Shortlisted for an award.....!!

Woo Hoo.... Bolsita has been shortlisted for the Yorkshire Post Environment Awards, in the category of Environmentally Friendly Product. Even if I don't actually win, I'm very excited to be a finalist....

Easter blues

Easter is over and we're blue (a bit). It has been a roller coaster weekend with the event in York City Centre and a couple of days off (yippee!). The Easter weekend turned out to be better than expected, saleswise. Thanks to all those who came and said hello and to the customers who visited both the shop and the stall (dedication).

Back at the shop today to spend a couple of hours tidying up! All is in order now though, and new bags are on the way. We are dreaming up new styles which will hit the shop shortly.

We've found some fab new satchels in very thick but soft leather - can't wait for them to arrive. In the meantime, sew, sew, sew!

The website is almost, almost finished. Apparently it is down to me to fill the site with lovely bags, so my week is going to be spent photographing and uploading.... not so bad with a glass of wine on the go!

The picture is of one of the bags made by the Karen Hilltribes in Thailand, mentioned in the previous post. A bargain at £19.99!

BIG news!

Though unrelated to Bolsita (apologies for that) I am delighted to announce that our duo TWO is supporting Fairport Convention in May in York (The Duchess). This is a massive gig for us and we are beside ourselves with glee! I remember listening to Leige and Lief (have I spelt that correctly??) at the age of 15 and learning to play all the songs before I even thought of writing my own music. So it is a momentous thing to now be sharing a stage with Fairport.... not Southport Convention as mother insists on calling them!!!

www.twomusic.co.uk for more info about the music.

Story behind ......

This week has been a roller coaster of emotions. I've finished the latest instalment of the audio diary I am doing for BBC Radio York on the fortunes of Bolsita. This week it features the brilliant Prosperity Coach Cordelia, who is helping me set goals for Bolsita. That's very exciting.

I'll give you a sneak preview of the next one. This week a lady came into the shop to tell me about a charity she runs helping the Karen Hilltribes of Thailand. When she showed me the things they make I fell in love! The most beautiful hand woven scarves and bags - all naturally dyed - are now hanging in the shop! But the story behind the charity is moving. Her son went to spend some time working with the Karen Hilltribes, and certainly it impacted on his life and the lives of the people he helped. Tragically, he was killed in a car accident and his mother subsequently set up the charity to continue the work he started. The fact that the products have this kind of story behind them just adds to their beauty and worth.

I found myself thinking about the connections between me behind the sewing machine in Micklegate, York and the person who wove the scarf I am wearing in the hills of Thailand. It's the most fundamental and creative thing that humans have been doing for thousands of years - making something beautiful and offering it for people to buy.

You can find out more about the Karen Hilltribes Trust at www.karenhilltribes.org.uk or pop into the shop and have a look at the lovely products.

Sharon xx

New season, new bags!

Well, it's been ages since I posted. I feel guilty, but it's all in a good cause! The shop in Micklegate had a fab Christmas and we're looking forward to going into Easter with a healthy supply. One thing is for sure, the goat leather satchels are a hit once again!