What are you carrying this summer?

Well, hello summer …

time to break out my Sseko jute summer tote

Sseko’s Summer Capsule launched and I have been loving the items I pre-ordered. A favorite is this Jute Ring Handle Tote. I’m all about stripes this year - I can’t get enough! The size of this is awesome and it has enough room to fit all my essentials (including my MacBook!) I was pretty surprised!!

As many of you already know, Sseko employs 61 full-time workers in Uganda. Our Sseko Scholars complete a nine-month employment program that enables them to continue on to college. After your purchase, you can read about their dreams and ambitions and get an update on Sseko graduates! In addition to our university-bound class, we employ women from all walks of life. Moms, daughters, designers, and cooks all working together to make the world a little brighter. Meet the women of Sseko Designs! My beautiful bag was made by Binika … from beginning to end … she created this beautiful piece.

$79.99

This Jute Ring Handle Tote is perfect for all your summer essentials. The jute and cotton are locally sourced from our partners in India and are handcrafted with sustainability in mind.

• 13" (H) x 16" (W) x 5" (D)

• Cotton, Jute & Wood Lined with Internal Pockets and Top Zipper Closure 4 1⁄2" Inner Ring Diameter

• Made in India

What’s in your Summer Bag?

Due to the COVID-craziness, I’ve been working remotely. On the days I go into a courtroom to support my judge directly, I am toting my necessities from home. Additionally, when I’m moving my remote office to other locations, it’s nice to be able to carry them all in style. You could say this is my “Apple Picking Basket” (MacBook, iPad Pro, iPhone, AirPods … lol)

• Sseko Zippered Wallet

• MacBook

• iPad Pro

• iPhone

• Airpods

• Sseko Zippered Medium Moon bag (lipstick, chapstick, apple cords, pen, hand sanitizer, business cards, etc)

When our Stay-at-Home order relaxes and we return to regular outings my bag contents will take a turn …

• iPhone

• Sunscreen

• water bottle

• Sseko Zippered Wallet

• Airpods

• iPad Pro (downloaded books in the sunshine)

• Readers (for reading books … because blind!)

• Sseko Zippered Medium Moon bag (for all small catch all things)

• Keys to our vacation home

• Sunglasses

What would you carry in your new Sseko Jute bag?

Paper Bead artistry

Single strand paper bead bracelet in rainbow

Looking for a fun summer everyday bracelet? This lovely goes just perfectly with my Mexican bracelets for everyday.

$19.99

The colors of our Single Strand Bracelet in Rainbow are bright, celebratory, and joyful. The mix of yellows, teals, and pinks create a modern twist on a classic Ugandan paper bead. This handcrafted statement piece will brighten any outfit in all the best ways. 

• Paper Beads + Elastic

• 2 1⁄2" Inner Diameter

• Made in Uganda

… and if you think this is cool, you should check out the earrings and necklace! The earrings are now a new favorite everyday piece for me. Delicate and trendy.

---

Enjoy our beautiful summer day wherever you are. Stay healthy, follow all the COVID Stay at Home requirements and I hope to see you again very soon.

Love,

Gabby

Hello Again ...

Leave a lasting impression

(even when you’re not aware you’re doing it)

We took our first trip to Cabo San Lucas in 2008 and continued booking our trips every other year since then. If we had been able to go this summer, it would have been our first year going 2 years in a row. I will miss many things about Cabo, but one of them will be seeing my “boutique buddy”.

The red rosary bracelet was made for me by this wonderful transgender young man who worked at the boutique on the resort at Pueblo Bonito Sunset Beach. The boutique was privately owned and it seemed as if their only employee was my buddy, because he was there every time I visited (multiple times every trip). The last time I saw him (3 years ago) he told me he was so happy to see me back this year. I must have looked really surprised that he recognized me because he said “you come visit me every other year, I remember you.” He was hand making these little red bracelets and he explained that you can recite the rosary with them, “You can carry God with you everywhere.” He immediately put one on my wrist and told me he was giving me one to remember him.

The resort had cancelled their lease and he was losing his job after 15 years. I was suddenly hit by sadness, not because I had necessarily thought of him as a friend, but he was a staple at the resort, a smiling, familiar face. The fact that he remembered me, and our family, as loyal customers was impressive. I was touched that he considered me a friend and said he would miss me.

He proceeded to hand over 3 more bracelets, 1 for my husband and each of my daughters. (In fact, he made sure to give me a big one because my husband was a “big guy”. I’m pretty certain my husband had been nowhere around during my shopping.) He said they were a gift to remember him by and I immediately shoved $30 in his direction. Told him I was gonna miss him to and 3 years later it’s one of the first pieces of jewelry I put on daily. It reminds me of Mexico, of times spent relaxing in the sun, of vacationing with my Mexican sister and her family who fly from Mexico City to spend the week with us, of shopping for jewelry on the beach or in the markets, finding New Mexican blankets for our homes, meeting up with friends from home who retired in Cabo and so many other more glorious memories.

It’s a wonderful feeling to have an affect on people’s lives. When a smile can make you memorable. How you treat someone makes them look forward to more interactions with you. I’m so happy to have had a positive affect on my young friend. I pray on my rosary bracelet that he is well, employed and just maybe we will run into each other again.

Earth day isn't just 1 day - it's everyday

A not-so-fun fact: 100 Billion plastic bags are used by Americans every year. Tied together, they would reach around the Earth’s equator 773 times. With more and more states issuing plastic bag bans, we can get a head start and curb plastics bag usage with our Reusable Totes. Made of heavy canvas, these bags will hold your finds at the farmer’s market and grocery store goodies. And after using them over and over, you can machine wash them and you are good to go again.

Consider your single-use plastic impact on the environment and take action by getting yourself a Reusable Tote … it’s the perfect way to celebrate Earth Day as well as contribute to the renewed clean air and cleaner oceans we are experiencing now.

These bags are strong and made with love by our Sseko Sisters in Uganda. Each bag bears the name of the sister who made the bag in our workshop in Uganda and with it she sends her love and appreciation for your support. Through your purchase, you are helping keep her family safe from harm, poverty and violence.

Who Needs Luck when you have Pluck = $24.99

How it’s Made Matters = $19.99

Like a Girl is a Compliment = $19.99

Let’s keep this little world of our on the path we’re currently on.

“Much love and continued health,”

— Gabby

Jacobsen COVID Adventures

Enjoying a bit of quiet

All of us … even the pups

Hello all!

So many thoughts have been running through my head about the pandemic. Us Jacobsens have been on an extended vacation of sorts and we are thankful for our blessings. We pray daily for our friends and family who are struggling, including our favorite shop owners, salespeople, medical staff, essential workers, hair dressers, masseuses, students, etc. We are so grateful for what feels like a bit of a “break” in our busy schedules and to the earth. We’re seeing clear skies in Seattle as well as beautiful skies from our home on the Columbia River.

The Today Show shared a report on how the pandemic is affecting “Mother Earth”. It made my heart sing to know just what happens when we are able to hit the reset button. My greatest hope is that we will take lessons learned from this crisis and help guide us into a more gentle effect on the earth. Just look at all the benefits of remote working - less traffic, less gas consumption, happier employees, happier families, less office space footprint, happier pets, more exercise, healthier food and lifestyles in general. Now that we know, can’t we keep it up to some degree?

Now, those of you who know me know I love my shopping and my personal care. These “essential” businesses are all but closed up and I miss my friends. In the beginning of the pandemic, I acknowledged with great admiration those stores I frequent who were continuing to pay their employees, and those who have continued to pay them through the extensions. JJill, Nordstroms, Pandora, Free People and many others. Those community small businesses have been on top of making sure their part of the unemployment documentation was complete and have made progress on safety when these businesses will open again. It is the duty of their regular customers to assist when the Governor reopens with a safety plan in place. Buy gift cards to help with the influx of income they will need to start repaying their rents, mortgages and utilities. Reach out and make early appointments so they can use their new procedures to the best of their ability. If they have an online presence, reach out if you need your supplies replenished. Or try new products. We need to gather around them in their time of need.

Which leads me to how the Jacobsen Family has been surviving the pandemic. We are very blessed that both Dave and I have essential jobs and our employers have been committed to keeping us working and safe. Dave’s job has always been one that could be done remotely and we are blessed it was relatively easy to make the transition. His office shut down for several weeks and now only a few front office staffers are rotating time in the office to get essential “in office only” tasks completed. He has been working diligently with his members on pay, benefits, seniority and referring them to companies hiring drivers. The members he represents are very lucky indeed.

King County quickly developed remote working conditions to allow court staff to work from home. The IT Department truly stepped up to move all of us home, providing VPN access and being creative to allow us to continue hearing emergency motions and essential calendars remotely, while working with the clerk’s office to be “on the record” and in open court. Of course, there is nobody in the courtrooms, but conference calls and open conference phones in the courtrooms allow for the court processes to continue. All of this ingenuity is keeping our family working and allowing us to make contributions to our community. It’s also given us time to quiet our lives and be thankful for the small things:

• that I’m not having to homeschool!! (That’s #1. Good lord, that would’ve been a disaster for both them and me.)

• A 12-minute commute to Seattle on the days when I have to be in a courtroom.

• Eating lunch with family.

• NO makeup weeks.

• Jean shorts and Berks as my office attire.

• Home projects completed.

• Working remotely from anywhere …

• Best Buy curbside pick up

• Pauline’s Nail Salon’s mini care packs put out weekly for upkeep

• CWU Film Department for an excellent start to their online Spring quarter

• My friend Leslie who is picking up our overflowing donation pile to bring to her church

• Dave’s time home makes my father-in-law who suffers from Alzheimers feel safe and loved

• More time with my college student when she comes home

• Mid-day time on the patio in the sunshine with my older daughter who lives at home

• More home cooking

• Wild animals returning to our communities and oceans

• Clear skies and cleaner waters

• And just generally having time to laugh and play with family.

Many of our friends and family are not as fortunate and we will continue to pray and use our resources to help where we can. Please know that you are all in our prayers daily and while we do not support the government opening too early and fear daily for one of us contracting this terrible virus, we believe in our faith, our family and our world. We will make it through this as we have during other crises and maybe even come out stronger because of it.

Keep looking forward my friends.

Who made your bag?

Meet Aidah (āidäh)

Aidah is from Kampala and joined us on August 23rd, 2018. Since then, she has been thriving in our sewing department making our Market Totes and apparel. Aidah first heard about Sseko through Joyce, who is another Veteran on our team. When she is not at the workshop, she loves to dance to Gospel music and spending time caring for young children in her community. Her dream is to live in a beautiful house of her own someday with a family.

A friend asked about my circle purse the other day. She asked if it was a Dooney … happily I said “no, it’s better! A lovely young woman in Uganda made my purse and I am supporting her efforts to live a live of purpose, safety and security.” Each item made for Sseko helps women in West Africa attend university or earn a living wage for their families. We protect our ladies from harm and sickness and give them options. Does your Dooney do that?

FYI: She ordered the Oiled Black Vintage Satchel that same day. ;-)

We bought a boat!

A dream comes true …

and just like that, we bought a boat

My dad was a mechanic and electrician and when I was little, he traded a car he’d fixed up for a small boat. He repaired the engine and we’d go out to Lake Washington to run around a bit on the water. A little while later, he traded that boat for another larger boat with a busted engine and he fixed that one too. Somehow, however, as with most boats, one of us always ended up hanging off the front of the boat with a rope towing us back to the dock. Even after all that, there’s no place I’d rather be than in the sunshine on a boat, just cruising and listening to music with friends and my family.

When Dave and I were newly married, Dave inherited a wood boat from his uncle. We coddled that little motor boat with love and attention and took our small girls for boat rides. Eventually, Dave sold it and we upgraded to a boat with cleaner lines and room for our growing girls. That 16” Four Winds open-bow served us well, but unfortunately, much like my dad’s disappointment in his used boat, it caused many headaches and heartache.

We’d never given up hope that someday we would be able to afford a beautiful, new and reliable boat. Dave has spent the last 2-3 years searching on Craigslist and doing research on pontoon boats. By the time we made it to the Seattle Boat Show 2 weekends ago, he knew exactly what he wanted. We are generally pretty practical people and knew that we couldn’t be talked into details and expense that we didn’t need. Our family of 5 (heavy a live-in father-in-law) needed something easy to board, easy going, and fun.

Godfrey boats, presented at the show by Puget Marine, captured our attention as being the best in the pontoon game. We’d spent an hour with one of the engineers from the plant in Elkhart, Indiana, learning about the company, the options and why Godfrey is the best pontoon choice for our needs. We looked at at least 5 other brands before making our choice, and we couldn’t be happier.

This weekend, we drove down to Puget Marine in Olympia, Washington for an opportunity to take our new boat for a ride, just to make sure it’s exactly what we wanted. If we thought we were certain at the boat show that it was what we wanted, the trip around the Sound solidified our decision. (On a side note, the storm that hit the PNW on Friday night had blown over and we were greeted with a cold but beautifully clear, sunny skies for our little Saturday morning boat ride.)

So now it’s ours!

Puget Marine is going to store it for us for the next few months while we get the parking spot prepared at our vacation home property. But come summer, we’re going to be out on the Columbia River with the rest of our friends enjoying life and everything the river has to offer.

We’ve learned a lot in the 24 years we’ve been married. We’ve saved and made mistakes and provided a better education for our kids. It feels nice to enter this new phase in our lives, and before we’re 50! =) I know, most people have been playing for years already, boats, cars, big homes, trips. We have to choose our own time and our comfort level. But this sure does feel like both!

Welcome to the family … 20' Godfrey Sweetwater Pontoon boat! We can’t wait to bring you home.

Naming suggestions welcome!!

And Charlie Crocker from Puget Marine was the easiest guy to work with! Click on the picture to be directed to the website for this small boat shop that’s been in business for 50+ years. Where customers are their #1.

And many thanks to my brother Matt who joined us on a little shopping adventure! It’s always so much fun with him along. (And he helps Dave with the important details, like “Mars vs Venus” arguments about accessories! LOL)

Calvin!!

Baby Calvin

Seven4One Prints

This little Lowline/Angus calf belonged to my niece, it was one of the first babies born on her family farm. Little Calvin attracted the attention of the the owners of Seven4One, who chose Calvin’s photo to be featured as part of their 2019 Sprint collection. But I totally thought I missed the boat! Each time I tried to purchase one of the prints, it was sold out! My niece takes the most beautiful farm photos and I was so looking forward to showcasing her art.

Last week, I sent a message to Seven4One to share my disappointment that I missed out on my Calvin photo. Well, today I received my 12x12 print!! They’d found one for me and shipped it immediately - and I’m so excited. Calvin will have a special place of honor in my Eastern Washington vacation home, SunDaze. In fact, I’m planning on buying more prints because how appropriate would it be to decorate in a classic and elegant farm way? Especially in the middle of a lush farming area of Washington State.

Visit my niece’s Instgram account at pnwfarmlife_oregon for some of the most beautiful small farm photos. She and her family raise ethical cattle. Their cows are cuddled, coddled and loved. Each baby has their own story and her husband is the ultimate cow-whisperer. I’m so proud of how this city-kid makes good on her husband’s farm dreams.

Finally, there’s room in everyone’s home for a little home town print. Just browse their Instagram site at seven4one.shop and see how they add these prints to trendy decor.

Shop local. Support farms. Think ethical.

Just a mutt hiding among the Irish

What’s a Pollock doing here?

A story of acceptance and love …

Despite my late mother-in-laws hard and fast belief that her only son marry a lovely Irish lass, he chose me, a very American mutt with a crazy last name. She even held out hope after the birth of our first child when she invited us to dinner with the girl he “was supposed to marry” from her Irish hometown. Thankfully, my ever patient husband held true to his heart and we’ve been married a glorious 24 years. One thing I have always been certain of, is the love and acceptance I’ve received from my husband’s Seattle Irish Community.

My husband and his family were among the founding members of the Irish Community since the late 60’s. I don’t believe my husband has missed an Irish Week in Seattle since his birth 50 years ago. He’d been helping his dad, and then eventually took over, the St. Patrick’ s Day Parade around 1994. Immediately following the birth of our first kiddo, I started volunteering my mommy-time to help Mary coordinate the rest of the Irish festivities in and around the city. Both of the girls grew up with dozens and dozens of surrogate grandparents, aunts and uncles, including dignitaries and city officials. it’s been quite a ride!!

Which is why following Christmas Day, the Jacobsens skip right to shopping for green items to wear to some of our Irish social events. Annually, when the kids were little, I was forced to start shopping for their new green clothing items because wearing the Irish sweaters were a “no go” for most of their young lives. Ever tried finding a new green turtleneck for kids when your MIL insisted on the itchy Irish sweaters? It’s not easy, let me tell you. A recent green sweater purchase this week reminded me that each new year my eye is immediately drawn to everything green. Which is why I was SO THRILLED to see the Agave green pieces in the new Sseko Designs collections. The Agave crossbody arrived at my house this afternoon and so my hunt for the green is now complete!

Our Irish community members enveloped me in their arms (literally and even after Dave explained my personal space bubble). They loved on me, and my mom, and my girls with such honesty and exuberance that they have all become part of our family. I never feel alone in this world knowing that Mary, Heather, Ida, Suzie, Mary Catherine, Maureen, and dozens of other ladies are standing in for my mom at a moment’s notice. I worry when they are sick and delight in spending time with them. Irish Week is like a big family reunion, full of laughter and catching up. Heidi, Fiona, Kaileen, Barbara, Caron and many other ladies are like my sisters whose kids have grown up alongside mine and who I have such lovely memories with.

We are not a political or religious group (shoot, I’m not even Irish). The clubs were formed to promote Irish history, culture and a community for new Irish to Seattle to call family. Throughout the years we have been challenged to choose a side, but we have remained constant in our belief in family, community and sharing the love of the Old Country. One that, funny enough, I have never seen!

After the birth of our children, and the medically fragile condition of the first, we found it quite difficult to take the family on a journey to travel Ireland. It’s on our bucket list, but maybe after the 13 years of tuition finally comes to a close and we have enough time to actually take our time and visit all those places I can see quite vividly through the words, songs and stories of the last 25 years.

A BIG thank you goes out to all my Irish family who have taken in this small town all-American girl with the crazy last name and made me yours. I love you all and can’t wait to see you next month! The countdown is on!!

All my love,

Gabby

Instructions on ordering your "Like a Girl" tee shirt ...

“Like a Girl” is a Compliment

$39.99

Many of you have mentioned how much you liked the “Like a Girl” tee shirt, so I’m making this quick and easy.

1. Click the button below to go directly to the page. (Size 1 fits sizes 2-8, Size 2 fits sizes 10-16.) You can order your own through this link.

2. Venmo me $50 (which includes tax and shipping) to @gabby-jacobsen-3 along with your address, email, telephone number and size wanted. I will place the order for you.

If you thought the white 2019 version was difficult to find, then the 2020 black version is going to be gone soon. Don’t delay!

Also in a Reusable Tote

$19.99 a perfect gift!

If you are looking for more of the Spring/Summer Hopefully Yours collection, here is the digital catalog.

For the Spring 2020 "Hopefully Yours" Collection, we traveled the world in search of the most stunning materials and the most beautiful stories. We shot this catalog in Joshua Tree National Park as the Joshua Tree is a symbol of faith, hope and resilience in the midst of harsh conditions.

Confidence is Sexy .. and the heat wave is a-comin’!

Feel your inner Elizabeth Taylor

The kaftan is back … only shorter and sexier.

Sseko is a fashion leader in bringing back the kaftan … in fact … I bought my first Sseko kaftan a full year before the big name fashion designers have been adding them to their runways.

Many ladies may think the kaftan, this big, flowing, unshapely dress can’t be sexy. I’m here to tell you that it can, but better than that, Sseko Designs has upgraded its kaftan style to include 3 (a 4th on it’s way soon to you in a capsule) new short kaftan styles.

• Black heeled boots, felted hat

• Nude wedges, long necklace, statement earrings

• Short boots, jean jacket

• Black leather sneakers, Moto jacket

• Sseko ribbon sandals

• Any kind of sandals

The possibilities are endless, but in the end, you’re looking at sexy legs!

• Skinny jeans, ankle boots

• Leggings

Tie it up a little on the side and you’ve got a beautiful tunic over a pair of skinny jeans or leggings. The prints and the fabrics are gorgeous and very travel friendly. I’m definitely adding them to my bags next time we travel!!

Give one a try for your next wedding or summer vacation.

https://ssekodesigns.com/?u=gabbyjacobsen