Clever Cycles – 900 SE Hawthorne Blvd

Mag Big – 3279 SE Hawthorne Blvd

and

North Portland Bike Works – 3978 N Mississippi Ave

View North St. Bags – Potland Locations in a larger map

• Mon   11-6pm
• Tues  11-6pm
• Wed  11-6pm
• Fri  1-6pm
• Sat  11-4pm

We’re usually here sewing, so don’t hesitate to stop by at other times.

The final tally on the ball count came to 1,017.  Congrats to Emily D. who had the winning guess of 973.  She will receive a free Route Seven Pannier in the colors of her choice.

I want to give a big thank you to all the folks at A Better Cycle for hosting, especially Rachel DB for organizing it with me.  I look forward to future collaborations.

-Curtis

40% off tons of stuff, Games, Prizes (including a custom Route Seven Pannier, a pair of Knog Boomers USB rechargeable lights and more), beer and snacks!

You can try your luck at our prize wheel (prizes: t-shirts, wallets, patches, tool rolls, additional discounts, and some secret super prizes).

You can test your skills at the bouncey-ball challenge.

Have a cup of beer, socialize with us, and buy up the sale stuff so we can bring in even better products for the season!

• Thursday March 15th,  4-8pm
• A Better Cycle (2324 SE Division)

More info

See you there!

-Curtis

• - copper with bone trim
• - steel grey with orange trim
• - navy blue with orange trim
• - steel grey with black trim

These bags have all the latest & greatest of features including:

• - removable liner
• - laptop sleeve (fits most 15″ laptops)
• - internal velcro stripes for adding & swapping out pockets
• - as always, it’s waterproof!

We’re still offering custom orders, with tons of color options!

Drop us an email to get yours today!

orders [at] northstbags [dot] com

- Curtis

First and foremost, our friends at Bike Craft are working on a new website where you will be able to get all the handmade goodness 24/7.

I’ll be set up at Trillium Artisans on Thursday 2/23 from 10:30 to 5:30.  They were offered the chance to keep their pop-up shop location on SW Taylor and 3rd, and have just reopened!  Stop by for local goods made from salvaged materials.

There’s plenty more in the works, but in the meantime,  we’ve got a lot of old stock bags left over from the holidays.  Come on by for some great discounts – everything from hip pouches to convertibles.

We’re open 11 to 6 Tues, Wed and Fri, and 11-4 on Sat (closed Sun & Mon)

cheers!

Curtis

Get your order in now, the spots are going fast!    Not to worry though, there will be three more chances to get a North St. deal!

Our first ever Holiday Trunk Show – Tues, Nov 29th at the Trillium Artisans Pop-Up Shop 11am to 7pm

Bike Craft is on in full force this year – Dec 3rd and 4th at Sandbox Studio 11am to 6pm

and Crafty Wonderland is bigger than ever at the Convention Center Dec 10th and 11th - 11am to 6pm

Hope to see you at one or all of these wonderful handmade shopping events!

-Curtis

Tuesday, November 29th from 11am to 7pm

I’ll be there all day with some amazing deals on panniers, pouches and more!

318 SW Taylor St

Check out www.trilliumartisans.org/welcome/ for more info.  See you there!

features:

• grommet vents (shown in chalk)
• large pocket for water bottle or yoga clothes
• interior pocket for valuables, and key clip
• shoulder strap, positioned so pannier hardware faces away from you

It still needs some refining and testing, but I hope to have them ready for the holiday season.

-Curtis

I’m doing a first run deal of $15, and have a variety of colors.

We’ve got over a dozen products available through this website and Etsy.com, as well as over 65 bags at 6 local retailers here in Portland.  I’ve shipped as far away as Hong Kong, Australia and Germany, but remain first and foremost a local maker, here to provide quality products for a simpler lifestyle.

I am pleased and excited to be sharing a studio space with Rachel of Bike Cozy.  After a several long days of moving and reorganizing, we’re now set up in a larger space at Switchyard Studios.  We are currently on the lookout for a larger space with a storefront.

As always, I’ve got several designs on the drawing board as well as dozens more on my wish list.  I’m currently testing out new features for the Woodward Convertible design, which I hope to have ready by the fall.

Whether you’re in the market for a new commuter bag or pannier set, or just want to come down to talk bags,  my door is open.  I am open to new ideas and feedback (positive and negative), and still adore designing, selling and talking about bags.

cheers,

Curtis

There are also the usual scuffs and smudges.  You can see where the fabric is worn down slightly from wearing against bicycle parts.  Aside from the dirt, this is still a great looking bag!

The zipper problem was caused by the fact that the back flap was an older design, in which it flipped around to the front for use as backpack.  That corner was under a lot of stress, being tugged apart with every conversion.  The current design has the back flap simply folding back underneath the backpack straps, greatly reducing the stress on those corners.

Now I have him testing out some new ideas which will hopefully make it into the next redesign.  I’m also getting a lot of great feedback from other convertible owners.

-Curtis

It fits a small Klean Kanteen (or similar water bottle) just as easily, or a 22 oz bottle, if a tallboy just isn’t enough.  This padded cozy collapses when not in use.

This deal is good for St. Patrick’s Day 2011 only, so come on down to the shop to get yours (tallboys included).  One per customer, while supplies last.  I’ll be in from 11am to 5pm.

I’ve decided to focus on building up a stock of bags.  This is a bit of a change, as up until now I’ve been making bags to order, one at a time.  I’ve been doing some redesign and redrafting of patterns to accommodate this shift (as well as some price adjustments).   The first design to undergo this change is the hip pouch, which is now made in less time and produces less scrap waste than before.  As I complete stock bags and post them to the site, I will also be raising the price of custom orders to reflect the extra time it takes to do them.  I will do my best to keep the stock prices close to what they are now, but I do expect that some prices will be going up over the next few months, so get your orders in now!  These price changes also allow me to get into some more retailers.  I hope to get bags into several more shops by the time summer rolls around.  I’ve also increased my Etsy presence quite a bit, and will be working on my pedalr account as well.

The switch to assembly style production also allows me to delegate more of the work.  Mara is back doing most of the cutting and marking, and I’m pleased to add Jennifer to the North St Team – she’s a talented sewer who will be taking over on some of the sewing.  This frees me up to focus on design.  I’m thrilled to announce the new duffel bag design, with options for bike attachment!  My current project is a much simpler (and cheaper) convertible backpack pannier.  It will be waterproof!  I’ll be posting photos and a better description soon.  After this I’ll be working on some smaller accessories, and then gearing up for a redesign to the Woodward.

Hope the new year is treating you well,

Curtis

http://northstbags.com/products/wightman-duffel/

I was riding my very first commuter bike – an old silver Zebra mixte, which was equipped with a janky rear rack with a pair of small Ortlieb panniers.  Sadly this bike was stolen some months later.  I had left for a couple weeks on a different trip and upon my return, not only was the bike gone, but the sign it was locked to as well as the building it was next to.

These panniers match the functionality of those ortlieb panniers – they are simple, lightweight, and waterproof (and – in my opinion – more attractive).  I don’t have the spring release hook system that they do, and my panniers are a double layer rather than single, but they are a sight cheaper and made by me in your favorite bike friendly town.

I’ve got a few in stock, and would take an order for some custom colors.

http://northstbags.com/products/route-seven-pannier/

15% off any bag bought within the first two weeks of December.  That includes stock bags as well as orders put in for custom bags.   That’s at LEAST $32 off the Woodward Convertible!

As a bonus I’m offering 20% off for bags sold (or orders placed) at Bike Craft VI.  So check out the bags online, come on down to Bike Craft on Dec 4th or 5th and put your order in.  That’s  at least $43 off the Woodward!!

Details:

• -Limit one bag per customer, so bring a friend!
• -My queue is currently filled through the 17th of December, but that still leaves time to order a bag for the holidays!  Space is very limited, so get your gift orders in first thing!
• -If your order IS NOT needed by the gift giving day this year, and you can wait until later (after New Years, most likely) for your bag,  PLEASE let me know so I can focus on gift orders this month.  You will still get whichever discount is coming to you!
• -Bags sold and orders placed at Crafty Wonderland will fall under the 15% off discount period.
• -The 20% discount only applies to orders placed at the Bike Craft event.  If you need some time after the event to decide, you’ll have another 9 or 10 days to get the normal 15% off.
• -The discount is applied after all extras are added up, but before any shipping costs.
• -This sale of course applies to bags sold by me, and not any of the retailers that stock my bags.

Hope to see you at the event!

Curtis

I’ve sold:

• 44 Avenue B & Woodward bags
• 8 hip pouches
• 54 grocery panniers
• 2 guitar bags

I’ve made many more than that – 193 bags total.

I currently have 33 bags in 4 different retail shops around Portland.  I post my bags on Etsy and Pedalr, and attend local bike craft events.

Some recent news:  I’ve recently hired Mara, my first production assistant, who comes in to help with cutting and prepping.  I’m trying to step up my production capacity a little bit, and need to start delegating some stuff.  She has been great – very creative and attentive to detail.

Also, my studio has sprung a leak in the recent rainstorms, which has been a fun extra thing to deal with.

I’ve got a peek at another new product which I’ll be introducing at Bike Craft 2010:

Basically I’m going for a step up from the grocery pannier (more durable, waterproof, more secure) but without all the features of the Woodward.  It’s a simple roll-top pannier design,  tapered for style and accessibility.  It features a waterproof ripstop nylon liner, a reflector which wraps around the front and one side, d-rings to add a shoulder strap, and the basic hook & bungee setup.  Useful for extra waterproof cargo space and light touring.  I’ll have two sizes available.  Come be the first to check them out at Bike Craft 2010.

I also have some new colors in stock:

For Fabric:  Charcoal, Burgundy and Midnight Blue

For Straps & Trim:  Burgundy, Teal, and Pink!

Curtis

What do you think?  Don’t you want one?  I’m also considering offering other attachment options such as an under-the-seat option (for those bicycles that don’t have racks)  or perhaps a handlebar attachment?

Curtis

joegrubb.org

After he finishes the hike – he told me he plans to bike from Boston to San Diego in order to continue his mission for the foundation.  I told him about North St and my plans to get some touring bags designs together, and an obvious partnership was sprouted.  I hope to show my support by sending out some bags in exchange for some publicity (not to mention some incredible product testing).  I was already planning on getting the first round of prototypes up for my own touring plans in October, so the timing works well.

In the meantime – good luck Joe!

My own adventures pale in comparison to his, but I sure did have fun.

-Curtis

powell butte

Also I’m planning some time off in a few weeks.  The shop will be closed from Aug 5th thru the 30th.  Production will resume when I return.  I’m heading back east to visit family and friends, and I may get some hiking in as well.

Custom orders placed after this week will be made after I get back.  I can ship out stock orders up until the 5th

This is not to say that I’ve been idle.  I have a few new designs that I’m almost ready to announce, and the old favorites are now better than ever.  Here are some highlights:

Hip Pouch:  increased carrying capacity, more secure closure, blinky loop

Woodward & Avenue B:  improved shoulder strap cover,  simple pannier setup w/ bottom hooks, more options & features

A grocery pannier with Mayor Adams??

Josephine Convertible (this is a new one) : recycled fabric & liner, waterproof, convertible, less than $100?  I hope so.  I’m still working out the details:  more will follow.

Laptop Bag (also new): to fit inside any of the convertibles, backpacks or panniers.

I’ll announce these as they become available on the site, so keep an eye out, and enjoy your summer!

Curtis

As an upgrade (for $25), I’m still offering the Ortleib hook setup.  The advantage with these is the brilliant spring loaded clip which secures the bag to your rack with no bottom hook needed.  I’ve heard a lot of concern about the wobble factor of this setup (one of the reasons I developed the new system) but it works very well for commuting purposes, and converts very quickly.

Curtis

This brings a lot of exciting changes to my business (and to my day) – not the least of which is that you, loyal customers, can now come and see where the bags are made.  If you want help picking one out, need to see color choices in person, or just want to say hi – now you can.  You can now also pick up your orders free of charge.

The address:

109 SE Salmon St,  Portland OR, 97214

I’m generally around 9ish to 6ish on weekdays, but do call or email to make sure.  Also, you will have to call when you get here so I can let you in.  I’ll be posting more regular hours once I’ve settled into more of a routine.

917-922-6507

curtis [at] northstbags [dot] com

Enjoy the sun!

Curtis

$100 for their safe return – no questions asked.

curtis [at] northstbags [dot] com

917-922-6507

Thanks,

Curtis

The bags themselves have improved considerably since I started back in October, as you can see in this photo gallery, which I just added to facebook.  It shows most of the bags I’ve made, from the very first bags I made back in Berkeley all the way up to the bag I made yesterday.  This gallery will be added to the site soon to show different color choices.

I’ve learned a lot in the past seven and a half months.  I knew next to nothing about running a business when I started, and still have a lot to learn.  I’ve had moments of frustration, but for the most part I’ve enjoyed my work immensely.  Finishing a bag is an excellent way to end the day.  I’ve had a tremendous amount of support from friends and family, as well as the bicycle community here in Portland, which I am thrilled to be a part of.

Thank you all for your kind words and support, and thanks for reading.

-Curtis

I wanted to let everyone know, to give those who are interested a chance to get the bags at the lower price.  Any orders placed for The Bowl before the first will be for the current price, including orders for colors which aren’t in stock at the moment.  I am waiting on more hardware for these, but I will restock (with some new colors) as soon as I can.

-Curtis

This bag features:

• waterproof vinyl liner
• roll top closure
• large front pocket with organizer
• handy pockets on the sides
• rings to add a single shoulder strap

Extras include ($5 each):

• a removable, adjustable shoulder strap
• side mesh pouch
• laptop sleeve
• extra internal organizer
• secret pocket
• pump pocket
• mail pocket
• key clip

My introductory offer is this:

single pannier – only $95!

order a set (pannier & convertible) – $295

Available now until June 15th!

-Curtis

I’ll include this new feature with the next three orders at no extra cost while I figure out how to price out this change.

-Curtis

My answer is that for commuting, it’s been fine.  Myself and a few close friends who have been using my bags as commuter panniers for months (some of them every day) can attest that there is no problem with having hooks only at the top.  The key to this success has been the use of Ortlieb hooks which have spring loaded clips which lock the bag in place.  The hooks are adjustable and come with inserts which you pick out to fit your rack specifically.  This creates a very secure connection between pannier and rack.  The only way the bag can move is to actually swing away from the bike.  I have found, after months of regular commuting, that this simply does not happen.   Granted, Portland isn’t very hilly, and the whole idea gets a lot more iffy when thinking about a convertible bag which you can also tour with.

Shows the spring loaded clips which will lock the bag to the rack.

Another problem with this is that using Ortlieb’s system is not only costly, but also not ideal as a long term solution for my business.  I don’t want to depend on another company’s thing, especially when(if) I expand.

To address these issues, I’ve decided to develop a new system.  I’ve been using the standard hook and bungee setup for my grocery panniers, and I have an idea for modifying this so it would work for a convertible as well – Basically  the bungee would detach from one side of the bag and stow elsewhere for use as a backpack – That way it isn’t poking in to your back.  The advantage to this is a more secure (and cost effective) pannier solution without compromising the backpack feature.  The drawback is that there would be an extra step or two involved in converting the bag.  (There’s always a trade-off).

I’ve already had a request for this on an order, and hope to have a working prototype up within a few weeks when I will share my findings.  In the meantime, I welcome ideas and comments. (If the comment section doesn’t show up on this blog, feel free to use my facebook page – there’s a link at the top of this page and here).

Curtis

The Avenue B, though a commuter bag, came in hand as a bike & hike bag.  I spent Sunday morning on a ten mile jaunt through the redwoods wearing the bag on my back.  It was by no means the most comfortable hiking pack I’ve ever worn, but it served well.  I returned to the campsite, snapped the bag back onto my bike and then rode 20 miles down the road to my next camping spot.  Again, it wasn’t ideal, but the whole experience got be thinking a little harder about the ideal bike & hike bag – one designed for this purpose. I look forward to developing one (and testing it!).

My trusty soda can stove performed well, as usual.

Back in the city places, I’ve been using my Woodward, and I have the thing packed to the gills.  It’s a tad heavy on my back (but I’m glad it’s a backpack and not just a shoulder bag), but I’ve had no problems with the weight on my bike, even on one side.

Livin' out of my backpack for a few days. It's packed to capacity

I have a few more design refinements to make given these new perspectives, as always making the bags better and better.

-Curtis

Overall there was a great turnout for the event, and the weather was brilliant.  We put a total of 230 trees in the ground that day, and I learned that plantings happen every week.

The new trailer made at Rejuiced Bikes worked out great!  That bin fit in well, and the bucket on the back is very useful.  It drew a lot of attention.

Not a bad intro to Portland, I think he’s hooked.

Following the streets-I’ve-lived-on theme,  the bags now have names:

The Woodward – I designed this bag with the Portland winter in mind – It has a roll top closure and waterproof liner.  Named for my home on SE Woodward.

The Avenue B – This is the bag I wish I’d had when I lived in NYC (on the top floor at Ave B and 13th St).  It features a flap & drawstring closure, and now a nylon liner.

The Bowl – My basic grocery pannier made from old banner vinyl.  This one’s named after my favorite grocery in Berkeley where I first used it.

Also – I have some new color selections in.  I’ll get some photos/swatches up on the new site

Cordura – Khaki, Navy, Mint Green (I plan on using this for Hip Pouches)

Vinyl (liner) – Tan, Red

Nylon (liner) – Silver, Tan, Red, Yellow

Nylon (inside pockets) – Charcoal, Red

Webbing (straps) – Kelly Green, Brown

I want my color selection to grow and grow, but it gets a little pricey, so I have to control it.  Plus my tiny basement shop is pretty much at capacity storage wise.

If you’re holding out for your favorite colors, let me know and I can try to get them into the next order.

The hooks are handmade by Haulin’ Colin up in Seattle.  He makes some sturdy lookin’ trailers.  Check out some photos here.

The hardware is stainless steel.  The pannier setup is simple, but classic.  It works.

The material is vinyl from old banners that I found at Scrap.  I matched accent colors to the images in the banner.

If there are any left after the Bike Swap tomorrow, I’ll be selling these for $25 each  or $45 for a pair.

Send me an email if you want one and what color (Red, Blue, or Black)

curtis [at] northstbags [dot] com

I have plenty more banner material so I’ll be making more (more colors too!)

I’m selling the basic version for $30.

I’ll also be doing a run with key clips and reflectors, and I can take custom orders as well – choose colors and features. I’ll put up an order form for this soon, but in the meantime, shoot me an email if you want one – let me know what color, and if you want a key clip or reflector

curtis.3bags [at] gmail [dot] com

The book got me thinking hard about 3bags and how their methods could be applied.  I don’t pretend that the materials I use are recyclable in the Cradle to Cradle way – I don’t think such a material exists yet (if it does, let me know!).  What I do get out of my materials is durability – and lots of it.  Cordura lasts.  It’s strong, abrasion resistant and water resistant.  A raw edge won’t even fray easily.  I’ve designed my bags with long lasting durability in mind.  I want the bag to last and be versatile and functional enough that it remains useful for years and years.  I do still worry about what happens when the bag is no longer useful, and after reading Cradle to Cradle I’ve started working on this problem.  Here are some of my ideas:

• No (Low) waste policy – I’ve been working hard on my patterns to reduce the amount of scraps from cutting.  I’ve even re sized pockets and features to reduce scraps – in most cases down to zero.
  
• Repairs – I can patch tears, fix busted seams and replace broken hardware in order to extend the life of the bag.
• Unwanted bags – if your bag is still perfectly functional, you’re just looking for something new, you can return the old bag and get a discount towards a new one.  I can then sell the old bag at reduced price.
• Bags beyond repair – I’ll even collect bags which are destroyed, and not easily repaired.  Through my design process I’ve taken a lot of bags apart and put them back together again, with no apparent loss of strength.  I’ve rebuilt my original backpack about 5 times now, and it’s still going strong (and that one’s made of 500d Cordura).  I want to run some more tests to see how a seam is affected by being ripped out and stitched over again, but it is possible for me to rebuild bags to make them functional again (I’d sell these at reduced price as well)
• Salvage Materials – Once the seams do die completely, I can still just cut them off and use the salvaged materials to make something new.  Buckles, hooks and webbing can be reused as well.

I haven’t put any of these ideas into practice yet outside of my own prototypes, but I thought I’d share them.  If you have any suggestions or thoughts, I would love to hear them.

-Curtis

That’s a savings of up to $40!

All I ask in return is that you agree to fill out a survey providing feedback on the bag after you’ve used it a bit.  It’ll be painless, I promise.  A month or so after I ship out your bag, I’ll send you a form via email with questions about features and the general functionality of the bag.  Basically I’ll want to know what you like and don’t like about the bag.

This discount will last from the 1st through the 21st of January.

Tell your friends, and Happy Oh-Ten!

I’ve put up a bunch of photos to illustrate the different options.

You can find it here.

It should make ordering a bit easier.  The page isn’t quite as sexy as I would like (there’s some “padding” that didn’t quite work out for me), and the order form itself is still a separate page (using google docs), but all the good stuff is up!  As always, if you have any questions, comments or concerns, I’d be happy to hear them.

Enjoy the last two days of 2009!

This one took a few tries – it keeps the back and shoulder straps dry and clean, and contains all of the straps with two quick zips.  The flap itself  flips underneath the bag and velcros to the front, out of the way.  Conversion is quick and easy!  Available soon for the Roll Top backpack.

I have a few more orders to fill, then I’ll be heading back home to VT for the holidays.

Cheers!

• a flap to cover the shoulder straps & back of the bag to protect it from the elements when converted to a pannier
• a padded bottom to protect laptops and devices
• a hook to secure the bottom of the bag to the rack
• a single shoulder strap option
• a cell phone pouch for a shoulder strap

I’ve also been refining designs for:

• the drawstring closure
• the roll top closure
• the stiff backing

Order have started coming in, so I’m working hard to finish these features.  If you’re interested in any of these, you may want to wait until they are ready before ordering.  I will also be adding many more photos to illustrate all of the features.

Or, if you simply cant wait for any of that, go ahead and put an order in here.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/bikeportland/4166943728/in/set-72157622817250679/

The event was a big hit, and I was glad to introduce my new bags to the scene.

• new roll top closure – a 9″ extension and three buckles to keep it closed.
• side reflectors for added visibility
• this image also shows a compression strap being used to stash a U-Lock. The roll-top strap actually keeps the lock in place. On the flap bags, a strap option will be available to acheive the same thing.

I tried something new with the shoulder straps. Instead of flipping over the top of the bag, they’re designed to tighten down against the back of the bag. The adjuster straps will be clipped out of the way and viola! No loose ends to impede the wheel. I’ve found this to be the simplest solution so far – it looks better, it’s a little bit easier to convert the bag, and it’s simpler to make.

It features:

• 8 x 11 inch base – a bigger bag to carry more stuff
• a waterproof liner made with 18oz Vinyl
• bike attachment
• a large box pocket on the front with organizer for my wallet, small notebook and pens (waterproof)
• new shoulder strap design with padding and sternum strap

Being a prototype, this bag is still a little rough around the edges (I still have to nail down the closure itself).  I’ve been testing this bag out for the past few days – hauling around a laptop, binder, jacket, rain gear, some tools and other assorted things.  The bag fits them all with room to pick up dinner on the way home.  All that weight does make the bike perform differently when the bag is attached to it, but it’s nothing an experienced commuter can’t handle.

Other than that, the bag has performed exceptionally well as a pannier with no issues.  The sternum strap serves a double purpose as a way of securing the shoulder straps  when the bag is converted to a pannier.  The shoulder straps flip over the top of the bag, and are clipped together with the sternum strap.  See pics below.

I’ve also had a chance to test this bag boy out in the rain.  Even with it’s current closure problems, my stuff has stayed bone dry.

I made the choice to go with a backpack – ultimately to save myself some back troubles down the line. Being fairly picky when it comes to style, (and also unemployed with plenty of free time) I decided to make one myself. At the time I was heavily involved at Waterside Workshops – a non profit organization that included a do-it-yourself bike shop, a community sewing shop and a wooden boat building shop. (It’s an excellent place – if you’re in Berkeley I encourage you to check it out, or check out their website here). I volunteered regularly in their bike shop as well as their sewing shop, and had access to their industrial machines. After many hours of work I came up with this:

This one didn’t quite attach to a bicycle, but it worked very well as a backpack.  I used it everyday.

The bag features:

• flap closure
• easy access pockets on the front for my day planner, pens, ect
• elastic pockets on this sides for bike lights, tool & water bottle
• a loop for a blinky
• well organized interior with useful pockets including a laptop pocket
• compression straps to secure load

I also developed a couple of other ideas for bags:

This one’s a simple pannier which I use as a grocery bag.  I take it right into the store with me.  It’s made from vinyl from a recycled sale banner and anotherwise useless bike tube.  I found a large amount of recycled banners here in PDX and plan to do a big batch of these to sell.

This is a tool wrap idea I had for touring – I was basically going for a tool board on the go.  After a tourI was fed up with digging into the depths of my panniers for tools.

This is a simple saddle bag dubbed the “burrito” bag for the say it conveniently held my leftover burrito that one time.

My shop is set up, as you can see, and it’s been running smoothly so far. The space is well lit for a basement, and surprisingly comfortable. I can’t beat the commute either (my bedroom is just to the left of this photo). I’ve found suppliers, bought a kick-ass industrial sewing machine, pounded out some new designs and am almost ready to start production.

Since I started working on this business about a month ago, my life has become one enormous math problem (think: those portfolio problems we did back in math class… only bigger and for real). I’ve learned a lot about starting a business, and am very excited to see it come to life. It’s kept me quite busy, but all in all I’ve enjoyed the process.

I’m still prototyping at the moment, but I’ll be taking orders very soon!

I look forward to your comments.