Stacked

This first bag of my Fall collection has been introduced to my Etsy shop. . . Meet Stacked!



The Stacked Bag has been a long time coming. I've been envisioning it for quite awhile, but I wasn't exactly sure how the strap was going to work. Of course it had to include grommets, right?! I started experimenting with grommets about a year ago and just loved all the different ways they could be incorporated into a design and how simply they could alter the look of a bag. So now they have become a signature part of Camille Star and define my style. So after just two attempts, I created this design and knew it was a keeper. The straps are attached in the bottom seam and wrap up, around and back down each side of the bag. They are also reinforced along the top with nickel rivets. I immediately made one for myself and can honestly say it is a workhorse.


I pictured the Stacked Bag being carried on a crisp Autumn night snugly tucked under your arm, all your goodies within reach and secure. The wind picks up, leaves rustle beneath your feet, the scent of mulberry and spice fills the air. You reach inside your bag and pull out your knitted hat & lightweight scarf, just enough warmth to keep you toasty roasty. (Sometimes my mind wanders a little too much!)

All for the Smoothie!

Sometimes at the end of the day I'll think about what I've eaten, and I can honestly say it wasn't a lot of fruit. I don't know what my problem is. When I was pregnant with both of my children, fruit was a staple in my diet. I could sit and eat half a watermelon and still crave more. I love fruit, and I serve it to my kids throughout the day, but for some reason I personally don't eat enough of it. I always tend to lean towards carbs when I have them in the house. Even growing up, I had the nickname of "starch queen" because I could eat meals of just potatoes and bread. I always wondered who would choose a steak over warm, buttery mashed potatoes. I know, I'm a little strange.

So to solve my fruit dilemna, I started making smoothies. And can I tell you, they are the best ever (my kids think so too). We have a great time coming up with different combinations (it's usually whatever's available in the fridge/freezer), they throw all the stuff in the smoothie maker (or you can use a blender), take turns pushing the button, and then we all sit together and enjoy our drinks.

This was our smoothie recipe today:

1 individual container of blueberry yogurt (the good stuff without the high fructose corn syrup, yuck)
frozen strawberries and blueberries
1 ripe banana
some ice
little bit of water (or you can use any flavor juice)

It turned out great and I felt somewhat healthy for getting my dose of fruit in for the day. You can check out www.smoothieweb.com for lots of recipes. You might get hooked like me.

Get Me Out of This House!!!!

It has been one of those weeks. First my son had the ever-so-famous hand, foot, and mouth virus and then my daughter caught it. While his symptoms were minimal, hers were at the other end of the spectrum. To put it mildly, she couldn't chew all week long because of the sores in her mouth and on her tongue. Not to mention that her legs, feet and hands were covered in tiny blisters as well. So we stayed inside all week. Did I mention it was all week?????? I was ready to pull my hair out by Friday night. So when we knew she was "in the clear", we bolted out of the house and made our first trip to the zoo this Summer. We decided to go to Milwaukee Zoo since it's a much nicer drive than heading into the city and none of us had ever been there before. It was great, but I think my husband and I were more into the animals than our kids were. They were most excited on the train ride that went around the perimeter of the zoo. Go figure!



Of course, I had to carry my newest style of bag with me. It was great at holding the diapers, snacks, camera, and other essentials. This bag has a unique strap technique that wraps around the bag and gathers ever so slightly. You're wondering, what does that mean???? Well, you can see it in my new Fall collection coming to my Etsy store very soon.


Now we're back home and ready for the week ahead. Hopefully we'll all stay healthy!

Revamped Supply Tote

The new Supply Tote is finally here. It's practical, modern, and keeps you super organized. The straps have undergone a minor transformation that makes a huge impact. They are now woven through a single grommet each and attached with nickel rivets. I love the look of nickel hardware and am so happy with the turnout. I've been using my Supply Tote like crazy the past couple of weeks, and I couldn't be more pleased with its durability, style, and lots & lots of pockets. And if all of this isn't enough, the price is now just $56. It's a steal.

I have one Supply Tote for sale in my Etsy shop right now and hope to add several more this week. Keep checking back!

Vacation

Home sweet home. . . we're back from our vacation in New Jersey. The kids had a blast spending time with their cousins, Grammy, and Pop-Pop. They went swimming, went to Vacation Bible School, ate lots & lots of ice cream, caught lightning bugs, and just enjoyed being kids. We were able to squeeze in a trip to the ocean which was great. My son was deathly afraid of the waves, while my daughter just couldn't get close enough. So one stayed on the sand and the other was like a little mermaid.

We also celebrated my daughter's 4th birthday while on vacation, and I made my traditional birthday cake for her. Please keep in mind, it's the thought that counts. I do think I deserve an "A" for effort if anything!! She's all about princesses right now so she got her very own castle cake. And to top it all off, it was just the right shade of pink for a little girl.

It's great to be back home and back into our routine. While we did have tons of fun, we also had lack of sleep, one day of the stomach virus, and numerous meltdowns. Nothing's ever perfect and kids will be kids~ two things I need to constantly remind myself.

Sneak Peek

Every Summer we head to New Jersey to visit Grammy & Pop-Pop and the rest of my husband's family. This year, our trip falls between July 11th-21st. Our kids are extremely excited (they still don't realize we'll be in the car for over 14 hours though!!). My daughter will be turning four so we will also be celebrating her birthday. It will be a fun time for all and a great memory for the kids to treasure. I have to admit I have mixed emotions about the trip. As much as I'm looking forward to relaxation and visiting with everyone, I'm going to miss my business. I really love what I do, and I feel like I'm leaving in the middle of a high moment. I've got some great new fabrics I can't wait to work with and some designs floating around in my head. So, before I leave on my trip, I wanted to leave you all with a sneak peek of just two of my new fabrics. There's a third currently available in my shop so check it out as well. I forgot to mention that I'll be visiting two awesome fabric shops in New Jersey so I plan to come back with lots of goodies and more new items in my shop.

See you soon!!!

Wristlet Winner

And the winner is. . . . Amberlii from BowWowBeds!!!!

I'm so excited to give Amberlii this wristlet because she is a customer of Camille Star Handbags and is a wonderful, kind person I've come to know through Etsy. She has an awesome site http://www.bowwowbeds.etsy.com/ where she creates unique dog bed & crate covers of all sizes. Please take a moment to check out her shop if you haven't already done so.

Thanks to everyone that participated in my Wristlet Giveaway. I loved hearing from you and reading your messages.

Happy Fourth of July weekend!!!!