I received a lovely gift of money recently (a thank you for some work I did last summer) and instead of just spending it on groceries, I decided to treat myself to something special. Something just for me.
And I knew just what I wanted.
It was time for a new wallet. About two years ago, my friend, Jen highlighted the yellow wallet pictured above by etsy seller Yellow Wallpaper. For me, it was love at first sight and I scooped it up immediately. And love that wallet I did! I'm pretty tough on wallets...I'm not really a purse person so wallets get thrown onto car seats, shoved into my winter coat pockets and toss about in the big basket I carry to preschool every day. My yellow wallet had taken some abuse and had seen better days and I began to look around for something new. But there was nothing...absolutely NOTHING like the one I already owned. My phone fits so perfectly in one of the pockets of my yellow one and it's sturdy, and well, very pretty.
So I went back to Yellow Wallpaper and when I didn't find the perfect wallet there, I contacted Erika directly and asked if she would make me one. Of course! she said. I got to choose the fabric, the closure and got something completely new and beautiful, but also so familiar and so practical for my use. I also treated myself to the beautiful tote pictured above.
Erika's work is so well made. And so lovely. She made my custom order quickly and packaged it beautifully, it felt like it was a present from a dear friend. There is nothing compared to buying handmade and buying directly from the creator.
Check out Erika's bags created with hand painted canvas...very cool.
Why the photo of Charlotte Perkins Gilman's book? The Yellow Wallpaper was the inspiration for Erika's company name...it was a book I read in college and (since I'm reading again) I was inspired to dig it out and give it another read. I love it just as much now as I did back then.
Visit Erika's shop here...Yellow Wallpaper Handmade...you'll be happy you did.
