Settled and unsettled

*Breathes in, breathes out* Right where do I start, only Wednesday and what a week!! I was going to say what a busy week, but I think disconnected feels like a better word to describe it. I found myself chopping and changing between things and not really getting to the end of anything. There is so much going on at the moment (bagladee and me, mainly me things) that I dont know whether I'm on my head or my backside ;)

There are parts of my life where one chapter is ending and another one begining but I'm sat in limbo waiting for the next stage, isn't that soooo frustrating. Its almost like waiting for Christmas to arrive (lol dont hate me for saying the C word in June). I desperately want to share it with you but feel like if I do the whole thing will come crashing down on me and I will feel like a right lemon for 'putting it out there' so to speak. And you lot know me I'm ususally crap at keeping things to myself.

One thing I can say is that C has been busy setting up his new business venture and I've even persuaded him to join Twitter and Facebook, although I dont think he's keen on it. I give him 2months and he'll be as addicted as me :D

I've been lucky enough to have been given the opportunity to make a custom changing bag for Maya a lovely lady I met at the Handmade in Britain Show last year, but to top it all off I'm making it out of some of Maya's handprinted fabric (see above) isn't it gorgeous!!! I just hope I do the fabric justice!! I've also been working on another custom order for Theo's PR lady who works for Ryman Stationary, Tina has ordered 50 'Theo' inspired Gingerbread Men decorations for the Head Office tree. I will show you some photos soon.

Hopefully soon things will start to settle down and I will be able to have a good chat with you all and let you know whats been going on, either that or I will need consoling with wine and chocolate!! No, only kidding....only positive thoughts allowed!

Taking a second...

I don't actually remember the last time I just stopped by and said 'Hello' where are the weeks going? I cant believe were in mid June already!! I've managed to squeeze in some posts here and there with some photos of makes but not actually said much. Life is busy isn't it?

The dynamics of my day to day are always changing, those who know me know I've gone from working full time to working part time and being able to spend more time developing Bagladee and then again in the early months of the year went back to full time work. Its not as bad as it sounds, working part time gave me the perspective I needed that it was after all just a job and what I really love is making bags.

I still spend most of my 'out of work' hours making and creating and to say the least its been really busy, but that's good right :) Then we made the decision that we would like to move (I'm not going to go into too much detail) what a roller coaster that is turning out to be. So all in all things are busy but I'm looking forward to 'what might happen' in the near future. C has finally made it back into the working world I'm pleased to say (after 2 years rest! lol) so that is adding more excitement/stress into the pot. But were happy and tootling along side by side enjoying the ride.

Its weird but I'm still finding pretty much the same amount of time to make up orders, develop ideas and create as I did working part time. Maybe I was 'faffing' around a little bit too much then ;)

Whats new with Bagladee? Well I decided earlier this year that I would take a break from Trade Shows and such and give myself a little breathing space to develop some new designs and slow the pace down a little. I still have a handful of stockists and hoping to add a new shop to the list soon but I wanted to make some room for custom orders. I've found that a lot of customers want to choose their fabric and want to choose what details they'd like and I've found that I really love to make custom bags. So from this my lovely fireplace and cabinets you saw in my photos of exhibiting at BCTF have been sold on ebay. I'm sure that if I do take up Trade shows again in the future it will give me a chance to come up with something totally different for my display - plus it makes room in the garage :D

Which leads me to slapping myself on the wrist for taking so long to update my website. I did get round to listing the new design purses and a couple of clutch bags and saddle bags but there is still a lot to do. So my goal for the end of June is to have completed my list of changes. Feel free to kick me in the derriere if I fail!!

And on that note peeps I'm off to finish a trade order, this one is a little different as the mini clutches have chains! Over the shoulder clutch bags! Genius!

See you soon! x

A little different

Custom orders are always my favourite to work on, its always something different and sometimes something that I wouldn't have picked myself turns out to be really lovely.

I was commissioned by a very nice lady called Michelle who loved this fabric and wanted to know if I could purchase it and make her one of my large clutch bags. Once the fabric had arrived and I knew what placement of pattern I could get out of the half meter Michelle chose which she would like for the back and the front. Bird front, full flower and butterfly on the back.

I think its turned out beautifully and it has steered me in a new direction when choosing fabrics. I'm always open to custom orders and whatever your fancy of fabric I will turn it into something gorgeous to wear about town.

Best get a Custom Order page set up on my website :)

Honey I shrunk the Gingerbread Man

I was having another one of my epic tidying sessions in the Studio when I came across a huge pile of small slithers of caramel coloured felt. The same felt that I use for my Gingerbread Men Decorations. I hadn't realised just how many scraps I had accumulated from last year Pre-Christmas makes

Rummaging in my stash of 'bits and bobs' I also found some tiny versions of the heart buttons....hmmmm I wonder.

Sometime later I emerged from a still not tidy Studio, beaming with a smile I handed this little fella to C who answered me with "Oh its a badge".

Yes indeed it is a "badge" well I would like to call it a brooch as I think that sounds far prettier. He is so cute and tiny I am going to have to add him to the Bagladee family of makes and will be quietly busying away making lots of them to add to my website.

I think he deserves a big "Awwwwwwwwwww".