Silk Wonderfulness

We fell in LOVE with this silk a long time ago. D.D. has a bag made out of it. It makes the most gorgeous rosettes! I love how this Bette Bag turned out.  We found this upholstery fabric last weekend while picking up some last minute costume accoutrements, and immediately came up with the concept for this bag.  I have a feeling we'll both be fighting over who gets to use this bag first.

In Memorium

Happy Birthday Augie!

I miss you every day!

Viking Victory

The annual Wilde family Halloween Party was a victorious slaughter for the vikings. Actually, there were so many great costumes that the first time the votes were counted there was a three way tie.  Our viking clan made an impressive entry. The great thing about this year's costumes was that everyone took charge of their own look. Dad and Steele took charge of collecting and crafting enough weapons for us all to carry. Look for a viking near you come Christmas card time!

Everyone looked great! And the pumpkin recipes were all delicious!

Thanks Grandma for hosting such a fun party!

Reconstruction Zone

How many handbags does one girl need? In my opinion, you can never have enough. As I look back through some of my older creations I realize I have really great fabrics, but maybe not the best embellishments. I have taught myself new techniques and developed new methods over the years. So . . .  the answer is . . . REFURBISHMENT. Keep the original body, and add new appliques. I love this argyle fabric, and I've never been able to find more. I got out my wool and felted some wonderful purple flowers. The result makes me very happy. And I was able to get a Sylvia-Louise label inside (since it was made before we had them).  My next refurbishing project was my key bag. Its a bit over the top, but the color combinations and the rosettes are fantastic!

Frances

I LOVE childrens books! They take me back to a simpler time. And they often teach profound lessons at a basic level. While I have discovered a few new childrens books to entertain me this past year, I always enjoy an old favorite. Last night my sister got me an early birthday gift. Best Friends For Frances. It probably wasn't meant as a present, but I was plenty excited. The author, Russell Hoban has written a series of books based on Frances, a badger child---Bedtime For Frances, A Baby Sister For Frances, and my two very favorites Bread and Jam For Frances, and A Birthday For Frances.  In my family we still joke about the Champo Bar. As I read it last night as a bedtime story to myself, I was taken back to my childhood. I used to beg my dad for "just one more story." Reading was a ritual in our house, so much so that it didn't take me very long to memorize my favorite books. I had varied taste. Anything from Beatrix Potter's Peter Rabbit to the epic poem The Highway Man. I haven't lost my love of reading.   I still read myself to sleep at night. There is nothing like a good book!

Sylvia-Louise Product Line

Large Signature Bag

Style price starting at $150

Sample price $200

Small Signature Bag

Style price starting at $100

Sample price $150

Large Bette Bag

Style price starting at $175

Sample price $250

Small Bette Bag

Style price starting at $150

Sample price $175

Reggie Messenger

Style price starting at $100

Sample price $100

Regina Messenger

Style price starting at $75

Sample price $75

Judy Tote

Style price starting at $50

Sample price $50

Headband

Price $14

Bracelet

Price $10

Please visit www.sylvialouise.etsy.com for more information or to make a purchase.

Shadowbrook

Twenty five years ago Grandmother Moody lived at Shadowbrook in Provo, Utah. We had so much fun visiting her there. Our favorite place in her house was up in the attic. She had a small chalkboard and we played school by the hour. I can still smell the chalk.

She lived in the house on the end with the most beautiful roses out front. DD and I built our first snowman under those trees. When weather was good we played on the swings. There was the most wonderful tire swing that we fought over and had to take turns.

Some years later we moved to Provo to go to school, long after Grandmother had relocated to Salt Lake City. Shadowbrook became our favorite photo shoot location. It became a tradition to take our roommates there to take our annual apartment photos. We were a little disappointed to see that the babbling brook was quiet and that the ducks were missing in action.

We stood on the bridge looking wistfully into the rocky bed. Then we took a few photos for old times sake. We didn't pack a tripod, so just a few individual shots.