"The Evolution of psnob"

Good morning,

A lot has been happening in these past few weeks and psnob wants to be able to keep everyone posted as well as keep on schedule with upcoming events.

This weeks newsletter is one of psnob's favorite. "The Evolution of psnob".

Seven years strong, psnob has grown into a unique and amazingly designed and constructed handbag that is not only a classic accessory, but a functional piece of artwork, but it wasn't easy.

psnob designer Rebecca Robinson explains in detail how the psnob handbag came to be. It has definitely been an Evolution.

EVOLUTION OF PSNOB

Fall/Winter 2001

How did you make your first psnob handbag?

"When I first started creating the psnob handbags, I did everything from scratch. The process was somewhat different then. I use to take raw canvas and cut it and sew it into a handbag prior to painting. It was a lot harder because I had to really be careful with my technique and try to keep it as neat as possible. But with any water based medium, you will run into a few problems, but it still gave me motivation to perfect it.

This photo shoot of the "first" bags was the actual day I realized something very crucial to the process of the psnob handbag. It was very cold that day and as we were beginning the shoot the bags that were to be used started to show some cracking. The shoot had to continue, but it was definitely necessary to figure out out to prevent this from happening if the psnob bags were going to be an accessory that could last wear and tear."

So after you realized the handbag began to crack, what did you do to prevent this?

" I began playing around with different coatings that could be compatible with acrylics. It took a couple of years for me to nail it down, but the concoction I created is still a trade secret. I truly believe the coating is what makes psnob handbags different from any other handbag on the market. It allows the artwork to keep its true three dimensional qualities and texture while also allowing the handbag to be flexible, water proof, fade proof, and most important...crack resistant."

What were people's reactions to the first handbags?

"People really liked them, they thought they were "different".I attempted to make a variety of styles, but the craftsmanship wasn't as perfect as I had wanted it to be. I was cutting and sewing every bag and it was becoming very difficult and time consuming. About a year or two later I started doing research on possibly having handbags sewn professionally. My idea at that time was to provide the same canvas but have the contractor sew each bag in advance before I painted on the blank handbag."

First specs. Tote, portfolio bag, tool bag, hobo, clutch.

"Even though painting on the handbags that were previously sewn was a lot more convenient. They still didn't have the design and look I was aiming for. I still love those bags, but I didn't want the handbags to be put in an "arts and crafts" category. I really wanted to to be recognized as fine art pieces."

Based on your decision to really want to create art pieces, how did you decide to transform the handbags and how did you pick your niche market?

"I really just kept painting on the handbags I had and showing them as much as I could. I remember the very first public place I had my handbags was in an art gallery right down the street from my house in Delaware. It was my first exhibit. People loved it and hearing the positive reaction I just kept making more plans and sticking to my goal of really making psnob into something special. The first gallery exhibit was actually a great way to market. I knew my niche market would be people who had an appreciation for the arts as well as would embrace a new fashion accessory."

You've done a number of art gallery exhibits. Explain how the art pieces with the handbag attached to the canvas came to be?

"When I moved back to Atlanta, I was fortunate to meet a few gallery owners who wanted to exhibit my work. We were trying to figure out the best way to convey to the public that the handbags were truly works of art. The concept was to attach the handbag to blank pieces of canvas and paint the entire piece. I wanted to really emphasize it was one in the same. Even the handbags that were attached and painted to the canvas were removable and could be worn.

The title of the show was Trompe Loiel..meaning "trick the eye"

Your new collection is a clutch design, why did you choose this particular style of handbag?

"The reason behind me doing the clutch bag was an actual emotional decision. They were actually the most popular of all the collections I had done in the past. The clutch was definitely a symbol of what people recognized as psnob's signature handbag.

I was asked to do another art show years later and upon submitting my pieces the gallery owner who is also a good friend of mine had a long talk with me. He mentioned the pieces I had submitted were not strong enough for the show and he knew I was capable of doing better work. He asked me how I was feeling and what was wrong with my work. I actually was grateful that he asked me those questions and allowed me to express my true feelings and how I felt I was artistically drained. I felt that I was headed no where and all of my effort was being unnoticed. I was trying so hard to make psnob into something bigger but I really needed to go back to the basics. I was trying to be bigger than I was before I was ready and the bags were losing something."

This is very interesting, what were the bags lacking?

"It's hard to explain. Even though I had dozens of pre made handbags that were sitting there waiting to be painted on, I didn't feel a connection to them anymore. I felt like they were not mine to paint. I decided to do what I did in the beginning, even if it was annoying to cut and sew each and every bag, I needed to create each and every bag with my own two hands again."

Do you think what makes psnob so unique is that you focused on the integrity of the product first?

"Absolutely. I have such an attachment to the handbags. I know each and every piece. I remember what I was doing when I was painting each piece. I usually listen to my ipod when I paint and music really influences my mood when I paint. I am just so pleased at what psnob has become and it can only get better from here. A lot of people ask me how I feel about showing the previous bags as if it would be embarrassing but I think we all have to embrace where we've been to be ready to accept where we're going. I think I've grown as a person as well as a designer. Each and every bag has a story and when someone purchases a handbag, they are carrying piece of me and a reflection of my love of art."

Purchase a psnob handbag online by visiting http://www.psnob.com/

If you would like to see more great pictures and how psnob has developed over the years, please go to psnob's myspace page at www.myspace.com/psnob

Also, we welcome comments, your feedback and any personal thoughts or suggestions you may have, so feel free to join in!

psnob update:

The Indianapolis Recorder will be doing an interview with Rebecca Robinson on Monday April 28th. Once the article has been published, the psnob newsletter will provide the link for your convenience.

Today's Tip:

Last week everyone around the globe acknowledged and or celebrated "Earth Day".

If you would like to get involved there are plenty of ways to contribute to saving our planet.

For more information, please visit: http://www.greenenergychoice.com/

GO GREEN!