The Joy of Color Matching (or not)

I was reminded today of the importance of color-matching and, feeling sure that everyone would find this fascinating, got all excited to write a blog post about it.  I'm sitting at my favorite tea shop writing and re-writing these sentences and realizing that, perhaps, this is a REALLY nerdy topic and can't possibly sound interesting to anyone but me.  But I'm going for it anyway so bear with me!  Here's why I think color-matching is an unappreciated art…

Nearly everything you wear or have around your home has multiple parts that need to match.  I was recently deconstructing old NokHoo sample bags and noticing how many elements had to match:
1) the main fabric
2) thread
3) elastic
4) zippers
5) mesh pockets
6) twill tape
7) straps

If you sew you probably have some idea how difficult it is to get all of these elements to coordinate.  It's nearly impossible to source off-the-shelf bits and pieces that happen to match.  I spent the first part of my career working for big companies that had whole departments in place for this and I spent HOURS staring at colors, commenting on them and sending them back until they were just right.  (As any old coworker reading this can confirm!)  Getting colors to match isn't as simple as mixing the same percentage of red, yellow and blue into a dye.  Many times each element is made in a different factory,   weather and humidity play a part and a huge factor is the type of material being dyed (plastic, elastic, natural and synthetic fabrics, etc.).

When I initially had the NokHoo bags made I was lucky to have a partner in India, where they have the manufacturing infrastructure to match colors.  Now I'm back in the US and starting to source and manufacture here.  I'm excited to work locally but, since US manufacturing has virtually disappeared, these tiny, but important, details are both difficult to find and difficult to afford.  Which means that, when you accidentally find a color that matches, it's really exciting!  Here's my serendipitous find that inspired this blog post…

Hooray! For my upcycling project a perfect match with the blue bag.  I'm making this into a kiss lock purse which I'll post as soon as it's complete.  So, when you look at the stuff you own, take a moment to appreciate all the matching parts, it's truly an art!

Upcycle Me!

It's time. My original NokHoo development samples have been hiding away in a pile of boxes for a while now.  Whenever I run across them I think, "I should get rid of those".  But they stay in the box, cluttering my home and my mind.  I hate sending them to the landfill because: 1) they represent blood, sweat and tears that went into NokHoo's beginnings 2) they have useful bits and 3) landfills suck.  But today, in a creative/organizational/I've-had-it-with-all-this-junk fury, I whipped out the scissors and began cutting.  Step one in my upcycling experiment. Above is the BEFORE photo. Below are the results (thus far)…

Mid-cutting. It's interesting to see the bones of the bags.

The good stuff.

I'll just pat myself on the back (or the backpack, ha ha) for starting out but… what's next?  I figure I'll sew them into carrying cases of some sort.  Any suggestions?  Special orders?  Help me bring these bags a new life!  I'll blog my progress and hopefully have something to sell on Etsy at the end of the day.  (That was a figure of speech, not the end of THIS day because it's late and I'm tired.  A different day.)

Why Not?

Hi, my name is Nicole and I'm terrible at social media. I was sharing my Twitter account with a friend and said to her, "it's been forever — like four months — since I last posted". She looked up my account and informed me that it had been well over a year. Right. Which helps explain why my blog has become a wasteland. My primary excuse is that I entertain a toddler most of the time. I still get credit for that but it's time to focus a little more on my business. My presence, that is. I've chosen to be a solo entrepreneur which, in this day and age, means one must be consistently present online. So in the spirit of doing just that, I'm giving my online self a makeover (maybe, if I can keep it up, I'll give my real self a makeover as a reward… good idea!). I shall blog more, sort out this Instagram and Twitter business, and do as much Facebook posting as I can stand. I'm going to tell you, online friends, more about myself and what I'm about. If you don't already know, I am an illustrator, textile and product designer and here is how my career unfolded…

I've always loved to create art but I never imagined it could become a career until some thoughtful college art professors asked, "why not?". This led me (after getting a degree in Geography) to say, "why not try art school?" which, when I finished, led to "why not apply to EVERY art job?". I landed in the world of fashion, creating artwork for kids' clothes and, eventually, to all sorts of surface and product design.

Initially I expected to do editorial or book illustration, probably subsidized by a barrista career, so it came as a surprise to be paid regularly for my work. I also discovered the wonderful world of product development and the joy of reaching a large audience. My right-brain loves to create images from the spinning mess of ideas in my head. My left-brain gets excited about putting those ideas into an orderly format and communicating the look and feel to people who will be constructing real, live products. The whole process is very much an act of creation and it thrills me: from the kernel of an idea to collaboration, trial and error, the birth of a product and then sharing that creation with the world.

My NokHoo bag designs came about after my (not yet) husband asked, "why not quit your job and move to Thailand for a while?" so I made the nail-biting decision to say "yes" to adventure and uncertainty. Of course I needed a bag to use during those adventures so "why not" design my own? And here I am, years later, navigating the adventure of design and the uncertainty of wearing all the hats in my own business. 

It's only as I write this that I realize most of my big (and most interesting) choices came from that question, "why not?". As I embark on my next phase (the aforementioned online makeover) I'm responding to this question again. Honestly, I'm not crazy about putting myself out there. Letting the unknown world interact with my online self is just strange to me. (That must make me sound old.) But if I choose to continue running my own business I've got to get with the times. So "why not?". Maybe because it makes me uncomfortable is precisely why I should do it. Or maybe I'll hate it and change my mind later. Either way, welcome to my world. Feel free to leave encouraging comments!

NokHoo on Etsy (plus a coupon code!)

My bags are now listed on Etsy! I need to get the ball rolling with sales and reviews so I'm offering 25% off for the month of March, but only if you buy on Etsy. The coupon code is "HiEtsy". If you've been waiting on a bag, now is the time!

NokHoo Interview: A Knitter's Tale

I know a number of people who use their NokHoo bags as craft or knitting totes. Today's chat is with Sharon; a retiree who takes her leisure time seriously. When she's not traveling abroad, Sharon is off seeing a play, having dinner with friends or knitting for a good cause. Sharon has this to say about her bag:

"I've owned the DeLoverly NokHoo bag for three years.  I use my bag for knitting, travel and day trips.

"I'm retired and often take day trips on the bus.  I pack it with things to keep me entertained on the bus and what I will need for my day.  It has a nice compartment for my MP3 player and earphones.  There's a secure pocket for my wallet.  I have room for a knitting project, kindle or book.  It's stylish and looks good while shopping, going to a museum or attending the theatre.

"I also love that it organizes very well as a craft bag.  The back pocket is just the right size for a knitting book.  The project fits into the second pocket while my knitting tools and needles are well organized in the front pocket.  If I'm doing needle felting the needles fit in the front, the block goes in the back and the roving goes into the middle pocket.  The pockets are well organized and my tools are easily accessible.  I can knit while leaving the ball of yarn in the pack preventing runaway yarn on the bus.

"When I'm traveling I need my hands free to manage suitcases and a cane.  The DeLovely works as a backpack/purse for me and fits easily into the overhead on a plane.  I have my travel documents, money, books, passport and knitting project easily accessible.

"I get many compliments on the NokHoo bag when I'm traveling.  It has held up very well and after three years of hard use it does not show any signs of wear. It's truly a great bag and I'm so glad I have it."

Sharon and her NokHoo bag often visit with the nuns of the St. Placid Knitters and Spinners Group, where they knit prayer shawls for ill and grieving people. I like to imagine Sharon's DeLoverly bag holding the yarn that will become one of these beautiful shawls and will one day warm someone in need.

As always, NokHoo bags can be found here.

NokHoo Interview: Snapshots from Paris

Today's NokHoo interview is with Anne, a School Historian who uses her Raining Paradise bag for work and, recently, took it with her on vacation to Paris! I asked Anne to describe how she uses her bag...

"I use my bag every single day for work. I work at a school where I switch campuses daily and have to bring my laptop with me back and forth. In the back compartment I keep my computer and any work files I need to travel with. In the front half of the main compartment I keep personal papers and I usually can get my purse into that area, too. I like having two internal sections since I can empty one when I get home and leave the work things undisturbed.

"The outside large pocket fits my makeup bag, spare USB and power cords. The side mesh pockets fit my phone and iPod in one side and either sunglasses or keys in the other. I like having two side pockets to keep my keys separate so they don't scratch things up, and I like that they are mesh so I can see at a glance where stuff is.

"I also use this as my go-to carry-on bag when I fly. I don't bring my computer with my when I travel, but this fits everything I need for flying, especially with my grade school-aged daughter. It fits a spare outfit for each of us, portable DVD player, a DVD case, a few books for me, puzzle books and magazines for her and my wallet and make-up. It fits under the seat in front of me so I can access it multiple times during the flight." 

What does she like most about her bag?

"I love that it is a stylish back pack. I was having serious hip and back problems to the point of pursuing surgery. I tried a Chiropractor first and, after an x-ray of my spine, we could see that I had a serious sideways bend in my lower back. This was from carrying a bag on one shoulder since high school and college. Ditching my old laptop bag and actually wearing both straps of my NokHoo bag has made a MAJOR difference in my health. Plus I get a million compliments on it!"

(I'm so happy to hear this! When I designed these bags, I really wanted them to be good for your back, especially if you have to lug around a lot of stuff.)

How did Anne's NokHoo do in Paris?

"I loved bringing my NokHoo bag to France with me. It didn't make me look like a tourist and it had everything I needed for the flight. It was a great bag to have on the serious walking days when I needed my water bottle and sweater and spare shoes."

Thanks to lovely Anne for posing with her Raining Paradise bag in Paris and for taking the time to chat about her bag. As always, check out our website to see the latest NokHoo styles!

NokHoo Interview: The Traveling Man

Here's Randy's Icarus bag getting caffeinated for a trip to Long Beach, CA.

Icarus peers out the window, waiting to get on the plane.

What a lucky bag, Icarus is staying aboard the Queen Mary!

Time to relax after a long trip. Perhaps Icarus will order a cocktail?

Next in my series of interviews with NokHooees (can I call my customers that?) is savvy businessman Randy who takes frequent work trips with his NokHoo bag. Randy works as a consultant and spends weeks on end flying to and fro, living out of a small suitcase and his Icarus backpack. Randy has owned his bag for almost three years and recently chronicled a trip to Long Beach, CA where he and Icarus stayed aboard the Queen Mary (photos above).

I asked Randy how he uses his bag and he says, "I use it for everything!  Daily work (a traveling office); work & personal travel.  A place to keep my office stuff stored and organized."

Organization is the name of the game when you're traveling so I asked Randy to describe how he lays out his wares… "I put a laptop in laptop pouch (sometimes two!). All tools in the front section (pencils, mouse, flashlight, small pad, glasses….). For travel I keep papers with the laptop and put headphones, book, extra emergency clothes in the front section.  For daily use I keep miscellaneous papers in the front half."

What does this traveler like most about his bag? "It is sturdy and attractive and has room for most day-to-day ‘stuff’."

I'm glad to hear Randy's bag has weathered so nicely after three years of travel; that was one of my main goals when I designed the bags. I also love hearing about exciting trips NokHoo gets to take! As always, NokHoo's fine assortment can be found here. 

"Two Thumbs Up" for Icarus!

More love for NokHoo from the blogosphere! Geek's Dream Girl reviewer, L, put her Icarus bag through the wringer during a trip to the GenCon gaming convention last week. To test the bag's durability she carried it everywhere, stuffing it into planes, trains and automobiles, and Icarus came through with flying colors. (Flying colors... Icarus, get it? Punny.)

L sums up her review by saying, "... this bag gets two thumbs up from me for being exactly what it looks like. The Icarus is a durable, fashionable bag that can survive the sartorial equivalent of the Apocalypse (me). I needed a backpack that could survive my use, and it did so in spades." 

Hooray for happy reviewers! Read more of what L has to say here.

Icarus Giveaway!

Win a free NokHoo bag from Tekzilla! Reviewer Veronica Belmont did a YouTube video about our Icarus bag and is giving it to a randomly chosen (and very lucky) fan. To enter, upload a video question to YouTube and e-mail the link to Tekzilla@Revision3.com with the subject "Backpack Giveaway". Good luck!

What I Don't Have in my Nokhoo Bag...

I recently posted a series of interviews with NokHoo customers asking, "What do you carry in your NokHoo bag?". It was interesting for me to hear how people from different walks of life use their bags. Personally I carry multiple NokHoo bags (go figure) including Raining Paradise, which I use as a diaper bag. This weekend I took the wee one on a 3-hour train ride to visit some friends and managed to pack my bag pretty poorly for the trip. I was a hot mess when I arrived (I mean that literally) and they suggested I post a blog entry on what I didn't pack in my NokHoo bag. Here goes...

I was traveling alone with an infant over the lunch hour so was concerned about her getting enough to eat. I packed food for her, a spoon, water, a bib, etc. Unfortunately, I did not pack any food for me. By the time I showed up I was gnawing on the straps of my lovely blue bag.

Baby-child is teething something fierce right now so, when she is awake, she is full of wrath. I did not pack pain-killing meds for her aching mouth or for my aching head.

I did not pack a change of clothes for me. Why, you might ask, would that be important? I'll tell you. Because she peed on me. A veritable flood.

Which brings me to the last thing I did not pack in my diaper bag. That's right, I did not pack diapers. I thought they were in there. I was wrong, so very wrong.

Due to this unfortunate series of omissions I stumbled off the train holding a writhing infant a foot away from my body, both of us soaking wet, smelly and cranky. I'm surprised (and glad) that my friends were actually willing to claim us.

So, all you customers out there, please enjoy your NokHoo bags in whatever way you choose to use them, but I urge you to pack wisely. And, if you are admiring NokHoo from afar, I promise it was not the fault of the bag but operator error that led to my personal chaos. Get your awesome bag here. Cheers!

NokHoo Interview: The Smartest Artist

Artiste Angela Wales Rockett poses before her work at a New York show.

Today I'm delighted to be interviewing Angela, a successful abstract painter from Tacoma, Washington, who uses her DeLoverly bag to carry art supplies and sketchbooks to her painting studio and on sketching excursions. Here's how Angela packs her bag:

"The "laptop" compartment holds my larger sketchbook and a notebook, and usually a book for reading. In the other half of the large compartment I keep a smaller sketchbook or two, and some sketching materials including pencils, pens, and a watercolor set. This is also where I keep my hat and scarf, and a travel mug and my camera, and maybe even a snack, and a little bag of things like hand lotion, lipstick, and a portable toothbrush. There's a lot of room in there! In the front pocket I keep things I need to get at more easily, including my wallet, pens in the handy pen holders, keys, lip balm, and yes, another small sketch/notebook. I think I might have a problem ;). I keep my business cards very handily in that little flap pocket on the outside. In the various smaller zippered pockets I keep my cell phone and my iPod Touch. And the outer side pockets carry my water bottle, and my travel tea infuser, and if I ever get around to buying one, they will also hold a compact umbrella.

"I've only had my bag for a month, so I'm still working out what to do with all the space, but so far it's working like a charm. I used to have to carry my purse plus a tote (or 2) to cart my sketching supplies around, but now it all fits in one beautiful bag."

Angela sent me this great photo of her bag packed up and ready to go!

What does Angela like most about her bag?

"I love that it's just so pretty, and yet very sturdy and completely functional, and comfortable to wear as well. I also love that it's water resistant since I live in the Pacific Northwest."

I'm happy Angela pointed out the water-resistant quality of the bags because I know that doesn't come across at first glance. NokHoo bags are fully padded with EPE foam, which stands up nicely to rain (we're pretty sure about this, having weathered more than one Thai monsoon).

Thanks to Angela for a great interview. It's worthwhile to check out her beautiful paintings and her blog. Angela also has an active show schedule so if you're lucky enough to live nearby, you can see her work in person!

NokHoo Interview: The Cruising Crooner

It's time for another interview and today I'm talking with Dustin, a talented musician and proud owner of the NokHoo Sirrush bag. Dustin is part of the a cappella quartet The Neptunes who currently grace the stage of the Celebrity Solstice cruise ship. When he's not traveling the high seas, he's home rehearsing new music. During one of his breaks from cruising, I asked Dustin to talk about how he uses his bag...

"I mainly use my bag for transporting my Apple laptop and music folder to rehearsal 3-5 nights a week. The thing I like most about my bag is that it's very versatile and has pockets for anything I need to bring. Not only is the inside clean and stylish, but there's a ton of space.

I use the main pocket with the velcro strap for my laptop so that I know it's securely set in the pocket. I use the remaining large pocket for my binder full of music as well as anything else I need (gum, cough drops, etc.). I also use the cell phone pocket on the strap to carry my iPod Touch which has a keyboard application on it."

Dustin's favorite detail is the buckle on the front of the bag (which I'm glad to hear since it was a custom-made labor of love). Here's a little snippet of The Neptunes singing "For the Longest Time" on their last cruise, Dustin is on the left. SUPER talented and a NokHoo fan, you can't beat that. Thanks for the interview, Dustin!

NokHoo Interview: Stylish Mama

When I started designing NokHoo backpacks I was searching for a great-looking, quality bag that I could use while traveling the world with my laptop. In the few short years since NokHoo transformed from an idea into a reality, my life has transformed as well. The bag I counted on to safely ferry my computer from India to Italy and back again is now carrying diapers, bottles and brightly colored toys up and down the West Coast.

When I hear from my wonderful customers, I'm always surprised at the unique way that each individual uses their bag, so I decided to post a series of interviews asking, "How do you use your NokHoo bag?".

Lovely JuJu at the airport (she's the tall one).

My first interview features JuJu who lives in Bangkok with her husband and young son. She owns the Icarus style and has been using it as a diaper bag. She recently took a trip to Taiwan and I asked her how she organized her bag for that trip:

"In the front zipper, I kept 4-5 diapers in where the two pockets are. And I placed small bottle of Vaseline, baby wipe pack, nose spray bottle in the mesh pocket attached to the front side zipper. The very front small pocket, I kept my gum, and lipstick. (See the photo)".

JuJu sent me this fab photo showing how she organized her bag!

When I asked JuJu to tell me what she likes most about her bag, she had this to say:

"The backpack style is very convenient especially for a trip while I don’t have free hands. My hands are always ready for carrying the baby, so a shoulder or messenger bag would totally get in a way. The bag is also roomy and designed with many pockets. It is easy to organize."

Thanks to JuJu for the interview and great photos! As always, you can check out all NokHoo's lovely styles here.

The stylish mama heads off to Taiwan...

Outfit Your Bag, Winter 2011... NokHoo Raining Paradise Backpack

what to wear 2011-NokHoo Raining Paradise Bag, originally uploaded by nrillustration.

NokHoo laptop bags are designed for travel. Whether it's a trip abroad or a walk in the park with your BFF, your hands will be free to do more important things. "Doc Holiday" is a German Shepherd/Collie mix available for adoption from the Family Dogs New Life Shelter in Portland, OR.

Sweater and corduroys are from Free People. Shoes are from Joie. Of course the lovely laptop bag is from NokHoo Design.

Grid-it!™ available on NokHoo, plus FREE rush shipping!

Grid-it!™ available on NokHoo!, originally uploaded by nrillustration.

Big day for NokHoo Design! We're offering a new product on our website... the Grid-it!™ organizer.

Grid-it!™, from the folks at Cocoon, is an innovative solution for taming all those tiny gadgets and cords. The organizers are woven with rubberized elastic, allowing you to nestle your digital accessories (or whatever else you like to carry) neatly in one place. Here at NokHoo we've put Grid-it!™ to the test and found it worthy. We think you will, too!

Available in two sizes: the small (10.5" x 7.5") will fit in the front pouch of your NokHoo bag and the large (15.125" x 9.625") will fit in the main pouch. Check it out here.

If that's not enough excitement, we're also offering FREE RUSH SHIPPING for orders over $100 through Christmas. This INCLUDES OVERSEAS ORDERS. Order now while the deal's on!

Outfit Your Bag, Fall 2010... Icarus

what to wear-NokHoo Icarus Bag, originally uploaded by nrillustration.

What could be better for autumn than a weekend road trip through the changing fall leaves? Nothing, that's what. So slip on some worn-in jeans, don a cozy sweater, grab your NokHoo bag and don't forget your camera. It's time to enjoy the season!

Sweater from J.Crew. Jeans by G-Star. Converse shoes. Johnstons scarf. And the pièce de résistance, a NokHoo bag.

Outfit Your Bag, Fall 2010... Sirrush

what to wear-NokHoo Sirrush Bag, originally uploaded by nrillustration.

In the old days (was it the 80's?), I remember my dad taking advantage of "casual Fridays" by sporting slacks and a button-down shirt. Unless you work at a bank (and maybe you do), career attire has become pretty casual every day of the week. For a comfy work day, try a chunky sweater paired with casual pants and sensible shoes. Polish off the ensemble with a NokHoo bag to remind everyone that, though your style may be casual, you have impeccable taste.

Sweater and pants from Zara. Henley from Old Navy. Shoes by Deer Stags. Finely crafted laptop bag by NokHoo.

Outfit Your Bag, Fall 2010... Raining Paradise

what_to_wear_nokhoo_RainingParadise_bag, originally uploaded by nrillustration.

Fall is a great time to pair warm socks and boots with a cute short skirt-especially when you have impossibly long, lean legs like the model in this photo. Of course the look wouldn't be complete without her very hip NokHoo Raining Paradise bag.

Sweater and skirt are from H&M. Tee from Threadless (artwork by Eric Fan). Thigh high socks from Sock Dreams. Boots from White Mountain (available on Zappos). And laptop bag from the ever-so-fashionable folks at NokHoo Design.

Outfit Your Bag, Fall 2010... DeLoverly

what_to_wear_nokhoo_deloverly_bag, originally uploaded by nrillustration.

Somehow it's already the end of August and fall is right around the corner. If you're anxious to bust out those fall fashions, here's a tip for strolling the streets in style with your NokHoo bag... embrace fall color! Take advantage of the rusty red of DeLoverly by pairing it with mustard and denim blue, balanced with a little winter white and natural leather tones.

Lucky Brand jacket and cords. Ugg shoes. Banana Republic blouse. And a lovely NokHoo laptop bag.

NokHoo Web Updates

screen, originally uploaded by nrillustration.

I've been working on updating the NokHoo website with some long awaited changes. Finally the nav bar has moved to the top, we have model photos on the front page and the pages are longer to accommodate new info. What probably looks like tiny changes actually took a lot of time, so please humor me and go check it out! Thanks :)