So okay, I admit it, I’m only good at journaling (online or otherwise) when things are down in the dumps for me. The good news now is that I’m not down in the dumps, but I am here writing–finally. Of course I am speaking generally…otherwise I would either have to be down in the dumps (really that’s code for sad about or pissed off at a guy) or continue my writing hiatus. But too much time has gone by and I have some great dutchy news!

I traveled to Tokyo in March for a tradeshow (that’s me in the picture!) and not only did I have an amazing experience in Tokyo, but I came home with a great distributor for dutchy in Japan! This is great news for dutchy in that it means we’re growing–more markets to sell in means more great dutchy handbags for all of you handbag fetish girls.

dutchy isn’t the only ‘one’ who made out on this trip; I did too! I was lucky enough to go back to Tokyo (where I had lived years ago as a model) to appreciate this unique culture once again. I LOVE Tokyo–the people, the energy, the fashion, and the language are all spectacular. I studied Japanese for 3 years in college and of course since I haven’t spoken a lick of it for the past 15 years I have forgotten it all. That was until I was back in Japan where my dreams provided random lucid moments of japanese words that I didn’t remember the meaning of. Do you know what it’s like to wake up in the middle of the night and speak out “Do itashimashite”? I do.

Very few people get into a business and base their decision on the time off/holidays that the job allows; or at least I didn’t. People often approach me at this time of year and say ‘You must be busy for the holidays’ and the good news is that most of my work as a wholesaler is done earlier in the season when I send out orders to stores across the US. I still do have online orders to manage, but the bulk of the business for a designer line is done in August or September; and then again for Holiday in November. Lucky me, I guess, because I like to take time around the holidays to be a bit more mellow in the mind and in the case of my productivity. The rest of the year I find myself running from one place to another with only moments in between (if that–I’ve been know to stretch my departure time to the very last moment; which doesn’t always work out) to spare.

So I’m on my way to Las Vegas today to visit my parents for the holiday. I’m lucky not to work in retail where the opportunity to travel during the holidays would be slim to none. I didn’t chose to be a handbag designer because of it, but it sure is an added bonus to live life like most of the folks out there–with family and friends for the holidays; a nice reprieve from my normal way of being and operating. Happy holidays and safe travels.

Visit www.dutchy.net for current collection!

No matter how you spell it, or where the word came from, if you looked at my studio today you would think I was un-organized. The Leo in me is out today and frankly most days when it comes to my studio.

When I first set up this space after moving my office out of my home (only because I was forced to due to a house fire) I was tenaciously trying to keep it organized. I even bought shelves for all the boxes of bags and placed them neatly in the huge room. The reality hit me slowly (which is best because I think I would have been really upset otherwise) that the studio office space that I was so adamant about having clean was not going to happen. The nature of the space and of storing boxes and boxes of things is such that it can be organized, but never look organized or more desirably neat. It took me about a month of moving the desk here, moving the plants there, and setting up the work bench here, to realize that it was never going to look as I had hoped. The space simply warrants the artistic ‘thrown about’ sort of existence that is obvious when you walk in the door. I have come to love it, even though it took me a while.

 Visit www.dutchy.net to shop!

I’m a very down to earth, modest girl who doesn’t think much about my entrepreneurial nature or my creative abilities. Don’t get me wrong, I am proud that I can start and run a successful business and I do think I am creative, but beyond that I don’t think much about it. That is until I hear from friends and people I meet how awesome they think it is that I run a business that affords me the ability to do something creative. And when I think of it that way I feel not only a great sense of accomplishment, but also I appreciate what I do for a career all the more. I guess it is about luck somewhat, but more so about nature. Being creative and operating a business seems so much of ’who I am’ and while I have of course honed skills to do so, doing what I do feels more natural than nutured.

My mind is always racing with ideas for new businesses and I truly love the ins and outs of operating a business…keeping organized, watching the dollars, implementing new sales strategies, and even customer service. I am lucky in that way, because most people get one–the creative side or the entrepreneurial side. Many artists have difficulty in business because it’s generally a different type of person who excels in either. I owe my ability to doing well in both aspects to the fact that I’m a Leo with my moon in Virgo (based on the date, time of day and where I was born). Leo is the creative, unorganized part of me and the Virgo is the alter ego–the anal, problem solver in me. Yes, I have had some internal struggles with this, but I am still a lucky girl because I get to do what I love on both accounts.

There’s a new site that just featured dutchy last week and it’s pretty cool… http://www.handbagdesigner101.com/designer/11/dutchy_halasz_audree

The name sort of reminds me of going back to school and with one of the questions being “if I had any experience in fashion prior to starting dutchy”, I really felt under the microscope. But those are my hang-ups. I actually consider the experience I did have with sewing costumes for fun, and growing up with parent’s who owned a boutique experience in fashion. But I think the question was geared more towards education and experience in the field getting paid for the work; but that’s just me. 

Check out www.dutchy.net