The Bohemian Cats Calendar 2010 is here!

The calendar is now printed and available. Although I know it's rather early to begin thinking about 2010, interestingly the Cat Gallery here wanted some immediately. I suppose it's a really nice present for visitors to take home, very Bohemian, spectacular (I think), a good price - and easy to carry! Yes, makes sense.

We had a whole lot of fun making this - it makes me want to get back to doing more Cats pictures soon.

New Alice bags are here.

These will be on the shop this week. I'm very pleased with them. All our Alice bags seem very popular, so we thought we would add just a few (three in fact) new prints for spring and summer. I'll post the other two and the shop link as soon as I have them listed.

Our bags are on sale at Amazon

The first batch of our satin and pure silk tarot bags is now on sale at Amazon.co.uk. It's a real thrill to see them there. They are "fulfilled by Amazon" - in other words Amazon stocks them in their warehouse and you can order them - complete with free shipping - if you're in the UK.

If it all goes well we will be sending more styles and prints over this year.

New shoulder pouches

These are the custom ones using vintage kimono fabrics. The "standard" silk ones will be ready in the summer.

Wholesale now working

Direct wholesale ordering is now mostly up and running on the shop. Well, it's in place for small drawstrings, messenger bags and totes - I need to get wholesale prices listed for everything else.

If you register as a wholesaler (and it's only open to bona fide retailers please - it need prior approval) you will see wholesale prices when you log in. Then you can go ahead and order as normal, but at these prices.

I've set it up so there is an extra-special discount if you buy several of any one item - easier all round.

If you'd like to register as a wholesaler, please get in touch.

One more from the new calender

So, a bit more information too. It will be a very large 600 * 470 mm (that's about 23.5 by 18.5 inches) and we are hoping to retail it at around $15 or 12 Euros though everyone is still being a bit vague on price. I think with the rising dollar it should be possible. The great thing about doing something with a "mass" (relatively) publisher is that the prices are very good.

New shoulder pouch samples - part two

Well, just so that you know we are progressing, here are the snaps of the samples in Vietnam. You can see the nice little metal zip pulls in these pictures - I'm pleased with these as they just give a nice finish.
Six samples will be with us this week. Meantime, we have to finish the calender and then print and print and print to get all the pictures ready to be sent out.




I had a very nice note recently from the guy who organises all this saying that in these times it's very important that they keep the work coming in for the women who do the sewing. I know that there are ifs and buts about making where you can't visit the workshops (although we hope to some day) but I do feel that it's good to know we are providing decent work and buying as direct as possible. We'll stick with these same people now - we like them and we love the quality of sewing they do.

The way this will work is what's becoming the main process for us - we do the prints, they do the sewing, it all comes back here for finishing. In this case we will make the straps here because they are being specially woven locally. So it's quite a lot of stages, but worth it because we end up with gorgeous quality and a great retail price. And deep down, something in me quite enjoys some aspects of organising all this - if I'm honest. I've always liked collaborating with a wide range of people - quite simply, it's interesting and I learn a lot.

More new "standard" bags - Arthur Rackham fairies

We have most of them listed on the shop now. They are 13.90 Euros, which is about $17.80. It may have to go up a bit as that is really a LOW price. With currencies moving around so much it's really hard to keep up. Anyway, for this month it's the price, and hopefully into March. Grab them while you can!
Yes, yes, I would say that wouldn't I? - but really, this is about the price of a mass produced bag in much less special fabric - and without the print. With the recession come bargains - there's always a silver lining.

New shoulder pouches

Adjustable strap - though for the final bags we are commissioning some cotton webbing strap to be made to our order (it feels more substantial for such a long strap - and has a nice texture). Also the final zips of course won't have the rather noticeable brass metal stops.

I'm very pleased with this design - it's been three months to get to this point (backwards and forwards between Romana, us and the guys in Vietnam). But I think it was worth taking some time.

It's not yet available. Now we have the mammoth task of doing all the prints and specifications (colour etc) for one large batch. I think we should with luck have these in April.

I know I keep saying it, but it is AMAZING how long things take. I really do understand now that you have to begin to prepare for autumn/winter season a full year ahead. Crazy!

More of the "standard" bags at $18.75 or whatever that is in Euros!

We are getting these completed quite quickly now. It is GREAT to be able to offer bags at this much lower cost in these times. Though you'll notice we've also put up the price of custom bags as we want to nudge people, gently, to go for the standard bags unless they really, really want a special colour or fabric.

Today I will have the happy task of pulling out our very old Bohemian indigo fabrics - I grabbed a load from a friend before he finished his antiques business here - and working out how to use them in the new shoulder pouches. But that's for later.

So - one of the all-time favourites now in his slightly new incarnation:





On Etsy for now, on the shop later. Don't ask me where is the cheaper to buy. I really am at my wit's end with currency changes and will just try to keep both sites more or less in line. Buy where is best for you!

Three of the new Flower Oracle "standard" bags

Just a heads-up that we have the two new Alice wristlets on special offer

I haven't sent this out in a newsletter because it's only two designs. But as they are brand new and we're really pleased with them, I thought I'd do a "special" for this month. I hate to use the word "cute" - but I do think they're cute! At 20 Euros they are probably a bit too cheap - but well, it's February and in a recession, so why not?

A couple of new shoulder bags

These are another custom order that came out really well. We're trying to cut back on custom orders but we are still happy to do them when we think that the print can go into our normal line. I think both these bags will be popular - when I get that "I want one of these" myself, it's usually a good sign. In fact, the Thumbelina shows very well at this size as you can see the details.

We tried doing one of these satin fronts in a dupion satin-backed silk. I like it, Alex is not sure. But it's interesting to try. I sort of like the little hint of texture in the dupion. I may post close-ups later so you can see what I mean.

At last - the Brave Tabby messenger bag

We've been asked for this before, but it was one very determined (good for her!) Etsy buyer that finally pushed us into getting it done.

Great bag, if I do say it myself! For brave tabbies everywhere.

and a few more new bags

Well, most of the prints will be familiar, although the Grumpy Persian is new. But these are our new all-silk bags that we are just gradually getting listed (it takes quite a time to thread and bead and pack them - and photograph). It's great to be getting so much in stock at last - we were a bit short of most things last year, so this year we have learnt.

Some of the new drawstring pouches

These can of course also be used as tarot bags - they are the perfect size for that. But we find many people now buy them to store cosmetics or other small items in their handbag, or to use as decorative storage bags in bathroom or bedroom.

New bags this time, not sale bags

I've just been a bit too busy* to fish out more of the "seconds" this week. But I will do as soon as I can. Thanks for all your enthusiasm about those.

Meanwhile here is a "beautiful Vassilisa" at last - I've been wanting to do this one for ages.




By the way I had a conversation with another Etsy seller the other day and she told me our work is WAY under-priced. I am beginning to think this may be true. Although in a recession...? Anyway, we'll keep this introductory price to the end of the month for sure.

If you have any comments about the price I'd love to hear them - I really do wonder if the price implies that the quality is far lower than it actually is (which is what my friend said). And this is NOT fishing for compliments, I'd honestly like some input.




*standard excuse I know but we seem finally to have signed the contract on the GIANT - it's poster-sized - Bohemian Cats Calender so it's a bit mad as now they need it quickly.

Four more sale tarot bags/drawstring pouches

UPDATE - all gone. I'm going to dig around the studio for more seconds but I have no idea what I'll find.
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The cats are doing quite well with their tower collection and are starting to get over-ambitious (no, we are not aiming for an Imperial Cat Palace guys).

So - on with four more bags.

First, two Strength bags with the old lion head (not the version that finally made it into the deck) and printed so that some of the details are lost. I would say that these look at least as good as most fabric prints, but the ones we sell as perfect have a lot more detail in them. These ones were early and it always takes us a few tries to get a print set up correctly.

Again, $10 plus shipping

Both now sold

And - two High Priestesses also with some detail missing - nice shiny satin print but we feel it should be sharper.

Both now sold


And finally - a very odd Devil bag -


I'm not sure I can be bothered to send a "one handed devil" separately (we forgot to switch on a layer in the picture when we printed, so the woman is actually missing her left hand!) , as it really is the only one (I found it in a box I had marked "sell as seconds" and promptly forgotten about). If you buy one of the other bags we will send you the devil free but would appreciate it if you pay $3 extra for the cost of shipping it. First person to leave me a note with their purchase gets the strange Devil.
TAKEN - sorry we only had one.

SALE bags

Three of these sold now. Just one left.

Minnie ("tabby with attitude") is sitting in front of the screen. She is getting excited - the new tower fund has begun! She wants one with one of those fur fabric boxes on top. I know, I know, I always said I could not live with one of those things - but cats LOVE them.

I really ought to be putting sale items on the shop but I just haven't got time for now. So I will offer a few from time to time here in January as well as getting a shop sale page together. Our flat and studio are FULL of slight seconds or samples or discontinued images so I have told myself that I'll sell all these off and put the money towards a new climbing "tower" for the cats (they have pulled their old one to pieces - it looks disgraceful).

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Okay, first up. Two rather stiff tarot bags. These are made in our (lovely - they really are) workshop in Vietnam so the silk is gorgeous and they are silk lined. The linings are a silver-grey silk. However, these were two of the early samples and we think the cotton interfacing is too thick. The bag can still be gathered and closed, but it's just a bit harder to do this than we like.

Prints are done by us, as always (no-one else does our prints but us with our own hands - which means Alex really - and I am allowed to do one once in a blue moon when he trusts me - hah!)

Our contact in Vietnam says that the interfacing used on these bags mean that they will last for many years! We had to say that while we appreciate that, we do prefer the softer interfacing that we are using.

One is Alice and the Pool of Tears in pale blue silk (this is not the actual bag as that hasn't been photographed - but similar to this though the blue is much lighter):.

Both are half price at $10 plus $4 shipping. We can of course combine shipping if you would like both.

By the way, if the PayPal button does not work, please let me know, I am new to this. If it does not charge shipping (it sometimes doesn't ) I will send an invoice for the $4. Or send a refund if you buy both, as we can combine shipping.


SOLD


The other is The Fairy Queen in a very pretty pale green and the background of the picture is more yellowy cream than white (again, the photo is not the actual bag).


SOLD

Two Death the Bride bags with a small fault in the printing. Each has a hairline (literally, because it's the result of a loose thread lying on the print when we were doing it) of white going across the image. About 1-1.5 inches long. It's slight but you can definitely see it.

This is the bag - the faulty ones are identical but with the small white hairline fault on the picture. I don't have a photo of them as they are down at the studio, but I can always send a picture to the buyer to check that you're happy before we post.

Same price - $10 plus $4 postage.


ONE LEFT

New Alice in Wonderland wristlets

Alice in Wonderland wristlets