U-handblog

U-Handbag is Hiring

 

 

THIS POSTION HAS BEEN FILLED, THANKS.

This is a part-time post = 4 days a week, 9.30am - 5pm.

We are looking for nice, honest and motivated individuals to make up a small friendly, helpful and enthusiastic team.  We all muck-in and take turns to make the tea.

U-Handbag is an online store which specialises in bag making supplies.  We are based in Brighton, UK.  We are online only.  All orders are packed and dispatched in-house for mail order. Lisa (the boss) is extremely proud of her little business and is obsessed with giving her customers good service (so her team will need to help her achieve that at all times).

 

Duties will include:

• making the tea
• processing and packing customer orders
• ordering stationary and some supplies
• answering the phone to help customers and to take orders over the phone
• answering emails
• stock taking and processing supplies orders
• processing the daily post
• fabric cutting to make kits
• none of the above is difficult and of course full training will be given.  It's largely quite pleasant work, but it does get busy at times.

It would really help if you:

• are a creative person who is passionate about craft and sewing
• are a tidy perfectionist. There will be a lot of measuring and counting to do.
• can sew (this is an essential requirement), if you've made bags before, even better
• are computer literate.  We use a Mac computer. Photoshop/AI skills would be nice.
• have a craft blog, use any social media, that's wonderful.
• are happy to use the phone. We get a lot of calls and we like to try to help by answering bag making queries if we can
• are fluent in English because you will be answering the phone and answering emails
• are committed, trustworthy and reliable - this is absolutely essential please.

Hours, days, pay and perks:

• 9.30am - 5pm
• We operate Monday - Friday (not including bank hols).  
• The job is long term/permanent.
• Good rates of pay depending on your skills.
• We operate a yearly bonus scheme.
• 50% discount on U-Handbag stock.
• Pleasant, informal and friendly workplace.  Good tunes and a friendly office dog to keep us company.  Decent biscuits and the occasional cake too.

 

Apply here

If you have a majority of the skills listed above and this sounds like a nice job to you, we'd love to have a chat with you.

Please email us:

1. with your telephone number and home address (these will be kept confidential).
2. and tell us a bit about the skills you posses which you feel make you suitable for the job. We will need to see some evidence of these at interview.

 

Please email us with answers (to the above) here.

Interviews begin in 1st week Sep. Thanks

THIS POSTION HAS BEEN FILLED, THANKS.

 

Guest post: Amy Butler's new fabrics & how to use them

Ding-ding!  Grab your seat on the bus for the last stop on Amy Butler's fabric blog tour (you can see all of the other blog stops here.)  In this post Amy talks about her yummy new line of fabric substrates and give us some cool ideas on how we can experiment with the new textures. I saw and fondled these fabrics at Spring quilt Market earlier this year.  Not only do the fabrics look gorgeous they feel so luxe to the touch.

So, over to you Amy!  (I've added a few baggy suggestions of my own in amongst Amy words).

.

Organic:

It's been a long time dream of mine to be able to provide an organic option for my fabric collections and " Organic Soul " has been well worth the wait! Having a sustainable, beautiful line for quilting and fashion sewing was my focus and the delicious hand and gorgeous quality will inspire your next projects for loved ones, little ones and of course yourself! The prints are derived and rescaled from my most popular Soul Blossoms designs and lovingly reproduced on a 100% organic cotton using low impact dyes. The soulful inspirations behind this line go hand in hand with the spirit of the material. You'll feel uplifted by the dreamy jewel tone prints and multi hued flowers and designs. It's my hope that you connect as deeply with this line as I do. Be inspired and let your Creative Soul shine!

Perfect for making:

• Anything & everything you use quilt weight for
• Amy's Birdie Sling
• Amy Nappy Bag
• My Highbrow Hobo Bag
• My Pretty Pinafore Purse

Rayon:

From the striking beauty of flowing saris in rich, vibrant color that captivated me on my travels in India, I've introduced 5 of my favorite Soul Blossoms prints uniquely scaled for fashion in the softest rayon.  The women of India are so confidently expressive in their glorious jewel-toned prints with multi-hued flowers and designs, it's wonderfully uplifting to see that passion.  My beautiful rayon has this inspired spirit and a very silky hand that is versatile enough to experiment with endless fashionable projects;

Perfect for making:

• dresses
• elegant tunics and kaftans
• graceful scarves,
• pantaloons,
• skirts and more!
• Amy's Lotus Tunic
• Amy's Barcelona skirt

 

Corduroy:

In my continuing quest for the most wonderful textures and fabrics, I've found a renewed love for corduroy! In this new Soul Blossoms collection I chose 4 dynamic prints rescaled (especially with sewing for baby and kids in mind) along with 2 solid colors for creating some very soft, and very comforting jewel-toned projects for home & fashion. I've picked the highest quality fine wale corduroy with an amazingly supple hand and a beautifully unique weight & body. I wanted it to offer you the most diversity across a wide breadth of sewing inspirations, and if you're like me, you'll have a blast dreaming up ideas for this timeless, super-soft fabric!

Perfect for making:

• Snuggly PJs
• Cute coats and jackets
• Plushie toys
• Soft & tactlile quilts
• Wraps and scarves
• Sofa and floor cushions
• A messenger style bag
• Amy's Liverpool Tunic
• Amy Sweet Harmony Bag
• My Expandable Tote Bag
• My Kyoko Frilled Pouch Bag

Voile:

I've always fantasized about working with Voile! It is so romantic and graceful. I imagine giant blowing sheers in richly painted blue/green doorways in Varanasi India during my travels. I chose 8 of my luscious Soul Blossoms prints scaled down for fresh fashion, as well as well as 4 mixing solids so you could dream up your dreamiest quilts, tunics, scarves, maxi dresses or sweet outfits for your favorite little ones! With such a soft feel and flow, my new voile is perfectly suited for the rich, jewel-toned prints. I can't wait to bring some of my India inspirations to life, And I can't wait to see yours!  Enjoy!  

Perfect for making:

• Flowing quilts
• Majestic maxi dresses
• long and full skirts
• Shawls and scarves
• delicate and feminine blouses
• romantic curtain panels
• dresses for little princesses
• Amy's Anna Tunic
• Amy's Sun Surf Halter
• Amy's Doemstic Goddess Apron
• Amy's Liverpool Tunic

U-Handbag 'Thursday First Five' Offer!

I'm guessing you're wondering "What is this: 'Thursday First Five" all about then?"  Well, I'll explain it's a simple way for us to treat the first five U-Handbag customers who visit the shop and....(do thing that is explained in the offer on that day (which will always be on a Thursday).  The first five customers who do that thing will bag themselves a nice freebie treat (as always our treats are non too shabby and are deffo worth having!).

So every Thursday (until further notice) I'll blog the "Thursday First Five" offer. If the offer takes your fancy, it's yours for the taking - but only if you are one of the first five customers to grab it!  

 

OK now for our first Thursday offer:

  "The first five customers who purchase a Baguette Purse Making Kit (pictured below) will get a FREE matching Bronze Curb Link Purse Chain (worth £6.00). Cool eh? That'll make a nice treat for yourself or a sweet summer pressie for a friend!"

To apply for the offer you need to:

1. Purchase a Baguette Purse Making Kit
2. During checkout enter the code:  CURB CHAIN

 

Fine print:

• Offer strictly for the first five customers only. No exceptions - sorry. 
• Customers MUST enter the code in the checkout comments box. No exceptions - sorry. 

Hold a ray of sunshine in your hand with this lovely clutch purse.

 

2011 Spring Quilt Market Lush Eye Candy

I think it's fair to say that for many mere mortals (Ms Rowling excepted) writing books isn't going to pay you enough to get you a new boat, house, or diamond studded collar for the chihuahua. Nope, my book is out there and Beans is happily making do with his plain leather collar. 

I wrote my book because I was invited to and well, it's not like you get that sort of invitation every day.  I also wrote the book in the hope that I would get to meet people and (to be honest) I wanted to see if it could enable me to occasionally slip out of my PJs, out of my house and allow me to wear nice make up and clothes and go to glam places!  Well blow me down, it worked!  My flipping book got me on a plane headed for the states. Haha!

It did really happen, didn't it?  It must've done, I have pictorial evidence. Or maybe there is a strange  5"1 Chinese lady out there (who is the spitting image of me) that has drugged me, implanted me with wonderful USA trip memories and has gone to the trouble of filling my memory card with all these cool QM holiday snaps.... Hmmm?

So, from the moment I touched down to the moment I drank my first cup of tea (when I got back home) that was the most incredible trip!

The first cup of tea when you get home is AMAZING isn't it?  The badge is now stuck on my wall as a souvenir and those cookies were baked by David Butler - man he bakes porno cookies!  Double vanilla + double choc chips = double tasty!

On this USA trip:

• I was blown away by Quilt Market
• I did some filming with my publisher for 2 x 60min films 
• Did a double book signing with Amy Butler
• Then stayed at the Butler household for the weekend before flying home.

 

Of course before I left I was super excited, but at the same I was a bit nervous.  Ever since I knew of an online crafting community I have always wanted to fly across the pond to meet some USA crafting cousins. I wanted so bad to make meet and make USA friends, to be inspired, be able to swap experiences and advice, and importantly be welcomed into their fold.  Well, was I ever,  and did I ever get all of those things and more.  The folks I met were literally all lovely and huggable.  You lot are so friendly and encouraging!!!  You couldn't have made me for more welcome if you tried.  Thank you so much. I can't wait until next year when I get a chance to come back. Yayyy!

Thanks to everyone who said Hi whilst I was abroad, it was great having you keep me company during my surreal and exciting trip.  Also thanks for keeping an eye on things whilst I was away. Beanie seems fine, Al tidied our house and appears to be well fed, and none of my plants have died. :)

So I'll share all my pics over the next few days.  I'll go and fix us some popcorn, dya want salty or sweet?

 

I love Amy Butler, not least because on day #1 she handed me this Quilt Market survival kit. The woman is a genius!

 

Here's Amy swapping into her comfy Converse before packing up the booth on the final day of Quiltmarket.  So cute!  PS: Hot News Flash: Amy has some ta-hasty fabric contraband coming up for us: we're talking cord, rayon, and voile. I've fondled it all... Oooo boy!

One of the first booths I saw was Tula Pink's. Her Prince Charming fabric is lush. She just gets better and better at this!  Her mom was there and you could tell Mom was bursting with pride!  :)

One of Tula's amazing quilts.  She uses a double layer of wadding to get that 3D thing going on strong!

Kokka = sweetshop!

Sandi Henderson (Portabello Pixie) lushness. 

 

Bari J (Bari Ackermans) cute bag patterns.

 

Bari's booth swiftly became the (even more) sassy booth when filled with these mouthy ladies. Left to right: moi, Bari, Valori Wells, and Jona. If only you knew what we were all saying when the camera went click, clue: it wasn't "cheese"!

Ahh so cute I can't take it!  Goodies from Oliver & S's new book.

 

The lovely Betz White and Dave White. They both taught me how to make a bird nest brooch.  They are ace teachers!  I dig your bag and shoes Betz!

The amount of work that went into creating booths was astounding.  There were captivating displays everywhere you looked! 

From the Alexander Henry booth...so lush!

 

The girls from F&W Media. My publisher (David & Charles based in Devon, UK) is an imprint of F&W Media (a USA company). This means that D&C & F&W constantly work closely with each other.  It was such a treat to meet and work with some of the American team - who were really friendly and consummate pros!  Left to right: Christine from Cinci, moi, and Barbara from NY.  Thanks for taking good care of me guys!

I did briefly consider maybe perhaps riding off (very swiftly) with this cute 2 wheeler...

It's that Kokka Echino again!

This is a bag made by my friend Cheryl of Paradiso Designs.  I had to take a pic because I couldn't believe that this was a handmade bag.  Very talented and kind woman.  She'll go far!

Kay Whitt (author of Sew Serendipity, and we both write for the same publisher) is cute as a button.  She's a talented sewing live wire and as gorgeous as she looks.

Can you believe this tasty fabric cupcake??!

There were booths that felt like (dream) home away from home, Valori's booth was one of them.

 

So much work, but worth every stitch!

I hope you enjoyed the show.  Thanks fer lookin'!  Who are your designer faves and what fabric ranges are you looking forward to most?

There are loads more QM action pics in my Face Slap. I simply have too many to post on the blog :)

 

If you want to see the other QM pics please join my Faceslap page.

☜ Click to join my U-Handbag Facebook page. Thanks!

 

More pics coming next: 'Craft Video shenanigans'

New interfacing, new book and new job!!

I was in Birmingham on Sunday & Monday to attend a meeting with my publisher and Coats Crafts UK (more about that in a minute).

The setting was a craft supplier and manufactures trade fair.  I had a great time running amok in the aisles checking what's hot and what's going to go into my shop and/or into the new book. Work shouldn't be this fun!

 

New Job

So, why a meeting with Coats Crafts UK? Weeelll I have some exciting news: I am going to be a Coats gal/expert/designery type person. Which means I will teach/attend Coats hosted workshops/book signings/talks and other such crafty events held in stores, fairs and in their headquarters.  Woo hoo!  This is like a big deal for me. Not so long ago I first met the nice Coats people at one of Amy Butler's Liberty book signings. I had NO IDEA that some time later I will find myself in similar shoes in the very same Liberty store with shaky pen in hand signing copies of my own books. 

Oh, and thanks to Coats; I will have a really lovely 'Lisa Lam' area on The Cotton Patch stand at Festival of Quilts 2011.  Their stand is always aa-mazing!  It'll be nice a roomy so we can all have a good gossip in comfort.  The Festival is simply brilliant, everyone says so!  Please please please say you can come and say Hi!

 

New Book

What else?  My publisher and I talked more about the new book.  I'm soo excited about it! 

All I can divulge is:

• it will be published in 2 parts (the first part this year, the rest in Spring 2012)
• it's full of things that you've asked for
• It's most likely going to be hardback spiral bound with full sized patterns
• the book concept hasn't been done before
• You might at some point see me doing the bag making thing in film...
• and...I'll deffo have this new fabric somewhere in the book. I saw it in the flesh at the fair. It's LUSH! Ty Pennington  I salute you!

 

USA here I come!!

One of my crafty dreams is going to come true - I'm flying across the crafty pond!!!!  I'll be attending Spring Quilt Market in SLC. I'll be giving a talk (YIKES!!) and I'll be goofing around the stands with the crafty rock stars. I'll be sure to take a vid cam and snag you some interviews and previews.

**It's still to be confirmed (but I'll keep you posted). Amy Butler and I are trying to wangle a double book signing in St Mary's Ohio on May 20th. Amy will deffo be there, I am hoping to be there, and it'd be brilliant if you were going to be there too!**

 

New Interfacing

So I was walking around the trade fair with my craft fiend editor (and another lover of interfacing) Jennifer and I spotted a stand that specialized in loads of different weights of interfacing. I squealed very loudly and ran over waving my arms (well, in my head I did). I saw a product that looked a lot like the now defunct Flexi-firm. You have no idea how much I (and a lot of my customers) have yearned for a satisfactory substitute. After having a touchy feely of the stuff I can happily report that the arduous search is finally over. In fact this stuff is better becuase it irons out better than the Flexi-firm did.   I'm just finalizing supplier account stuff so I hope to have it back in stock real soon.  YAYYY!   Yes people, it's perfectly normal to get this excited by interfacing. :)

 

Interview, Free Bag Pattern, books and a bag up for grabs!

Yessiree folks all of this is to be found on one of my favest sewing blogs.  For me, being featured on SewMamaSew is pretty much akin to setting my handprint in the Hollywood walk of fame.  Ohh where's my headscarf and big sunglasses?

And if you came over here from SewMamaSew: **Hello!! Lovely to have you come & visit!**

 

Pop over to SewMamaSew blog for the interview and books giveaway,...

 

...and here's a free PDF pattern for the bag above (from the Bag Making Bible) and a chance to win the actual bag in the picture. It's all on SewMamSew fer the takin', good luck!  :)

 

New sewing pattern is on it's way - join the FB to get 50p off

Hello all!  I hope you had a lovely weekend.  I must say I enjoyed mine. I got a good amount of holiday handmade pressies, sewn and bought (at at local craft fair).  And I saw my book inside a book shop for the first time time - yeh!

 

I have dreamt about the moment (where I see my book in a book shop for the first time) many times: I was supposed to swish into the store wearing an arty dress and a bohemian necklace of some sort. As it was, it was brass monkeys outside so I had on my not so glam Stay Puft coat and woolies. Ah well :)

 

 

This is my new pattern!  It's a cute (and very practical) lunch tote that's wipe clean on the inside. The pattern is in two sizes (both are included) one size for you and one size for little one's.

 

 

If you like sound of the new pattern and you'd get like get 50p off the price please join my FaceBook to get the discount code (I shall be posting  the pattern and the code later on today):

 

☜ Click to join my U-Handbag Facebook page. Thanks!

 

Free & Not Naff Christmas Gift Labels / Tags

...well, in my eyes they're not naff :)

 

Some Christmas labels you might have seen and others you might have not.  All of these lovely people have designed these labels and are sharing them for free - so don't forget to tell 'em how nice they are!

 

Retro-cool labels from Orange You Lucky

 

Happy Hannukkah by Stacy

 

 

Holly-Jolly by Erin  at Ink Tree Press.  Grab the labels here.

 

Kawaii Christmas labels by Paper Glitter.

 

Kawaii cute Christams to-do lists also by Paper Glitter

 

Delight Christmas by Delight.com

 

Graphic Christmas by Amy Locurto.

 

 

Doing the Polka Christmas by FRYD + Design.

 

 

Kokeshi Christmas by Zakka Life.

 

 

Christmas Glad Rag Tag by Anna Maria Horner.

 

 

Swoon Christmas by Inside a Black Apple.

 

Customisable Christmas by Creature Comforts.

 

Absolutely hilarious Christmas by Angry Chicken.  Download here.

 

U-Handbag is FIVE! There are Special Freebies up for grabs!

Last night I was just finishing up the sewing for a new pattern. As I was sewing the project up I thought to myself (as I often do when sewing) 'Yeeehhhaah!  I'm so lucky that I love sewing, it really is the most fun you can have with your slippers on".  In the same breath I also remembered that "U-Handbag is now five years young!"  Gosh! So it all worked out OK and it's still so much fun.

As I'm sure some of you know, when you own your own business you can never really switch off and you feel a least a low-level of worry most of the time (well I do).  Of course I need to pay da bills, but for me it's always been more than that.  I always wanted to run a Ben & Jerry's or Innocent friendly type of outfit where the owner and team are accessible, customers feel like they are all wanted & welcome and the shopkeepers know their products. I hope that as customers that this is something akin to the experience you get whenever you pop into U-Handbag - I really do, because stuff like that gets me out of bed terrifically early in the morning. 

Thank you so much to all of my customers and readers - your support and encouragement over the last 5 years have helped make my job a dream one.  I'm so lucky that you are vocal and responsive.  I hope you can tell that much of what I do is shaped by your feedback.  I try to stock what you request, design what you ask for and yes, much of the content in my book is borne out of hundreds of your bag making conundrum emails :)

So here's to the next 5 years - Looking forward to many more years of serving you and having a laugh with you too.  **HUGS**

 

It's mid-week so there's no birthday cake until the weekend.  For now, I am celebrating U-Handbag's birthday by giving away some very tasty FREEBIE bag making treats to customers.  These goodies are all new and first quality and they are not clearance (in other words: this is stuff is actually rather yummy, actually useful and stuff you'd actually want!).

So it's up for grabs for the first 75 customers who spend £20 or more and enter the special code (that will be announced in the U-Handbag Newsletter that I am sending out tomorrow, 1st Dec).

The FREEBIES include:

1. large purse frames
2. fabric glue
3. complete eyelet kits
4. metal ware accessories goodie bags
5. purse chains 
6. bag making patterns

To get the special code you will need to be a U-Handbag newsletter subscriber (if you already subscribe to the newsletter you don't need to do anything).

If you want to subscribe to the newsletter here's da form:

 

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Hello, I'm Steph!

Hi there! I'm Steph and I'm one of the new team members at U-Handbag. Lisa's asked me to introduce myself, so I thought I'd tell you a little bit about me.

  

I'm a Sussex girl, and I've lived in and around brighton my whole life. I am super keen on crafts especially sewing and of course bag making :) I also like to make Jewellery and knit, crochet and felt. When I'm not crafting up a storm, I like to make lots of mess in the kitchen instead, baking cakes, biscuits and even cooking the occasional savory dish ;) I love animals and have had cats, dogs and chickens since I was a little girl. I recently got engaged to a lovely man called Nik who is a great support to my crafting, bringing me lots of cups of tea as I sew away.

I've been at U-Handbag for a few weeks now, and I'm really enjoying it. I've been making up the little Tonal Trim bags with buttons and ribbon, and I wanted to give you a few ideas of crafty things you can do with the buttons. Here's a few quick ways of using the buttons to make little felt embelishments that you can pin onto your bags and coats and are great as little Christmas gifts.

I made this flower by sewing white petals onto a black piece of felt and then cutting around the shape and finishing with a big matt white button.

For this one I sewed a selection of buttons together in a group and gave it a felt backing.

I pinned this one onto my Easy Peasy Purse, and I think it looks great :)

 

Right, got to go, my next job is making scrummy fabric scrap packs for your sewing pleasure.

Happy Crafting!

Steph x