earn your stripes (a shop update)

 striped tote

I've been wanting to add stripes to the shop for awhile now, but it was a matter of finding the right stripe-- not too thick, not too thin. I usually have ideas in my head of what I want my fabric to be, and sometimes it takes me awhile to find exactly what I'm looking for.

The striped tote bag and crossbody had their first debut at the LA Renegade Craft Fair and sold out so I'm excited to share them with all of you on etsy. Use "launch" for 10% off your order -- today and Friday.

striped crossbody

p.s. I have to be completely honest, every time I write stripes, I just hear the chorus of that awful "shots" song--  but as "stripes, stripes, stripe-stripe-stripe, stripes" instead.

little shop update

I don't talk a whole lot about my shop on here, but I'm taking today to share two little things.

The first thing is that I finally created a separate website from Etsy at rougeandwhimsy.com. I am not, in any way, leaving Etsy-- I have a lot of great customers there-- but you can find me at both places, although my new website will often have newer items!

Like--- my newest item, charcoal gray totes and crossbody bags. These are super limited right now; I'm desperately trying to source some more of this fabric. I've sold these at craft fairs this year but this is the first time I'm selling them online, and they won't be posted on Etsy.

They're a gorgeous charcoal gray and they are very Pacific Northwest to me-- very casual but classic. I did a little photo shoot with a friend at the beach at my house this fall, and the colors of a fall/winter beach-- grays and blues-- have been a big inspiration for this little mini collection.

You can find them for sale here!

xo, erika

sunday shop stuff

I love a good alliteration. It's a sickness really.

I'm just popping in on this lovely gray Sunday (well, gray where I am), to show off just a few new products and to share a little sale for you.

go shopping! storenvy or etsy

 new! polka dot and leather crossbody bag

 new! mint crossbody bag

new! graphic black and white leather clutch

and my favorite: jade leather crossbody bag

 These photos are care of Elisa of Frances and Fern photography. If you're in the Seattle area, I highly recommend her! She is fabulous, incredibly talented and a total sweetheart. facebook // site // blog

And as an FYI, I will be closing shop March 1 and won't reopen until mid-April. Thanks for your support!

xo, erika

etsyRAIN wrapup

weeks upon weeks upon weeks of preparation and nervousness resulted in my first handmade show.

And overall, it was a good experience.

There were moments as I waited for my first sale that I questioned whether I had made the right decision, whether I priced things right, whether people would even like what I had.

But rather that doubt, I decided to make the decision that no matter what happened-- a few sales or a lot of sales-- that I was confident in what I make. And I love what I make, and that's more important than anything else.


After mainly selling online-- it was great to meet customers in person, to tell them about my process, to see them feel the leather or try on a tote. And it made me believe even more in what I do.

What did I learn?

- be bold. tell people about your product, chat them up! They are at a handmade show for a reason
- have clear pricing signs, and information about you and the shop
- have more than enough business cards (I ran out)
- have snacks and lots of water on hand
- have more items than you need (and start preparing months in advance!)
- talk to the other vendors! I loved meeting other people in Seattle who also sold handmade items. There was a lot of great stuff there.
- be confident. no matter what happens, believe in your product, your pricing and yourself.
- it's exhausting. I work all day and I sew late at night but for whatever reason, the two days of the fair were far more tiring than anything I had done in a loooong time.

I'm excited to apply to a few more handmade markets in the future!

Also-- like my display? Honestly, I did hardly anything. I have my parents and a family friend to thank for it. The back is pvc pipes (tutorial here) hung with cheap white Ikea drapes, the table is covered with vintage sheets and the display board is cut from an old door. Knobs from world market hang the totes.

More than anything I could not do this weekend without the support of my family, my husband and so many friends who came to visit me, who texted me and just in general believed in me. :)

xo, erika

p.s. if you missed the black friday sale, I'm having a cyber monday sale. use "CYBER15" for 15% off in the rouge & whimsy shop. Also, check out the new items like my metallic pouches and chevron wristlet.