Your very own piece of Cherry Lane

One of my favourite films is Mary Poppins,I love the scene where she reaches into her carpet bag and coolly unpacks her lamp.Woven rugs to me have always exuded mystery and magic. So today when sales frenzy has probably reached every corner of the globe (I know that globes don't have corners,but isn't it a fun expression to use?) I decided to feature what I think are probably the most breath taking bags on earth, from carpetbags.

Loretta's Story (the company founder) has very humble beginnings, in 1974, she moved from London to Bury St Edmund's in Suffolk.With the aim of helping set up charitable organisation Green Desserts,which was interested in raising funds to help with the refertilisation of dessert wasteland.During this time, she enjoyed visiting dead stock auctions where she would bid for a variety of bric a brac, she would purchase anything that caught her eye particularly old mirrors and remnants of old Persian carpet.

It was during this time that members of the charity asked if she had any ideas for items that could be sold at the May Horse Fair to raise money for the charities work.Keen to contribute, she was inspired to make some bags using the the remnants of the carpet she had collected and a old treadle sewing machine her friend had given her.Following a disappointed day at the fair, Loretta undeterred decided to take her bags to London to sell to Harrods and Liberty,they sold immediately. A week later repeat orders came flooding in from both stores,the rest is history.

Today they use copies of images of Persian rugs printed onto heavy duty cotton as it has been increasingly difficult to source old pieces of carpet,the bags themselves are still hand crafted individually and sold online, in London and in Loretta's shop in Cambridge shire. Visit carpetbags to see more of the companies beautiful designs. These bags really do live up to the concept of a bag for life, as once bitten forever smitten!
Sharon x

Bags of Tribal Style!

Hi again, this week I'm flying the flag for Fair Trade accessories and in particular Fairtade in Nepal, I am lucky enough to have family out there, so thought I would do my bit to raise awareness of some of the really chic pieces you can now pick up when on line.

I hope like these two great looks I have put together, the first shows how you can transform a romantic Tribal look, to a stronger sexier look and the second look shows how Tribal can be really elegant, without a hint of Boho or Grunge in sight.

This earthy gold and ochre Nepalese Fairtade woven hemp bag in a classical style would great when worn with either the Om Marni silver Nepalese Fair trade bracelet or this lovely Heart Twill red seed handmade bracelet by Suzanne Cambell at Jungle Berry that doesn't use any toxic dyes as it relies on the seeds natural colour for impact. For an even stronger look,wear the Om Marni bracel and is stunning Nepalese Fair trade red glass bead necklace, wear with brown gladiator sandals.

Look number two, shows how to build a elegant Tribal feel, that looks really sophisticated, little sister beware, this look could be worn day or night. This Lipsy dress offer a vibrant Tribal pattern with a flattering forties cut, sheer genius.Wear with Sunset Orange raw silk bag from Fair trade company Nepalese Creations, these beautifully fluid solid silver earrings from Welsh Company La Jewelry, which use locally sourced silver and this silver and garnet holes bracelet again Fairtade from Nepal. All combine to make temperatures soar!

See you soon

Sharon x