Happy Hallloooowwwweeeeeen!!!

Since its the 31st today, Halloween. And this purse and brooch were still in my Etsy shop, I've decided to give them away.
Just leave a comment on this post and I will draw a winner on Sunday evening.....you haven't got long so get those entries in quick.

Right I'm off to carve my pumpkin and get the decorations up......Happy Halloween!!

Today I cried....

..twice. But its OK, I felt loads better afterwards. Work stress + being over tired + home stress + migraine + hormones = teary eyed stress head.

On a more cheery note, look what I have to play with for my paper bag swap.....pieces cut now just to sew together :D Smiling again!!

Yey for the weekend....

Tickets

A while ago I ordered these tickets to go and see 'The Festive Gift Fair' at the Birmingham NEC. Ever since I saw it advertised last year I have wanted to go.....UNFORTUNATELY :( I am unable to go.......

So if you can get to Birmingham NEC and would like these tickets pop me an email emma@bagladee.com and you can have them from me as a gift.....I'm sad to not be going but I'd be glad to pass them onto a fellow crafter. (obv first come gets them)

Here's a sneak peak of part of the new bag I made yesterday, I almost got the 2nd one finished today but my eyes were starting to get tired and when I have to sit and unpick some crappy stitching I know its time to down tools.

Back to reality tomorrow (work) Boooooo!!! But on the upside not far until the weekend again....progress on the studio coming soon!!!

Happy, happy, happy...

To follow a lovely weekend I had a day just for me today :D I got up early and enjoyed a cup of tea with Nell whilst I read some blogs....after getting ready I headed into town and straight for John Lewis. Again I had run out of interfacing, I know disaster. And as I cant live without it I had to get some more.

So after cleaning them out of their almighty stock of 5 and half meters (very poor) I headed off to PAPERCHASE!!!!!!!! I always have a journal and note book....the note book stays in my handbag (at the moment its the gorgeous one that Rachel sent me :D) and the journal is always on the arm of the sofa where I sit on an evening just in case I need to draw or write something down. Since there were only 3 pages left in my journal I thought I had better get another, pronto. It took me about 20 minutes to choose one (I am very particular) I also picked up a new pen and a birthday card. Oooh and how lovely it is.....

I then took a quick trip to Hobbycraft and picked up some polka dot, sparkly and zebra print felt. I spent this afternoon making another new bag, and I have to say I am proud as punch of this one. I'm planning on making another one tomorrow....photo's will come soon.

And the best thing about today?? Is that I get to spend all day tomorrow on me too!!! Yippppeeee!!

Finally

....I got round to listing this cushion on my website. Hopefully I will get the other blue cushion listed tomorrow, fingers crossed!

This weekend has been really lovely, a little bit of sewing and cutting out fabrics for some more new bags, getting some well needed rest and being taken out for a gorgeous meal on Sat night for our 7yr anniversary (not wedding, just being together). No work tomorrow or Tuesday for me, YEY!!!
Hope you all had a good weekend....

Cosmetic Pouches

Some of you may remember that quite a long time ago these were created. Well I thought it was about time they were revamped.

These two have been listed on my website......

There's lots of room for all your make-up favourites.

And these two have been listed in my etsy shop.....

I will finish listing the rest of them this weekend. There's only one of each so they will be split between my etsy shop and website.

Paper bag Swap Sent & Received

Earlier last month I signed up for Rachel's paper bag swap which is where you make up a little parcel of fabric and nic naks, post them off to your swap partner and then they make you something with what you have sent. My swap partner is Denise (**wooo hooo Denise**).

It took me aaagggggessssssss to decide what fabric I was going to send and after I had covered my living room floor with fabric I finally picked these.....

I also included some co-ordinating threads a piece of grey felt and some buttons. I cant wait to see what Denise is going to create with these!!

Today I received Denise's parcel. Just look at the gorgeous purples!! Cute cherry fabric, pom pom braiding, some embroidery threads and some totally scrummy buttons.

Just look at them!!! I love the purple sparkly one and the mother of pearl one, top middle.

I have no idea what I am going to make with this lovely stash of goodies.....so I'm going to have to get my thinking cap on. Big time!!

Pricing part 2

I'm so glad that I decided to write a post about prices yesterday and feel comforted in the fact that I'm not alone on this one.

I think we could all do with a group session to boost our confidence levels when it comes to the value of handmade. Outside of this post I asked for some advice from a very experienced seller (Hi Sarah!) who is the Oracle (well I think you are hunny) of running your own little business and she reminded me that you have to remember that what you make is designed by you and made by you which is what makes its special and unique.

She also gave me some pointers which runs along the same lines as the method Pinkchalkstudios uses that Rachel mentioned in my comments.

So with pencil, paper and calculator in hand I sat down and started working out materials costings and lead times. I found that for retail prices I was just about spot on and after a good talking to (myself!) I finally got my head round the concept of wholesale, basing my calculations on batch sizes rather than individual items. But at the same time not underselling myself. Nicola (also posted in yesterdays comments) is right, you have to make it worth your while.....there's no point in just cutting even?

Don't get me wrong I love doing what I do and get great creative satisfaction from designing and making my own products but I would love to think that one day it would make me enough to make it a full time job.

Don't forget crafters, we are still in hard times at the moment.......credit crunch.....when will it end? Here's hoping 2010 will be a more prosperous year for us all.

A lot of people have been asking me about the progress to the studio....well unfortunately it is on hold at the moment, Chris is working double shifts and all the other jobs have been left up to me. So please bare with me I know its frustrating (I'm pulling my hair out tripping over craft supplies in the spare room!!).......hopefully it will be complete soon.

This weeks TLBG topic was 'WATER' pop over to the blog to read Rachel's post and visit the other members blogs.

Prices

Going out on a limb here.........

How do you price your items in your shop? Do you have a method, eg. time + materials = £. I've always wondered about the value of handmade items, me personally I would pay more for something that's handmade and that little bit different. But I some times worry that people think because its handmade it should be cheap???? Surely not???

I've spent many an hour pondering how much to price an item in my shop....resulting in total confusion, then panic, then doubt and finally changing my mind about 50 times!! I'm still doing it now!! Then there is the topic of wholesale......*big gasp* this really does mash my brain cells.

Any words of wisdom out there???

Just for fun :D

Driving back on the A1 today it really felt like Autumn......in some parts the journey was quite breathtaking. The trees were all golds, reds and dark greens starting to turn brown. Leaves had fallen and even though the air was briskly cool the sun gleamed through the trees and warmed the inside of the car as I drove. I had a lovely time on Saturday night and the bride was beautiful (especially the dress ;) I will get a photo to post soon).

So in the 'spirit' of Autumn and Halloween, I thought I'd make something just for fun. Totally off the cuff and not planned. Its nice to be just a little spontaneous every once and a while.

This is Jack the pumpkin head purse :D I only made one, and have just listed him here. He has little rhinestone pupils that gleam in the light! And his insides are bright orange (of course!).
And this brooch would look fab on a costume or jacket for a Halloween party and is listed here. I'm looking forward to getting Skelly Bob and the rest of my decorations out in time for the children calling for treats......Oh how I do love Halloween.

Re-invention

Here's a quick little peek at the revamp/re-invention project I was telling you about. Sporting gorgeous ribbon from Paper-and-string.....

Tomorrow I will be trying to cram in as much sewing as possible as I'm travelling up north on Saturday for a wedding celebration.....so time is definitely of the essence this weekend!!

Oh and for those wondering, the glass of wine went down a treat last night and I woke this morning feeling ready and raring to go :D honestly I did.

Lots of bits and bobs to be crossed off tomorrow. Full photo's of this project to come.....

Glasses of wine....

.....are always good after s**t days at work!! :D

New bag....

I'm very proud to introduce the very first bag in the new collection....isn't she pretty :D I feel like I have most definitely found 'my feet' (so they say) with bagladee and the new collection is def ME!!

I don't normally do this but since this is the very first bag and I will spending most of my time concentrating on making my way through the other designs I have listed this bag here on my website already.

So if you want her you will have to be quick.....keep your eyes peel for more coming soon.

Since I am feeling as giddy as a school girl I have decided to go mad and offer 20% off all items on my website (excluding this bag) to my blog readers, just pop me an email after purchase and I will refund 20% (this does not include the postage) to your paypal account. This offer is open until Saturday 24th October.

Coffee break

Just waiting for the coffee to brew so I thought I'd drop by.....it will also give me a chance to catch up on some blog reading.

There's been a lot of progress happening this weekend....before I tell you I must say thank you to Kat from Sassmowthdesigns who featured me on Friday. She'd asked could I do it short notice so I agreed and set off answering her questions. As I sat writing I realised a few things and carried on writing. I'm sure it was not her intention but Kat has made me see that I love my little home I have with my fella and 2 cats and the fact that I have a job (well for now) that pays a good salary and that I have the opportunity to do what I do with bagladee and that Chris is always behind me 100% of the way supporting me :D I knew these things already but writing them down reminds me how lucky I am. Sucky I know but quite a revelation for me. If you would like to see what I wrote please pop by Kat's blog.

So feeling very inspired and happy I then read Sarah's blog and she had just listed a mammoth amount of ribbon on her website. I just had to go and have a look and Woooowwwwweeeeeee!!! (Sorry just stopped to put some chocolate sprinkles on my cappuchino and grab a choccie biccie)

As I was browsing I got a bolt of inspiration of how I could revamp/reinvent my cosmetic pouches (which I have been wanting to do for a while) so I bought a couple of meters of ribbon and went off to find my big pile of felt. So far I have finished 7 with 2 to go.......photo's will come once they are photographed and re listed on my website. On top of that I have made a NEW bag!! Yes, I'm so excited I love it.......there's lots of changes and improvements, I've even impressed myself.

I hope you're all having a lovely weekend....I'll be back soon with some photo's of my progress.

New bags....

Ahhhhh just look at this pile of gorgeous fabric, some new and some old favourites......these are the fabrics I have chosen for the next collection of bagladee bags. New designs and new combinations. It all starts today.........

TLBG Wednesday / Festive

A dual post today, first off I will start with TLBG Wednesday. The topic this week is Morsebags. Morsebags.com was set up to encourage us all to use reusable fabric bags rather than plastic bags, which have a detrimental effect on marine and wildlife.......to read more about the concept and how to join a pod please visit the website, you can also read the post Rachel wrote on TLBG.

I always use re-usable bags when shopping, and when offered plastic bags I always refuse as my handbag is the size of Mary Poppins travel bag....so there's always plenty room for bought nik naks. So to participate in the morsebag movement I am going to make 4 morsebags and the first 4 people to say they would like one on this post I will send to....I would really love it if those 4 people are willing to do the same. Make some and pass them on......don't worry full instructions are posted on the morsebags website.

Second part of today's post is this lovely festive fabric, this was the other set I was waiting for coming through the post. Isn't it fab? I love the build up to Christmas....that's the best bit.

Tomorrow is the last day of the working week for me as I have Friday off :D so there is a list, then a smaller list, then a smaller list. It will be a marathon list busting weekend for me.

Welcome.......cushions

to the bagladee family.

Soon to be added to my shops.....it took a while to get them how I wanted them......but I got there in the end.

Are you feeling festive yet?

I am, kind of....well I didn't until this fabric arrived that I had bought on Etsy. There is another set due to arrive sometime this week....normally I don't make festive themed items to sell (I have made them for Christmas swaps) but since I'm doing quite a traditional craft fair in December I thought it was only right.

I'm quite excited what they are going to be transformed into, its something new and probably not expected from bagladee....but why not? I'm definitely making one for myself......Oooh cryptic clues :D

This fabric is new to buy in IKEA.....I fell in love with it as soon as I saw it....modern kitch.

If you are wondering about the blogathon (check out this weeks posts below) that seems to be going on with me at the moment let me explain. Normally I post about twice a week.....some times less depending what I've managed to sew etc. On a few occasions I have been known to post twice in one day.

Lately I have been sporadic blogging due to the mahooosive lists I have been wading through and that place that interferes with sewing called "work". Maybe it was to do with all the supporting and encouraging comments from everyone and the lovely presents received by Nicola and Rachel but I have found a new enthusiasm and motivation for everything (sewing related). I have one main list (now just before I write this I'd just like to say I'm going to sound a little kooky but it seems to be working) which is colour coded into level of importance.....I then transfer 4 items onto a small list and work on them.....once they are completed I cross them off the big list (Thanks for the tip Jo).

I'm flying through the lists.....today I am choosing fabric combo's for new bags, now that is exciting!!!

Made to order....

After a lot of 'ummming ' and 'arrrhhing' I've finally decided to add these to my etsy and folksy shops as made to order cushions. I really enjoyed making both of these cushions and I think it would be quite a mean feat to make every letter of the alphabet so a 'made to order' listing made more sense.
I can literally make them in any felt colours you like and any initials, I can even customise the detail for you.....

So if you want one for a little boy named Jack for example I can add a car or a robot.....you could even just have the initial if you thought appropriate.

As for the wedding, bride and groom cushion, I can add as many or as little pearl beaded flowers as you like.....a simple but personal wedding gift.

Wedding gift....

After a busy two weeks of trying to fit some sewing into my already crammed days here are one of the fruits of my labour.....

A little gift for my friend who was married in Cyprus last week......

Monogrammed with the bride and grooms initials......

And some pretty little flowers with pearl beads in the centre.

I really enjoyed making this cushion, I do hope it sits somewhere romantic in their new home. Awwwww :D

p.s. back soon with some more finished projects......phew!!