Cleobella Internship

I’ve accepted a 4 month internship with the ever-so-amazing-boho-chic, Cleobella. The woman behind all this is Angela O’Brien. She is by far my number one inspirer and mentor. Cleobella was started in 2008 and is a travel inspired collection with a feminine flair. The collection consists of a handbags, clutches, and wallets. All of which are 100% hand crafted in Indonesia. My goal for this internship is to learn everything and anything about running a successful handbag line.

My love for Indonesia always manages to creep back into my life, in a good way of course.

A sign that the sunshine is almost near

Happy International Women’s Day

Celebrate and indulge in everything that makes you who you are today! Happy international women’s day!!
(I’ll gladly accept all of the following but is not limited to: chocolates, wine, orchids, massages, mani & pedi, hugs…)

Spring is approaching and I am definitely falling in love with the sunshine, bright colors, and everything floral. A lot good news are yet to be announced. In the mean time, I would like to congratulate my BFF, Hillary Wright, on her engagement to Mr. Martin.

2nd Annual Orchidlan pop-up boutique

It’s a 2nd annual pop-up boutique for the holiday season! Perfect for any last minute stocking stuffers and gifts. This year I have decided to donate a portion of  sales to GlobalAdolescentProject.org. After all, we are people helping people for the greater good. Another added bonus that night will feature gifts for purchase by Megan Loranger Photography.

Support local. Shop local

Inspiration from nature

Hiller Messenger
+canvas print, microsuede, recycled sailcloth lining, inside zipper pocket, two misc pockets, cell pocket+
** commission only**

The changing colors of fall/winter is such a beautiful phenomenon. Seems like we are always in a hurry to get somewhere and fail to smell the flowers. Do we even notice the subtle changes as we go about our busy schedule in this concrete jungle? It may be chilly outside, but there is still beauty within it. Just yesterday night, I was driving home from work and was graced with a long shooting star as I approached my house within a hundred yards. Too bad it wasn’t a meteor shower which would normally be around this time. A couple of weeks ago, I went on a hike at the Holy Jim Trail after the rainfall and stumbled upon a gigantic patch of ladybugs. They were festering all over the place! It’s moments like these that I call simple pleasures.

The messenger bag above was commissioned by Miss Hillary Wright of Twinfully Sweet. Shop local this season. Support your community by buying from local artisans/crafters, up & coming businesses, and etc. Pictures to come from wedding projects for the soon to be Mrs. Janine DeLamater <3

see you soon summer. Hello Fall/winter!

(FW2011. Look at these geeks being such posers.)

Burrrrrrrrrrrr it’s cold here in CA. Put all your summer items away for now because the cold has been brought. Sail products are set aside for now and I hear a lot cosmetic maintenance are in the works for Windchimes during this winter. I can not wait for summer to roll back around again. But let’s focus on the now and right now it is cold, bur, cold. So where is my muse? my inspiration? There must be some sort of creative block that had formed recently. Only one cure for that… a quick winter escape to gain inspiration or maybe a quick paradise escape to get away from the cold. Any suggestions?

Here’s the highlight of this past sailing summer season. Until we meet again, summer…

september going onward with october

Sometimes I fall into a funk and can’t crawl out of the dark hole. It seems like the end of the world, but that is just me being dramatic. Luckily, my BFF (Paige Kim) from the 808 state came to the rescue. She is my sister from another mother and I am sure we all have one of those. She reminded me that life is not so complicated as long as you look at the brighter side of it. (Generally speaking, this is true in all cases.)

Despite the economy, I think I still eat pretty well, if anything, a lot healthier. I hardly eat red meat, fish, or poultry and find myself eating more greens and legumes. Oh, and a whole lot more coffee as the weather gets colder. I am lucky to have my family of whom came from a rural ancestry background. There is always fresh (and organic) produce growing in my dad’s garden awaiting to be harvested. This ranges from tomatos, green beans, 3 different types of squashes, lettuce of all kinds, kohlrabi (German turnip), apple bananas, a wide variety of different herbs, and much more depending on the season. Soon enough, I will have a little herb garden of my own as my seeds are slowly sprouting.

Handbags are placed on pause for the moment until my sewing machine returns to life again. In the meanwhile, enjoy the simple things in life - start an herb garden.

Limited Edition: upSail Wallets

I haven’t forgotten about the men as far as the upSail Collection continues to reach limited in supply. Are you man enough to show off your white wallet? Especially when its made from recycled dacron & lined with recycled rice bag? (Imperfections are natural and original to the handmade product. Color may vary due to the nature of the material.)
It’s eco-friendly and everything sustainable so you feel like you are doing your part.

Plus, who really has a fresh wallet like this anyways?!?!?

Large upSail totes

upSail
currently 3 available in large.
recycled & repurposed dacron sail from a 1965, 32′ Islander Sailboat
w 20″ x  h 15.5″ x d 6.5″
hand spliced/hand whipped rope with a 9.5″ drop
zipper pocket
3 pockets
key swivel hook
magnetic snap closure
Imperfections are natural and original to the handmade product. Color may vary due to the nature of the material. Spot clean with mild soap and warm water.

Well, here it is. I was able to make some samples and a few for purchase before my sewing machine decided not to work properly. Geez, such durable material causes my machine to go haywire and be out of commission for a bit. Partially my fault though because I was forcing my machine to work magical powers of which it clearly did not possessed. Rest assure, each tote is still carefully made. This sail has been around for a while and it might as well be given some sort of “vintage” labeling. Here is a short blurb from Rachael Vrooman who grew up with this sail,

“ When people ask me about my childhood memories, one of my first responses is, “my father used to take me sailing”. However, even as luxurious as it may sounds, my father made me work for this pleasure.  He taught me how to prepare for departure, read the sea, and bring us home.  The sails that were on Windchimes was massive to an 8 year old girl.  But I understood that it was like the soul of the vessel.  We would take it off it’s mast, and unfold it on the ground.  We would strategically search for and tears; we would wash it with TLC.  And as much as I cared for it, I played with it as well. My dad would bunch it up and we would jump into yards and yards of wind worn fabric.  I would frequently nap in our unused sail that would rest in the bow.  I would climb onto the mast and when the wind was just strong enough, I would nap in it like a hammock. Saying my father used to take me sailing is a gross understatement.  I experienced sailing; I dissected it to it’s core.  I had tender moments in the warmth of a sail.   That is what I mean when I say, “my father used to take me sailing.”

more items are still on the way: medium size totes and wallets…recycle more, consume less, create sustainable products!

upSail totes

upSail totes by orchidLan

I need a lot more vietnamese coffee than this single mug to finish up this project. Introducing the up and coming upSail totes. Up-cycling is the way to go these days and you have already seen how I’ve up-cycled rice bags. It just doesn’t stop there, now I am using sails to make some pretty awesome totes. Hopefully it will all work out because who really knows how old this sail is and where it has traveled to. Seriously, it could have been across the seas in seven days for all I know. The question now: will this sail hold up during the prep process of careful handwashing/cleaning? We will only find out.

To do list:
* endless vietnamese coffee
* remove shackle & sail slide CHECK!
* remove leech line CHECK!
* order bonded polyester thread (V69)
* cut out tote patterns
* handwash/clean patterns

and that will be all the secrets I will share with you for now.