Not only is she a smashing artist and good friend...

Not only is my dear friend Laura Zollar an incredible artist, she has always been so supportitive of my handbag making. It was at her urging that I had my first gallery show and started to put my bags up for sale.

So when she saw a latenight facebook post on my page about our team shop, well there she was again! She recently purchased the Freedom Isn't Free totebag pictured below by TM Venezie Bags.


This is the third sale from our team shop and ensures that we can send a September box to our marine and her unit. We are all proud to be doing this small thing to support our men and women on the front lines with the help of all of you.

So, as they keep saying on twitter for #militarymon " if you can't stand behind our troops, please by all means, go stand IN FRONT OF THEM!"

2nd sale in the Cab Team Shop!

Congrats to team member Miriam from Goldcrest Bags, whose leather applique butterfly freedom bag sold overnight from the CAB team shop! I'm packing up our August herobox to shop now that we have funds. THANK YOU!!!!!

Still available:

Freedom Challenge Clutch from Bags and Buds

Red, White and Blue Woven Coin Purse and Key Fob Wristlet Set
from Bags and Buds

Free as a butterfly clutch from Gold Crest Bags

TM Miriam of Goldcrest Bags just sent in this glorious leather clutch for our team shop.

I wanted to do a bag that signifies freedom for everyone, not just us in North America. I always felt that butterflies are so free. They travel continents and return after the winter. After some research I found out that to some people "officially" butterflies are a sign of freedom. This is how I came up with my Freedom Bag. It is called the Free as a Butterfly Clutch.

The bag is made of soft lambskin that is interfaced to maintain its shape. It has a large leather butterfly applique on the front and a small butterfly on the back. The appliques are made of leather that has been layered to get the desired affect. The large butterfly has 2 large jet beads and the small one has one. They also have gold fire polish beads. All are hand beaded.
The bag is lined and has 2 pockets besides the main pocket. It closes with a magnetic snap. The two side seams are embellished with 2 beads.
The clutch measures 8 1/2" x 5 1/2".

This bag is brought to you by Miriam of Goldcrestbags.

TM Ebony from Lovebug Studios is sailing away

TM Ebony from Lovebug Studios is sailing away in a sailing themed treasury! her Kiwi Yachting Season Sailing Sack from our Carried Away team shop has been featured in the Sail Away, Sail Away, Sail Away treasury by Bunkies.

Have you stopped by for a Freedom Bag yet? We just listed these three new bags and accessories!

Summer of Freedom Keychain ID Holder and Zipper Pouch by Threads of Gray

RECTANGLE TOTE in Patchwork Plaid by Southern Sweet T's

Cosmetic Zipper Pouch-Nauti Stripes-Hand Painted by Glint Gear

And did you enter our luscious giveaway for 3 bottles of BB Couture Nail Polish and two other cool prizes?

The Great American Melting Pot Totebag

Another bag for Carried Away's Summer of Freedom. Come visit the team shop to get a great bag and support our troops.

The Great American Melting Pot by TM Solsisters
Remember those School House Rock cartoons on TV every Saturday morning in the 70's and 80's? I learned all about our how our government is supposed to work and some American history from those catchy tunes. What I also absorbed was the feeling of pride and belief in the dreams America was founded on. Now that I am an adult, I realize government is not so simple and maybe those ideals had more to them then what was in the songs, but I still believe in the core ideal of freedom to live your own life and make what you can of yourself.

"The Great American Melting Pot" is my tribute to the song of the same name that really explained to my then 8-year old mind how America was the land of second chances for so many. It also taught how Americans are made of many backgrounds and that, in the early days, our country welcomed them all. I've tried to teach my daughter that same idea of tolerance for everyone she encounters.

Flashback from Youtube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZWJ4udW41Ns

This flowerpot-style bag is Americana through and through. Red patchwork base with a stripe of white topped off with origami blue frayed edge stars made by my daughter. The bag is lined in blue with a zipper pocket and a red pocket. Long handles of deep indigo with a white floral pattern make this a comfortable shoulder bag or tote.

Measures 14" across the top, 7" the bottom. Base is about 2" wide. Closes with a magnetic snap.

Just $30!

2 more Freedom Bags

We're still sewin' it up for Freedom over here at Carried Away. Team Members Beth Holmes and Karen Meyers both turned in bags today. I love how the different feelings of freedom are coming out. Karen's bag has this great retro vibe and Beth's reminds me of summer community picnics with ladies in white hats and kids laughing their heads off as they gobble up watermelon.

Both of these great bags will be listed in the team shop later today.

Dove of Peace Book Bag by Karen Meyers

When I first heard about the Summer of Freedom challenge on the CABTeam, I knew I wanted to incorporate an image of a white dove in my purse. As we all know, the dove symbolizes peace, and there is no true freedom without peace. Our troops, (to which we are donating the proceeds of all sales,) are ultimately fighting for peace, and I thank them for that from the bottom of my heart.

Now for the details of the purse:
This bookbag is made from indigo blue denim and a piece of vintage embroidery and has a white corduroy dove appliqued on the front. It measures 14 inches wide x 13 inches tall and is 2 inches deep making it a great size for a book bag or to carry a small laptop. The strap drop measures 14 inches. It is lined in kelly green satin and has a divided pocket inside for your cell phone, keys and other small odds and ends. It has been sprayed with Vectra fabric protecor that will keep it clean for at least a year, but if you have to wash, please do so in cold and lay flat to dry. Re-apply Vectra or scotchguard as needed.

This bag is brought to you by www.karenmeyers.etsy.com

Americana Classic Single Strap Tote by Southern Sweet T's

This "Americana" themed tote bag is made with quality cotton prints in Stars, tiny dots and chic swirls all in coordinating red, white, and blue. Heavy duty interfacing provides added support...this bag will stand alone!!! Three generous interior pockets will help you stay organized!!! Button closure.

Measures 11" tall, 14" wide at the top, 4" deep and a generous 28" single shoulder strap.

This bag is brought to you by Beth Holmes of Southern Sweet T's http://southernsweetts.etsy.com

3 new Freedom bags in our team shop

Have you visited the Carried Away Team Shop? We're up to 13 freedom bags now and more are coming in. Although you might cringe to hear it, Christmas isn't that far off - just 160 days or so. With these tough times, I'm sure a lot of shoppers will be spreading purchases out and scaling back. Why not make your purchase mean a little extra? Support handmade artisans and support our deployed troops with your gifts!

Patriotic Tote and tissue cozy by Hugs and Holidays

Patriotic Kimme Bag and matching patriotic wallet by Deanie's Duffles

Hero Box is ready to mail!

So I went shopping today for the things our hero requested and my client Dana came with me because we were on our way to lunch. Dana is a navy vet and is a big military booster. I was telling him about what the team is up to with these freedom bags and the herobox and I told him our first one was due to ship by July 13th, so I was going to fill it and get reimbursed from the team shop once we sold some freedom bags. He decided to buy some magazines to put in the box. He went a little nuts on the magazines, then insisted on paying for EVERYTHING. I'm not gonna say what the bill was, but a typical magazine is $5 or more. Believe me, this box is sooo stuffed!

The kitten feels that heros deserve EXTRA snuggles, but her purr-y self would not fit in the box.

The instruction sheet said "pack tightly to avoid shifting during transit." I think I got that nailed down! Candy makes GREAT packing material.... and it's delicious, too!

I wonder if herobox realizes that their R is upside down on the labels?

We're sending:

Requested items:
2 bottles of shampoo (girls and boys)
2 hand sanitizers
2 big tubs of baby wipes
LOTS of candy used as packing material.. 2 bags of starburst, bag a of skittles, jellybeans, and a bag of smarties

plus
a small jar of green goddess balm (that I got on etsy from my friend Ami @ monamiga). I figure our solider is probably in the desert and this stuff is the best thing ever for super dry skin

and the 10 or so magazines Dana picked out about motorcycles, cars, military, science and history

I have 2 more bottles of shampoo and some hand sanitizer in reserve because it wouldn't all fit. So, listen y'all, Dana said we better sell some freedom bags so we can send one next month, too! THANK YOU, DANA for your astounding generosity!

More Freedom bags to fill our heroboxes!

Wow! My team is really stepping it up to make sure you have plenty of selection in order to support our hero! These bags were just added to our team shop. Our first box is due to ship July 13th, just a few days from now. Buy a handbag for a hero, show your love of freedom and fund our first box!

Red, White and Blue Clutch with Removeable Wrist Strap by April of April's Originals

COSMETIC CLUTCH in Chic Circles and Patriotic Stars by Beth of Southern Sweet T's

Red, White and Blue Woven Coin Purse and Key Fob Wristlet Set by Wendy of Bags and Buds

Scraps of Freedom Americana Market Tote with Origami Stars

Team Leader Solsisters turned in this Scraps of Freedom Americana Market Tote for our Summer of Freedom Challenge. See more pics on her blog. Bags are starting to be listed in our team shop. Come on over and grab some freedom to support a solider!

TM Ebony of Love Bug Studios reveals her Freedom Bag

TM Ebony of Love Bug Studios went all out for our Summer of Freedom Team Challenge. She designed an entirely new bag inspired by both a deep respect for the freedoms of livings in America and by yachting season. You can read about her design process at her blog. The Kiwi Sailing bag is up in our team shop now.

TEAM SHOP IS OPEN!!!!

Show your patriotic pride by purchasing a handmade FREEDOM Bag! Come on over to our team etsy shop. We're busy adding handbags created for our Summer of Freedom Challenge. We're hoping to send at least 2 boxes to our adopted fighting ladies (courtesy of herobox.org) with the proceeds from our FREEDOM BAGS. The more we sell, the more boxes we can fund for our troops.

More freedom Bags

We're all taking after Betsy Ross and sewing our pants off for freedom here at Carried Away. Check out what the girls are cooking up!


Dawn Stevens of D's Chic Boutique wonders if the star is too much. I think it rocks!

Brand new to the team and former active duty Airforce, Beth Holmes of Southern Sweet T's made up this patriotic cosmetic clutch. It wa sBeth's suggestion to adopt a solider through Herobox.

Theresa of TiLT made this bag up and then realized it was a perfect FREEDOM bag.

And we'd like to say a special THANK YOU!! to our own Deneisha Jones of mssewsavvy. Although not sweating it out in the desert, she is still defending the cause of freedom with more than a needle and thread. An active duty Airman in the US Air Force, she is currently stationed in England.

Summer of Freedom Team Challenge: Sending some love to an active duty lady

This summer, members of Carried Away are sending some love to our deployed troops overseas via Herobox.org. We've adopted a lady solider to send a care package to. In order to raise the funds needed, we're sewing away on special Freedom bags.

Cynde Clark's Freedom Bag

Team members can create any handbag that represents their personal feelings of the word "freedom." The completed bags will be added to our team shop on Etsy in August. The ENTIRE purchase price (minus shipping) will be donated to fill our solider's care package. We are so excited to be able to show our appreciation for freedom by helping make life on the front lines a little easier for one of our fighting girls! Huge thanks to new team member and former Air Force active duty solider & military wife Beth Holmes from Southern Sweet T's for the suggestion of herobox.org.

Freedom bag from Wendy Martin of Bags n Buds.
Wendy set up our team shop and team paypal. Go, Wendy!

This organization makes it possible for individual soliders that are on deployment to request items that will make their time away from home a little easier to bear. Beyond monetary donations, you can host a Hero Day and get your group together to assemble and mail boxes out or you can send in commonly requested items. You can even get kids involved by writing letters to our heros.

Several team Members have bags in progress:

Check the progress of Theresa at TiLT's bag.

Ebony from Love bug Studios has hers on the cutting table