I just listed the last of my potato sacks on my Etsy site:  potatoboutique.etsy.com

And that cleans me out completely....
Snag them up before they're gone!!
Happy Creating!!

We still have several fun purses available for sale, so hop on over to the shop to take a look and get yours mailed out in time for Christmas.

Please follow this link

It's that time of year again:  time to start pulling out the Christmas decorations....

I try to show Idaho pride as I decorate my home:  
Potato sacks from Idaho are the key.... 
heeheehee...!

I decided to hang our stockings over the piano.....
After all, if you remember, our mantle is kinda wimpy...  heeheeheehee...  :)

And there you have it:  Idaho potato sack stockings,

• for the Idaho lover,
• or the potato lover,
• or just for the burlap lover..... 

YIPPY!!!!

I get lots of complements from people stopping by, because (as I mentioned before}  this room also functions as the entry into our home.  We have a front door and lovely entry, but, for some reason here in the South-East Idaho country, everyone just enters at the back door.  And I kinda like it that way....!!  It's friendly.....

Which door do your friends and neighbors use to enter your home?


Linking up to Funky Junk for her Unique Window Treatment Party

Time to make another sewing pattern available to all of you sewing seamstresses out there.
September is a great month to pull out that sewing machine and get to creating....

The Rachel Handbag is super cute and convenient too...!
It was my best-selling pattern when I still had my Etsy shop... {in my former life... lol!}
I love the pockets on the front to keep my life somewhat more organized... 
Knotted handle attached to rings for fun.

The Rachel Handbag was featured in Haute Handbags Magazine, Fall 2009

At that time sewing with burlap was a 'new' concept and the article kept my email inbox jam-packed full...!!!  It was a pleasant surprise...  :-)
Since then everyone and their dog has started using burlap, but I must say it is STILL fun and cute and all that good stuff!

Enclosed are some photo's for your enjoyment!
Happy sewing!
:-)
Crystelle


This Rachel Purse Sewing Pattern comes as a free PDF file at the bottom of this post.
Please let me know how YOUR Rachel Handbag has turned out!  I LOVE seeing your photo's ~  email them to me so they can be posted on the Show and Tell page.....    :-)

P.S.  The potato sack sewing tips are also included
as sewing with potato sacks is NOT created equal to sewing with other burlap...   :)

Linking up to my best bloggy buddies.....

If you are running out of time to get a handbag sewn up, we have some finished bags for sale.

The Melissa Handbag has been popular for a long time, and since I am no longer selling on my potatoboutique etsy account, I thought it was high time I gave this pattern away free. 
YAY!!!



The Melissa is a roomy shoulder bag that is patchy FUN!!!





The knotted handle is comfy soft and all your items are within easy reach.
The interior features one zippered pocket (optional) and a divided patch pocket to make it easy to find your keys, lipstick and cell-phone!

The launch of the Melissa Handbag pattern took place in October of 2009 when Haute Handbags Magazine published a fabulous article named "Haute Potato" on CrystelleBoutique potato sack purse.  I was so delighted at the time, and honored that they did such a fabulous three page spread on my patterns.  And I could not believe the amount of emails I received afterward....!!!
I was just flabbergasted ....

Read more about the magazine article right here

The Melissa Handbag is quite easy to make.  Easy to play with, easy to alter (into something uniquely yours) and fun and convenient to carry. 

This pattern is a great bag for people of all ages:  from 5 to 95
It has lots of room, but it does not get cluttered: your items are still easily accessible and right within reach. The Melissa handbag is a fun and practical shoulder bag that is comfortable and handy in every day use.

Make it in different fabrics to match the style of the person carrying it....

Email me a photo of your finished Melissa Handbag, and I will add it to the
Show and Tell page.....

Download the Melissa Handbag Pattern PDF file at the bottom of this post. 
Potato Sack Prep Tricks are also downloadable at the very bottom

What.....??!?!!!????
Crystelle Boutique is going out of business?????
Well, yes and no.....

After some considerate consideration {lol!} it has become time for me to slow down a bit with my Etsy shops and spend more time on the everyday Mom stuff....
I am a lucky girl!  My husband has worked hard in order to be in a position that his children can have a stay-at-home mom....  And what does mom do?  She spends all her 'free' time listing, selling and shipping Etsy products....  Hmmmmm.....
So I decided to 'quit business' so to speak, and get with the program....






The Vintage Market we held last weekend was the kick-of to my Etsy clearance sales.....
It was a HUGE success.  Lotsa  people came, lots of old faces were warmly greeted, and new friends were made.    We drank lots of lemonade {thanks kids!!} and good times were had by all.... 

And so many people said:  "This is so fun!  You should do this every year!"  Well, let's just say: I would LOVE to but.... that kind-of defeats the whole purpose of the event in the first place.... {heeheehee!!!}

So if you have seen something in my shops that you absolutely love and can't live without, let me know, and I will give you a good deal.  In the mean time:  my website will continue, as I will keep posting about my creative projects.  Can't just turn off my creative spirit....!!!!

Have a great day! 
Marijke

p.s.  posting some photo's of some of the fun displays from the Vintage Market....
Au revoir!

CrystelleBoutique was formerly known as

Crystelle Handbags
"Home of the Famous Potato Purse"

This was our logo tag back then

We have a new logo tag:  Crystelle Boutique

To order your own famous potato sack purse, please use our contact form....