Lately I’ve been hitting the trails pretty hard. Yes, just for fun because I love to get out there. It’s where a lot of the Magic and inspiration for handbag design happens.  And secondly I am training for Machu Picchu! I’ll be going to Lima and Cuzco soon, so I want to build up my lungs to prepare for the altitude. I’ll share my adventure with you here first. I go towards the end of April. Back to California and the present, here’s some pics from my lovely hike in the Santa Monica mountains.

Good morning sunshine! Wow. All the critters come out in California’s spring blooming of lavender.

Hello Curious.

Thank you for the Stillness for a sec Mr. Woodpecker.

What do you see Ms. Bushytail?

All the hillsides are covered in the California Lavender with varying shades of lavender. I felt lucky to have seen this bloom in this moment in time.

This is my favorite picture of the morning. Now it’s back to the studio to start some DIY projects with amykathryn’s new fabric from the Spring 2013 collection. Yeah! Always, AMY

Fortuny was a name I heard over and over again as far back as I can remember. “Don’t drink your grape juice on that Fortuny chair” as if just with the mention of Fortuny, it meant luxurious and valuable, even to me as a young child. When my grandmother went shopping for Fortuny fabrics, I knew it was for a fabulous and lively part of her interior design project. Fortuny fabrics always brought dimension and aged refinement to the large scale interiors my grandmother designed.

In studying Mariano Fortuny and his eclectic life primarily an artist, I am drawn to his aesthetic and innovations. He invented the studio light and beautiful lamps. He was a painter and designer. He was inspired by the ancient Greeks to create a fabric and dress so extraordinary, called the Delphos. Mariano Fortuny varied in his talents and created so many things, that his mixing of tapestries and fabrics he created defines how his artistic mind worked. Mixing patterns and colors is hands down my absolute favorite way to express my artistic sensibilities. I saw how Fortuny did it and I knew that’s what I had to do with my life.

I love his studio space where he draped fabric and hung tapestries and fabric all over the walls. The Fortuny factory is still in Venice and they still use the same machines from the early 1900′s. I hope to visit it soon.

Fortuny is now run by two brothers who preserve and celebrate the works of Mariano Fortuny. They create new fabrics and designs for Fortuny.

What an amazing legend that people love and aspire to today. I can only hope that my fabrics and designs have some positive meaning in people’s lives. Or maybe that some people love the textiles and handbags I create as much as I love designing them. Always, AMY

There’s quite a difference between a homegrown strawberry and a store bought one. Most definitely in taste, but also in the way they grow not so perfectly in a perfect way. Look at all the intricate patterns in strawberry blossoms and their leaves and seeds! These guys are really amazing to watch grow. These are my parents strawberries, but once they ripened, I had to steal one.

Growing strawberries obviously is rewarding. My most favorite part of the process is the drastic color change from green to red! and in such a relatively short period of time. Imagine how many color changes it went through. That reminds me… we have our Spring 2013 collection being posted to the website tomorrow! We have our classic bags, Gladiola and Hydrangea. They have been in our amykathryn line for years. That adds up to dozens and dozens of colors changes and combinations for those bags! We know you love those styles and we have improved the handbags over the years to exactly how you like them! And then we have all brand new bags for Spring in addition! Looking forward to your comments! Always, AMY

The nature of flowers make my main inspiration for designing handbags always fresh and new. Flowers open up and fold in, they spring forth and fall away. When they are blooming it is a reminder to me that their colors are so very unique and perfectly fresh in the moment that we find inspiration in them.

This week is back to work after a beautiful, long holiday. I’m still in Islamorada, FL taking in new inspiration from all the flowers that are very different than in Santa Monica where I live.

Islamorada is in the Florida Keys and it’s where my parents live. I’m helping them with their business and trying to get a tan and swim in the ocean as much as I can.

My parents always have had Geraniums in their yard no matter where they live. These red geraniums are a great inspiration for me as well as a sentimental memory from the time I was a wee child!

My favorite smelling flower must be the Gardenia. I have a new handbag design coming out for Spring 2013 that is named Gardenia. It will come in three different colorways and I LOVE this bag! So excited. Check out our new Spring collection.

Since this week is back to work, my head is in the clouds, the very shapely, fluffy kind that hang low and pass quickly here in southern Florida. I am thinking of handbag and fabric designs for Fall 2013. Yes, even before Spring 2013 comes out. It’s a lot of work! So here’s to flower inspiration all around every one of us!

Wow! as I’m typing and thinking about clouds, a huge downpour just started – it must be from a single rain cloud since it was so sunny about 2 minutes ago! Magical! Always, AMY

ps- our new Spring bags will be posted to our website for pre-order starting on January 15th. The first ship date of the new collection will be February 28th.

Louis Kahn is perhaps one of my favorite architects. His developed, mature style has it’s roots and ideas stemming from ancient ruins and functional spaces. Yet his designs are so modern and what else besides awe-inspiring? This is the Salk Institute in La Jolla, CA. It is so close to me (about a 2 hour drive) and I have yet to go. So it’s on my list.

These interior shots are of the capital building in Bangladesh, India. This building is absolutely impressive in size and design. It took 27 years to build and was finished after Kahn died. THe shapes are an unbelievable inspiration. The light through this architectural masterpiece can only be experienced to get the sense of what it is like. So, even though it’s a bit further to travel to see it, it’s also on my list.

Back in California, I think architecture is a great inspiration for designing handbags. There is a lot more that goes into design than making something look good. I cherish a well functioning handbag, and architecture demands great functioning spaces.

Above is the other side of Salk Institute, looking from the ocean side at the building, where all the scientists have ocean views from each office. There’s a good documentary on Louis Kahn on netflix. Has a building or certain style of architecture ever inspired you?  Always, AMY

Abbott Kinney Fest! A bunch of great-spirited, beautiful people coming together to walk the Venice street and see the art in many forms. I cruised down on my bike to fill up my basket. I ended up seeing lots and taking home these vintage Indian sandals and my fav soy candles from Natural Body and Bath. I like the ones that have only pure essential oils, like rosemary and joy. Joy has lemongrass and orange oils.

Such amazing detail and pattern on these shoes. The few craftsman houses remaining on Abbott Kinney sit so cute and inviting. When I first came here 11 years ago, there were many more, but ahh how things change and evolve. And on that note, Cheers! Always, AMY

The official end to summer came when it started raining. A warm sweet, gentle rain that made everything smell so amazing! After it subsided a bit I rode my bike to the Santa Monica Farmer’s Market, with my empty farmer’s market tote. Talk about the smells- I wanted everything- it was so fresh and good! But I only had one tote and a bike basket to put it all in. Here’s some of what I got:

watermelon, herbs, pluots, dragon fruit, eggplant, asparagus

Flowers! My major muse. Grapes galore & more flowers.

watermelon, sweet peppers, pluots, figs, sage, and more figs

Here’s the Calalily Cherry tote I use for the market. It fits so much and has sturdy braided handles. It also has the detachable zipper pouch that I use for my money and keys. Check out this repin of Calalily Cherry with so many likes and repins!

What bag do you use for the market?

I also got some okra at the market, which I can’t wait to make. I have to look up some recipes for that. Do you know of any? Always, AMY

Handbag fashion

has a lot to do with the ever-changing trends in the market. Can you keep up with it? Honestly, I haven’t been able to – but don’t tell anyone! I think handbag fashion also has to do with function and loving your own personal style. So sometimes, often times, I get out of the office and find some inspiration for everyday, functional fashion for my handbag line.

I spent a wonderful day in Malibu with my sister and brother.

On the top left I captured my brother surfing, the kite surfer going super fast, and a seagull going even faster in one pic! Those pelicans on the right are such characters. It was crowded surfing in Malibu on a Holiday weekend, but it was fun. I went out there without a wetsuit because it was warm! As warm as it gets anyway…

After surfing and relaxing on the beach on a perfectly hot day, I took my brother and sister to Malibu Cafe in the mountains up Kanan Dume Drive. It’s a magical wonderland of gardens and an outdoor restaurant and bar. I absolutely LOVE this canopy of shade made of umbrellas hooked on lines of twine.

My brother and sister were being a little ridiculous pretending to be on their phones in such a great place. Yes, they were just pretending. I don’t think there was much reception up there in the mountains anyway! Bebe is wearing her handbag fashion bag – Hyacinth Camel.

And now I’m back at the office where I opened up my first Fall handbag for this season. Yes, I still get very excited to get a new bag! and I love this one because of the colors, (of course) and because of it’s function. I love being hands free with this messenger style bag, Dahlia Sienna. What’s your favorite bag this season? Always, AMY

Here’s what my inspiration board in the office looks like today. I collaged a few things that really highlights what I am specifically working on for Spring 2013 design and print pattern for textiles. Some of my influences that are shown here in clipping examples are; misty mornings, coral reef of all kinds, fish, fish scales, sea creatures of all kinds, underneath the ocean, ‘watercolory’ plants that are being blown by the wind or sea, not perfect dots, not perfect zig zags, textured blue walls of stucco, textured blue and white reflections in a pool, water color painting, seafoam greens of all kinds, reflections on a lake, birds that are still for a moment of humor, and lily pads, of course, with their blooms.

This may seem like a lot of influence that I’ve seen and felt everywhere recently but when it comes together in the office on my inspiration board, it becomes more tangible. Then I can break it down more and come up with my own original watercolor paintings and drawings to put together into a simple 2 dimensional print pattern. You’ll have to wait until next year to see what the fabric will look like! Here begins a long process of developing textiles and then using them in samples, combining materials and colors to get it just right for a collection!

It’s pretty amazing to think about what influences all of us. What goes into your imagination and how does it manifest itself in new forms? Always, AMY

I’ve been reading Franz Kafka’s, The Trial lately, so I’d thought I’d share a little quote about beauty. He sees things in a dark, Germanic kind of way, but somehow he’s very light, at least revealing of light somewhere in the darkness. If that makes any sense at all.

I took this picture in the country of Solvang, CA. That flower is probably faded by now, but it sure has it’s beauty here. And that is forever captured and forever beautiful! I am thinking of how fashion is ever changing and interesting as I work on designing for Spring 2013. Almost as quickly as flowers come and go. But it’s all in how we see things, what influences our imaginations and what we remember. For now, I’m going to appreciate the beauty of our Fall collection that is almost here! Can’t wait to see the bags in our warehouse.  Always, AMY