As some of you would know my little bag Evie has always been a favourite of mine and though I have made it in many colours I now have distilled that down to just chocolate and tan suede with or without its fringe. Making my bags in the tiny numbers that I do, I no longer try to please everybody, a trait I know most women, especially from my generation can relate to.
Leni is a much bigger version of Evie and both bag styles have a matching shoulder strap and crossbody strap in suede. I took the Nina shape and added in a generous panel at the base to create a larger interior whilst retaining the feel of Nina. I dont like bags with loads of zips, shiny accessories and overt branding. Quiet luxury; simple, beautiful, practical design is my inspiration and what I strive for in Kali. Leni is also offered in just the Chocolate or Tan Suede, with or without a beautiful swishy fringe.
Stevie however comes in a riot of muted jewel tones with two metallics for maximum outfit elevation. Made from the softest of sheep suede and leather with my trademark muted brass hardware, it adds a little glamour to my uniform of denim, cotton and silk and with the new solid brass chains comes a distinct Studio 54 vibe.
Big Bag is available in Chocolate Suede, the ultimate luxury travel bag for a fraction of the cost of well known luxury brands and is availble in Tan Suede to order as is Sunny my beautiful capacious tote with the detacheable Raw Leather Crossbody Strap. Kali is a bespoke maker and as such you can talk to me about colours and textures you may like to see.
]]>Everything goes in this bag. It is the less corporate briefcase, it is that big weekender you’ve been looking for. It is the bag that you can toss about, squish into space that a leather tote won’t go…You can roll it up and pack it in your suitcase or better still use it onboard. 😚
Choose from Charcoal or Classic Indigo with whatever of the 5cm Kali range of straps you love. Buy an add on 4cm Kali leather shoulder strap to alternate the look. I love an option and this one has plenty.
There is also the 5cm Kali Range Strap Gangs, 3 straps for $99 so then you would have four colour straps to add colour and variety to your tote. It’s super cute, super practical and super limited. I do not pump these out…all handmade by three of us. ⭐️⭐️⭐️
]]>Winter has arrived and with it a new bag in six delicious jewel colours. The launch delayed as most things are these days. It’s okay. I’m going with the flow per usual as it’s out of my hands. Bang Bang will be available in a couple of days. Super soft sheep suede, completely lined in khaki suede as all Kali bags are. It has a zippered inside pocket, a suede shoulder strap and a 70’s inspired gold chain.
All the new Nina winter colours are trailing in as they are finished. Really cool colour palette and I’ve finally found some decent thick suede in chocolate, khaki, purple and two tans. There’s also an interesting distressed brown I’ve called cowboy. As always I only buy a few skins in each colour so when it’s finished it finished. If you love any of the new colours I would suggest getting in quick before my wholesale clients 😘😘
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When he first realises that he can change aspects of this new day, that everyone else is unaware of the neverending loop and the possibilty of the power that brings, he wholeheartedly tries to manipulate life. This is the first step and is universally rejected by everything outside of himself. It’s not until he begins to look inward and begins to change himself, to act selflessly and out of love that things start to change. Only once he changes, (the only one he can change), does his experience then change.
It’s not until his world view changes that his world experience changes.
This is a closed circuit, we need to work within that idea and understand that whatever we put out is what we get. We are not billions of separate cells as it were. We are completely connected, part of a massive mutable super cell that includes absolutely everything in this universe.
It’s the uniquely human frontal lobe that complicates what should be a seamless coexistence. If we keep this forefront in our minds (pun intended) our small selves could step aside and our big selves would have amazing lives and experiences. Echoed thereon like the proverbial ripples in a body of water ever outwards.
We choose how to see the world, we can flick a switch in our frontal lobe and see and feel differently about anything. In a second we can choose to be ecstatic or devastated. I have read so much over the years, listened to every type of religious and secular explanation, and the word “simple” appears again and again. I understand now, the answer is “simple” it’s the application that is not. Hence Groundhog Day.
My Groundhog Day comes and goes and this morning I remind myself again. This is my doing and only I can can change my experience.
]]>The only real drawback is when I fall in love with a colour I need to commit far more than my natural bent would allow. Buying ten or twenty skins at a time having been caught out before only buying a few of something spectacular to have someone else swoop in and buy the rest whilst I was testing the market for the colour. As a very boutique, hands on maker, this is the conundrum… committing capital to something that may sit about twiddling it’s thumbs until vogue says yes…literally. I buy what I love when I see it, however a lot of brands really embrace the true nature of fashion which is the rollercoaster, Colours come in, out, return slightly brighter, slightly darker.
My natural style and bent towards earthy tones has its loyal followers however even they love a bit of frivolity and bling as do I. I can’t help but buy a good silver when I see one. Hence I now have four. I suffer the same problem with gold…This is not the normal practice of a fashion brand. The normal practice would be to stick to their tans and blacks, the neutrals, and throw out a few seasonal darlings. But not me…like the aforementioned magpie I cannot help myself, seasons be damned, if I feel like wearing Fuschia in the middle of winter I have it in stock. Like minded souls find me.
and so to the brights. I found a supplier of Fluoro strapping locally. It is in fact seatbelt strapping therefore it is super strong, washable and I can make it in any colour I like in Melbourne and I’m really liking the Fluoro especially for this summer. I always have it as I love it for winter with my tweed jackets too. I’m clearly not a stickler for a season. It’s more a mood within that season, and being a Melbourne girl I have lots of seasons and moods within seasons especially around the transition from autumn to winter and winter to spring. “This too shall pass” being my mantra.
So checkout my range of Melbourne made single colour straps in three different widths and my huge range of fun and colourful imports. I think I have everyone covered. ♥️
]]>It was rough.
I built my SHOPIFY website, learning as I went, buoyed along by the knowledge that I would have full control over it. I would not need to plan ahead for appointments with a website designer to change a photo or a price.
I connected instagram to it years ago and slowly built a small but beautiful community that understood my boutique brand of handmade bags, jewellery and the odd one off pieces, designed and made both by me and two craftsmen of 12 years. I rarely interacted with FB anymore and then of course they bought instagram. UGH…. All of a sudden the shop component of instagram no longer reflected the orderliness of my website with random out of stock products being highlighted and other stock labelled as out of stock when very much in stock.
This week I tried to interact with the beast that is the METAVERSE. I could not for the life of me find the elusive dude named “Commerce Manager” and was being sent around and around in circles logging in and out of Insta and FB. The metaverse decided I was either a hacker or a fruitcake and locked me out. I got the message that it had confirmed it was indeed me the fruitcake and said that I would be reinstated within 48 hours…but I wasn’t, still four days after, nada, niet, crickets.
I’ve covered all the emotions in those four days finally flopping down into the comfy chair that is resignation and surrender. I gave up. I set up a new insta account however the Metaverse must have heard my filthy language, creative curses and generally not very nice attitude thrown in their general direction and decided that ooops…links would not work, chat was having issues, emails would not send. Aaaagh
All through this, lovely SHOPIFY people have been emailing me, sending links and giving advice, if only any of it was relevant to the problems I was having!! Bless them and I sincerely thank them firstly for having a channel that I can easily find a way to email them, though chat would have so much simpler and we might have had more chance to be on the same page separated as we were by full days between replies. Secondly for replying and thirdly for replying again after my frustrations spilled over to shortness on my end.
I guess the good thing that has come out of this is that I finally found the bloody Commerce Manager… not that any of the links are linking and all the parties are still resolutely not speaking, but I’ve tackled my way to the base camp and can start to at least curate the crappy FB shop and through that, the insta shop. I understand that FB wanted the far more relevant Insta however why oh why drag us out of a perfectly working relationship and direct contact with SHOPIFY and pull us instead through the Dante’s Inferno that is the Meta Business Experience.
In my life there is always too much to do and today is no exception. I’m an ideas person and terrible at delegating. I have new bag samples and a whole new jewellery range to make decisions about. I have designs, paintings and sketches for two projects on the go. I’m mid move…both literally and metaphorically and have had my head down, bum up for so long I’m worried I’ll soon be sprouting spectacular feathers.
Regardless, I wouldn’t have it any other way. I like feeling I have the world at my feet, I like having that feeling that endless options lay ahead of me, though traditional recorded lifespans would not concur. Meanwhile my lovely mum worries I’ll end up in a caravan in the bush. That wouldn’t be a disaster either…a fridge, a sketch pad, birdsong for days.
It’s how we view our lives, not how others view it that will sustain us or bury us. My opinion is what matters to me and I can see clearly that others expectations and opinions of me are none of my business if this life, my only one, is to be a valid experience.
It’s not perfect but it’s mine 🌞
]]>The perfect combination of practicality and chic, the Big Bag has both internal and external pockets, a canvas lining that can be inverted to shake the sand out or washed apart from the leather component.
Just an occasional full body massage with some hand or body lotion will keep your Big Bag friend and travelling companion happy and healthy for any adventure. ⭐️😊🏍🛩🚀⛵️🌞
]]>It also looks so innocently single. “Yes I have only the one bag” I say. The passport goes in the outside pocket or the zipped inner pocket if you’re feeling jumpy and there are two d rings on the outside of the bag should you wish to attach the crossbody strap and sling it across your body. (Behind the body at the airline counter is best if it’s bulging) 😳🤫
Almost an entire hide is used for this one and I handpick them individually as always for their thickness, texture and colour. As with all leather they need some love. The occasional massage with any old hand or body cream will keep the leather pliable whilst cleaning it at the same time.
Mine is scuffed and worn but just as strong and beautiful as the day I made it. 🖤
]]>These brass shells have proved not only to enhance my bedroom spaces but also add a little extra to guest offerings, filled with nuts, Japanese snacks or chocolates.
They look and feel substantial yet only need a wipe with a soft damp cloth to keep them looking beautiful. They are obviously cast in sand and they have a distinct textural quality.
Alone or in pairs of differing finishes, they make any space look a little more luxe.
]]>It will be a classic neutral for those of us that like an everyday bag to grab on the way out the door without fussing over whether it matches what we are wearing. That can be fun but on a normal day I have enough to think about already.
I have made it into Nina’s thus far and am trialling a new iPad cover and…am bringing back the BIG BAG!!!
Both the iPad cover and the BIG BAG will be made in a few neutral colours including the khaki Croc. I will make it in any colour to order with a two week turnaround. So if you would like a bespoke weekender in a colour you love, this is your chance. I’m still ironing out a few details however photos will be coming soon!.
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1st Sept 2015
Helsinki, Finland
I was visiting some friends and had brought a present with me. In order for me to transport it safely, I ensured that it was a small gift of four little handmade ceramic bowls. Even so, one didn't make it. It was the prettiest one and therefore had been spared the ignominy of the bin and was superglued in due course.
I looked around their apartment and they have the most exquisite taste. A real feast for the senses. A mix of contemporary and antique. Both artfully and artlessly arranged. Some gorgeous country style flowers from their country place in wonderful old medicine bottles giving a softness to the metals and woods.
It makes me think of all the beautiful things I have collected in my life and travels. I have started to give away the larger items. When I moved a few years ago into a rented house the local charity shop heaved under the weight of my oddball donations, which included an antique air organ the size of a small car.
I now relate these days to an image I have of my mother in the 70’s shrugging her shoulders when I ran screaming into the kitchen having just found the cat doing a rumba in the long series of cupboards where she housed the never used good china and glassware. “Good” she said. “A few less things to worry about.”
I inherited some beautiful things from my grandmothers. A couple of pieces of hand painted china, from my paternal grandmothers sister. A tiny, fine worn to breaking point, wedding ring from my maternal grandmother. These things I cannot detach myself from. Ceramic aliens and monsters made by my son at kinder. A weird book page Xmas tree(?!?) thing made by my husband. Countless tiny things given me by my father. Things I worry over and could never give to anyone knowing that they wouldn't hold the same ridiculous amount of sentiment for them.
My mother who posesses beautiful taste has managed to divest herself of nearly everything. She really has no attachments to anything much other than family and you can’t give her anything, knowing that it will probably end up at the charity shop. Unfortunately for her she created a vacuum which has been enthusiastically filled by my father from other charity shops. To her credit she doesn't really care. However it is pretty amusing when I visit and there is some weird piece of carpet or some ugly cat adornment that my father has got for a bargain and completely adores.
I used to say that inside my head I was so Zen, I couldn't understand how that translated to total bloody chaos externally. In studying it a little lately I understand that we must sometimes repeat the same idiotic mistakes over and over until it really, really sticks with us that that thing we are trying to do will just not work! One of many lessons learnt: I cannot collect things and be unattached.
Hence now, when I see some exquisite thing, I get a flash of all the reasons for walking away. The “another thing to worry about” 'ness of it. I can finally resist.
So I am sitting here in my friends apartment and loving every gorgeous eyeful. Safe in the knowledge that I don't have to worry about any of it.
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