. I am very pleased with how it turned out, and much less stressed now too!
I still have to get the room sorted out and organized, but I do not feel as pressed about that at the moment. I still need to purchase and install shelving on the one wall, so until that happens, I cannot do much 'organizing' anyways. We reversed the layout of the room, so my work station is now set up down by the window, which I think will be a great improvement. I can't wait until I can hang some artwork, get a curtain made and hung, and get everything up off the floor and organized where I can see it all. I know all the changes will not only make me feel a lot better, but also help me focus, be more creative and get a lot more accomplished in a more efficient manner.
Here are photos of our painting adventure....

I started with the back end of the room and worked my way forward...

See, I had just a tiny area of space cleared to work in.

And the rest of the room was PACKED with stuff!

Here I am, looking pregnant and ready to paint... HA!

The supplies and weapons....

My first area done painted and ready for cleanup.

Next I had to clear out the middle section... that was not fun!

Slowly working my way down the short wall...

By evening, I had the back and middle area complete! See, it's dark outside?  I worked  until about 9pm that night.

Only section left to go! I saved it for Saturday.

Me after a long day's work.

Continuing the project on Saturday afternoon. It's coming along!

The front of the room almost done! Just have to paint the doors and some trim...

Me touching up the windows...

All the ceiling and walls complete!

Papa helping out, even though he is tired.

He taped off all the carpet for me so I could paint the trim :)

Trying to get the room organized and put back together...

Windows and bathroom door complete! The white really looks nice against the green... don't you think?

More organizing and moving things around. Another very late night! Didn't finish until about midnight on Saturday! You can sort of see the curtain rod that Papa installed for us in this photo too...

Baby's furniture waiting to go in place...

More shifting around... it took us some time to get it all straightened out, especially since we were reversing the  layout of the room.

My new work station down by the window...

Mama, finishing up the trim...

Organizing my table and things...

The laundry area, in which we hope to get the landlord to put doors on.

Last stretch of floor trim...

Middle of the room is finally cleared out and can be walked through again!

Eventually, the two long folding tables will come down and everything on them will be organized on wall shelves. I can't wait! 

A couple Sunday morning photos of the finished room...

Still a lot of cleanup/organizing to do, but it's getting there...

The end.

All in all, it was a great weekend and very productive. And most importantly, we are getting much closer to being ready for our baby and a stress-free mama! Now... if I can only find all that lost motivation this week, I's be all set. But I think it's just going to one of 'those' weeks, and maybe after the craziness of last week, that's okay. Rest is good, although I am not good at it! 


Congratulations if you made it through this whole post! It might just be the longest one yet.


xoxo, Kye