Shop update info.

I've been working my butt off over here with this leather. To be honest, I'm quite obsessed with it and I plan on making a lot more leather items with re-purposed leather. It should be fun and I know you guys will like it!

I'm doing a shop update tomorrow, February 2nd, between 3:00pm-4:00pm (Chicago time. Whatever time that is). The first photo, the leather Anna satchel, will be in the shop first. Here are the other items that I've been so eager to show you (BUUUT couldn't because our internet has been off for a few days).

Pssst... One of these lucky bags will be used for a giveaway this week. HOORAY!

In other news, I've been happily happy and getting even more happy. That's a lot of happy, eh? We're going to get hit with a blizzard for the next few days in Chicago but that just means I had to stock up on my chocolate covered bananas, eggs, and popcorn.

By the way, has anyone else gone to see Tangled? It's amazing. I loved it.
That's all! Stay cozy!

This past weekend's find.

As usual, James and I went thrifting this past weekend right outside the city and into the suburbs where I grew up. I love going to the suburbs and I wish I could do it more often (not with these gas prices!) because it always brings back this nostalgia that I can't resist. There's this one antique mall that I've been going to since high school and I ALWAYS find something amazing there.
Of course, I left with something this past weekend that I HAD to have and I HAVE to share it with you guys (because I'm sure my co-workers, my friends, and my boyfriend are all sick of me talking about it).
EMPHASIS ON THE HAD AND HAVE TO. Ok, ok, ok. Drum rolls, please.

BAM!!!!! That sweet faux fur cape. Seriously...... seriously. I saw it on a hanger leaning on a fence/aka. prop and I stopped, felt my heart palpitate a little, and screamed. I made James put it on me because I probably would have screamed more. It was like giving a 5 year old a chocolate covered banana... if they loved chocolate bananas like I do.
There's no brand... making it a huge mystery to me and I keep making up scenarios in my head about the person/people who owned it before me. Almost Famous, anyone?
The zipper trim and the collar is a black soft leather and the lining is just a simple black silk. Next to the entire amazingness of it (great grammar, I know), I really love the zipper pull. I'll have to take a better picture but it's this huge gunpowder metal lean and long rectangle.
A little secret? This only cost me $25. Can we say, "smiles?"!!!!!!!!!?
:) :) :) :)

Other than that, I've been working long hours at my day job, waking up late every day, feeling airy as I try to break my coffee addiction, doodling a lot of new design ideas, getting my hair done like Peg Bundy, and acting like Cousin It when I'm alone at night.

Until we meet again,
Alexz.

New leather pouches in the shop!

I'm excited to introduce you guys to the small family of leather pouches

that were entered into the shop late last night!

I purchased this leather from a garage sale over the summer (where I also purchased my eames chair). The man who sold it to me owns a beautiful home in Logan Square, Chicago with his wife and son. He a professional re upholsterer so naturally, he had a ton of large scraps. I can not stress how much I'm in love with the feel of this leather. It's super soft and it already feels like something I've owned all my life. The golden brown is such a great color for every season and can go with practically anything. Lately, I've been carrying mine around as a clutch.

My collection of buttons and lace have grown immensely so I will be working on a lot of these pouches until I run out of leather. I don't have a TON of it left so they're more of a limited-time-only-edition. I am thinking about incorporating purchased leather in the future once this is out of stock... but for right now, only time can tell.

Anyway, here are some pictures of the five new pouches that are ready to be sent home to you!
A Leather Pouch in vintage and buttons.

A Leather Wristlet in Lace.

A Leather Pouch in buttons.

A Leather Pouch in Buttons.

Also new in the shop. Remember the bags I've been working on? I put those in the shop also.
The Christina.

The Anna.

What I've been working on lately.

Bird Trouble is launching some new designs soon!

So far, there are two bag designs named after my two best friends. There are also going to be a few super-duper soft brown leather pouches that are lined in cotton and will have a vintage button. I have a few more sketches that I need to get onto fabric that include: The Penny bag, the Everyday Tote Bag, and a few Build Your Own designs.

Here's a sneak peak before they hit the shop.

The Christina is a medium sized tote bag with a leather belt re-styled into the strap and the closure. There is a total of four pockets. Front pocket, two inner slip pockets, and a pen slip pocket. Soft brown leather is used for a key fob.

The Anna can also be used as a fancy little hip bag. The straps can be detached and the claps can be put onto your belt loops. Inside, there are two inner slip pockets. I'm enjoying the soft curve on the bottom of this bag.

The Leather Pouch is made out of a super soft broken-in rich golden brown leather. A metal black zipper closes the raw inside and a vintage brown worn-out wooden button is used on the front. I'm keeping this one for myself! Other leather pouches will have cotton linings, various vintage buttons/lace, and some will have straps to be used as a wristlet.

Project 365.

One of my new year resolutions for my blog was to start
the 365 day project.

So, here you go! I will post daily on my flickr and every few days, I will post a collection here.
All these photos are taken by me.

1/365

2/365

3/365

4/365

Welcome 2011

Hello to all my readers! New and old, I'm sure most of you don't know much about me.
Well, let me re-introduce myself to you...

I'm Alexz! I'm on the left. The other brown girls (tee-hee) are my two good friends. You'll see them around here from time to time.

I live in beautiful and historical, Chicago, IL in the United States. Despite it's unbearable cold winters, it's an awesome city that is still growing like crazy.
I'm originally from the northwest suburbs but as I grew older, I craved moving around but ended up moving back here to my home city.

Not only do I run this blog, but I also run a business called Bird Trouble.
It consists of handmade items from yours truly.

Some other random things you should know:

• I go thrifting, a lot... thus, collecting a lot of random knick knacks.
• I am obsessed with squirrels.
  
  • I own a cat named Detective Bacon Cheeseburger.
  • I am, without a doubt, happily with a very creative, handsome, hilarious bearded man.
• I like to cook and I like to take pictures of my food.
• I love home design, redecorating, refinishing, and drooling over homes.
  
  • I love my city but I also constantly get nostalgia of traveling, or getting away.
  
  I hope you enjoy my blog!
  If you're an old reader, be sure to check out the new blog look.
  
  I figured since it's a new year, it should be a new look! You'll notice a lot of changes around here starting this week. For the friends I have linked on my blog, I might contact you for a different link image. I'm going to try to get the blog to look more fresh and organized.
  
  Other than that, I've made some new year resolutions for Bird Trouble (and myself, personally) that I will announce in a few days. For now, I'd love to hear your feedback on the new look!
  

10 Things I Love

Say hello to the brand new look for 10 Things I Love!
Each feature of photos will be posted on Mondays (besides for today).
All the photos are from tumblr. If I notice the source from a direct page, I will post it.
So, saying that, if the photo if mine, I will be sure to mention it!

1) Why wouldn't I love Bob Dylan in a tree? This picture just baffles me and I love it.

2) Everything about this picture is golden.
The furniture, the color of the walls, the door molding, the paintings,
and the wood floor. It's so classic but still retro looking.

3) This gave me some amazing inspiration for a new tattoo!
I wonder what lucky person has that in their home right now, or if it even still exists.

4) Of course, I love the new year. I promise I will post my new year resolutions soon.

5) A. I love vintage Volkswagen caravans.
B. I love the colors in this photo.
C. I want to be able to get away like this.
source.

6) This looks so peaceful and relaxing.
source.

7) I would LOVE, love, love to explore these!

8) Another photo from Mark Michaelson mugshot collection.
Even if she's in the pound, she makes for some great style inspiration.

9) Love me some more style inspiration.

10) Who else just said "OH MY GOD!"?