Customs, New Product and What Else??

 Well, this has been one CRAZY week.  Troy was really busy last week with home inspections so that meant LOTS of report typing for me.  My custom orders have been steady and have also been keeping me busy.  The biggest pain in the *$&#($& was some computer issues that we have been having.  The kids surprised me early for Mother's Day with an iPad.  YAY!!  Welp, we had the hardest time getting it to connect to our modem. I spent HOURS (and I do mean hours) with Apple support trying to get it all worked out.  We got that all straightened but doing that caused issues with my Mac and PC.  UGH!!  I really loathe computer issues (more so than the laundry I always complain about).  We ended up getting everything working again but I did lose emails in the process.  Can you say frustrated?  I really feel like a few hours of my week just wasted away. 

We did have a little breather from softball/sports practices thanks to the TAKS test.  That we enjoyed!

BUT, we made up for it Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday.  Between those 4 days, we played 10 (yep, TEN) softball games.   

I am just not starting off my week together at all.  One hour before we are supposed to be at the ballpark for our game last night and I remember that Baylee's uniform still needs to be dried.  Way to be on top of things mom.  It is ok if she plays in a damp uniform right?  It was in the 90s that day with about a million percent humidity.  So maybe that damp was just what she needed?  No really, it did end of drying completely but I had to scramble to pull it all together.  Happy Monday!!  Here's hoping that today goes much smoother.

This cool poster was taken at the weekend before tournament in Houston.  Isn't it cool?  They did them randomly for all teams that played.  We ordered 2 more prints of Baylee.  Thank goodness the tournament this past weekend was local.  Unfortunately, that didn't mean we got to sleep in.  The girls played ok, but were having an "off" weekend.  We ended up 4th which was not as good as we should have done.  But, it happens.

I was also busy with some custom orders.  Here is one that I will be adding to my inventory... small camera bag lined in minky.  When?  Hopefully this week.  Gotta get a few more customs out the door first.  So keep your eyes out.  It will be a custom listing.

 

Another quick peek at another custom order.  I have done small camera bags made with this fabric line before.  But the placement and mix of fabrics is a little different than previous orders.

And lastly, a little something I made for me!!  A case for my iPad!  This design has been running around in my head for my eReader cases and laptop cases but I just haven't had the time to make it.  I finally took the time this weekend though and am happy with the results.  Thank goodness it turned out how I wanted the first time!  A few minor tweaks will be made for listed cases, but overall the pattern and design looks like I pictured in my head.  YAY!  Love when that happens!  It will go on my website as a custom order since I do not have any other samples to share for individual listings.  Hopefully I can squeeze in a ready to ship one this week.

Gathered band keeps the flap securely in place.

Back

Exterior pocket under flap helps you stay organized.

Lined in flannel for a added protection.

What do yall think?  You like?

How was everyone else's weekends?

Additional Options & Sharing A Custom Order

I know I have said this before...but I will say it again....I LOVE custom orders.  Especially when you get to work with some REALLY great customers.  Miss Tara wanted a custom set of coordinating photography accessories in this great Pillow & Maxwell fabric.  Her wish list consisted of:

• 1 large camera bag with LOTS of pockets & adjustable, removable dividers;
• 1 patchwork camera strap;
• 1 CF/business card wallet; and
• 1 coordinating key fob

Her wish is my command.  :)  She was great to work with and I really hope she enjoys her goodies (they are in the mail and on the way to her now).

With her order sprang some additional camera bag options.

Here is her camera bag:

One additional option....exterior front and/or back pockets:

And my second option.....removable AND adjustable padded dividers.  My previous bags have optional removable dividers, but they were not adjustable.  With this new option, you can move them anywhere in the bag to custom fit your accessories.  It is something that has been on my "to do" list for a while now but have not had the time to make.  Did I mention I love custom orders?  Miss Tara was the one to push me to finally do it!

A current option......side, exterior pockets.

Her CF/business card wallet:

And lastly (I didn't take a picture of the key fob), her patchwork strap.  I love how it turned out.  And I have enough fabric to make one more of these and possibly another CF/business card wallet.

So if  you are looking for a completely customizable camera bag, you will see these additional options in my camera bag listings along with the existing options.

Thanks Tara for being such a great customer!  I hope you enjoy all of your new goodies!

Sharing a Couple More Custom Orders

Finished up a few more new custom orders (stuff you haven't seen before).  Thought I would share since I am not getting time to make ready to ship stuff at the moment.  Thought it might inspire you if you are waiting for a custom listing from me.  :)

This is one of my small camera bags.  Love Patty's Mezzanine line!  Don't these colors scream Spring?

And this fun camera strap was a customer request.  Love the fabrics she chose.  The teal/white houndstooth pleat mixed with the black and white damask is a great combo!   The pleat is flush with the damask so no bulkiness.  Just fabulous texture (click on pics to make them larger)!

Hoping to have some new stuff very soon!!  But today is Easter party day and early release at the kids' schools.  We have big plans this weekend for an Easter egg hunt, a trip to the Southeast Texas State Fair and a family Easter get together.  Very little sewing will be getting done this weekend.

Anyone have any fun plans?

Weekend & Some Recent Projects

It.Was.The.Longest.Weekend.Ever.

How is that for a blog intro?  If you follow me on Twitter, you kind of already know what is happening at the Priddy household.  Germs, germs and more germs which reared their ugly head Thursday afternoon.  Not only are two out of three of my kids sick, but so is hubs.  It has really put a halt on our best laid plans and needless to say, all the plans went right out the window.  Baylee and I are praying, knocking on wood, keeping our fingers and toes crossed and hoping that we do not get what they have.  They made a trip to the doctor today, got some meds and will hopefully be feeling much better very soon!  My poor boy is looking pretty beat up.  His double ear infection and throat infection has really taken him down.

This is what is occupying a lot of my counter space.

I am blaming this really cruddy weather.  One day it is perfect and in the 70s.  Next day it is in the high 30s with rain.  Just too much for their little systems to take I guess.  That is my story and I'm sticking to it.  No really......it seems that there is a lot of sickness going around the kids' schools.  Even the teachers are getting it.  I am soooooooo ready for Spring.  Ready to open the windows and get some fresh air in this house!

But even with all of that, I have managed to get some sewing done.  The house isn't in perfect condition, but I am working on that.

Thanks to some great features and mentions on two fabulous blogs (the Savvy Photography and Today's Creative Blog), my sewing machine has been humming with a lot of custom work.

Like this one....(this is one of my favorite fabric line that was unfortunately discontinued)

It is a new size that I will be adding to my inventory.  I am calling it my "compact" camera bag and it is sized in between my small and medium camera bags that I currently offer.  So keep an eye out for this size!

I also made a few lotus pins to add some extra flair to a few custom orders....

I even squeezed in a few new products!!

I am so stinkin' excited to get my Flora and Fauna fabric in.  This will be the first of MANY products using this gorgeous fabric.  You can find this READY TO SHIP reversible camera strap here.

And a brand spankin' new product with a little twist.....grosgrain ribbon reversible camera strap.

I used fun and vibrant grosgrain ribbon for one side and a fun, cotton polkadot for the other side.  This one is also READY TO SHIP and can be found here.

And last but certainly not least.....FINALLY......a camera bag/gadget bag for point and shoots and your smaller electronics like iPhones, iTouch, etc.....

Also READY TO SHIP and can be found here.

This little bag was made using a Keyka Lou pattern.  More styles and fabric selections to come very soon!  My daughter is patiently waiting for me to make her one for her new camera she got for Christmas.

I still have lots more sewing to do but thankfully I am making good progress even with our untimley Germ Fest.  Please keep your fingers and toes crossed that Bay and I do not get it and that the rest of my crew gets better soon.  We are sanitizing and washing our hands like it is going out of style.  Lysol and Oust is our new favorite scents!

Additionally, as posted previously, I am officially cutting back my custom bag work for the next few weeks (possibly months) due to our crazy, busy schedules.  If you want to be put on a waiting list for a custom order, please contact me directly or subscribe to my mailing list or blog (see link on top left column of my blog) to be the first to know when I will open up a custom slot.  If my schedule opens up, I will offer a custom or two as my time allows.  Otherwise, any new bags will be ready to ship.

Hope everyone has a germ-free week and your family is healthy!!  This sick stuff is for the birds.

Times They Are A Changin......

 The Priddy Crew is gearing up for a busy Spring and Summer season.  The busiest time of the year for us as a family.  Since my 3 crazy devils 3 perfectly behaved angels like to play sports (and by play sports I mean every sport they can) and hubs and I do not know how to say no, the crazy, what were we thinking super fun times will keep us all running around like chickens with our heads cut off.  Don't get me wrong, we ALL love it.  But it is a super crazy time for us.  Starting in March, The Boy will be playing baseball (coach pitch.....he is super excited), Mollee will be playing basketball AND softball and Baylee will be playing league softball AND select (travel ball) softball.  She wanted to play basketball but that was just not humanly possible.  They kind of have us out numbered.

This pic was from 2 seasons ago.  She sure has grown.  Now we are gearing up for this year.

I made these headbands for the team.

The team shirts.  I kept it simple when designing these and a local print shop helped with the placement on the front and back.  We put the girls' names on the back.

And if that wasn't enough, both hubs and I are coaching at least one sport.  WHAT?  Factor in school stuff, my business, hubs' business, family stuff and my poor, neglected house, and you can see my predicament.  Something has to give.   Because this is what we will be doing......

Baylee made Allstars last year for league and we are hoping to do it again.  If that happens, this will put us playing softball til the end of July.  And that is just for league.  Select is year round.

The Boy starts coach pitch this year.  He is pumped.

So what does this all mean with regard to my website and Etsy shop?  More ready to ship items and less custom work.  Last year at this time I tried to do it all and it just wasn't possible.  I was exhausted, overwhelmed and SWORE I would never do that to myself again.  I really do not want to have to extend shipping timeframes and make customers wait longer than they already do.  I know how exciting it is to wait eagerly for a custom item and I really don't want to make customers wait longer than my standard shipping times.  Customer service is a high priority for me and is not something I am willing to compromise.  If I take on a lot of custom work, that is exactly what I would have to do.  So what will I be listing?

*Custom Camera Straps

*Custom Lens Cozies

*Ready to Ship Camera Bags (all sizes)

*Ready to Ship Lens Keeper Bags

*Custom Lens Cap Leashes & Pouches

I will more than likely offer one CUSTOM camera bag listing per month (more if time allows).  But for the most part, camera bags will be ready to ship.  I am actually excited about this because I am hoping to work on projects that have been in my sketchbook for MONTHS!  I am really itching to create NEW products!  Hopefully by the time it is all said and done, all of you will lots more options from Priddy Creations.  So if you have been holding out on placing that custom order, now would be the time to get it in.  Starting March 1, custom work will be few and far between with regards to my camera and lens bags.

Another thing I will be doing is slowly moving my inventory from Etsy to my website.  My husband has been nagging encouraging me to make the change for a gazillion two years.  This will be a SLOW process but you will slowly start seeing less and less in my Etsy shop.  I am in the process of cleaning up my website and it takes time.  I am such a perfectionist and want all my "I"s dotted and my "T"s crossed.  Especially on my home page.  Afterall, that is the first impression of your business.  So pictures being 5 different sizes DOES NOT make for a clean or professional look.  I want a cohesive, clean look.

So that is the deal-e-o.  I promise I am not disappearing.  Just scaling back and prioritizing some things.  Hopefully a few brand spankin' new items will come to fruition during this time.

And speaking of more ready to ship stuff, I just listed 3 new COORDINATING items on my website that are all READY TO SHIP.  There was a mix up on fabric selections for a custom order so now I have this great, coordinating set looking for a new home!  Buy all 3 and I will ship for free!!

**Medium Sized Camera Bag with Removable Divider

**Battery Keeper/Small Accessory Bag

**Standard Camera Strap Slipcover

You can find all three here.

So who else out there is nuts like we are?  What is your busiest family time of the year?

Also, I would love to hear what you all would like to see in the way of new products?  Or how about what you would like to see on my blog?  I will be sharing our crazy journey with you and would love to hear what other fun stuff you would like to see more of on my blog.  Leave me a comment and tell me what you want to see!