Guest Blogger - Sheena S.

The single sentiment I hear most often when people see a Daylin Skye Designs bag in person is, "Wow, the picture didn't do it justice!" Although I am so glad to hear this, I ask myself all the time, how can I improve what is seen online to convey more about the bags? While I haven't yet figured out how to improve the photos, I did ask a recent client if she would be my guest on the blog and give her first-hand experience with a Daylin Skye bag. I thought perhaps seeing my designs from an outside vantage point might be beneficial. Without further ado.... 

     From the first time I met Amber, I knew she was someone special. Anyone who has talked with her knows what I mean when I say she truly cares and is interested in what you have to say. Even more, I was lucky enough to be at her house warming party and let me just say, this girl has boldness in her design style that anyone would envy. Seriously, just take a look at her before & after home redesign photos... can you say aaa-mazing?!

     So our mutual Pinterest and DIY-on-a-budget design obsessions, along with my huge respect of her courage to follow her dreams, pretty instantly made me a fan of Daylin Skye Designs. After only one up-close-and-personal peek at one of her bags, I was apparently mentioning how beautiful and high quality they were to my husband so much that he decided that a Daylin Skye Designs bag would be my next birthday present.

     It just makes me laugh to think of my husband being all sneaky to have a bag designed for me! I even remember Amber, err Daylin Skye Designs, making a Facebook post about how she was designing a bag for someone and that she loved it so much that she wished she could keep it. I too, was wishing that bag she was creating was for me, and lo and behold, it was!

     My husband and I always give each other birthday gifts at midnight the night before our actual birthday. So when the clock struck 12am on August 25th, I got to dig into a super cute gift bag filled with tons of tissue paper to find an absolutely gorgeous Daylin Skye Designs purse made just for me!!! I was ecstatic to say the least.

     He then started admitting to a few little white-lies he had to say to keep me from figuring out his present to me. (i.e., staying overtime at work, but really meeting Amber to pick the bag up) Haha. Love him so much!

     I knew every bag from Daylin Skye Designs was custom-made and one-of-a-kind, so I asked how he knew what to choose. He explained that he chatted with Amber about what types of purses I already have (colors, styles, etc.) and that from there he simply gave her the freedom to design and create what she thought I'd love - and boy do I love it!

     I'm not sure if it was discussed before the design phase or if Amber reads minds, but the bag just happens to include some of my all-time favorite colors -- teal, white, and a sandy saddle. Amazing.

     The white and teal material Amber chose for the trim is a perfect balance of being simple, fun, elegant, and very unique - almost abstract, really. The leather is a perfect saddle color that I'm realizing goes with everything! The interior of the bag is just as gorgeous with a super silky and fun polka-dot lining. Then there are two of my favorite features of my new bag: the built-in iPad sleeve and the uber convenient key clip. Woohoo! No more digging for days to find my keys and it looks like I now have an excuse to get an iPad!

     I can't even count how many compliments I've received on my new Daylin Skye bag. I have used it almost every day since receiving it on my birthday almost a month ago. It is the perfect size and style for all seasons and occasions, very durable, comfortable to carry, and undeniably gorgeous. I just love that I get to carry something around every day that is one-of-a-kind and custom designed for me!

Sheena Schleicher is the blissful, happily married wife of Steven Schleicher. She is the Sr. SEO/Social Strategist and Project Manager at SEO, Inc. Sheena and her hubby Steven passionately enjoy life. Whether working, surfing, creating or playing, their goal is to capture the love, creativity and all things blissful in this beautiful life they have been blessed with. You can read more on Sheena's blog, "Beach Break Bliss".  

The Ultimate Giveaway!

Constant State of Change

I've been playing with paint this weekend and thought I'd share some before and after photos with you! 

First my master bedroom. I changed the color of the mirror and the dresser. I chose grey because I wanted to ground the colors a little. I felt like using the darker grey would give the room a more consistent flow. Although it is still a work in progress, here is where it currently stands!

Another room I worked a bit on was my master bathroom. I changed the shelves.

So the cool thing is these are all re-purposed items!

Mirror - $10

Dresser - $5

Bathroom Shelves - $4

2 Cans of Spray Paint - $7

(the dark grey paint was leftover from another project)

Yay!!! 

Happy Labor Day...peace ya'll!

In the shop now...the "Keem" bag

When my Aunt Kim asked me to design a bag for her, I was excited to take on the task of putting her personality and style into fabric. 

Kim is my Dad's youngest sister. The baby of the family. She was an unexpected bundle of joy that came along when my grandmother was 47 years old. And actually, they could have easily named her "Joy". She loves life and has the most infectious laugh. I can't count the times she and I have dissolved into fits of giggles and laughter over something only she and I thought was funny. The rest of the family looking at us as though we had lost our ever-loving minds. (hahaha...we probably had!)

I'm very happy with the way the "Keem" bag turned out. This larger style bag with a little extra in the design. The interior is a chocolate brown and ivory polka dot (of course, ya'll know I love polka dots!) It has all the usual pockets and key clip on the inside, and additional key clip and detachable matching petite pocket on the outside. (see the photo below)

My Aunt "Keem" has, umm....how shall I say...she has a taste for the more high-end bags. (no brand names mentioned...) So I'm honored that she would want to add a Daylin Skye bag to her collection.

~ peace ya'll 

In the words of Oprah...

I think I heard Oprah once say, "Love is in the details". 

So true!

I hope that once you buy a Daylin Skye Designs handbag, you never see anything but the outside of your bag. However, if you were to take a peek in between the seams, this is part of what you would see.

The photo above is the lining that went into the Neecy Bag. The see-thru is the interfacing which after it is applied to the fabric is then all serged so there aren't any fraying edges. Then it is sewn once, checked for fitting and sewn again for quality assurance and my own peace of mind. (Congratulations again, mi amiga, Amy Parnell, who won the Neecy bag just by sharing a photo!)

Although I don't work from a pattern (that part is just in my head), the quality process on the bags are all pretty much the same. I follow the contractor adage my Dad instilled in me, measure twice - cut once! When it comes to the sewing process, I want to make sure I'm putting a product together for you that won't fall apart on you! I test most things out on myself first. I'm pretty hard on bags, so they get slung over my shoulder, thrown onto the seat of the car, or buried in a shopping cart under miscellaneous items from my latest trip to the local hardware store. By trial and error, I've discovered which straps and attachments work best under constant stress. The key points and places I need to triple reinforce and backstitch to ensure durability. So if you decided to load up your Daylin Skye Designs bag with, books, a laptop, groceries, a pair of high heels, water bottles, file folders, a hammer or your dog (yes, all things I've put in my bag!), then the seams and linings and straps are all going to hold fast. 

100% Made in the USA, hand crafted and designed by me.

Yes... "Love is in the details".

Rocker re-vamp

If you had asked me two years ago if I wanted to go to a garage sale with you, I would have politely declined. Just not my thing. First because I don't do junk. Second because I can't concentrate when there is clutter. (stuff piled on top of stuff) And third because umm...I don't know the garage sellee's habits of cleanliness. Yes I know, I sound awfully snotty. Oh well...moment of truth. 

However, since I moved into my new casa, I have re-evaluated the cost benefits of buying at a garage sale. The three points above still hold very true. If my mom and I pull up to a garage sale that looks really junky, I generally stay in the car. Same holds true if it is super cluttered. And as for cleanliness, well there are certain things I just don't buy second hand. However, wood furniture or pieces that can be "re-purposed", now that might just be a deal. 

This rocking chair looked like something I could have fun with and it was only $5.

I bought two cans of spray paint from the local hardware store and gave it a new look.

I chose to rough up the edges a bit to give it a worn and comfy look.

And gave it a new home in my bedroom.

Spray painting can be addicting! And I don't mean the smell. (although maybe that is too...I'll get back to you on that...) Once I have a can of spray paint in my hand, I find myself looking around at what else I can "re-purpose". It is fun and easy and quick. 

It is also easy to fix if you, say...happen to spray paint a mirror frame a bright green apple shade.... Yeah, so ummm...that was not the look I was going for...

~ peace ya'll

Take a break...just do it!

I just spent the last couple of hours outside working around the house, spray painting various projects. Basically avoiding the sewing machine. Not good... Don't get me wrong, I absolutely enjoy sewing. I just needed a break. 

You know the kind of break you've known for a long time you needed to take, but the ever-present demands of job, work, life...they all flash their neon list of things to do at you. As if to say, "GET ME DONE".

Come on now...enough is enough. So I'm taking a break to type out this email and stay in touch with all of you because without you and your support, this handbag design business would be.... well, I don't know. But I know it wouldn't be the same. And to say, I hope you all are taking a break this weekend. All you mom's who work full-time and overtime, all the single ladies out there kicking a** and taking names. All you men, who are out there doing what is right for you and your families.... I hope you take a break this weekend. I hope you find a few minutes to steal away and be still for a bit. 

Trust me... the work, the demands, the get-it-done lists... they will all be there when you get back. It really is ok to take a break.

~ peace