Pansy Maiden Now At MooShoes NYC

Photo by Green Suitcase Guides

You can now buy Pansy Maiden bags at MooShoes! I know I've already mentioned this on Facebook and Twitter but I just can't shut up about it! I now have bags living on the shelves of this most-beloved, 100% cruelty-free, legendary New York City boutique. Whoa. And look at how beautiful the shop itself is! Beautiful, Kind treasures on beautiful Kind shelves. I cannot wait to stop in next time I'm visiting NYC to see my bags in this gorgeous, vegan shop! It will literally be a dream come true :)

Spring 2012's Theme Is Florals and I Need Your Vote

I mentioned in a recent post that I'll be working with a limited number of 100% cotton canvas prints which are printed right here in the USA. The company that prints this fabric employs 25 people in the great state of M-I-S-S-I-S-S-I-P-P-I. I did extreme amounts of research to find this one company. I asked just about every mid-to-large-sized producer where their fabric is printed and none of them, except one, printed exclusively in the United States. It just so happened that this one company produces most of my favorite prints, too! Thank goodness! The only hard part, once the research was finished, was narrowing my Spring 2012 choices down to two main prints. And now I need your help!

 Please let me know which you like best, the Abstract Floral or the Boho Floral. And then let me know your favorite color. Remember, think about which color/floral you'd prefer to carry around with you in the form of a bag. Sometimes I may look at a print and love it as, say a skirt, but as a bag, not so much. Feel free to chime in here or over on Facebook where I'm rewarding voters by entering their name into a drawing for a free bag if they comment on the photo. I'll keep voting open for a week. Now is the time for your voice to be heard! Tell me what you want! And I will make it happen!

Whichever prints come up on top will be seen in my shop for the next three to four months. Sometime this Summer, I'll pick a new theme with new fabrics and you guys can vote again. I want to keep things looking fresh in my shop.

Thank you guys so much for letting me know your preferences!

Pansy Maiden Joins Forces With Proxy Apparel

When local, socially-responsible, kick-ass business lady Heatherjean MacNeil, the powerhouse behind Proxy Apparel, asked if I'd be interested in partnering with Proxy for a limited run of my Lady Day Clutch, I jumped at the chance. This company does such good work! 

Proxy Apparel is an ethical fashion company dedicated to empowering women through fashion. They believe in a sweat-shop free, equitable world and are passionate about fashion as a vehicle for social change.

Proxy's mission is to empower and employ women in a sweat-shop free, sustainable world. This mission drives their daily efforts, and they are working to infuse it into every aspect of the Proxy brand. Talk about amazing! And did I mention that their headquarters are located right in my backyard? I mean, not literally but they are just a stones throw and bicycle ride away. I am just so stoked to have the chance to help them in their mission, even in such a tiny way.

If you've been considering purchasing my Lady Day Clutch, why don't you run on over to Proxy's online shop and cash out there. If you choose to accept this mission, you will be supporting two (2!) socially responsible, female-led, bootstrapping, Boston-based companies!

Out With The Old, In With The New

Pansy Maiden Bags in Classic Twill, 2009If you've visited my shop lately, you will notice that many classic Pansy Maiden bags are marked either, "Sold Out" or "Retiring Soon." Many changes are afoot here at Pansy Maiden and one of the biggest changes is that I'm leaving twill (mostly) behind. It was a very difficult decision to make, and I apologize for not giving much warning (many classic PM bags are already sold out).

I started Pansy Maiden three years ago using only solid-color twills but, my friends, all things must pass. I remember how exciting it was to make that decision, order twill swatches, and decide on color combos. This is all "everyday life" for me know but that first batch of twill swatches...oh! I felt so squeefully-happy! Like I had made the right decision to leave my full-time job and follow this crazy dream! Twill was my very first fabric-obsession and so it will always live in a little corner reserved in my heart. But not to worry! I have so much exciting stuff coming up very soon, you won't be sad for long. I promise!.

I've been doing so much sourcing over the past 30 days (well, longer than that but for the past 30 days, it's been "insanity sourcing"). Sourcing this go-round has been incredibly fun, incredibly frustrating, incredibly taxing, and incredibly exciting. All that work has paid off though. I have found a couple of socially responsible companies to align myself with. These companies supply crazy-beautiful patterned fabric to the commercial market. For a long time, I have really tried to avoid working with patterned-fabric that is commercially available because I had felt like that would be a sort of "selling out." That people would be buying my bags more for the fabric design than for the bag design. My friends, I feel as if I have graduated from crafty middle school and have gotten over that immature misconception. I still believe, that even if I use some fancy-patterened material, the quality of my designs will shine through. Ultimately, I'd like to have my own fabic designs manufactured exclusively for Pansy Maiden. That time isn't quite now. And I don't want to wait any longer.

In short, come Spring 2012, Pansy Maiden will be offering 100% cotton canvas bags in patterned fabrics (fabric offerings will change every few months to keep things fresh), water-proof totes, waxed canvas bags, and a few faux-leather bags as well.

If you have ever thought about picking up one of these bags, please do it soon. I can't guarantee that they'll be around come mid-February.

Latest Custom Diaper Bag Set

I made this for my one of my best friends (Salina) mom (Cookie) who in turn will be giving it to her best friend's daughter. It has a total of 11 pockets (4 zip), a zipper closure, laminated cotton interior for easy cleaning, a wet pack to store dirty diapers and dirty clothes on-the-go, an extra-large changing pad (22" x 28") padded with cushy, antibacterial soy batting. Cookie and Salina picked out the fabric, I made the set! What do you think?

I've said this before and I'll say it again--I love making diaper bag sets knowing that someone's little baby's precious stuff will be toted around in the bag, and that I'm making a new mom's life just a tad bit easier by providing a means to organize all that precious stuff. 

TO: Paris FROM: Laura

Ah, Paris France...you shouldn't have. Really, Paris, people are going to start talking if you keep treating me this way. I am a married woman, after all. I mean, returning my box of bags one day before my birthday...I just don't deserve such a gift! And look at the way you treated my sweet little cardboard box. I can tell you just loved on it, squeezed it, slobbered all over it, probably spanked it a little...wow. Paris, who cares that it never made it to your first ever vegan fashion show. Whatevs, baby. Whatevs. That's all in the past. And it don't matter none that you teased me by saying it was lost and held on to it until just after the holiday season. Oh, how you flirt! You just really know how to get me going, silly little Paris...I hesitate to bring this up but, since the box never made it to the fashion show, it might have been nice to have had those bags for my holiday shows--shush, shush, shush, shush, don't talk--it's okay. You do not have to explain a single thing. I won't hold that against you. Ever. I'm sure you had your reasons. All that matters is that you gave me back my sweet, sweet box of bags.

XO

Laura

Top Six Goals For 2012

Okay, I'm six days late. After such an eventful holiday season, I just needed to chill out for a bit, not worry so much about blogging, not worry so much about being present EVERYWHERE. And let me tell ya, it was so nice...for a while. But I'm getting pretty bored, as ADD people tend to do. I'm probably going to be laying pretty low for the next couple of months on the bloggy blog. I have some pretty cool "Pansy Maiden" things coming down the pipeline that will be keeping me busy and I'm also going to be trying to take care of some "Laura things" here at the top of the year. I hope to provide at least one update a week here. And, like a true addict, I'm always present on Twitter and mostly always updating Facebook. So catch me there too!

For now, I'll leave you with a few of things you can expect from Pansy Maiden in 2012:

1) Pansy Maiden is coming to a boutique near you! (Up first: MooShoes in NYC!) This is my number one goal for 2012: expand operations to include selling to boutiques so that you guys can see and touch Pansy Maiden bags in person no matter where you live! If you know of a great shop in your 'hood, let me know about it. And let them know about me! The word-of-mouth advertising you guys have already provided has helped me more than I think you realize. I am so grateful! And I could really use your help for this new road I'm traveling down. Help me spread the word that "handcrafted," "made-in-usa," and "vegan" is both fashion-forward and what you guys are demanding! xoxoxoxo!

2) I'm really liking this "neutral pastels" trend going on for the Spring...

3) In 2012, I hope to make it out to a few new cities where Pansy Maiden has yet to do a show. Maybe D.C. Maybe Philly. Maybe Pittsburgh. Maybe Seattle. Maybe Portland. Only time will tell...

4) I will be paring down my twill fabric offerings, moving more towards my waxed canvas and faux leather fabrics. So, if you've been thinking about buying a machine washable, 100% cotton bag, I'd advise grabbing one ASAP!

5) I have not designed a whole new, all-encompassing collection for 2012. I will be moving forward with my current collection and plan to expand by offering one new style in the Spring and one new style in the Fall. I am but one person and this one person really believes in Slow Fashion. I'm very excited about this change. To mix things up, I will be retiring a few colors and adding new colors based on seasonal preferences. I love working with new colors!

6) New, exciting collaborations with companies that are aligned with Pansy Maiden's mission. Vague, I know ;)

One More Show Added! SoWa Winter Market

Just when I thought I was finished for the season, I lost some of my marbles and added one more show! This Sunday! I'll be there with bells on. All you last-minute dudes (and ladies like me) who are still searching for that perfect gift for that someone special--I got 'em! I got all the gifts! Come see me!

Get Your Bag By Christmas. Order Today!

Today is the last day to get your Pansy Maiden order in if you need it to rest under someone's Christmas tree!

Don't forget about promo codes!

20% off any bag in our waxed canvas/faux leather category with promo code vegancuts11. Brought to you by our friends at Vegan Cuts.

25% off our most popular style, The Weekender with promo code VMHoliday2011 via our other good friends over at Vegan Mainstream.

Don't need your bag under your Christmas tree? No worries.
The promo codes above don't expire until December 31st.

Happy Holidays!!!

Boston SoWa Holiday 2011

My final show of 2011! Unbelieveable. I will have some OOAK bags at SoWa, a few brand new styles that have not yet made it into my online shop, as well as artist direct discounts on my waxed canvas and faux suede bags! This will mark my very first appearance at the SoWa Holiday Market and I could not be more excited. (Check out Pansy Maiden's Vendor Profile from SoWa's blog--Thanks so much, SoWa!)

The 8th Annual SoWa Holiday Market in Boston will be held Saturday, December 10, 2011, from 11am - 7pm, at the Cathedral High School, 74 Union Park Street. This year's Holiday Market will feature over 80 juried artists and designers from around New England. From the fashionably chic to the hip and cutting edge, shoppers are sure to find an original gift for everyone on their list. Expect to find an exceptional array of indie goods, including: handbags *cough cough*, jewelry, pottery, letterpress stationery, silk-screened t-shirts, baby clothes and more! This handmade holiday spectacular will take place in SoWa's Cathedral High School Gym, located in Boston's trendy SoWa arts and media district. Within walking distance to Boston's best galleries, boutiques and international cuisine, the SoWa Holiday Market is at the center of Boston's most diverse and exciting neighborhoods!

Event information
When: Saturday, December 10th, 11AM - 7PM
Where: Cathedral HS Gym - 74 Union Park Street, Boston MA
Admission $5, children under 12 free

Please visit http://www.sowaholidaymarket.com for additional information, including artist profiles and directions to the Market.