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Custom Hand Crafted Leather Accessories
Quarterly eNewsletter No.12 - February 14, 2005
   
April in Paris' New Creations

Welcome to the first e-Newsletter of 2006! Here's to a wonderful year and we hope you'll continue to enjoy the many newsletters to come. In this issue, we have two new creations and very exciting news from LA. Enjoy!
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 Cleopatra
> The Cleopatra tote, created in celebration of Ostrich as the new luxe leather of 2006, is the perfect accessory for dressing up neutrals and winter whites. Constructed from Ostrich imported from Africa in cheerful colors such as denim blue and orange are ideal pick-me-ups on a chilly morning. With Valentine's Day around the corner, this could be a wonderful choice for your sweetie.
To view this new design and many more, visit our Private Section.
 
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Giving toothpicks a new status
> Pulling out a toothpick in public, especially at the dining table can be difficult. After all, they don't have the best repute. To counter this, Beatrice came up with the ingenous idea of creating a custom case for toothpicks. The result is a fun and clever design that had Architectural Digest featuring it in the April issue.
To view this new design and many more, visit our Private Section.
April in Paris in the NEWS
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 "Commander-in-chief" actress Geena Davis carries the "Borsetta", a creation by April in Paris and Ralph Barbero
> A new line of luxe handbags adorned with diamonds and birth stones are in the works between Beatrice Amblard and new handbag designer, Ralph Barbero. For the "Borsetta", Barbero offers an innovative and unique twist to the clutch. Combined that with Beatrice's superb workmanship and we have a design that has academy-award winner Geena Davis mesmerized. Ms. Geena Davis is likely to carry the "Borsetta" in coming April episodes of Commander-in-chief and for the 2006 Emmy awards in August. Stay tuned for updates! For a closeup view, click here.

 

Beatrice chats about Ostrich on CBS 5' Eye on the Bay
> On the January 23rd segment of Eye on the Bay, a local TV show that highlights bay area people and places, Beatrice shares her leather expertise and showcases recent custom commissions in constructed Ostrich. To view the show, click here.

 

Ma Maison gets ink in the new C magazine
> Ma Maison, April in Paris' first home collection is featured in the January issue by celebrated design writer Diane Dorrans Saek. To read the article, click here.

 

 

 
Tips from Beatrice

How many times have you considered purchasing a custom leather accessory although hesitated the investment? In this section, Beatrice shares three important tips to ensure you'll be glad you finally made a decision well-informed.
Three things to look for when buying custom leather accessories
 
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> Leather
The leather should appear luminious and soft. Beatrice, for instance, uses only the center part of the hide to construct her custom handbags. While most would consider a strong leather scent to be a confirmation of quality, the pungent odor, in fact, is not a typical characteristic of higher grade leather. On the contrary, the scent should be subtle but rich.

>Stitching
The traditional saddle stitch is a practice favored by generations of French bag-makers because it lengthens durability. To check for quality workmanship, observe the hand-stitching along the base of the bag or the front flap -- basically any part where the stitches need to be strong to retain the shape of the bag.

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> Coloration
A high quality piece of leather should be flawless and evenly colored. Poor tanning processes not only ruin the leather but will rub off on your clothes. An easy way to test the quality is to wet your fingertips, dab the leather, and rub on your palm.

 

 
> To contact Beatrice: 415-750-9910 or bea@AprilinParis.us
> To visit the April in Paris web site: www.AprilinParis.us
   
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