Why I love Ted Baker

I used to think of the Ted Baker brand as, frankly, a bit chavvy. But over the last year or so it's been using some really beautiful prints on its clothes and has become one of my go-to high street stores for inspiration (and daydreaming about winning the lottery). Ted Baker handbags are often made of some sort of high-sheen plastic material which I find less inspiring - but a quick look at the website today has convinced me that the brand can make a good bag, too. Look at what I found...

The 'Parit' leather shopper bag

The 'Mollie' - from the Ted Baker/Brady bag collection

The 'Makani' maxi leather bag

A good day

I had such a good day today, for a number of reasons. The first is that last night I cycled home from work, Stockport to Altrincham. It's about ten miles and I was quite nervous about it as I've not done a lot of urban cycling; I tend to stick to country lanes. But I did it, and it was terrifying (anyone ever cycled on a roundabout in which four of the five exits are for the motorway? I was petrified), beautiful (I went right through the middle of Didsbury Golf Club) and absolutely exhilarating. When I got home I felt like I'd run a marathon or been to the moon or something much more impressive than just riding a pushbike along a few roads. Now I just need to figure out a way of avoiding that dreadful roundabout.

Today, I finished a few bags I'd been working on, had an inspiring chat with the lady who sells my handbags at the Bluecoat, followed by a very encouraging meeting with my business advisor about my bag-making shenanigans. All in all it was a very pleasant day indeed, despite the relentless rain. 

Detail from one of the bags I made today for the Landbaby shop at the Bluecoat

A small Panda Perdu satchel, also now on sale at Landbaby

Bottle plant pot

This afternoon I went into Manchester again to meet a friend in Teacup, a lovely but slightly pricey tearoom owned by the DJ Mr Scruff. I had an infusion tea which was disconcertingly called Brain Tonic Tea, and very nice it was. On the way in I spotted this plant pot, which is the cut-off bottom of a fizzy pop bottle, covered in printed paper. "What a great idea," I thought. So I'm off to finish the ginger beer so that I can create something similar!

The plant itself is a bit minimalist for my liking, but imagine the plant pot on a window-ledge in a kitchen, filled with parsley or other such herbs. Lovely

Northern Quarter discovery

This morning I ventured into Manchester to have a wander around the Northern Quarter. I used to go there quite a lot for my previous job, but every time I go I still discover something brilliant that I hadn't noticed before. This time, I found a shop called 'A Few Fine Things'. It's owned by a group of handbag makers who hand-make beautiful leather bags in a workshop beneath the shop. They used to be based at the Manchester Craft & Design Centre, which is next-door, and now own an entire shop which exclusively sells their bags. Something for me to aspire to!

A gorgeous bag by A Few Fine Things

Sunshine surprise

I was expecting it to rain all day today but it's been quite sunny and warm. I've been working on a new order for the Landbaby shop in Liverpool (part of the Bluecoat), and this afternoon the sun started shining through the craft room window, right onto what I was sewing. I love sunlight. 

Panda Perdu survey

I'm putting together a business plan for Panda Perdu, and a big part of it will be market research. So, I've created a survey of 10 questions for everyone to do. 


Everyone who responds to the survey will be in with a chance of winning a lovely Panda Perdu tote bag (pictured here) if you write your email address at the end of the survey.


Here's a link to the survey: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/PSXZTMF

And this is the tote bag you could win by entering!

Cycling

Hello there! It's been quite a while since I last did a blog post, and there have been a few changes, the best of which is that I got rid of my car and bought a shiny new bike! 


In Liverpool I was doing a seven-mile trip along Otterspool Promenade a few times a week, as it was the best place to go to get away from all the traffic. Where I am now, in South Manchester, I only have to cycle for a few minutes before I reach winding country lanes and rolling countryside. I like it a lot. 

My fancy new bike on the prom

This morning I cycled to Dunham Massey, which is about three miles from where I now live