Custom order for Whoatemycrayons

One of the projects I've been working on lately was this very cute custom saddle bag for a very lovely lady called Tia. Tia is a graphic designer extrordanaire and has a fantastic website here Whoatemycrayons.

Tia wanted to choose her own fabrics and decided on this gorgeous blue fabric with 1cm polka dots.

The strap was made from 2 fabrics, the outer being a smaller dot polka print in a baby blue and the inner a very striking Japanese dress print.

The lining inside was a lovely vibrant golden yellow, which Tia left the linig decision up to me as a surprise so I was so pleased when she said she loved the choice.

Finally Tia chose pillar box red for the bow detail on the flap of the bag.

Very kindly Tia has been showcasing her new Bagladee saddle bag and has been getting some fantastic comments.

You can find my current selection of saddle bags over on my website here if you would like a custom order just like Tia did please feel free to contact me emma@bagladee.com.

Hellloooo??

Time spent absent from my blog is always time spent thinking about things.......and lately there have been lots of 'things' to think about. I have written copious amounts of lists, scribbled on them, re-written them and crossed things out and eventually settled on a definitive list. Its a messy list and no doubt will be re-written for the seventh time but I kinda know where I'm going now and what I need to get done. Sounds cryptic doesn't it, well its not really its just life.

I love not knowing what will happen next, its scary but in the same breath its exciting. Things may not always go to plan but at least if you do have one you know the tasks ahead.

I have been busy making too, I've just completed a trade order which is going to the very lovely shop Had2Buy in Darlington. Been making a special cosmetic pouch for my Twitter friend Michele, a Kindle cover for my good friend Rachel, finished a sample bag for a magazine review and started a couple of new projects which I will show you photos of very soon.

I cant wait to share some of the exciting things that are coming up and hopefully that will be soon. I think Bagladee and I will be taking a slightly different path over the next year....watch this space!

Royal Mail and their wonderful price hike!

Just a quick one while I dash in and dash out, just to say that I have decided that instead of trying to work out all the price increases being imposed by Royal Mail (strangling small businesses!). I will now be offering free delivery on everything. It took some deliberating, umming and ahhhing, but finally decided that I love what I do and I do it because I love it and I hope people love my bags too. The UK's economic state is not great and for the time being I am going to swallow the cost of postage. 

 

So what you see on my website is what you will pay, nothing more! And I will throw gift wrapping in there too :)

Oooh and the pretty photo above is of some new design cosmetic pouches which will be available next week.

Mini's

I just had to post another photo of the new Mini clutches. With a 6" frame they sit perfect in the palm of your hand, they are talker than the larger clutch and are so roomy inside. This is my favourite fabric at the moment. Trying to get my little mits on some more so that I can make myself a Saddle bag. Hopefully they will be added to the website this weekend.

BCTF 2012

Sorry for the delay in posting photos of BCTF, we've had no Internet since we returned. Very frustrating indeed. Anyway, we had a fab 3 days in Harrogate, the show was surprisingly busy. A lot of us designer/makers were expecting things to be a little quieter this year due to the depressing state of our economy at the moment. But in fact it was quite the opposite, there were lots of visitors, a large amount of these being buyers and a positive review of the high standard of crafts at this years show.

We tweaked the stand this year, keeping the fireplace (which again for the 3rd time travelled with us strapped to the roof of my little Ford Fiesta....hilarious sight to see) and the side cabinets but painting them a demure grey and changed the antlers to frames. My very talented other half came up with the idea of decals and little hooks which made the bags look like they were floating in the frames. He's a little diamond, bless him :)

New to my collection this year was the introduction of these Bridal bags, a large version for a bride or matron of honour/head bridesmaid and a little purse for little bridesmaids. These can be ordered in any colour duchess satin to match a wedding theme. However I did take an order for a set in black satin for evening bags so they are very versatile.

I also revamped he design of the cosmetic pouches, they now have a sweet little bow adorned with a button, which means they can now be machine washed at 30 degrees, something that was asked for by a previous customer. With this redesign there is more of a cohesion with the entire collection now.

It was so lovely to catch up with everyone, including getting the chance to meet my new Twitter friends in the flesh. As always BCTF is always a friendly show, everyone offers support and encouragement to each other, its like a huge crafty family.

I was sad to pack up, which included ripping of the decals of the frames and throwing them in the bin :( they were worth it though, very effective in bringing a little drama to my stand.

I now have a busy month ahead of fulfilling orders and following up new contacts.

Day 1 & 2

Day 2 over, another good day with lots of visitors. 2 New shops to stock. A long side the Bridal range on my stand I also have these cute new design purses.

Will be adding these to the websie once I return from the show.

We've arrived

At long last we're settled in at the hotel after quite a long day. The stand is all set up with just the bags to add in the morning. I've already managed to catch up with a few familiar faces and plan on having a good old mooch around first thing in the morning.

In addition to lots of new clutches I will be showcasing these gorgeous bags for my new Bridal range, available will be a large clutch, a mini clutch (not pictured) and this gorgeous little purse, perfect for little bridesmaids.

Now its time for a good meal (from the pub next door) a couple of well earned drinks then an early'ish night ready for the first day of the show tomorrow. If you're coming along to BCTF please come by stand 249 and say Hello. I will try and post some pictures of my stand tomorrow.