A December Good morning from the Walpole Woods....

It has been far to long since last I blogged. Many new and exciting changes......Patricia B has been moving forward to upgrade the studio and our website. Check out our new brochure featuring our "Just for You".....Design-Her-Bag line.

Sunday Salivations......

It is such a wonderful day here in the Walpole Woods. Sitting on the porch buzzing through my multitude of e-mails I found a great recipe, one of Martha's weekly. We have company coming for a relaxing lunch on the deck. Fresh crabmeat rolls, with gazpacho made using veges from the garden, and all topped off with gingersnap ice-cream sandwiches. Just in case you are in for a little dessert recipe, I have added the directions below with a link to Martha's site, so that you can print it from there if you wish to add this to your favorites for summer. This recipe should set your creative juices in motion, it did mine. How about? Chocolate chip cookies with Mint Chocolate Chip Snickerdoodles with Double Chocolate Fudge Mocha Oatmeal cookies with French Vanilla Join me in creating the new best ice-cream sandwich..... Gingersnap Ice Cream Sandwiches Ingredients: Makes 4 ice cream sandwiches 2 ounces (4 tablespoons) unsalted butter, softened 1/4 cup granulated sugar 2 tablespoons unsulfured molasses 1 large egg yolk 3/4 cup all-purpose flour 1/4 teaspoon baking soda 1/2 teaspoon coarse salt 1 teaspoon ground ginger 1/4 teaspoon ground allspice 3 tablespoons sanding sugar, for sprinkling (optional) 1 pint butter-pecan ice cream, softened slightly Directions: Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Cream butter, granulated sugar, and molasses until fluffy. Beat in yolk. Whisk flour, baking soda, salt, and spices in a small bowl. Fold into butter mixture 1/3 at a time. Roll dough into eight 1 1/2-inch balls, spacing them 2 inches apart on parchment-lined baking sheets. Press to form 3-inch disks. Sprinkle with sanding sugar if desired. Bake, rotating halfway through, until golden around edges, 11 to 13 minutes. Transfer cookies to a wire rack, and let cool. Scoop ice cream onto 4 cookies and top each with a second cookie. Freeze until firm. Let stand 10 minutes before serving.

The "Yo-Yo" Revival....

Afternoon, It has been about a week since I wrote. Life in the Walpole Woods has been very busy. Our website is ready to edit, new children's jackets are on the drawing table readying themselves for a fall preview, and orders are coming in for new handbags. One of our goals was to share sewing techniques as we encountered great tutorials. The yo-yo is making quite a splash, it can be found embellishing handbags, dresses or adorning Walpole Waddlers. This little technique was first taught to me by my grandmother McFarland. Gram hailed from Matinicus Island where she met and married my grandfather, a captain on a party boat out of Christmas Cove. Gram would sit on the sun porch of their home overlooking the cove and sew baskets full of yo-yo's to be used to create beautiful quilts to cover the many beds in their boarding house. I,too, sat for many hours sewing little circles and listening to the stories about my ancestors. Please join me in the "yo-yo " revival. As I searched the Internet I found the following tutorial located on a charming blog, dariciaray .

My Walpole Waddler...Gracie showcases the yo-yo..

Sunny times in the Walpole Woods

As our website continues to be in the infant stages, I thought I would to share some of our “Just For Me” designs.

Patricia B's ............"Just For Me......Design-Her-Bag " Line is sophisticated, finely detailed and individually constructed to reflect the person who creates it. The features of designer styling without the designer price tag.

"Style is knowing how to take a fashion and personalize it." Sophia Loren

The first of the Patricia B "Just For Me.......Design-Her-Bag" series offers a basic shape in 7 different sizes. The sizes range from the smallest evening bag to a large tote for mall shopping... As you move through the design process you will choose your shape, determine your pocket needs, add a stylish handle, and if you wish finish your handbag off with a special embellishment......taking a basic fashion statement and personalize it....

Each "Just For Me " handbag is individually constructed at the studio of ParticiaB. All of our handbags will be completed and shipped to customers within a 4 to 6 week period, if not earlier. Working with a client is exciting experience for them , and also for all of us as well....... we love to see what our customers can create....

Here are some of the handbags that our clients have designed..Wow! We have creative clients..
Christmas Cove Classics...


On Vacation..............Special Order.....................

Off to Bermuda......Me and My Mom

One of My Favorites....
The Lillianne Pouch

Files off into the Webzone

The logo is ready, a bit in need to clarity, but acceptable. The files are off to the web designers e-mail address and it is time to sit back and wait. I have been invited to preview the rough draft of our new website on Friday. Fingers are crossed that all of the files and photos made it from my little town in Maine to the designers table across the country.

As the 4th of July (or as my daughter used to say, the 4th of Lujy) weekend came upon us we found ourselves scurrying to find the right packaging to showcase our line of Walpole Waddlers. We tried many many containers, boxes, organza bags and nothing seemed to allow all of the charming features to be seen. A walk through Micheal's and a negotiation with the manager found us with a back seat full of the most wonderful clear craft paintcans.

Just the right thing... The Cricut made scads of grass clippings, the green packaged crinkle made soft footing, just the right angle for each Waddler. We wanted our Walpole Waddlers to appear as if they were dancing in the new soft grass.
Top the whole thing off with a Cricut made gift card and envelope with a grosgrain ribbon as a finish. And we had it...A delightful gift package, fit for any newborn tootsies. And here you have them, almost all packaged and getting ready to go. Our first shipment off .Wow! What a great feeling....Make it a great evening....

The Next Journey

On July 15th our website (patriciabstudio.com) will reopen to showcase a children's line of clothing and accessories. It was time to expand, and so with expansion comes new ventures through the internet. And so with that said...."Welcome to our new blog! " From the Walpole Woods is a place for us, at Patricia B Studio, to post ideas we've found as we flip through pages of our vast assortment of books or as we search the internet; a place to keep and share our "next" projects. As we have "aha moments", a better way to set a seam or to embellish a smock, or find a recipe or two that have sparked our taste bud, we will share with you. Sharing and trading ideas as we all grow to become recognized artisans in our media.

A bit about me.... I am a native of Christmas Cove , Maine. I grew up on Rutherford's Island where the swing bridge was always in motion, letting the fisherman and pleasure boats enter. We used to ride the bridge as it opened and closed, I would lean over the rail dreaming about what journey faced each boat that passed. My journey with fiber and fabrics began at three years old as I played in my mother's sewing room, creating tiny little treasures with the scraps that fell from the cutting table. Sitting with pencil, design board and fabrics scattered about has been my dream for many years. Family and teaching commitments have kept me from pursuing this dream until recently when my daughter, Melissa, began marketing my designs. It all started with the request for the perfect handbag. Our journey as Patricia B Studio began. Our recent expansion into other lines was prompted by client request and my own need to create. Join us on this NEXT JOURNEY.......