New Kindle cases added to my website!

Visit BaggieAggie.com to see my latest handmade Kindle eReader cases (including 'Purple Stripe', pictured left).  Prices include UK post and packing, and secure payment can be made by debit or credit card through Paypal if you don't have a Paypal account.  I also accept BACS (bank transfer) from UK buyers. It's free and secure, and instant between most UK banks.

I'm still adding lots of other gorgeous handmade items as time allows, but if you can't see exactly what you want in the meantime, or you'd like a different fabric, custom orders are always welcome - simply send a message to me through the Contact tab stating your requirements, and I'll quickly get back to you. :)

I love custom orders. Usually!

I do, I really do, but this padded and lined Kindle case with its continuous zip along two sides was difficult for someone with upper-body disorders, mainly due to the amount of hand-sewing involved.  It took three times as long to make as my usual eReader cases, and that doesn't include all the breaks I had to take.  Plus I had to spread the work out over two days.

 But it's done now, and will shortly be winging its way to Malaysia.  I hope the client likes it! 

I'm building a website...!

Yes, you read that right! In fact, I'll repeat it for all those in denial: severely technically-challenged little old me is building a website. The platform is Weebly, and I have to say it's a darn sight easier to use than Wix (which I gave up on after a couple of hair-tearing days!).

Having said that, I did have a hair-tearing morning yesterday. I bought a domain name (after reading somewhere that Weebly addresses don't float to anywhere near the top in searches) so that I could change my URL and lose the 'weebly' bit. Weebly have brilliant instructions on how to 'point' the new domain at their site, but their sample screenshots bore little relation to my domain registrar's. So, rather than run the risk of destroying the entire internet with my ineptitude, I begged the registrar to do the pointing for me. Which they did, thank goodness, so I'm now www.baggieaggie.com. There's lots to do and change still, but I'm getting there!

In the meantime, I've struggled to get any new items made, but yesterday afternoon I managed to get this Kindle case with an African flavour listed in my Folksy shop. I love this fabric. If you do too, and you fancy something other than a Kindle case, just ask. :)

BaggieAggietoo: Blog feature and interview!

I'm thrilled to announce that my interview with the lovely Becky of Red Bird Supplies has been published today on her excellent blog right here. If you can pop over for a quick read, Becky makes gorgeous jewellery, so do make time to check out her shop links while you're there. :)

A Return to Normal Life and other stuff...

It's spring, the weather is glorious; and after a very difficult ten months, life is slowly getting back to normal. OH is back at work full-time, though still having to take time out for two hours of physio each day, and we're almost on top of the gardening. Well, the back garden at least - we're still having to employ a gardener to keep the front tidy, but hopefully for not too much longer. We may even be able to let the cleaner go next month.

The bathroom renovation (after the storm-damaged roof and collapsed bathroom ceiling episode) will be on hold for a while. We'd planned to get it done late last autumn, but the need for OH to have a second operation has meant a temporary delay.

Despite all the catching up we've had to do, I've somehow managed to make and launch a range of Kindle cases. All in gorgeous fabrics, like the example pictured here, and all padded and fully lined. Available in my Folksy shop so do take a peek and let me know what you think. :)

Passport Holders now available!

I was recently asked to custom-make a fabric passport holder / cover, and have since decided to offer them permanently in my Folksy shop. 'Pink Flower' on the left is now available, and more will follow soon, including some in fabrics more suitable for men.

In the meantime, custom orders are very welcome. Just contact me through my Folksy shop. :)

Owls and Phones...

My Owls card wallet has been so popular, I decided to add an Owls phone holder to my Folksy shop. It sold so quickly, I've now added another. It will fit most phones, including the latest iPhone.

It's fully padded and lined, and fastens with double-stitched velcro to keep precious phones secure. All seams are hidden.

If owls aren't your thing, other phone pockets are available and, as always, custom orders most welcome. :)

Crafting and Pricing - how do you get it right...?

As promised, Phone Pockets will now begin to appear in my shops, and this fab purple one is available at Folksy now.

As so many crafters find, pricing in the hours taken to make an item is rarely a viable option. If we did, we'd never sell a thing! So I think I've priced this competitively, but I'd be interested to hear your views. :-)

Phone Pockets now available!

I was asked to make a phone case for someone, to match the Mushroom card wallet they wanted to buy. Another person saw it when I listed it on Folksy, and asked for a black and pink colour combination. These were the results.
Both customers were so pleased, I've decided to make a few in other fabric combinations, and they'll be available to view and buy soon. Custom orders most welcome in the meantime, though - contact me through my Folksy shop to discuss requirements. :-)

Mushrooms and Grapes

I have so many yummy fabrics in my stash, it's sometimes difficult to decide which to use next! But colours and patterns that remind me of food have been top of the pile lately (reason unknown!) as you can see from these pics.

The card wallets hold 30 business cards or 8 credit / store cards, and the key fob fits most wrists and is perfect for keeping your keys handy when juggling doors, kids and shopping.

They'd make lovely Christmas gifts or stocking-fillers, as would most things at BaggieAggietoo so do drop in and say hello. :-)

Crafters: Does Feedback Inspire You...?

I've been busy making and promoting accessories for BaggieAggietoo, so my bag shop (BaggieAggie) has been rather neglected over the last few months. Not helped by the series of mega disasters OH and I have been (and still are) coping with! But a couple of weeks ago one of my felted bags sold, and I received the following feedback:

"Absolutely stunning!! I couldn't be happier with the bag I have bought. Beautifully crafted and great attention to detail. A highly recommended maker...Thank You!!"

This has spurred me to get BaggieAggie back on track, and the above Pleat bag is now available here. It's fully-lined in vintage Laura Ashley cotton to match, has a zipped internal pocket, and fastens with a magnetic snap. Other colours and designs to be added soon.

(For those of you who'd like to have a go at making Pleat yourself, the pattern download is available here. Ravelry is a US site, and most of my pattern customers are American, hence the $ prices. But Paypal automatically shows the price in your particular currency, so you see the exact cost before hitting that final button.)

Anyway, enough blogging for now - time to get making! While I'm away, why not tell me your feedback stories? I'd love to read them!

Gorgeous New Card Wallets listed on Folksy!

Coco-Loco was a custom order for a Belgian jeweller, so the scrumptious chocolate-coloured fabric was the perfect choice...! Seriously, the quality cotton fabrics were picked to match her business cards - brown, red, and modern but elegant. I chose a delicious cherry-wine fabric for the lining, and I'm so pleased with the results I've made another for my Folksy shop.

The second new wallet is Owls. I adore the fabric, a quality Michael Miller design, and decided to line it in plain black cotton to match the owls' wings. Available here but it's so cute, I can hardly bear to part with it!

They hold 30 business cards or 8 credit/store cards, and would make lovely gifts or stocking fillers.

Free UK P&P till midnight, Sunday 22nd August...

... on all handcrafted accessories at BaggieAggietoo. If any (or all!) of the following resonate, then take advantage of this offer:

♥ You're looking for a unique gift priced at under £6.00.
♥ Your business cards are a dog-eared mess in the bottom of your bag.
♥ You never have a business card handy when you need one.
♥ You struggle to find your keys in bag or pocket when juggling kids, shopping and car doors.
♥ And when you do eventually lay your hands on them, you drop them - invariably in a puddle!
♥ You sometimes like to leave the house without taking a bag or jacket with you, eg. walking the dog, posting a letter, etc.

Simply purchase as normal, and the P&P charge will be refunded via Paypal. Don't see a colour or fabric combination that suits? This offer also applies to custom orders, so let me know your requirements through BaggieAggietoo before the deadline expires.

My first custom order!

This gorgeous business card wallet was made as a custom order for someone who'd fallen in love with the fabric (which I'd used for a wristlet key fob listed on Folksy). It was a joy to make, and the customer was thrilled with it:

"It has arrived and it's perfect! Thank you for customising to my chosen fabric xx"

So, if you never have a business card to hand when you need one, or they're in a dog-eared muddle in the bottom of your bag, then Daisy and other designs can be viewed here. More to be added soon, but if you don't see a colour or fabric that's quite 'you' in the meantime, just ask - I'll almost certainly have something suitable in stock. And if I haven't, I'm sure I'll be able to source it!

Fast Fiction Friday 6

This week's tale is Better Than Chocolate. An early version was published in Scribble magazine a few years ago, not long after I'd found the courage to show my own scribbles to the world for the first time. Rather longer than my usual FFFs, but a light-hearted easy read that should (hopefully!) give you a laugh on this wet and grey Friday.

Removed on Sunday to save on blog space. If anyone fancies a read, ask via the comments box and I'll put it up again. Alternatively, check out FFF 5 in the archive. :-)

Four great reasons to own a wrist key fob!

1. No more dropping your keys in puddles or down a drain! (Image by Fredcat.)

2. No more fumbling in bag or pockets when juggling shopping, kids and car doors. Wear the fob on your wrist and keep it there in use - no need to remove it to open your door.


3. Perfect for those times when you don't want or need to take a bag or jacket out with you - walking the dog, nipping out to post a letter, etc., etc. Simply wear your keys on your wrist.


4. No more difficulty finding your keys in the dark depths of that over-stuffed bag. With a gorgeous fob attached, they'll be easily found!

For details of Fans and other beautiful handcrafted wrist fobs, visit BaggieAggietoo.

Baked Beetroot with Creme Fraiche and Dill

Demolished last night with cold leftover chicken and salad leaves. Salad, beetroot and dill were fresh from the garden. Yum!

Serves 4

4 medium raw beetroot
Roughly chopped dill sprigs to garnish

FOR THE SAUCE
2 tsp coriander seeds, cracked
150ml creme fraiche
2 tsp creamed horseradish
2 tbsp chopped fresh dill
seasoning

1. Preheat oven to 200C / 400F / Gas 6. Wrap each beetroot in foil and bake for 1 - 1.5 hours until they feel tender when squeezed.

2. Meanwhile make the sauce: reserve one teaspoon coriander seeds, then mix together all the remaining ingredients.

3. Remove beetroot from oven, and split each one down the centre (quarter them if they're big enough). Top with the sauce, and sprinkle with the remaining coriander seeds and dill sprigs.

Just fab! And the beetroot leaves and stems are in a food bag in the fridge, waiting to be used as a vegetable side-dish tonight.

Handcrafted business card wallets

I listed the above, my first 2-pocket business card wallet, on Folksy this afternoon. It's so pretty, I can hardly bear to part with it!

The main fabric is Makower's Stash (called that for obvious reasons!) and I've lined the wallet in a white-and-navy cotton twill. I've fully interfaced for structure and durabilty, and there's a ribbon loop and button fastening. Would be perfect, I think, for fabric sellers and crafters alike, or anyone who likes pretty things.

You can find more details in my Folksy shop, BaggieAggietoo.

Bumblebees have smelly feet

Yes, it’s true - they produce oily secretions to inform other bees which flowers have already been visited. Amazing creatures, but not just because of their smelly feet!

Albert Einstein apparently said that humanity would die out in four years without them. A terrifying thought, isn’t it? But he was almost certainly right. Bees, the most important pollinating insects, are crucial to the entire ecosystem. Agriculture – and therefore our food supply – depends on them, so no wonder their recent dramatic decline has become a cause for global concern.

So what’s responsible? Habitat loss, pesticides and disease. Also, our recent poor summers have accelerated this manmade decline. In 2008 alone a third of all bee colonies in the UK were wiped out. One third.

It’s pretty clear, then, that bee consciousness is vital. We all need to put out the welcome mat.

The simplest way to do this is to plant bee-friendly plants and flowers to encourage bees into our gardens and neighbourhoods. If you don’t have a garden, a windowbox or a hanging basket by the front door will do nicely. It’s amazing how much you can squash into them!

We should also reduce the use of pesticides in our gardens, by companion planting, using other green methods and products, and encouraging beneficial insects and other creatures. (If on the odd occasion pesticides are unavoidable, it’s best to apply them in late evening, when bees are less active.)

Installing bee houses (bamboo for solitary bees, or boxes for social bees) is also helpful – google to see where to buy or how to make your own.

Those of us with adequate space can set up a hive or two to help the honeybee. You don’t need to live in the country to do this – all you need is the right conditions. And think of all that free honey – one hive can produce up to fifty jars in a season! And if you don’t have space, why not adopt a hive?

I hope I’ve convinced you that all of us can do something positive to halt the bees’ decline, and also have fun in the process. After all, what could be nicer than relaxing in the garden amid the soporific buzzing of bees – all busy wiping their smelly feet on your welcome mat.

©

(The Bees wrist key fob in the above photo is available here.)

Dear Dogs and Cats...

A friend emailed this to me. Still laughing!

PET RULES
To be posted VERY LOW on the refrigerator door - nose height.

Dear Dogs and Cats,

The dishes with the paw print are yours and contain your food. The other dishes are mine and contain my food. Please note, placing a paw print in the middle of my plate and food does not stake a claim for it becoming your food and dish, nor do I find that aesthetically pleasing in the slightest.

The stairway was not designed by NASCAR and is not a racetrack. Beating me to the bottom is not the object. Tripping me doesn't help because I fall faster than you can run.

I cannot buy anything bigger than a king sized bed. I am very sorry about this. Do not think I will continue sleeping on the couch to ensure your comfort. Dogs and cats can actually curl up in a ball when they sleep. It is not necessary to sleep perpendicular to each other stretched out to the fullest extent possible. I also know that sticking tails straight out and having tongues hanging out the other end to maximize space is nothing but sarcasm.

For the last time, there is not a secret exit from the bathroom. If by some miracle I beat you there and manage to get the door shut, it is not necessary to claw, whine, meow, try to turn the knob or get your paw under the edge and try to pull the door open. I must exit through the same door I entered. Also, I have been using the bathroom for years -- canine or feline attendance is not required.

The proper order is kiss me, then go smell the other dog or cat's butt. I cannot stress this enough!

To pacify you, my dear pets, I have posted the following message on our front door:

To All Non-Pet Owners Who Visit & Like to Complain About Our Pets:

1. They live here. You don't.
2. If you don't want their hair on your clothes, stay off the furniture. (That's why they call it "fur"niture.)
3. I like my pets a lot better than I like most people.
4. To you, it's an animal. To me, he/she is an adopted son/daughter who is short, hairy, walks on all fours and doesn't speak clearly.

Remember: In many ways, dogs and cats are better than kids because they:
1. Eat less
2. Don't ask for money all the time
3 Are easier to train
4. Normally come when called
5. Never ask to drive the car
6. Don't hang out with drug-using friends
7. Don't smoke or drink
8. Don't have to buy the latest fashions
9. Don't want to wear your clothes
10. Don't need a "gazillion" dollars for college.

And finally,
11. If they get pregnant, you can sell their children.