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"Fish Tales"

Dressed Up Cat Blog — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 20:34:00 GMT

All men crave a tale of a fish
Snag a whale's what they all seem to wish.
With the best reel & bait, he's go only to wait
But those fish tails, they're gone with one swish!

This bag is a favorite: it's a vintage python clutch with big flap and neutral-toned-leather body. A large hand-carved wooden fish chases a "lure" in the form of a hand knotted tassel with stone, wood, vintage ivory and clay beads. Beautiful python front and back, hand laced edges, snap closure, two interior side pockets. Zippered center interior pocket. An outside pocket under the flap has its own with mini-flap and own snap closure. 10" by 8" by 1.5" (bag expands to 3"). As always, each of my bags has its own (recycled) brass name tag & fabric dust cover included. $295.00. www.shop.dressedupcat.com

Bag of the Day: "I'm Leaf-ing You for the Navy"

Dressed Up Cat Blog — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 22:01:00 GMT

"I'm Leaf-ing You for the Navy"

Vintage blue patent leather frame bag with chain and cascading leaves.

"I'm Leaf-ing You for the Navy.
I want a horizon more wavy
Please don't try to stop me; attempt to re-pot me--
The cook there, he makes better gravy."

Bag o' the Day: My Stalker

Dressed Up Cat Blog — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 20:12:00 GMT

I'm followed around by My Stalker -

He's proven not much of a talker -

Keeping track of my travels o're pavement or gravel -

Don't worry, he's only a gawker!

Bag o' the Day: My Prince Charming.

Dressed Up Cat Blog — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 22:45:00 GMT

"My Prince Charming."

I'm a girl who's just up from the farm -
Many things in life, they cause alarm -
But meeting men ain't one, with that part I'm all done -
MY Prince Charming? He's here on my arm!

I'm adding Limericks to each bag!

Dressed Up Cat Blog — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 18:09:00 GMT

NEW NEW NEW!!!!!! You love my designs & titles. NOW each of my bag comes with its story--as a limerick--with its photo on a frame-able, signed artist certificate!

"Just Keep Your Head Above Water"

As a zebra, you get much advice
More than robins, or aardvarks, or mice.
"Keep your head above Water!" I know that I ought-er....
But down there with the fishes seems NICE!

OK, It's True: I'm a Twit ("In My Own Little World!")

Dressed Up Cat Blog — Sun, 23 Aug 2009 16:07:00 GMT

Ok, Ok, I'm finally ready to admit that yes, it's true. Those of you who've said it for years will finally be glad to know I've admitted it:
I am a Twit.

Yes, I have finally succumbed and am now "twittering" about my latest "finds" for Dressed Up Cat artwear bags, my thoughts on where Dressed Up Cat and artwear fashion is going,and the all rest of the fun in short updates to your email or cel phone. Ihereby promise to to drive you nuts. Log in to Twitter.com and sign up to follow me under the name @DressedUpCat at twitter.com.

All this is so that I won't just be--much as I'd sometimes like to be-- isolated "In My Own Little World!" Even this one!

Here Comes the Sun!

Dressed Up Cat Blog — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 20:45:00 GMT

Just finished "Here Comes the Sun". It's been awork in progress for quite awhile and just recently "told" me how itwanted to be finished up! (That happens from time to time... sometimes things only come partIy together and then they seem to just need to percolate in my studiofor awhile.) I guess it took July's Arizona sun & 109degrees to fully inspire me!

This bag is a large Italian leather tote with double rolled leather handles, an inside zippered pocket, pretty blue and yellow Mexican ceramic sun face, bright blue feathers, little gold-toned sun charms and "doo-dads" off a blingy belt. Where's my sunscreen?

"HERE COMES THE SUN!"

Today's Focus

Dressed Up Cat Blog — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 21:14:00 GMT

In stressful times--actually, in all times--I think its so helpful to focus on those things you can change or do something about; the things you can control. Everything else is, by definition, out of your control. If it's out of your control and you can do noting about it, do NOT give it one iota of your precious time, energy or attention.

Easier said than done, but it works. I try hard to focus on just two things every day: 1) doing the right thing in action, speech and thought (no "thought arrows allowed!"), and 2) dealing the the inevitable adversity that does arise (we're human--it IS inevitable) with as much grace as I can possibly muster. That's it. Those two things. Period. I don't always succeed at this grand plan, but I try. And I think it works. That's my "two cent's worth" today.

So for the purposes of illustration, I wanted to put in this bag today: " WHAT a Tart!"

It could conceivably fall OUTSIDE the guidelines of the plan. Depending on whether it refers to pastry, or a person of female gender. You make the call.

(And try to stick to the plan anyway. Yes, this IS a case of "do as I say, not as I do!"

Dressed Up Cats seen in Holland!

Dressed Up Cat Blog — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 00:11:00 GMT

Where did June go?? Someone took the balance of the month while I wasn't looking, and guess what happened?

Fesjon.com--the super new Dutch fashion commentary and boutique site-- went LIVE with a collection of fifteen Dressed Up Cat bags! Fesjon.com

These pieces are available for sale ONLY in the fesjon boutique. It's a varied group: "Navy Brass", "Anchors Away", and "Swamp Conga" are in keeping with the season;

while "Vintage Time" and "Parlour Games" are a little more somber for fall, if you're

getting into the mood. Fesjon.com Boutique

"Fesjon", says founder Mariana Davelaar, is the phonetic of "fashion". Even the name is way cool! Congrats, Mariana, looking good! Go get 'em, girls!

Quiz: What do the Netherlands, Vegas & Conishead Priory have in common? Dressed Up Cat Handbags!

Dressed Up Cat Blog — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 00:27:00 GMT

In the morning, I'm off to Las Vegas for the Licensing Expo. Short version? in a few months, you may not have to pick just one or two bags for your own, you'll be able to have them ALL: in a book, on your shower curtain, on your 'brelly (umbrella, for we Yanks!), maybe your placemats.

Yes, the photos of Dressed Up Cat Handbags, through the magic of licensing, may soon be in places you never imagined. Love the Cowgirl Glam collection? Get 'em all on stationery or boxed gift cards (Hello, Leanin' Tree, are you listening?). Obsessed with time and need the "All the Time" collection around to keep you prompt? How about waking up to them on your pillow? That'll get you out of bed on time! The possibilities are lots of fun to consider...Stay Tuned.

AND Dressed Up Cat Handbags are crossing the pond! Yep, in July, you'll be able to find them at the Conishead Priory Gift Shop at the Manjushri Buddhist Meditation Center just outside Ulverston, England. Everyone say thanks to Peter, store manager.

And later this month, look for exclusive listings of some special Dressed Up Cat bags available only on Fesjon.com, the fashion tracking and commentary site, based in the Netherlands. Your fab ladies in the EU don't have to feel left out anymore!

Not this year.

Dressed Up Cat Blog — Thu, 07 May 2009 18:07:00 GMT

The IDHA announced the nominees yesterday, and I'm not one. Rats.

The nominees are all SO great, tho' --here's the link to the site where you can see them all. Indy Handbag Designer Nominees

My pal Darren Wallace, winner of last year's Best Handmade Award, is again a nominee with a FIERCE blue studded Cayman backpack. You GO, Darren!

In the Best Green Category, I think my fave is Andres Stickney's Envirotech Recycled Tire Rubber Clutch with Re-Used Lion Head Drawer Pull www.dresdesign.com. The creativity of them all is super inspiring. Good luck, everyone!

Poor "Last Trophy Bag". It's very sad not to be a nominee; but on a brighter note, I sold it last night to a VERY good home. Spit spot. Movin' on. I will even have occasional visitation rights. Along Came a Spider, and and Lizards Night Out also went this week, both to the same collector.

Now I turn my attention to prepping my presentation for next Wednesday for the Phoenix Art Museum's Arizona Costume Institute. What fun!

Today's the deadline!!

Dressed Up Cat Blog — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 18:22:00 GMT

Today at midnight is the deadline for entries for the 2009 Independent Handbag Designer Awards!

I have to admit, I am very excited.

Yesterday the Awards sent out an update that the winner of the Best Overall Handbag will be featured at Sacks Fifth Avenue!! Way to Go, Emily!!! My entry " The Last Trophy Bag" is not an entry in Best Overall--it's in the Best "Green" category since its from recycled components, but it's still very exciting.

If anyone wants to get "fired up" with me on this, here is a link to CBS News Early Show interview with Awards producer Emily Blumenthal the morning after the 2008 Awards. The winners, AND all the nominees, including "Summertime" (below) are shown in the video.

Cross your fingers, everyone, and stay tuned!

'09 Indy Awards: My Shortlist & Entry for "Best Green Handbag"

Dressed Up Cat Blog — Fri, 10 Apr 2009 01:07:00 GMT

I made it down to my short list earlier this week, and I finally made my selection. I submitted my entry yesterday, so "fingers crossed, everyone"! I love the bag I entered and want to send many, many thanks to the Two Susans--you know who you are--for your feedback and suggestions on the final "tweaks".

Before you get to see my entry, here are my other shortlist candidates:

"A Little Blown Away" "SUCH a Tart!" & "Leaf-ing Out & Leaf-ing You".

All great bags that I am very happy with. They were strong candidates. But here's my entry:

"The Last Trophy Bag".

Yep, it looks familiar, cuz you saw it last week as "Trophy Bag", and without it's tassel/zipper pull. And with a shorter name.

Here's my description for the competition: Vintage grey suede & brown snake clutch with grey leather trim and gold-toned corner plates. Adorned with a "found" 3D resin elephant head sculpture & a hand-braided brown leather & bead tassel, which serves as the zipper pull and represents the elephant's tail. $500.00 This bag encompasses fashion's fatigue with the "it"/trophy bag, a plea for animal conservation, and the current (if slight) cultural shift away from materialism.

Doesn't it just say it ALL? Stay tuned--entries close on Tuesday, and I should hear if I'm a finalist soon thereafter. Fingers crossed, everyone!

Handbag Designer 101 Features me! Plus, a REAL "Trophy Bag!"

Dressed Up Cat Blog — Sat, 28 Mar 2009 19:44:00 GMT

I'm a Featured Designer with Handbag Designer 101.com! They are the sponsor of the acclaimed (and super cool!) Independent Handbag Designer Awards in NYC, this year on June 17th, 2009, at the New York Historical Society. YAY! Thanks to Emily Blumenthal, creator of the awards and founder of HandbagDesigner101.com. The feature includes my interview about Dressed Up Cat with Emily. It's my best attempt yet to articulate it the what and why of Dressed Up Cat, so check it out!

And today's candidate for my IDHA nomination this year is "Trophy Bag". I really think this may be the one. It's a beautiful gray suede vintage clutch/shoulder bag with a zip top and gold corner plates. The gold shoulder chain is interwoven with gray leather. There is a diagonal brown snake inset across the front of the bag bounded on each side with the same gray leather as in the shoulder chain. The perimeter of the bag is also edged in it.

I've had the bag for awhile and thought it was terrific, and have tried a couple of designs with it but wasn't ever happy with them. Then one day of February I found it: a large very life-like resin elephant head, complete with tusks and up-curled trunk. It looks like a miniature of the big game hunter trophy elephant head (are we as a species OVER that yet??) It's PERFECT on this bag.

So, given the status of having just the right handbag, AND with a special little "poke" to the girls who want an "it" bag,
here it is: Trophy Bag!

Time to pick my nominee for this year's Indy Handbag Awards!!

Dressed Up Cat Blog — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 20:52:00 GMT

Well, sports fans / fashion fans / art fans / fans of quirk (I consider you ALL my own...) it's that time. Last year about now my friend Rosemary Price, managing director of eWomenNetwork here, forwarded me a little something about the (then) upcoming Independent Handbag Designer Awards

also known as the "Handbag Academy Awards". They were seeking entries, and they even had a category for Best Green Handbag. As you probably know, my one-of-a-kind bags are all of recycled and "found" components. Green. Perfect.

That "little something" from my friend turned into quite a "big something" for me. The Awards organizers received over 700 entries from all over the world for prizes in five categories, and my handbag "Summertime" becoming one of five nominees for the 2008 Best Green Handbag! I went to New York City in June for the ceremony, held at the beautiful New York Historical Society on Central Park West in my old neighborhood. I met loads of wonderful other designers, Iconoclast Award Recipient Judith Leiber, and generally had a great time re-visiting my city of 11 years in a totally different capacity from my former self!

Although I wasn't the category winner--Ecoist, the "woven wrapper"handbag folks deservedly took home the trophy--it took me weeks to "wipe that silly smile off my face"! Here I am at the awards, with "Summertime", and the silly smile. I'm holding another of my "All About Time" series of bags, an evening bag entitled "Night Time".

So NOW, it's time for me to pick this year's entry! It was very tough choosing which of my bags to submit last year, so this year I am calling in recruits--you! I can only enter one, so through my next few blog entries, I will show you several of my favorites. Please let me know what you think; either through a comment here, or a phone call, email, whatever works for you--I SO APPRECIATE YOUR INPUT! Here's my first candidate: "Serengeti Tears".

It's a large vintage Italian woven paper & cotton tote with double rolled leather handles, a magnetic snap top closure & interior zip pocket, a beaded tassel, iridescent rust glass beads and a large, carved wooden giraffe face. It measures 18"x 11" x 6".

Cool as in Hip!

Dressed Up Cat Blog — Sat, 07 Mar 2009 23:00:00 GMT

Did you ever think "sustainable fashion" would be considered cool? Or hip? Trendy? "It"-ish? (Okay, so I just made up that last one...) Me either. I am still tickled and a little in awe of being included in Phoenix Magazine's "Cool Issue 2009" and its cover story "33 of the Hippest People, Places and Things in the Valley". I'm lucky number 7 on the list. ONe of the main reasons I'm glad to be included on this particular list is because I think the fashion biz in general puts a lot of icky stuff (to use the technical terms...) into the environment for rather mindless reasons. Plus, it generally speaking doesn't treat the folks who make the stuff all that well. (I recall reading something about "sweatshops"....) And aren' t we lucky that green fashion doesn't mean burlap anymore?

Too Cool for School.

Dressed Up Cat Blog — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 23:14:00 GMT

Well THIS doesn't happen every day. I have been officially christened "cool". And by the local bible of All Things Good, too: our beloved Phoenix Magazine. It's the one you pick up the instant you hit the Valley of the Sun to see what's good to eat, what's on at the arenas (sports and otherwise) what's in our theaters (and I don't mean movies...yawn) and at our now TWO operas.

And this month's "2009 Cool Issue", "33 of the Hippest People, Places & Things in the Valley". And I'm number 7. (GET OUT! You're kidding!!) No, really. Stop laughing. http://www.phoenixmag.com/lifestyle/200903/a-cooling-trend/2/ And they lead off with my telling the nice reporter about my first entrepreneurial experience: my worm farm at age 9. OK, THAT's funny... (Oh, they can really "worm " it out of you, those reporters..... sorry, couldn't resist). But it's a nice article and I've thrilled and flattered.

So for all of the things that get "out of the bag" and the things that should really STAY" in the bag", here is today's bag entitled: "In the Bag"! It's a vintage leather suede drawstring pouch, leather lined with metallic gold leather drawstring and shoulder string-strap, sporting a gold-toned, rhinestoned "bag" on big chain links.

And for getting to be "officially" cool. Thanks, Stephanie Connor, and Thanks, Phoenix Magazine!

What's the Question?

Dressed Up Cat Blog — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 18:10:00 GMT

Some days we are more without direction than others. Neo in the movie "The Matrix" ended up down the rabbit hole by asking "What's the question?" When we flounder the most in our search for answers, sometimes its because we are asking the wrong question. This bag is for those days. When you can't figure out which end is which, which end is "up", decide just what, in your case, IS the question? And then you take it from there.

"What's the Question?" is a large black Italian straw shoulder tote with long rolled leather shoulder length straps, heavy gold-toned hardware with inside zip pocket, sporting a large gold-toned metal "question mark". 12" x 5" x 13". $295.

Team Spirit.

Dressed Up Cat Blog — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 16:50:00 GMT

Poor Birdies. Isn't it amazing how current events--including sports--can pull our emotions around? Here I wasn't even paying that much attention to football this year. Then watching that amazing Steeler run 100 yards to score right before the half, I was in awe at his prowess and dismayed that the Cardinals didn't take him down. After the game, such pride in the Cardinals and the intense bittersweet of coming so close against such a admirable opponent. Aren't the Steelers a glowing testimony to American sports?

What is the world does any of this have to do with handbags? Very little. But I'll put up this bag in tribute to our Warriors, our Arizona Cardinals. We are all so proud of you.

Go Cardinals!

Dressed Up Cat Blog — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 23:03:00 GMT

Ok, I'm a fair weather sports fan. Or rather, a playoffs fan. Once a team makes a playoffs, I can get interested. There was a day when I was in the office pool and actually paid attention to football--I think that was in the 80's and Refrigerator Perry on the Bears was kind of a freak weighing in as 300 +++ pounds. Isn't that the norm for defensive ends now? Like I know.

Anyway, my home team (the Cardinals) from here in the desert is playing in the Superbowl on Sunday. Quite unexpectedly, from what I understand. One would practically have to live in a cave to not have heard the non-stop media blah blah about it. So in honor of the Cardinals, today I will talk a little about one of my lovely handbags that features birds.

And it's an all-time fave of mine: "Beak Clinic". Over the course of a year, I found in two separate antique stores, months apart, these two wonderful pins of tropical birds. Stylized macaws, maybe? The bag is a small, vintage, soft leather frame bag with a long rolled leather shoulder strap. Later I came across the smaller bird, a pin with a wonderful glass body. It took me another several months to come up with the plan for them: pair them up, and put them together with another bird with a very fat bill. The big birds with the puny beaks are "studying" with the smaller bird with the big fat beak. Now that's the way to catch bigger bugs!

But isn't that the way of it with us all: we always seem to want something we don't have....