Connie’s Lug had a couple of special add-ons, including a small front zip pocket:

…and a large center divider to separate work from personal items:

I haven’t been doing custom work lately simply because of the extra time involved, but Connie’s been such an awesome, long-time repeat customer now and was willing to wait for as long as it took me to deliver the bag…so I was happy to be able to work it in.

Too bad the photos are a little grainy. I didn’t realize that Jimmy’s D90 was on a high ISO setting and just picked it up and snapped away the whole session entirely clueless. Hmph. I knew I shoulda put the thing on Auto! Live and learn, live and learn.Similar Posts:

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We were both totally psyched to have the Big Lug be in the collection of 21 big bags featured in the article, and it definitely gave me an extra energy boost as I was sewing new stuff up yesterday. Many thanks to Etsy blog writer TeenAngster for that!Similar Posts:

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First, more about the mannequin. I got this from an amazing local business called Mannequin Madness. I discovered Mannequin Madness while looking for places that would take some huge bricks of packing styrofoam off my hands since that stuff isn’t recyclable in my area. Well, I think someone was trying to tell me to go check this place out, because soon after noting MM down as a styrofoam recycling option, I randomly came across it again on Yelp while searching for something else entirely. And then I came across it again in an email newsletter from Ladies Who Launch, which featured Mannequin Madness and its owner Judi Henderson-Townsend!

Mannequin Madness rents and sells used dressforms, mannequins and mannequin parts and is a business to be commended not only for recycling over 100,000 pounds of mannequins a year, but also for their cool tagline which cracks me up every time I read it:

We work with a bunch of stiffs and dummies and love it!

Now on to the neck warmer! We’re still enjoying mostly sunny days out here in Alameda, California but I can definitely feel the chill creeping into the air. I’ve been wanting to throw some accessories into my current mix of bags and pouches, so I figured a cozy little neck wrap could be just the thing. And with all the soft, fuzzy corduroy in my stash for all the Big and Little Lugs I make, what better material to use to help fight the chill!

The corduroy neck warmer opens and closes with two silver snaps and can be worn in any of the ways shown, folded over in half, or however your heart desires. It looks great underneath a coat, or on its own and since it’s a short wrap as opposed to a full scarf, it’s less bulky, can be stashed away in your bag, AND — one of my favorite benefits — you won’t have to worry about it brushing up against any public toilets when you’re out and about! =P

The neck warmer will be posted to the Etsy shop within a few days. Thanks for looking!

Update: Here’s a better look at my mannequin (who’s in need of a name, hm…). I dressed her to protect her modesty, but you can see that she’s got everything but legs and came with a great stand on wheels. Here she is, modeling The Big Lug – Flower Power Edition.

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As I mentioned before, I started in on this batch of Big Lugs with the real intent of producing a respectable enough quantity to be able to send an email update about. Sadly, the fabric for three Lugs of the bunch got screwed up during my prewash process, so an already small batch of 12 turned into a batch of 9.

Happily however, more than half of those Lugs sold very quickly! Soooo…I think it’s time to start up on another batch right quick, but only after I finish my set of [dun dunna naaah!] LITTLE LUGS!!! which should be up by the end of the week!

Until then, give Ladybug Lug some love and check her out in the Etsy shop!Similar Posts:

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I was pleased as Punch when I woke up this morning to find The Big Lug – Wolf & Friends Edition handbag *SOLD!* to maker of beautiful jewelry and fellow Etsy seller Crow and Iris. Thanks so much, Crow and Iris!

This Lug is so much fun and just a burst of color and personality. I love the patchwork look of it and of course the medley of animals: butterflies, birds and dragonflies – oh my! All of whom are now off to their new home in the beautiful Pacific Northwest. Hooray!Similar Posts:

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Sniff. So precious!Similar Posts:

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The Big Lug – Lurking Leopard Edition has crept back onto the scene!

The original Lurking Leopard Edition bag made its way over to a happy new home in Bloomington, Indiana back in May, so I’m happy to replenish the collection with this happy new number.

Made with my ever favored Japanese import fabric, the Big Lug – Lurking Leopard’s topped with rugged yet lovely wide wale corduroy in a cool shade of gray.

And, as ever, the Lug features sturdy cotton twill lining, 3 interior pockets, a key tether…and of course the essential lip balm holster!

For some reason, some of the fabrics within the Echino line are heavier weight than others. This one’s a little on the lighter side than say the Green Ladybug Edition, but I’ve added extra structure to it with lightweight fusible interfacing so you’d never know the difference. It’s just as sturdy without being too stiff, and it’s definitely got more oomph than a lightweight cotton.

Tomorrow I’ll be adding another Lug in a funky new print and will start cutting fabric for another small batch of Lugs, after which I’ll have a decent enough collection to send an announcement to my treasured mailing list about!Similar Posts:

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And poor Big Lug! Look how cute that bag is, sittin’ pretty like that and everything while camera girl and model screw it all up. Ack! After 96 self-timed photos, I had to post something — blurry or not. So here we are:

I think we’ll take 5 before we go back to the drawing board.

And 5, 4, 3, 2, 1…

Aah. Photos of bags by themselves are SO much easier. Here’s the 2nd of three Big Lugs that will be posted to the Etsy shop by the end of this week. There’s one of these, and two of the olive-colored version in the first photo and the post below.Similar Posts:

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This number above is made with one of my favorite fabrics — well practically all of my favorites are Echino, as you may have noticed! But I dig the color combos on this one in particular with the peach-colored bird flying amidst aqua, magenta and rose colored flowers, all set against a vivacious (that’s right, vivacious!) olive green background.

I used a wide wale corduroy (i.e. the kind with the fat stripes) for the top portion of the tote, as well as for the straps.

I had my three finished Lugs all set up for their photo shoots earlier this evening, but to my dismay the bulb in my Smith-Victor KT400 Umbrella Lighting Kit was busted…again! The bulb that came with the light was busted upon arrival. I’m sure this second one got banged around during the move. Hopefully I’ll be able to make it to Ritz Camera tomorrow to pick up a new one so I can take some photos of these babies, post them up to Etsy and notify my treasured mailing list members of their availability!Similar Posts:

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