Bosom Buddy Bags: May 2012

Monday, May 28, 2012

Rosa rugosa

Weekapaug is literally covered in rosa rugosa . The scent,as you drive along the roads, is intoxicating . This is how roses should smell.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rosa_rugosa

Memorial Day has a special meaning for me. Today, not only do we, as Americans, remember all those who served our country, but I personally remember this day( May 31, 2000) as the day my Mom died from complications of breast cancer.

In 2002, I was looking for something to do with my life instead of spending an average of 60 hrs per week doing flowers for special events. Through a series of coincidences, my longtime friend and design collaborator ,Karin J. Chriss, and I started Bosom Buddy Bags….although it wasn’t called that initially. We knew when we started making handbags ( a particular passion of my mom’s) we wanted the business to have a direction and a purpose. Breast Cancer had touched our lives and we wanted to help fight the disease in some way. We didn’t know exactly what we would do, but we knew that would be our cause…hence the name BOSOM BUDDY BAGS

Here we are at our very first show. This was back in the day when we did one-of-a-kind evening bags exclusively .November 2002

Starting in 2006 we embraced our cause wholeheartedly and started the Mothers Day SHOP FOR THE CURE to benefit the Lillian Glorioso Breast Cancer Memorial Fund . To date we have raised and donated over $30,000.00 to KomenMD for the Cure. We no longer do the Shop for the Cure ’tent show’ shopping event, but every October we offer a limited edition pink bag to raise money for breast Cancer awareness. This October we will offer another bag to raise money..don’t worry ,I’ll post about it …several times!

This is the copywrited logo Elizabeth Nuttle created for the Shop for the Cure.

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so here’s what’s happening around our house this Memorial Day morning

Hope you have a relaxing day with your friends and families…and always remember those we have loved and lost,no matter what their battle.

Saturday, May 26, 2012

Three Islands Lifestyle Grand Opening

Dear friends and colleagues, Justin Goff and Phil Barney, have a great line of clothing made by hand in Bali.

The fabrics are 100% cotton and are hand stamped Balinese Batik. They have taken a very traditional Indonesian dying/printing method and have made it fun and preppy. Their motto: Wherever your “island” happens to be, always live the Three Islands lifestyle.

The orange/coral is my very favorite.

After several years of traveling the USA doing trunk shows ( they still plan to do them ) , they have opened their first store in their hometown, Watch Hill Rhode Island. Tonight was the Grand Opening of their store at 99 Bay Street

When we got there around 6PM the crowd was spilling onto the sidewalk out front. The mood was festive and celebratory. These are two of the nicest , most creative, savvy guys you’ll ever meet and their fans were out in force.

Justin Goff , the man who BBB depends on ,with friends

Phil Barney and his buddy in custom, Three Islands sport coats.

the littlest fan ..check out those gold sandals.

My bag of loot..filled with batik boxers for my 2 best guys, Jimmy and Bo

Store manager, Bambi, is quickly folding my stash.

If you can’t get to Watch Hill, be sure to check the list of Stores near you that sell Three Islands .

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Bosom Buddy Bags and Three Islands make a great pair, don’t be surprised if a collaboration happens!

Thursday, May 24, 2012

Loving Rhode Island for Memorial Day Weekend

It is supposed to be a glorious weekend and I can’t think of a prettier place to spend it than in Rhode Island …by the beach.

Weekapaug Beach by Perpetual Twilight

Good friends are having the grand opening of their new store in Watch Hill on Saturday, ( stay tuned for details) . These guys make the cutest men’s shirts ,ladies tops and kids clothes.

Three Islands Lifestyle

Before we check out the new store, I’m hoping we go to the glorious Ocean House for lunch.

The Ocean House is incredible. This hotel was completely rebuilt to evoke the original Victorian hotel .

This is the veranda…aaaaahhhh, Can’t wait.

I’m thinking a little side trip to Pelloni Farms might be in order. Just because I’ve sworn off gluten and sugar , doesn’t mean the rest of the family has to be denied all this goodness. Maybe the RI strawberries are ready.

Does this guy look familiar? He stayed at the Ocean House several months ago and he visited Pelloni Farms. Too bad he couldn’t wait around for me to get there!

Tuesday, May 22, 2012

One-of-a-kind bags

While our line is wonderful and varied, we sometimes get requests ,or just an urge, to go out on a limb. Most of the bags we do for our custom service, are so complicated that we’d be crazy to put them in our line..crazy?? us?? noooo . We spend a great deal of time designing our line and each bag we do is special in it’s own right, but here are two that go beyond!

Parrot heads unite! This one was done for friends attending a Jimmy Buffet concert.

Not the greatest photos, but this hydrangea ,seashell , pearl and starfish clutch was a gift for a bride being married in the islands.

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Off to bed now, tomorrow is another busy day designing with Karin. We have completed most of our ‘ 2012 Little Black Bag’ evening bag collection and we have laid out the adornments for the new hip clutch . We have almost completed the new pearl necklace collection..waiting to hear about the big gold/rhinestone bee…Oh it’s fun to tease you!

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as always, stay tuned

Saturday, May 19, 2012

Made in Baltimore HON!

Since Baltimore is on the National radar today, thanks to The Preakness Stakes ,I thought I’d bring you some “Made in Baltimore” things, HONS.

Has there ever been a spice that can beat OLD BAY? I don’t think so.

check this out for “How to eat a steamed crab”

wash dem crabs down with some famous BERGER COOKIES hon!

(and here is, purportedly, a recipe to make them…)

Goetze Caramel Creams Lizzie’s favorite candy.

switching gears, cuz this is makin me hungry

La Contessa Jewelry by our dear friend and colleague Mary DeMarco.

The Baltimore Ravens

The Baltimore Orioles

and of course

Bosom Buddy Bags

…and they’re off! More Preakness hats and bags

We can’t get enough of the Preakness. Ladies were still coming in on Friday afternoon to get hats and bags made. It’s so much fun to create something that compliments a beautiful woman.

If you ever have a special event , we will create a one-of-a-kind bag for you too.

Straw mesh Hat from Nordstrom embellished with our black dash stripe ribbons and some fab feathers I picked up in Hong Kong last October. Shown with our “Exacta"cuff.

Another simple black hat from Nordstrom done up with a double grosgrain band and a fanciful feather ‘poof’ from Hong Kong and a flower brooch.

Lily Ferra inspired Garden Basket with custom ruffle and ‘Win by a nose’ adornment. Paired with a Peter Beaton hat , custom decorated with our pink dash stripe ribbon and horses.