Seattle Refined: I'm the Artist of the Week

 Buy this one-of-a-kind wood cigar box purse.

My favorite local TV show, Seattle Refined, has put me in the spotlight as their Artist of the Week! Isn't that great? The link takes you to a gallery of my cigar box purse designs and an interview about my creative life. 

#PNW #iloveithere #cigarbox #momentsofdelight #finddelight

Chanel Loves Cigar Box Purses Too

Did you notice that Chanel's 2017 Cruise Line features a cigar box purse? A dramatic wood clutch in a peach-tone with black, tan and gold accents. Magnifique!

Take a peek that this beautiful online look book for the Chanel collection.
The Chanel version is rare and sells for $12,000. 

I invite you to explore my collection of one-of-a-kind cigar box purses on Etsy. I have 41 cigar box purses available this month. 

I love this photo from a night out in Seattle. I can't tell you how many people inquired about my white & gold hand bag. I will be posting another for sale in this style soon.

ANA Cigar Box Purses

Shop for my Cigar Box purses at www.annereeves.etsy.com

Each purse is signed and numbered. A one-of-a-kind item for your wardrobe.

Here's a link to my online store on Etsy so you can shop for my cigar box purses easily. 

I met so many people, was welcomed to the area and got the citizens perspective on the many art shows and events on the east side of Seattle. I am grateful for their input and support and had a very successful night.
I want to extend a big thank you to Troy Salon in Issaquah, WA for inviting me to host a Pop Up Shop during the May 5th Wine Walk.

Thank you!



#cigars #cigarboxpurses #winewalk

Seattle: Birthday Dinner at Scout

Dinner at Scout within the Thompson Seattle hotel was delicious. I ordered the rather manly dinner of a New York Strip Steak and when it was placed before me, this whole scene came together. This image could double as a promotional photo for my ANA cigar box purses, don't you think?

Our birthday celebration filled the 2 tables inside Scout's indoor wooden gazebo. The design definitely makes the party seem private while still being accessible. 

We took our time, enjoyed great drinks, a lovely meal and a chance to catch up on conversation. I highly recommend this chic spot in Seattle.

Cigar Box Purse POP UP Shop during Issaquah WINE WALK

Announcing my first POP UP Shop for cigar box purses 

in the Pacific Northwest!

Troy Salon (195 Front Street, Studio C, Issaquah,WA) 

is generously hosting me during the 

Issaquah WINE WALK on Friday, May 5 from 6-9 pm.

Come see a grand display of one-of-a-kind ANA cigar box purses. Each purse is a signed and numbered art piece.

The inside of each purse is just gorgeous - hand lined with fabric and matching gussets (to help keep the contents inside), velcro closure (for added security), tiny metal feet and an 

ANA ceramic logo tag. 

I use real cigar boxes and carefully select only the ones in the best condition to make into a purse. I try to preserve all labels too - except the smoking warning, those I remove when I can.

 Talk about a conversation piece! My purses have been sold in the Ritz Carlon Hotel, within resort gift shops and shipped individually to diserning buyers around the country. 

My kiln-fired ceramic ANA logo distinguishes my unique brand.

Renegade Craft Fair: Seattle

The Renegade Craft Fair in Seattle last December filled me with optimism. This type of high end maker show (especially at this scale) only happens a few select cities that are a magnet for a craft show of what I call "upscale small batch creativity."  

The products for sale range from organic tea blends, printing press stationary, and handmade candles to leather accessories and the like. My overall impression was that these are the type of items I see spotlighted in the Gift Guides of Martha Stewart, Real Simple and Oprah.  

Simple lines and soft colors, with a nod to the natural or well made. This is not kitch, those some have an irreverent feel. I felt right at home and hope that when I finally settle into a house, I can participate in this show with my ANA cigar box purses.

For now, I am just a customer and I found wonderful Christmas gifts. My favorites were screen print linen dishtowels printed with pine cones and whimsical thick paper dollhouse. Never fear, I'll connect you to the brands when I locate my stash of business cards.

My high end lunch was a rich and hearty shrimp and grits from the food truck, Kiss My Grits! It was not too spicy and full of flavor. The grits were creamy and soaked up the flavor of the mushrooms, bacon and onions. I couldn't believe that I could eat this well on a chilly day outside of Hanger 30.

The Renegade Craft Fair comes to Seattle in the winter and summer, loaded with hand crafted wares and loads of style. See you there!

Afternoon Tea at The Townsend Hotel

This is exactly how one should celebrate a birthday...Afternoon Tea at The Townsend Hotel.  My tea-loving friend Kathleen is a kindred spirit and I knew that this would be the perfect spot to celebrate.  We would have hot tea, delicious food and plenty of time to talk.  

The Townsend is a luxury hotel in Birmingham, Michigan and the lobby is beautifully decorated and arranged into small sitting areas, perfect for intimate tea parties.  When I arrived, I noticed a group of women hosting a bridal shower near the fireplace. "Tea, sweets, ribbon and friends, do a happy bride make."

Kathleen and I sat together on a loveseat and our tea service was set out in front of us on our own coffee table.  I chose Earl Gray tea and Kathleen decided on a decaffeinated Raspberry Tea.  We began our little party with Orange Cranberry scones served with mascarpone cheese and housemade lemon curd. The Townsend's lemon curd is some of the best I've tried and I ate every last drop. Yum yum yum.

The tea sandwiches were little works of art, each prettier than the last.  We were served (clockwise from bottom left) Shrimp Canape, Asparagus with Boursin Mousse topped with a hard-boiled Quail Egg, Smoked Salmon, Pesto Bruschetta with Marinated Tomatoes and Mascarpone, Smoked Chicken Salad and Cucumber and Watercress. 

I

I carried one of my cigar box purses to our tea and it was fun to hear so many people compliment it.  I love when someone says "I just have to ask you about your purse." I gave out many cards that day and explained that my purses were available in my Etsy store (an online marketplace for artists). This picture (above) looks like a magazine spread, don't you think? I love it! 

The staff was so very kind and since it was a quiet afternoon, we had fun chatting now and then with them about how much we were enjoying ourselves, how Kathleen and I became friends and how we were feeling a revival in interest surrounding Afternoon Tea. After this beautiful afternoon, I can't think of anywhere I'd rather take my mom than to Tea at The Townsend.

Our dessert plates each arrived with a lit candle, in honor of our birthdays. We enjoyed a tiny Key Lime Tart, a Raspberry Cheesecake Pyramid, Chocolate Mousse in a Chocolate Teacup and a Passion Fruit Mousse Dome. It was perfect.

It was such a fun afternoon, perfect for two old freinds. Kathleen...what else can we celebrate?

Cigar Box Purses are Man Magnets

Tah-dah! I just finished a collection of beautiful one-of-a-kind cigar box purses. I have listed them in my Etsy store - most are $50-$65. Making them is a labor of love, but I couldn't resist converting some of these remarkable boxes into handsome accessories.  There has been a renewed interest in my cigar box purses and after making some sales in person, it feels good to replenish my store online.

They are a conversation piece like no other. I was talking with a customer and she was raving about how many people she met when she carried one of my ANA cigar box purses.  She said no man will walk up to her at a party and compliment her earrings, but they all want to know about her purse. I told her that I call cigar box purses a "man magnet" - she smiled and said, "Exactly."

If you would like to see them in my online store, click here. I can wrap and ship immediately.

Etsy: An Art Fair Online: The Room Where I Create

I have been a busy bee lately! I've just expanded my Etsy store (an online marketplace for handmade, one-of-a-kind items) and added lots of new purses, jewelry and even my decorative matchboxes. I make one or two of a lot of different items.  Since I don't have a bricks and mortar store, I use Etsy as my online Art Fair

This blue purse (Sunrise #11195) is lined with a fabric I bought in Paris.

This is what you see when you open your purse!

I've added a variety of necklaces - this necklace is made with tan linen fabric covered beads and champagne faux pearls.

Here are little pieces of art: a set of my mini matchboxes. 

I love this Strawberry Oilcloth Envelope! I keep my point and shoot pocket camera in this when I travel.

In addition to writing, blogging and taking photographs, I love to create accessories that are beautiful and interesting.  Take a peek at my Etsy store and then tell me what you think!

Perfect Purse Management

I was at the hairdresser one day and the ladies were all talking about how difficult it is to change purses all the time.  They said that they often stuck with one purse, not because they wanted to, but because that was how they would know they had what they needed with them.

I chimed in that I had a staging area for my purses in my bathroom linen closet and they said...what?  One of the girls asked me to blog about it so that they could see what I mean.  Voila! 

I told them that it started when I began my cigar box purse business.  I am known for the interesting fabric linings that I put in the cigar boxes and I was always opening my purse to show it off.   

When you are always opening your purse, you want the contents to be pretty. That's when I started collecting pretty pens, colorful notepads (to take orders/contact info), little tins of mints, and clear box wallets (I wish I could still sell these, but I can't find them anymore!).

Anyhoo, all of this led me to create a staging area where I stop, with the purse I am carrying that day, and load it with something from each compartment. My wallet and iPhone start the process.

From the back left in the photo above, I have:

• cute tissues
• Band-aids
• coin purses/powder compacts/mirrors
• hair bands/bobby pins
• hand sanitizer wipes
• a pen/calculator, key chains, little flashlights
• Vitamin C lozenges
• notepads
• mints
• allergy medicine, ear plugs, tums
• gum
• business cards
• a clear jar of lipsticks/glosses
• a jar of pens (just outside the photo)

We all have these items in our house and we all need them to make it through the day, why not put it all in one place?  I can't tell you how easy it has made my life.  And it is just part of one shelf in my bathroom linen closet.  The shelf above holds my cigar box purses and Delight totes.  Easy-peasy.

Do you think you'd like to have a staging area for your purses?

Purse Protectors

As someone that makes cigar box purses, I naturally carry and travel with cigar box purses.  I have always managed to cushion them well enough between clothes in the suitcase, but it never felt right.  

So I took a day out of my schedule to take the time to make the things I need.  I decided on a simple open sleeve with padding and I made four pouches of varying shapes.  

I ironed fusible fleece to the wrong side of this fabulous flannel fabric printed with mixed drinks.  I couldn't resist the tongue-in-cheek idea of cigars and drinks paired together.  Yes, I amuse myself all the time with things like this.

The inside of the pouches is also lined with the drink fabric and on a few of the sleeves I sandwiched bubble wrap in between the fabric.  Genius, right?  These pouches provide all the protection I could ask for and they are super cute to boot.  The best part is that they work just as well protecting my purses in the closet at home.

Gate A43 is now boarding!

Capture A Moment

I was in Paris with my parents in 2005 and I was determined to take photographs that would jog our memory in years to come.  Images that were atmospheric.  

I see this photo and "poof!" I am at a table at Chez Fernand with my dad on my left and my mom right across from me.  We found this little gem as we wandered the streets near our hotel (Hotel d'Aubusson) on the left bank.  It is a classic little bistro with excellent food, warm atmosphere and kind service.  We were able to get in without a reservation and I vividly remember my beef bourguignon, served in an individual copper pot.

While I was in the most photographed city in the world, I also wanted to take pictures that would show my cigar box purses out and about.  I wanted to show how beautiful my purses looked when they were "out to dinner." 

The design and colors of original cigar boxes often led people to believe they needed to match their outfits to the unusual shades.  I rarely wear mustard yellow, but I love to use this vibrant purse (Cuesta Rey, shown here) as a "pop of color" when I am wearing a more classic color palette.  I am packing for a trip to Las Vegas and I'm having fun choosing which cigar box purses to bring along.

I'm hoping to capture even more beautiful moments next week. 

It's The Ritz

I am proud to announce that my limited edition ANA Cigar Box Purses are now available at The Ritz-Carlton (Dearborn).














Each ANA Cigar Box Purses is one-of-a-kind.

I sign and number each handbag, create a custom-fit fabric lining, sew Velcro ribbon closures, fabric gussets (to keep the purse contents private), insert tiny feet and add my hallmark: a kiln-fired ceramic ANA logo tag.

Within my signature customs stamp you can see the letters "I.K.I" in script. They stand for "I'm Keeping It!" which is how I know a piece is finished.

When I start to rationalize why I should keep a particular purse for myself, I know that it is ready for others to enjoy. When you see the ANA tag, you know that your purse has: “Passed As Super Cute!”

It is that kind of attachment to my products that inspires me to continue designing. But believe me when I say limited edition, this labor of love makes them rare, rare, rare.

Call or visit The Ritz-Carlton in Dearborn and tell them you want an ANA!

ANA Cigar Box Purses

I simply love the ANA cigar box purse advertisement that I shot in this courtyard in Paris.

It is hard to believe, but this photo wasn't actually part of the grand plan. I was on the lookout for the perfect ad campaign, of course, but at this moment, I was simply waiting for my lunch on the patio of The Hotel D'Aubbusson. When the first course arrived, I looked up and this is what I saw.

"Don't anybody touch anything," I pleaded, "I just need one second."

I picked up my camera and took this shot. My actual purse that day (love it!) is the star, complimented by the wooden planters, posh setting and oh-so-French beverages.

Sometimes, life is art.

Cigar Box Purses

I started my business, ANA Designs Inc., by creating beautiful cigar box purses (a few limited editions are still available online). Gorgeous one-of-a-kind handbags that are signed, numbered and have lovely fabric linings. Truly show-stoppers. It was for them that I came up with my ceramic ANA hang tag and customs stamp ("Passed As Super Cute").

One of my first online customers bought two purses and then called me the moment they arrived. "I don't know what to do!" she exclaimed and my stomach dropped. Was something wrong?

The next thing I knew she was talking about displays, FedEx and a party. Huh? The grand opening of her interior design store in Seattle was the next night and she loved my purses so much she was asking if I could overnight 10 more. She was buying them to display around her store as something both "beautiful and interesting."

It was my first taste of what I call "the enthusiasm of strangers." I have been trying to make people that happy ever since.