July's Designer of the Month for Sallie Tomato's Bag Makers Club

Such a wonderful honor to be selected as July's designer of the month for Sallie Tomato's Bag Makers Club! I certainly felt proud to be included in this amazing group of my fellow creative (and accomplished) designers.

I've been part of the Sallie Tomato community since I first started sewing bags in 2020. In 2021, I collaborated with them to produce my very first pattern, the Mackenzie Shoulder Bag. This amazing company is the brainchild of Jessica Barrera, the founder and owner of Sallie Tomato. Her business has blossomed into a powerhouse for bag creators. Jess is truly an inspiration for all with her positivity, creativity, and sewing skills - she has taught me so much over the past 5 years. And, I am very grateful to her for guiding a newbie like me through the maze of bag making and design.

The Getaway Tote Bag pattern was introduced in July with a beautifully curated kit that included all the specialty hardware, cork, zipper, and interfacing required to create the bag. Members get to personalize their kit with their own main and lining fabrics. This spacious tote offers a huge canvas to customize with specialty fabrics, machine quilting, and smart storage. I have also included a bonus Add-Ons section on this website for specialized design accents, a false bottom insert pattern for extra base support, and a handy pocket divider for credit card storage.

Jess and I had such a fun conversation that was recorded for the Bag Makers Club YouTube channel. For a glimpse into my background, inspiration and design process, here's a link to the YouTube video: https://youtu.be/oCqNZYO0sJw?si=EnCK3T3ZSYljDbzu

A huge thank you to Jess, Audra, Laura, and the entire Sallie Tomato team - y'all are the BEST!