Zola Jones Blog by Jason Loper

Green leather handbag

2010-06-24T18:15:00.000-05:00

Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

One Life Stand

2010-05-18T08:12:00.000-05:00

This is how I start my day.

wake
brush teeth
coffee
bath
breakfast
dress
go!

Ladies & Gentlemen, introducing ...

2010-05-04T17:02:00.003-05:00

JacketBag01, originally uploaded by zola_jones.

... the Jack't Bag. I've taken outdated menswear and turned it into an updated accessory, the Messenger Bag.

Go to my flickr page or become a fan of the Zola Jones facebook page to see more photos of this new bag!

Spreading it around

2010-05-03T09:55:00.004-05:00

I haven't been blogging here lately. If I have any readers left, I'm sorry you haven't had anything to peruse here at the Zola Jones blog. I don't know about you but I have a few blogs I read quite reguarly (OK, I have more than a few) and it really frustrates me when those blogs don't update. I mainly read blogs with my morning coffee so when one doesn't upate it can really throw off my wake-up routine.

Part of the reason I haven't been blogging here at the ZJ blog is that I have been providing content for ApartmentTherapy.com. Right now I'm providing House Tours, which involves a little photography and a bit of writing. I'm enjoying the hell out of it but the first few were more time consuming that I expected. Like anything, I feel like I'm finally starting the get the hang of it and now each post is going a little faster. My next House Tour will post this Friday, May 7th, so look for a look to it from this blog.

And if you or anyone you know has a great home, email me: zola.jones@gmail.com.

Sky

2010-05-01T22:08:00.001-05:00

Sky, originally uploaded by zola_jones.

A May Day sky.
Technology is amazing.
Would you believe I took this photo with my Blackberry?
I love today.

Where oh where ...

2010-04-02T18:22:00.003-05:00

I know - I've been away for awhile.
Distracted.
Writing for other blogs.
Creating new bag designs.

And appearing in hipster haiku ...

Write on!

2010-03-11T09:01:00.002-06:00

One of the reasons I closed the Zola Jones store and moved into a studio is to free up my time for other projects. Being tied to the store Tuesday through Sunday meant that part-time gigs and other projects were out of the question for me.

The first gig I've secured is as a House Tour contributor to Apartment Therapy, one of my favorite home designs sites. This is especially exciting because it marries a a few of my interests: home design, photography and writing.

And so it is with great excitement that I direct you to my first Apartment Therapy House Tour!

Adler After Dark

2010-03-01T07:13:00.003-06:00

Last week my friend Abby and I went to Adler After Dark, Adler Planetarium's Thursday night mixer. It was great fun, as you can see in this video . . .

We started by meeting up at the new Showplace Cinema for a cocktail and bacon popcorn. Yes, you read that right, BACON POPCORN! And, yes, it's everything you think it is - delicious salty popcorn with chunks of bacon in it.

After a drink we headed over the planetarium. This was my first time visiting Adler and it was the absolute best time to do it. We, along with a couple hundred other adults, had the run of the place - and with cocktails! And the best part - no children.

Adler After Dark is the third Thursday of every month. I highly recommend it!

Soon . . .

2010-02-22T17:20:00.000-06:00

I keep this pic on my phone to remind myself that it won't always be cold and snowy in Chicago. For a brief period over the summer the lakefront beaches feel like Miami Beach.

Unfortunately that brief period is still four months away. Until then, I'll sit next to the radiator and look at this pic and dream.

Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

Happy (Lunar) New Year!

2010-02-20T17:17:00.001-06:00

The Mister and I took the train to Argyle Street to take in the sights of the Chinese Lunar New Year parade. Capped off by a drink at Big Chicks.

Martini

2010-02-18T17:33:00.000-06:00

Sometimes there is no more beautiful sight than a vodka martini . . .
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

Apartment Therapy

2010-02-17T09:14:00.002-06:00

I'm auditioning for a gig as a House Tour contributor at Apartment Therapy. As part of the process I was asked to write a sample post. Luckily, my friend Christhoper has an amazing apartment and he was gracious enough to let me climb around on his furniture and photograph it. Now, as part of the selection process, the editors have posted my sample tour to the site.

Apartment Therapy House Tour

Landing this gig would be a great marriage of my skills and interests. You readers know how much I love home design and, though I risk tooting my own horn here, I have a talent for photographing interiors. And as a former English major I'm thrilled by the prospect of writing again.

The New Studio!

2010-02-14T20:21:00.002-06:00

Mimosas
+
Grizzly Bear
+
The Mister
+
Sunday
=

Ice Ice Baby

2010-02-11T13:20:00.001-06:00

Heartland icicles, originally uploaded by zola_jones.

I would probably hate winter even worse than I do if not for one redeeming quality - it can be so beautiful! I mean, look at the icicles I saw hanging from Heartland Cafe at Morse and Glenwood. So lovely.

And yet ... I'm still tired of winter.

Clear

2010-02-11T05:39:00.000-06:00

One of the main reasons for moving out of the store and into the studio is cutting my expenses and making my business run more efficiently and easily.

That's why I'm so excited about my new internet service - Clear Mobile Internet. It was not only the easiest internet to install EVER but it's also more affordable than internet provided by cable and telephone companies.

And when I say easy to install I mean it. I took this little tower out of the box, plugged it into an electrical outlet, then connected it to my computer and within a minute or two I was online. Unlike the phone company (is my past and present frustration with AT&T becoming apparent here?) there was no need for a technician to come out - so there was no installation charge. So far the speed seems to be comparable to the AT&T internet I have at home.

Oh modern technology - how I love you!

Jacksons

2010-02-10T09:40:00.005-06:00

We interrupt this innocent blog about handbags and such for a little headscratching, WTF moment.

Yesterday, I read with great interest the little bits of information that were released from Michael Jackson's autopty. One note of interest - "the front of Jackson's scalp, from his hairline, was tattooed with dark ink over "frontal balding." His eyebrows and the border of his eyelids were also tattooed." (via CNN)

I had always suspected that Michael Jackson's make-up was tattooed on. But I didn't imagine that his hairline was a tattoo! I wonder how it looked up close? You know what I mean? I can imagine a tattoo hairline and make-up would look somewhat natural on television and stage. But up close? And, like, when he just rolled out of bed and his face is all puffy and sleepy looking but then his eyes, lips and hairline are perfect?

You remember Tammy Faye Bakker-Messner, right? She famously had a lot of her make-up tattooed on. And then, later, when she was very ill with cancer, the tattoo make-up looked ... well ... here are photos to demonstrate my point - the first of Tammy Faye healthy and made up...

And here's Tammy Faye and her tattooed make-up during her illness:

This all leaves me wondering one thing: Is Jermaine Jackson's entire head of hair a tattoo? It sure as hell doesn't look real!

It's either a tattoo or plastic Ken doll hair!

Z Bag

2010-02-08T19:00:00.001-06:00

ZbagBlue3, originally uploaded by zola_jones.

The new spring/summer bags are finally getting uploaded to the Zola Jones etsy shop. Take a look!

http://www.etsy.com/shop/ZolaJones

Pictured here is the Z Bag in sky blue with mint green accent.

Carpenter Bag Detail

2010-02-06T19:53:00.001-06:00

Carpenter Bag Detail, originally uploaded by zola_jones.

Now that I'm set up in the new studio, I'm getting more and more of my new samples together. Here's a little glance at the Carpenter Bag.

2010-02-04T18:34:00.004-06:00

The move into the new studio was relatively smooth. And of course the first thing I had to set up was my sewing machine and cutting table.

Oh, wait, but I should probably show you what it looked like empty - which was brief. The old tenant moved out around midnight on the 31st and I was moved in by 9:30 the morning of the 1st.

Right now the studio looks more like this - a jumble of boxes and plastic storage bins on one side and a neat and orderly sewing operation on the other.

Decorating and making the entire studio orderly will come later. Right now I have work to do.

So mark your address books - Zola Jones has moved:

Zola Jones
6934 N. Glenwood Ave. #B1
Chicago, IL 60626

Moving on Up

2010-01-30T20:07:00.002-06:00

With The Mister's help today I moved everything out of the Zola Jones store and into a 10 foot box truck. Goodbye old retail storefront - we had a good run but I'm not sorry to say goodbye.

Tomorrow I'll get the keys to my new studio - a 12' x 28' space over a pharmacy and adjacent to the L tracks.

I'm so ready to get started with this new phase of the business. In the past week, while packing up the store, I've also been reaching out to stores and sales reps and of course putting together samples of this year's line as well. As you can imagine I'm pretty damn anxious to get moved into the studio and set myself up on a routine so I kick Zola Jones '10 into action!

Last Dance

2010-01-29T10:05:00.003-06:00

Today will be the absolutely last time I will have to make the commute to the Zola Jones store. I'm going to there today to work on production a little before I take the oil out of Betty, my trusty sewing machine. Everything else is already packed up and ready to go. Tomorrow morning I will pick up a 10' box truck from Budget Rental and, with The Mister's help, will load up the contents of the Zola Jones store - all the tables and fabrics and sewing machines and everything else. Then, on Monday, with the help of my parents, I'll move into the new Zola Jones studio, conveniently located a mere 7 blocks from my home.

I'm a bit excited about this being my last commute. I know others have far more grueling commutes to work that I do so I shouldn't complain. And yet I will . . .

Currently I rely on the CTA to get me around. Now, we live on the Red Line of the L, near the end of the line actually, and the store is on the Brown Line. The most direct route to the store is by taking the Red Line train to the Montrose bus. Which means that a commute that takes 15 minutes by car (and 30 mintues by bicycle) can take 45 or more minutes via public transit. Most days I skip the transfer to the bus and walk the last 1 1/2 miles to the store, which makes it more like 50 mintues. In the winter, though, that walk is the most cardio exercise I get!

This move comes just in time as the the CTA has announced that they are cutting some bus routes and having less frequent service on others. This despite ridership being up and up over the past few years. But my frustration with CTA is a post for another day.

So it's with great excitement that I made this little video to mark the end of my trials with CTA. And it's a small way of saying goodbye to the Zola Jones retail adventure. Coming soon: hello Zola Jones wholesale from a new Rogers Park studio!

Spring/Summer 2010

2010-01-28T21:10:00.001-06:00

samples, originally uploaded by zola_jones.

Z Bag samples fresh off the machine. Clockwise from top: Black and Tan, Red and Tan, Blue and Green, Green and Blue

I'm Back!

2010-01-27T21:45:00.002-06:00

I'm back to blog. But before I lay a big post about where I've been and (more importantly) where Zola Jones is going in 2010, here's a little video I put together of a recent date night with The Mister.

Come back in a couple of days for a full update on Zola Jones and me too!

Christmas Card 2009

2009-12-25T08:41:00.001-06:00

Christmas Card 2009, originally uploaded by zola_jones.

Happy Holidays from Zola Jones!

Video Killed the Handbag Star

2009-12-13T10:38:00.001-06:00

In case you can't make it to Chicago this holiday season, I've put together a little video of the Zola Jones store decorated for Christmas.