A Power Present for the Holidays:

Buying holiday gifts can be a challenge, but even the toughest giftees on your list will be happy to receive something that’s both whimsical and useful, functional and fashionable.

That perfectly describes a shopper that looks great with any outfit, and folds up neatly into a small bundle, to stow away in your briefcase or handbag when it’s not in use. And unlike socks or ties, a shopper is something nobody can have too many of. When all is said and done, isn’t shopping something we all do – in some form – every day of the year?

Not many shoppers can call themselves genuine works of art, but we know of one that actually can. Artist Randy Twaddle has electrified this shopper with his Power Lines design. Not since the 1970s hit song “Wichita Lineman” have power lines been so eloquent! And don’t worry if anything spills in or on your bag – it’s got a patented moisture barrier to prevent liquids from penetrating the fabric, so whatever you’re carrying won’t short-circuit.

Posted by Julia Szabo.

Do you have a clan of messy eaters in your house? Are dinner time spills taking over your table?  We’ve got an opportunity for you! Recently, Crypton developed a fun line of colorful and reversible mess-free suede placemats.  Not only are they stylish, the Crypton technology behind the fabric means they are completely stain- and water-resistant, too. Although you can’t buy these placemats in stores yet, we thought it would be fun to offer our readers an exclusive opportunity to test them out. We’ll even give you the full set of four placemats – all you have to do is share your story with us.  

 That’s all it takes to receive three additional placemats: a full set!  This opportunity won’t be available for long and space is limited, so sign up soon! All signed up? Once you’ve recieved your placemat, fill out a feedback form to recieve the other three.

We look forward to hearing your messy stories!

When Mercury retrograde makes things go haywire, Crypton keeps you protected:

Just the other day, I got in a cab and there next to me on the seat was someone else’s iPhone. Upon exiting at my destination, I took the phone with me and waited for something to  happen, so I could help reunite the instrument with its rightful owner. Happily, the phone owner’s brother called within minutes. We met on a street corner, I handed him the phone, and all was well.

Inadvertently leaving things behind is a frequent occurrence whenever the planet Mercury goes retrograde, as it’s doing now until May 11th. We all can expect to experience losing and misplacing key items… irritating delays in travel … communications glitches… and computer malfunctions. Yikes!

Under such difficult planetary circumstances, annoying little accidents tend to happen when we least expect them to, delaying matters even further. Crypton’s favorite astrologer, Susan Miller, creator of Astrologyzone, recommends making life easier by labeling your cellular phone and laptop. It’s easy, she says: Simply tape your business card to the back! This way, in the event you are ever separated from these crucial devices, you have a better chance of seeing them again, without having to go through the hassle of replacing them
(argh). 

Might we add that, when everything else is going haywire, liquids tend to spill unexpectedly too. Forewarned is forearmed, so protect the interior of your favorite handbag and/or luggage with a Crypton makeup bag.  If the contents spill or leak, they’ll be safely contained – and the spillage won’t slow you down.

Posted by Julia Szabo.

Crypton tote really holds water – Italian mineral water, that is

There are so many reasons to carry a Crypton tote everywhere – like, you never know when you’ll stumble upon a  farmer’s market with amazing spring-fresh produce and need something stylish to carry it in. But a new reason arose just the other day as I was having a breakfast meeting at Madison Avenue’s swanky Sant’Ambroeus.

I was conducting an interview with the brilliant Dr.Bob Harman, founder of Vet-Stem, the leader in stem-cell regeneration therapy for animals with arthritis. At one point in the conversation, I gesticulated a little too close to my glass of water (which was, of course, nothing less than the Italian mineral water Acqua Panna, from Tuscany).

Happily, my Crypton tote was sitting on the seat next to me, and neatly swallowed up the spill. I didn’t quite realize how much liquid one little water glass could contain until we stood up to leave. As I was preparing to put away my reporter’s notebook, I noticed the bag was heavier than before; that’s because it was literally holding water! So, not only were my clothes spared, but the restaurant’s upholstery and carpeting were too.

Once out on the street, I removed my drenched keys (thankfully, the cellular phone was on the table next to me the whole time), poured out the water, and turned the bag inside-out to dry – which it did in a matter of minutes. That’s Crypton proving its impressive moisture resistance yet again.

Posted by Julia Szabo.

Featured Etsy Designer: Studio Cherie

This week, Life on Crypton is showcasing Etsy.com (see our post from yesterday). Today we bring you an interview with Cherie, the designer-sewer extraordinaire who is behind StudioCherie. Selling duffels, bags, pillows and other fabric goods, Cherie’s bright colors and unique designs (she is happy to do custom items) have kept her busy creating since April 2008.

Recently, Cherie has come out with a brand new line of products containing Crypton Suede in the cathedral quilt-style. In addition to table-runners, she now has tote bags and pillows to complement the line. Interested crafters can also purchase PDFs of many of Cherie’s designs to create at home on their own.

In addition to running her online shop full-time, Cherie is also a mother of three, and a regular blogger (you can read her blog at http://studiocherie.blogspot.com. Enjoy!

Q. How did you originally get started with designing and creating items for sale?
Cherie: I created the baby changing bag I had always wanted for myself (and no one ever made while I had babies in diapers.) Everyone at a friend’s baby shower got excited about it. One of the gals suggested I apply for a patent. It just snowballed from there.

 Q. Describe the sort of things you enjoy making– what are your favorite items to create?
Cherie: Furniture, doing upholstery and slip-covering are my favorites, but I ran out of room at my house. Bags are great too. A bit of portable creativity that still has high function value.

Q. Where do you get inspiration for new ideas?
Cherie: Usually my creations grow out of something I need myself. The duffle bag came out of my own need, and its popularity tells me I am not alone. Sometimes it’s more of an invention thing – like frame purses, I was always curious about how those are made, so I took some apart, learned from them, and redesigned from there. There are also times when an idea will simmer in the back of my mind for a long time, and when the right materials or tools appear, I just have to move forward.

Q. How would you describe your design style?
Cherie: Practical and fun.

Q. We’ve noticed you often work with Crypton in your shop what draws you to Crypton Fabrics?
Cherie: Did I just say practical and fun? I love how Crypton stays clean, which is a huge plus for home décor and for bags. The color range of Crypton makes it fun and easy to pair with the popular designer quilting fabrics which are my other favorite material.

Q. How has Etsy changed the way you do business?
Cherie: Etsy is a vibrant community of crafters and artisans, collectors and socially conscious consumers. Within that community I am able to tailor my offerings to the needs I see. There is a real satisfaction for me in connecting with the people who use my sewing patterns or buy the things I have made. Etsy is engaging from both the buyer and seller perspective.

Q. What are the challenges for your business?
Cherie: I am itching to expand my line like crazy right now. I have so many practical and fun ideas. I want to keep selling both patterns and finished products, but I am going to need to get help to do that if I expand my offerings.

Q. What’s next for StudioCherie?
Cherie: One or two helpers. More patterns more products.