Silver Pansy Designs

Our Etsy Shop is Open for Business!

2010-06-05T11:57:00.000-05:00

We've just listed our first handbags in our Etsy shop and we are so excited. We'll keep adding listings until the shop is at full strength. To check it out just click on the Etsy button on the left.

Gearing Up!

2010-04-05T16:24:00.002-05:00

Cheri and I are both hard at work planning for the Just For Her Expo in Kansas City (www.justforherexpo.com) that will be held the last of May. Tickets are on sale now! Become a fan of Silver Pansy Designs on Facebook and stay up to date on the latest happenings. We will be posting pictures of new designs and specials on a regular basis.

On the Road Again!

2009-11-18T07:40:00.001-06:00

Cheri and I have truly enjoyed fall show season! The crowds have been great. We'll have pictures to share later on.

We're In the News!

2009-10-15T07:41:00.003-05:00

Thanks to the Tulsa World for featuring one of Cheri's bracelets in their article about Holiday Market! See it here: http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/article.aspx?articleID=20091007_41_A2_Silver107625&allcom=1

We had a great time in Tulsa. Thank you to all who stopped by our booth and, particularly, to our customers.

Karen

Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree --in Tulsa

2009-10-10T09:06:00.006-05:00

We are enjoying the Holiday Market in Tulsa. If you are in the area please come by and see us today or tomorrow. The Junior League has done an outstanding job planning the show and there are some wonderful merchants. Across the aisle from us is the Tropical Tea Company (www.tropicalteaco.com) -- great tasting tea and interesting tea pots, including an electric one. The Christmas blend tea is awesome.

This is the first time for our full double booth set-up. We've always had a single corner booth, but with the expansion to the handbags and other textiles we needed more space. There has been a very good response to our new things and we are pleased. Cheri's jewelry designs continue to evolve and only get better as evidenced by the comments and purchases.

More later -- the doors are opening!

(Thank you Nicole Kelley from Backstreet Photography for taking our picture. Check out her work at www.backstreetphoto.com)

Pictures are Up!

2009-10-05T12:40:00.001-05:00

We would love to have you join our Silver Pansy Designs group on Facebook. Cheri has just uploaded pix of some of her new jewelry work. Don't miss it!

It's Show Time!

2009-10-05T07:56:00.016-05:00

It's show season -- YEA!!! Not only is autumn my favorite season, but it's time for the holiday selling shows. We love the shows. Silver Pansy Designs is looking forward to seeing old friends at our shows and making new ones. We will have a larger booth and LOTS of new products from which you can select. Don't miss the beautiful new bracelets that Cheri has been working on. We also have a variety of textile items including cosmetic bags, tiny teepees that can hold coins or lipsticks or even a gift card, going out bags with beautiful genuine gemstone trim, fabric handbags with genuine leather handles. You can even custom order a bag -- however, we are accepting custom orders for delivery in January. All times before that are already taken! Fabrics for the textiles include cottons, silks, wool and brocade. They are all beautiful.

You will love the stunning jewelry that Cheri has been creating. It's new, different and vibrant.

It's a great season -- come see us!

New Studios!

2009-08-14T18:16:00.004-05:00

Sorry for the length of time between posts! We've been traveling and moving -- our studios that is. Cheri and I both moved our studios to new spots in our homes -- yea! The necessary items had taken over and now they are restricted to a more reasonable spot that is out of constant view. We are both working on products that will be available this fall. It's been a great summer but we are looking forward to fall show season and to seeing friends along the way!

Karen

Designing is intense

2009-06-14T13:23:00.004-05:00

Hi all,

I've been working all week designing a custom order bag for a friend. It has crazy quilt patchwork accents. I am pleased with the results and hope she will be too! Meanwhile, I have managed to spread the fabrics all over my sewing area and make a tremendous mess. Creativity is not neat!!! It's so bad I refuse to show a picture. I'm excited to finish it and send it to her. Today is mostly sunny and somehow that improves the creative process. So much of this week has been dreary. It just doesn't inspire creativity. What about you?

Write and let Cheri and me know what type of jewelry and bags you're interested in. We are in "high design" mode. I'm thinking bags that have embroidered accents. I'm also working on evening bags that I'll send to Cheri for semi-precious gemstone accents. Send us a message or comment on this post and let us know what you think.

Check out our Silver Pansy Designs group on Facebook.

Have a good week!

Karen

Thanks for stopping by!

2009-06-06T17:54:00.011-05:00

Thanks to everyone who stopped by our booth at the Just for Her Expo. We had a great time and were able to showcase some of our new things. New handbags included the paisley linen, yellow dot, green Earth Day bag and flowered frame bag. We had a great time!

The Pansies are Coming! The Pansies are Coming!

2009-05-26T10:25:00.005-05:00

Part of the "behind the scenes" work of getting ready for a show is making sure that all of our props are ready and our poor lampshades were looking really bad. They had been through two seasons of Fall on the road shows and they were definitely showing the wear. Their poor little bead trim needed to be trimmed off! I've known since December that they needed to be redone, but have I done it -- NO! So early this morning I got out the fabric and started in. Here's my work in progress. I still have to put the binding on the top, but I am pleased with how it looks (never mind that the photo is slightly out of focus -- remember, I'm not a photographer). So our new pansy lampshades are coming to the Just for Her Expo (www.justforherexpo.com) in Overland Park KS this Friday and Saturday (29th & 30th) and so are we. Hope to see you there!

Memorial Day

2009-05-23T09:19:00.002-05:00

Have a good Memorial Day weekend!

Gemstone Shopping!

2009-05-09T06:53:00.005-05:00

Yea Cheri! She went shopping yesterday with one of her favorite vendors and was able to purchase one of my most favorite stones -- pink sapphire. I can remember going to a very fine jewelry store when I was a young teenager. They were so sweet to me while my grandmother was shopping. They took me aside and showed me the most beautiful rings, and the one that I have always remembered was the pink sapphire. Not only is pink my favorite color, but I was totally intrigued with a sapphire that was pink. That wonderment hasn't subsided as I've gotten older. I still think they are awesome and wonderful. Cheri designed and made me a splendid pink sapphire bracelet. I love it and wear it all the time. Thanks Cheri!!! I wonder what she will create with the new sapphires.

Working, Working, Working

2009-05-06T16:46:00.005-05:00

The handbags are flying! My mind is creating them faster than my hands can. It's design, design, tweak, tweak. I love putting together all these yummy fabrics. I'm not a great photographer -- I need to take a class, sorry!

Here are a few of the latest designs. See them at the Just for Her Expo, May 29 & 30, Overland Park Convention Center, www.justforherexpo.com.

Starting Clean

2009-05-01T05:04:00.005-05:00

I hate to clean up my work space. I've always felt that a cluttered space equaled a creative mind. I know Cheri must feel the same way also because her work table is as much a mess as mine was. It just seems such a waste to clean everything up just to get it out again. But -- I was forced to organize my things a little and I have to admit that it is nice. Perhaps I'll remember that nice feeling and keep it a little cleaner!

Great things come from creative disorder and I'm deep into creativity. Keep watching! Have a wonderful weekend.

Karen

Sapphires and Rubies and Emeralds -- Oh My!

2009-04-26T11:56:00.005-05:00

Cheri and I had a great trip yesterday to the gem show in Kansas City. Some of our favorite suppliers were there and we were able to purchase some really beautiful gems including our favorite London blue topaz! Keep watching to see the end result of some of the purchases!

Earth Day -- We're Going Green!

2009-04-22T08:51:00.005-05:00

We wanted to make our contribution to Earth Day and Cheri came up with this beautiful 18" green and pink tourmaline necklace.

Just for Her Expo

2009-04-18T08:57:00.004-05:00

Happy Saturday!!! Take a look at www.justforherexpo.com. We are going to be vendors at this Kansas City show on May 29 and 30. It's going to be great. Enter to win prizes, including a fine silver, tourmaline and freshwater pearl bracelet with a retail value of $315 donated by US! See the pics below for an idea of what the bracelet will look like.

Have a great weekend.

AHHHHH and GRRRR!!!

2009-04-15T16:50:00.002-05:00

It's the most satisfying day and the most frustrating day! I've been working on a great bag with the most wonderful fabric -- that's the good. The frustrating is that everything that could go wrong has gone wrong. I am persistent, though. The satisfying will outweigh the frustrating. Only six weeks until the Just for Her Expo and I'm excited to be designing summer handbags for the first time. I can promise you there will be some great ones and Cheri has been hard at work on jewelry. She promised something with green garnets -- oooooo la la!

Happy Easter!

2009-04-12T08:19:00.003-05:00

Happy, happy Easter!!! It is really starting to mentally feel like spring although the weather isn't cooperating. It was very cool yesterday.

I am looking at fabrics and thinking of all the wonderful handbags and handbag linings that will be created. I found the fabrics of Lila Tueller and think they are wonderful. Here's a link to her blog www.lilatuellerdesigns.blogspot.com. Let me know what you think.

Have a wonderful day!

We're on Facebook!

2009-04-11T07:47:00.001-05:00

Join our Silver Pansy Designs group on Facebook!

New Jewelry

2009-04-06T19:04:00.007-05:00

WOW!!! Take a look at this great new piece Cheri has designed. Isn't it beautiful?!

Back From Hibernation

2009-03-30T15:52:00.003-05:00

It's been a long time since our last post and a lot has happened. Spring has sprung and it's time for us to get with it. We've already had our first spring show. We're really excited to be a part of the Just for Her Expo on May 29 and 30 in Kansas City. More about this later.

We have an updated logo and web site and we are getting ready to list all our jewelry in our shop on Etsy. Don't worry -- you won't have to remember another web address because we'll link to it from www.silverpansy.com.

We're excited about the new directions that Silver Pansy Designs has gone and we are very excited about something new we have in the planning stages.

Thanks for sticking with us. Pictures of "in progress" items to be posted soon.

The Season is Over

2008-12-11T17:44:00.012-06:00

Silver Pansy Designs finished the 2008 gift market season at Deck the Halls in Waco TX last weekend. We've had a wonderful Fall and really enjoyed seeing so many shoppers that we had met last year. It's time for us to get ready for the holidays with our families, and to shop for a few last things. We enjoyed doing some of our holiday shopping with our fellow merchants! Thank you to all who came by our booths and happy holiday season!

We're Back...

2008-11-24T14:03:00.003-06:00

...home from our travels. The 'Tis the Season Show by the Junior League of Nashville was wonderful and we had a great time meeting people. It was also fun to have old friends drop by our booth. We're home for awhile now to work and to enjoy celebrating Thanksgiving (my favorite holiday) with family. Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours!

Karen

Great Show

2008-11-17T08:01:00.007-06:00

We finished a wonderful show in Lexington last night and packed up for the trip to Nashville. Thanks to all the people in Lexington who came to shop with us and to the great gals from the Junior League of Lexington. It was a fun show and we hope to come back here next year.

Holly Day Market -- Lexington KY

2008-11-14T08:27:00.021-06:00

Hello from beautiful Lexington KY! We got a late start from Springfield on Tuesday. We had hoped to leave by 1 p.m. and it was 3:30 when we finally got out of town. We expected the trip to last about 8 hours, but, due to Cheri's Starbuck's addiction, the trip took about 10 hours as we drove around Rolla and St. Louis looking for a Starbuck's.

We had a new addition to the SUV for this trip -- a cargo carrier. We always fill the SUV to the brim and this was a good alternative to towing a trailer. The only problem was that the SUV was still so full that I didn't have space to put a paper bag and had to leave my little hot pot at home. Can you believe that? We won't be buying much.

The Junior League opened their Holly Day Market last night with a great preview party. There were lots of people and they enjoyed the live band and great food as they perused the many offerings available.

We worked really hard on our booth setup. Just when we think we have all the kinks worked out we change something. See our new addition -- we are so pleased with our new lighted glass case. It really showcases Cheri's work. The display case travels in its own very large suitcase and weighs 85 pounds! Cheri has gotten a lot of weight lifting in!!!

Here are a few pictures from the show and we'll keep you updated on what's going on. Have a great day!

Cheri Goes Buying

2008-11-07T10:05:00.001-06:00

Happy Friday! Cheri called last night to tell me she'd had a very successful buying trip. She was able to purchase high quality rubies, sapphires, amethysts and more. She was really excited. I hope she has time to put a few things together before we leave next week for Lexington KY.

Have a wonderful weekend!!!

Some of My Favorite Things

2008-11-02T08:32:00.005-06:00

I love pink and added to this brown herringbone -- it's just scrumptious! It's going to be a really good looking handbag when I finish it later today.

Hope the rest of your weekend is great!

Bad Eyes ...

2008-10-29T20:16:00.007-05:00

... and a bump on the head. I had a fight with the handlebars of a handicap scooter as I was loading it into the back of the SUV 5 days ago, and there is no hiding it! It looks worse than it feels, and the color has increased since we took this yesterday. My kids have tried to politely remind me that I'm not 35 any more. I hate to say they're right, but -- they're right. I'm going to try hard to think, and remember this, before I again attempt something questionable!!!

We SHOP a holiday show

2008-10-26T20:19:00.006-05:00

Cheri and I have always loved the Junior League of Kansas City MO's Holiday Mart and this year's show was special. (This is the second largest Junior League Holiday show in the country). We hoped to get some ideas for our booth layout and, like always, we had a great sister trip as well. What made it so extra special was seeing friends we've made on our show travels who have been vendors with us at other shows. Several were vendors in KC this year. Here's Cindy, (and hubby, Jerry) owner of Treasures of the Ozarks. We had booths across from each other in Dallas last year. Although she also designs jewelry, hers is very different from ours. It is really beautiful. Check it out at http://treasuresoftheozarks.com/

I spent Wednesday through Saturday at the Original Sewing and Quilt Expo in KC taking classes and buying supplies for our handbags. Watch the blog to see my special purchases!

Karen

In the Works!

2008-10-21T11:38:00.001-05:00

Here's just a hint of what I've been working on. I love this fabric and adore the trim! I can't wait to finish it and see it in its final form.

We're deep into the fall show season, but that doesn't mean that there isn't a lot of handbag construction going on in between shows. There are three of us sewing on them so that we are stocked full for the next show. The first place to see all our new handbags is at the Junior League Holiday Shows in Lexington, KY, Nashville, TN and Waco, TX. We had a booth at the shows in Nashville and Waco last year and we hope people will come back to visit us this year. The Nashville show is held in an old factory that has been converted to shops, restaurants and the display halls. It is a really interesting place and I can't wait to go back and visit a smocking store that I found last year.

Cheri has been working on some beautiful new jewelry pieces using the stones she was able to find at a recent gem show. Her work just gets better and better.

I have made a vow to be better about posting and to take pictures to share with you what's going on at Silver Pansy Designs.

Hello?!

2008-08-11T15:11:00.003-05:00

Cheri and I have not disappeared, but we have been incredibly busy. Cheri's day job is keeping her well occupied right now and I had another surgery after the ankle. What I thought might be a 1 week recovery period (Boy was that unrealistic!) is going to be many more. I don't like being slowed down past the point I've determined that it should be! Oh well -- give up the control. Recovery from both is going well and I've got the opportunity to work on learning patience!

I've spent today going through all the fabric and deciding what kind of bag it wants to be. I used to laugh when Cheri said the stones had to tell her what they wanted to be, but I find that it is true. All the years I've worked with fabrics I've actually had the best results when I purchase fabric that speaks to me before I work on a pattern.

It's much cooler here than it has been for several weeks. We had a slow, steady rain all day Saturday and flowers in the yard and the herb garden look so much better than they did.

We are getting so excited to do our fall shows. It is always fun to meet new people and renew friendships that we've made in the past. September will be here before we know it and it will be "on the road again" for us. Please drop by and see us at the Junior League holiday shows in Tulsa, Nashville and Waco.

Take care,
Karen

What's Been Happening!

2008-07-22T13:46:00.003-05:00

Well -- the jewelry half of this duo, Cheri, is hard at work on the items we will be presenting at our fall shows that start in September. She has some really interesting new ideas to show you this year. The textile half of the duo, that would be me, has been laid low for awhile. I fell last December 4th on the way to a show in Waco TX. About 2 weeks later the doctors found that I had broken my ankle. We've been working ever since to get the silly thing to heal and it would not! Last Friday my orthopaedic surgeon reconstructed the ligament and removed the broken bone. He assures me that I'll be good as new, but for the next few weeks I'm going to have to take it easy. For now it is no weight bearing and "keep your toes higher than your nose." I'm trying to be good. I'm doing lots of sketching and planning so as soon as he gives the "go" signal I'm ready to spring into action. Thanks for all the good thoughts you have been sending. They are very much appreciated.

There are a few days left for you to vote in our poll. Please let us know your opinion. Take it easy and try to stay cool. We'll be back in touch!

Karen

Getting Started!

2008-07-15T17:07:00.006-05:00

Welcome -- we are excited to communicate with our Silver Pansy friends through this new blog. We probably won't post every day, but will let you in on what's going on in our design studios (we are both working in studios now) and what we are up to, as well as where you can purchase jewelry from Silver Pansy Designs.

We just returned from our annual summer trip to Washington D. C. That's great news for our clients as we have always had good luck purchasing gemstones there. This year was no exception. We came home with excellent stones and Cheri has lots of ideas about how to use them. We'll be debuting sterling silver jewelry pieces using these stones later this year. Keep reading this blog and watching our web site.

Thanks for your support!

Karen