6/12/2010 Weekend Shout Out: Michele of By Your Side

(Above: Itty Bitty Brittney Bag)

(Below: The Katie Fun Bag)
Soooo... I really love bags and purses, so I just HAD to take a better look at my newest Facebook Fan's goodies: Michele of By Your Side! They are sweet! Michele and I had a bit of an email chat and her is my interview with her:

How long have you been creating with fabric?
About 8 years.

How did you get started?
I am mostly self taught, both of my Grandmother’s sewed, but of course I had no interest then, when I had them here! But, it all started because my youngest daughter wanted a room in orange and purple!! Where the heck are you ever going to find that combination?!! So, I bought a $99 Brother and started with a quilt and curtains.

Then I made my oldest daughter and her 4 friends rag quilts and when she went to college I did the duvet, curtains, and pillows for her and her roommate’s dorm room (the college even used a picture of their room in a catalogue)!

The purse “thing” came next when I couldn’t find a summer bag I liked and just took off from there. People were always asking me where I got my purse and then started asking for me to make them one too!

What is your favorite project to create?
Hmmm… I really like creating any of my purse designs; my FAVORITE part of the process is picking out the fabric!! I LOVE fabric, and yarn too, I ALWAYS have to touch it! I like trying to come up with combinations that are fresh and fun!!

How do you get your ideas? Do you start with a fabric or a bag in mind?
Either I see something I like or “dream” up something I think is useful. I think the bag usually comes first, but then the Itty Bitty Brittney Bag came about trying to use up smaller cuts of fabric I had that I just couldn’t toss out!! Some of my favorite handbags have been custom orders, fabric combos and ideas I never would have thought of!

What other type of crafting to do you?
I knit bags too! Besides knitting I like to make jewelry for friends and my daughters and beaded bookmarks too!

Of the items you currently have available, which is your favorite?
OH, probably the Itty Bitty Brittney Bag, it’s just so useful and fun to make! But as soon as the SUN decides to shine here in Oregon I have quite a few REALLY cute purses to photograph; the Tiny t and lil’ Miss M’s will be coming soon!!

You have a blog, how do you decide what to write about?
Usually it’s just me rambling!! I do have a weekly post “Handmade Goodness” featuring other artisan’s shops and I do a post called “Fabulous Friday.” I really try to make my blog a “fun” place to be, with a bit of sarcasm thrown in while keeping things up and positive, not all about “buy my stuff!”

Which super power would you like to have and why?
The ability to fly!! Because first, it would just be cool and second, because I could fly over all the traffic!! I DESPISE traffic!!

If I looked in your frig, what would I find?
Hmmm…. Fruit – pineapple (my favorite), strawberries, cantaloupe. Milk, COFFEE CREAMER (coffee is my life blood), and sandwich makings!

What is your favorite color?
PURPLE, any shade!! (woman after my own heart!!)

What is your favorite book?
LOVE the “Prey” series by John Sanford, I am currently reading “Wicked Prey.”

Want to check out her goodies? Click on the links below!
Etsy Shop: http://ByYourSide2009.etsy.com/
Blog: http://michele-byyourside.blogspot.com/
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/ByYourSide2009

Thanks for taking the time to chat, Michele! Happy creating, all!
Carrie