It's been a long time since I've felt like I've had anything to add here. I finally decided to get going and pick up where I left off. We had to close our store in January (a victim of the slow economy) so the major reason I wasn't writing at the end of last year was because there were a lot of issues we had to deal with. But now all is done and we redid our website to focus on selling retail through our new online shop. Check us out at http://www.manitobagifts.com/. We also have had good sales to one of our wholesale accounts, Artful, out in Santa Monica, California. Thanks so much to her! Our Etsy shop continues to be successful and we look forward to keeping it going. We've also started hitting up some consignment shops south and east of us in Lanesboro, Mn., Maiden Rock, Wisconsin, and soon, Norhfield, Mn. It's fun to have our options...I'm actually not making much these days because I don't have to. Sales for me have slowed down and I feel like I'm stocked for potential sales so I'm just going to keep updating on a more regular basis here. What I'm posting here now is a photo we took of a trip in January to the Conservatory at Como Park in St. Paul. The beautiful greens always make me happy.

Special Order Computer Bag

These photos are of a neat project I worked on last week. A customer wanted one of my tote bags but just a little taller and longer straps so the bag could be worn over the shoulder to carry her lap top and other things. I finished it and sent it to her and just heard back from her. Fortunately, she loved it!! It's nice to be able to do that for someone.

Pouch Bag with Clasp

i finally designed a style that's been in the back of my mind for a long time. it's a pouch bag with a clasp type of closure. the closure is easy to use and is something i've wanted to do for a long time and i happy i finally made the time to get it done. the closures are from 'ohio traveling bag co.' and i'm really happy with their quality. i'm using them on my small and large style pouch bags. i now feel like i've got a good variety of closure types.

New Beginnings

last week we published our wholesale site, 'Basswood Fiber and Leather'. to celebrate IT and spring we've been taking off on driving trips whenever we can (mostly on sundays) bird watching and looking at the countryside west, south and southeast of us. yesterday we went down to the 'Big Woods' state park in Nerstrand. man, did time fly. we saw about 10 different types of wildflowers and a Red Headed Woodpecker among lots of other fun birds. Debra took this picture in the late afternoon outside of Welch near the cannon river. talk about beautiful!!

Finally a Sale!

business started to pick up the last 2 weeks so that's been nice. a lady came in and bought lots of our items including one of Debra's pincushions and my scarlet pouch bag. i was able to cut the shoulder strap to size for her while she waited and i really like being able to provide that kind of customer service. i'm including the bag here.

Slow Times

man...talk about slow. this is it!! it's amazing how things can change sales wise. this month has been incredibily bad. thank goodness for our internet shops. we've sold a few items through those sites and that has helped keep us focused. the big news is that we were accepted by wholesalecrafts to sell our products wholesale through their site on the internet, so that's good. we are in the process of setting it up and hope to have it running by the end of next week. a new name for that shop, too. basswood fiber and leather. nice...something has got to start working...!!

New Coin Purses

it's always fun coming up with something new to make. i've been working on coin purses and finally have the size right!! the case will also hold some business cards and/or credit cards as well as folding money and coins. fun to make and i can do all kinds of different colors!!