Congratulations are in order to all Seniors 2013. And what better gift than a personalized briefcase in a modern twist of colors. Come get them now and we’ll ship within 24-hrs or we can had-deliver them in the Metro area. Embossing takes just 24-hrs or less. Come get them Satchel Company and at http://www.satchel.co/collections/all/15

The point I’m making is that I know many creatives who never want to be separated from their tools and that requires the correct bag.

Scaramanga detail on my bag

I discovered Scaramanga when I was in university, looking for leather satchels to drool over because I knew I couldn’t afford one. I’d been on several sites to window-shop for these products and Scaramanga really stood out (although the name was difficult to remember initially). I was particularly enamored with their vintage style leather satchels in a range of sizes. This was before the popularity of these bags and companies such as The Oxford Bag Company so – for once in my life – I could have genuinely been a trend-setter if I’d only had the money to make that purchase straight away.

Several years down the line and no small amount of bags later, I was finally able to buy myself a bag from Scaramanga. My tastes had changed a little and I knew I wanted a messenger bag because I find it easier to carry greater weights in bags of that shape (read: a ton of books and my laptop combined). I’m aware that this does put all said weight on one shoulder but I do try to switch between them to even this out. I put my order through for a leather messenger bag, getting a free notebook with the deal, and waited. And not for long either! My bag arrived impressively fast and as I opened the package I immediately got that glorious smell of leather. The inside has a large zip pocket down the back, a smaller zip pocket down the front and a third pocket inside the front. This makes it easy to find bits and pieces such as keys or your phone.

Initially the leather was quite tough but now it’s beautifully flexible and a genuine pleasure for me to use. Plus it’s sizable enough to hold my laptop, a writing book, a reading book and snacks (if I’m so inclined). The inside lining originally surprised me with it’s colour but the shade has totally grown on me. And the buckles really give my bag a wonderfully vintage look (though I have to be honest, I rarely bother to do them up!), making this the perfect blend of style and practical substance. I could never survive with a handbag, look how much I need to store inside!

Scaramanga detail on my bag

The Tool For The Job

I love the idea of everyone having the perfect bag to keep their all important tools. Artists, poets and writers plus all those others that go out to create. For creatives with a full time job, it’s also very important that we can get everything we need in one place to save as much time as we can. So what’s your method? Do you only need a small book and pen to get the juices flowing or do you crave a bag as much as I did? Is there something you can’t do without? I wanna know if you’re all obsessed about your bags as I am!

*Crickets*

Oh dear…. but regardless, Scaramanga are still an excellent choice and I couldn’t be happier with my wonderful leather messenger bag!

Assots provides online shopping for Genuine Leather Handbags, Leather Satchel, Leather Holdall, Leather Cross body bags, Leather Clutch bags, Jute Bags, Canvas bags.

Assots provides online shopping for Genuine Leather Handbags, Leather Satchel, Leather Holdall, Leather Cross body bags, Leather Clutch bags, Jute Bags, Canvas bags.

For more details visit our website : http://www.assots.com

Anywaysies. Back to the topic at hand. Leather cases. The one at the bottom is my own. It’s the abyss. Put something in there and don’t expect to see it eveeeeeeeeer again. dum dum dummmmmmmm. I spotted the other two on campus. They’re lovely.

The top one is a vintage case handed down to the owner by his mum. Aaaw.

The people of Reykjavik 

Reykjavik fashion 

So it seems an ongoing theme here comprises of very colourful/patterned tights or trousers, big boots, large woolen/fur coats and hats, and leather satchels/backpacks. I fell in love with this look – it was just so quirky.

I particularly fell in love with the coloured tights trend – they were everywhere, so I found myself buying a gorgeous pair of green ones and trying to secretly fit in (saying that, some shop keepers did actually start rambling at me in Icelandic! Perhaps it was due to the fact that I have a blonde haired, blue eyed Icelandic-looking boyfriend – I don’t know). I just have to say that they are the comfiest tights I have ever worn; they are actually made in Italy and called Oroblu Myriam (see a picture below). Anyhow, I don’t think I could get away with wearing those tights anywhere but in London, so I made the most of it.

The tights I bought

I also stumbled across the most unique, amazing shoes I have ever seen. Whether I would wear them is a different thing. If I ever had to say that shoes were a work of art, these would be it. I’m just glad that when I asked to try them on they didn’t have my size, as I was so close to spending an obscene amount of money on something I would probably just look at and never wear (like most of my shoes to be honest).

These shoes were made by Icelandic designer KronKron. An example of the kind of shoe you can buy can be seen below.

As it states on their Facebook page, ‘visiting the store is like coming into a sweets factory filled with goodies.’ I can’t argue with this.

The tantalisingly tempting KronKron shoes

Get your mum a beautiful satchel today!

Take advantage of our Mother’s Day 10% off with the code: mum

Only available until the 10 of march.

But, I am the bearer of good news.

If you are still recovering from the Christmas over-spending, but are nonetheless desperate to surprise your loved one with a beautiful St. Valentine’s gift, despair no more!

Here at retrosatchels.com we are incurable romantics, and, as such, have decided to help romance flourish just a little bit easier with our 10% off coupon just valid until February 14, 2013:  love13

So no more excuses for all you lovestruck souls out there:  go into our web store, search amongst our beautiful satchels, choose the ONE for your ONE, go to the checkout, plug in the coupon and pay 10% less.  There!  Done!

Romance is still alive and well!

Wishing you all a very Happy St. Valentine’s Day

Let’s go all the way back to the Romans. Yes, the Romans! Today’s fashions have surprising beginnings  They used little leather bags called Loculus which were highly practical.

Loculus (satchel), From Wikipedia

Loculus is a Latin word literally meaning little place and was used in a number of senses including to indicate a satchel. Satchels were carried by Roman legionaries, as a part of their luggage.

The loculus is thought to have measured about 45 by 30 centimetres (18 by 12 in) and was likely made from leather. It is just the right size to be made in one piece from a single goat hide although calf leather is also possible. The loculus was probably used to store rations and a legionary’s personal effects.

As you can tell from the history leather satchels have been around for quite some time.

Now we can jump in our time machine all the way to the seventeenth century where they re-emerged for the same reasons. The sturdy nature of the bag was perfect for everyday usage.

Now, these bags hadn’t fully faded away. Sporadically from time to time they have re-emerged.  But nothing like the unexpected boom that a fashion statement does that has given them the most popularity to date. These bags have probably laid low under the fashion radar because honestly, it hasn’t been until recently that these bags have had an huge impact on pop culture.

Traditional companies have been constantly producing well made satchels ever since their appearance on culture. These bags are so well known for this purpose, but they also stand up on their own because of how their design has evolved from something simply practical to something that even the most elegant person can accent their outfit. Heritage company The Leather Satchel Co. Has been making artisan hand crafted satchels ever since the late sixties. These bags carry a very british spirit to them.

Most recently they have taken a more modern twist whilst staying true to its practical British satchel design.

Aimed at school children, as used by the Hogwarts in the Harry Potter movies since 2001, no school kid would be caught without a virtually indestructable satchel for carrying all their school supplies.

Fast forward to circa 2006 and you will find what we have adopted as the modern satchel. It is this same Harry Potter film, and necessity, which inspired a working mom of two to search high and low for British leather craftsmen to relaunch the most classic bag of all times, and it wasn’t until Elle UK’s Accessories Director Ms. Donna Wallace requested a neon-hued satchels for a photo shoot editorial for the fashion magazine, that the satchel craze really took off, and the rest, as they say, is history.

One thing led to another and now the classic leather satchel has an unexpectedly high demand in the 21^st-century as companies, that have been making the classic bag for decades, jump on the modern color combination bandwagon and offer it to satchel lovers everywhere in every color of the rainbow, and in a plethora of finishes; metallic, patent and classic finishes which will all be available for satchel lovers at www.satchel.co

Even luxury British fashion brand Mulberry, after spotting actress and high profile celebrity Alexa Chung sporting a vintage satchel,got inspired to create the “Alexa” bag. Newer companies started producing more different variations of the leather satchel.  Every one from high fashion designers like Proenza Schouler and their PS1 to high street brands, like Steve Madden, have re-made the satchel in countless ways. Other companies like Zatchels developed the classic satchel but with printed leather.

This immediately set off the current satchel craze that we know of today. Whether your personal preference is vintage and classic chestnut or you prefer bright, contemporary and outstanding, satchels today cater to everyone’s tastes.

Numerous satchel companies have been bringing this timeless classic to everyone’s hands in numerous colors like pastels, neons, metallics, classic shades, prints and different sizes and new features.  Regardless of which style you choose, you can rest assured that choosing a satchel is the right investment. As versatile as this bag is and how many different ways you can style it or use it, you will be getting your money’s worth.

And if you thought the satchel craze was nearly over, it’s far from it! The spring 2013 runways were jam packed with them. Designers like Chris Benz, and the likes, showed off their satchel love in New York Fashion Week. The satchel is apparently here to stay so it’s time we all embrace it and enjoy it!

Funny thing we notice now though is that females, are becoming the bulk of the satchel fan base while it was the men who used this practical bag back in Roman times.

That takes us to our blog entry about men and their satchels.

A bientot!

Present-giving and christmas tree decorating are now part of the festive season but who doesn’t like receiving a present or two? In this post maybe you can get something for your loved one! It’s no secret that I have been carrying a certain type of bag lately. More specifically, cool leather satchels from The Cambridge Satchel Company. Just click here to see all of my posts where I carry my CSC satchels!

Very classic, British-made and super funky yet old-school – these satchels which I knew about from 2010 while googling for satchels have become a firm favourite in my closet! My first bag was The Designer in Vintage Navy (14″) which was originally a collaboration between CSC x Urban Outfitters but soon became part of the CSC’s main collection due to its popularity. It had free embossing for that particular bag in the day so why not?

Currently I own 4 Cambridge Satchels (2 are embossed) and love them all! There are only 4 sizes of satchels: 15″, 14″, 13″ & 11″. For my height of 5’2″, the largest size is a little too big for me. I’ve seen the bag though and it has the biggest compartment space compared to the other 3 sizes so if you want lots of space – I suggest you get that

If you are wanting a size comparison between the 14″, 13″ and 11″ look no further!

The Designer in 14″ Vintage Navy; 13″ Cobalt Blue (Limited Edition); 11″ Silver Metallic

There is not much of a significant size if you do a direct comparison between the 11″ and 13″, or the 13″ and 14″. Only the 11″ will not have a card holder on the outer compartment as it is too small. The insides of the satchels may look narrow but I’ve stuffed a lot of things into any of these sizes before! It’s all about good stuffing For example in my 11″ I can fit my wallet, camera, mini umbrella & water bottle!  The leather is not soft, and is very sturdy. One may find it too hard at first but it does soften slightly overtime!

The 11-inch satchel is perfect for a handbag. Not too big, not too small. These bags make the perfect accessory from day to night! It’s also quite a dazzler. Once on a very steep escalator in the London Underground, someone below me suddenly poked me. Of course I turned around a little angry until the poker immediately said: Excuse me, where did you get your bag? Me: Oh! The Cambridge Satchel Company! Lady poker: Ahh I thought so! Is there a store? Lovely bag!

That said…

P.S: Please don’t ever poke someone who is riding a steep escalator! Someone could fall and you’d be paying for their medical bills (okay, there’s the NHS) or their “loss of income/enjoyment” and you won’t be able to get your lovely Cambridge satchel! +_+

Now the 13-inch satchel is slightly bigger than the 11″ which means you can fit more things! The outer compartment also has a card holder for you to put your namecard or to personalise I bought this satchel for an anti-bullying cause – if you don’t already know, the founder of the company, Julie Deane wanted to stop her daughter from being bullied at school and made these satchels to sell so that she could send her daughter to a private school. Bullying is never cool

This 13-inch satchel is a collaboration between CSC and ASOS! It’s not sold anymore, and unfortunately I have not had much wear out of this one because the straps were too long (as it didn’t have enough holes on the strap). My strong dad did however, punch more holes in the strap for me a few days ago so now I see myself wearing the satchel more now as it is at a good length!

If you can see, I’ve personalised my bag with a piece of pretty flower print and placed it into the card holder! You can do the same, just insert any pretty print into it

The 14-inch satchel! I wore this so much during my Bar course that I’ve decided to let it rest a little bit in its dustbag. This satchel is actually called a “batchel” due to the handle! I love the contrasting buckle/strap/handle and this original brown colour makes the bag such a classic. I also personalised my satchel with a beautiful print in the cardholder!

There are loads more other colours that you can check out at their website:

Their Fluro/neon range was what catapulted CSC into stardom when it caught the fashion bloggers’ world by storm! Even at their newly launched store (currently still a pop-up) in Convent Garden, they have a “Bloggers’ Corner” or will be having “Bloggers events” to say their thank yous! Wished I was still in London to see the new store but had left a week earlier before they opened Maybe next time!

If you’re still stumped on what to get someone for Christmas, then head over to their metallic section and see these gorgeous colours – they are oh so pretty for this festive season!

I’m making you spoilt for choice – check out other CSC collaborations such as with ASOS where there are satchels in matte AND patent leather. LOVE! Just note that only satchels bought from the main CSC website offer embossing Don’t worry though, if you’re ever in London with your unembossed satchel the Cambridge Satchel Company store will be offering embossing from January 2013! Yay!

Want to find satchels for a male friend/loved one instead? CSC has done collaborations with ASOS too for a men’s range!

Have fun looking (don’t get dizzy) and have a lovely week everyone! xx

Photo from GQ

After I saw this picture, I knew I wanted this satchel.

How chic. The contrast of the gray against the rich brown. Gorgeous.

What’s a satchel you ask? Good question. It’s a bag, usually with a strap (usually worn cross body). Traditionally, this bag was used to hold books and conjures up the popular image of a young English schoolboy frolicking to school (okay, maybe that’s a bit too out there).

A batchel (as seen below in navy blue) has a handle on top of the bag for carrying with your hands instead of slinging the straps over your shoulder).

Today, satchels are very popular and fashionable. The newest trend has been the the introduction of satchels in fluorescent and metallic colors. Designer brands such as Mulberry and Proenza Schouler carry beautiful bags based on the satchel.

This instant love surprised me because I hate messenger bags or any sort of cross body bag. I always thought I’d never carry a messenger because growing up, I remember those ugly canvas messenger bags everyone had from Jansport. However, this satchel is refined and clean. After a year and a half, my bag still looks brand new, despite normal wear and tear and having been on in the rain one too many times. The quality of the leather is unsurpassed for such a great price.

Photo from GQ

Photo from Aainaaqila

Photo from Cool Spotters

Photo from Late Blooms

I ordered the 14” bag because I needed a size big enough for my 13” Macbook from Tom Brown’s Satchels. Why? It was the cheapest out of all the sites I researched. However, they had spotty customer service (didn’t provide me with a tracking number and eventually stopped corresponding with me about my order). It took about 2 and a half weeks for my order to come. The time wasn’t the issue. The lack of communication was.

PROS:
1. Beautiful – It looks brand new except for a few nicks even after a year and a half.
2. Quality Leather — This is my work horse. I throw it around and ran in the rain a few times with it and still looks gorgeous.
3. Customizable — Add your initials, choose a different strap, etc.
4. Affordable — Unlike designer bags, these are under $150!

CONS:
 1. Weak strap/rivet — Rivet came out of the leather after a few months of using it to the maximum (stuffing it with papers, my laptop, water bottle, etc.) So I just went to the local shoe repair store and had it riveted with a stronger item for around $7.

What has been your experience ordering off these sites?

Comparison for a 14” classic leather satchel in brown (without shipping):
Tom Brown’s -$123
Cambridge Satchel Company -$128
Retro Satchels – $128
Original Satchel Store – $129
Heister Camp – $210
A Day With Kate – $194
Door Step Luxury — $213

Image Credits: Cool Spotters, Late Blooms, Aainaa Aqila, GQ

It was revealed during London Fashion Week that British Fashion is one of the most important British industries, generating £21 billion last year, twice as much as the car industry. We are all taking a turn from buying cheaper products made in the Far East, to buying more expensive but higher quality products made in Britain, as Anya Hindmarch told Lisa Armstrong from the Telegraph, about the accessories manufacturing in Britain: “it’s coming back to life.  It’s much easier to keep and eye on things if they’re not being made in the Far East.  You can rectify mistakes before they become disasters, and speed improves profits.  Made in Britain has cachet again.  It’s shorthand for a certain kind of luxury.”(http://fashion.telegraph.co.uk/columns/lisa-armstrong/TMG9090406/Why-Made-in-Britain-is-the-most-fashionable-label-this-season.html)

Here at retrosatchels, we are proud to manufacture in Britain, using leather from British tanneries.  We are proud of our heritage and of our product.  And we are proud to be part of the movement that is showcasing British manufacturing and know-how to the rest of the world.

To mark this year of Making It British, we are working on a new design aimed at celebrating our “Britishness” that will in our stores and stockists in the near future.

Yet many owners of older collections sell their used treasures on- and anyone can have the pleasure of owning a classic for fraction of the price. The workmanship when it comes to the bags is amazing- each detail and lining is carefully places, and the signature plain leather, ostrich leather and snake print bags gives a wonderfully decadent feel to each bag. What is also very alluring in the brand is that they do equally good pieces for men- catching on with beautiful soft leather satchels and laptop bags.

What I think is also worth mentioning is that Mulberry has a certain addiction to putting lovely pooches into their shows- an accent which I think is endearingly sweet. Inspired by Wendy H Gilmour and Mr K of Thankfifi (you can visit the blog on www.thankfifi.com ), I wanted to post the pictures of Mulberry, their bags and fashionable women with their dogs.

All photos were meant for viewing purpose only.

I adore this super sweet vintage Ebay store! My favorite thing about them?  Amazingly hand-picked adorable dresses; one better than the next!  The definition of fun, outlined in bright colors and boldly underlined with a Boho pen!   You can definitely understand who these sellers are just by looking through all their picks.  Now, I never usually do this, but I love the way they describe their store and thought I should share it with you: At When Decades Collide, we are two sisters that are head over heels in love with EVERYTHING vintage!!! We hand-select pieces we adore from sources all across Southern California. We are smitten with everything from the beachy boho glam of the 60’s to the minimalist muted 90’s. I’ll be surprised if you haven’t already clicked on their banner!

Never in short supply of anything cute and vintage, The Kissing Tree Vintage is another Ebay favorite of mine!  Founded in 2010 KTV seems to have established a definite and permanent spot in the Vintage world with a wide range of items from the 50s-90s.  I really adore the fact that this shop has continued to surprise me with top quality vintage picks and, as mentioned, has never let its store be empty and ALWAYS has a multitude of vintage for the buyer to choose from.  Things they love : Florals. Polka Dots. High waisted skirts. Lace. Knee-high socks. Sequins. Party dresses. Rompers. More florals. Jumpsuits. Stripes. Prints. If you love any of that, then this might be the shop for you!

Santoki Vintage, an Austin based Etsy store, is one of my ABSOLUTE go-to stores for amazing vintage footwear!  Carrying some of the best vintage footwear from sandals to boots I’ve seen, this store has became a fast favorite of mine.  Their taste in vintage shoes is flawless without a doubt, but the condition of the shoes is what really makes then stand out.  Providing you with pictures of every angle, Santoki puts their customer’s minds to rest.  What you see is what you get! They are also constantly adding new items all the time and for someone like me who is always on the lookout that is definitely a plus.  They also carry some superb vintage clothing which may not come in such an abundance as their footwear, but nonetheless still are noteworthy.  Check them out before you run around crazy looking for a perfect shoe!

Jewelry Designs by Mona Abraham, an Etsy shop, is a very recent find of mine.  Actually, I can’t even take credit for finding it as the shop owner was the one to contact me via Facebook about it! And how happy I am that she did! I adore the whimsical and effortless nature of her handmade jewelry, many of which are crafted with vintage pieces.  I can just picture her romantic and dreamy beaded necklaces  being worn around the necks of women during the 20s and 30s; as they hold such an aged and mature value within their beaded and charmed chains.  Her art form and the way in which she so carefully constructs each individual piece is really just beautiful, ethereal even.  You can really see the love that she puts into her handmade gems and I’m sure that as a buyer, I would feel more than happy with a purchase from Mona Abraham.

If you are in the market for a stunning and unique vintage bag then look no further than Dandelion Daydreamer!  This Etsy shop, based out of France, holds a plethora of amazing vintage leather bags.  It’s enough to make your knees weak and heart skip like it did the first time you kissed a boy! Yes, it’s that good.  Run by an Irish chikadee who hand selects all of her beautiful vintage, Dandelion’s selection of bags ranges from your handy dandy hand bag to your business satchel to your travel luggage; which no doubt screams to be used for travels outside of your home country!  Honestly, if you asked me, I wouldn’t know which one to buy as all of their beautiful, stretched and worn leather seem to all scream at me! Dramatic, I know.  But, this is my weakness.  A good leather bag.  And while the bags, to me, are my favorite part about this shop, mind you that Dandelion does carry a fine selection of vintage dresses.  But, unfortunately, the bags tend to block this out and I find myself salivating over my computer at them! Check it out and you’ll see what I mean!

Here are the top 5 accessories for Spring 2011 according to La Purse:

1. Big Floppy Straw Hats

Remember when we said that the retro trend is making a huge comeback this season? We did not lie! Not only retro dresses are a big spring staple, floppy straw hats a la the ’70s are one of the season’s must-have accessories. Not only they’ll keep you safe from UV rays, but they also offer a dose of style to your spring attire.

Large Straw Stripe Sun Hat, $29.99

2. Animal Print Scarves

It’s official: animal print will never go out of style. This trend is continuously making successful comebacks season after season. This spring, fashion experts advise us to add a touch of elegance to our outfits with a chic animal print scarf.

Double Layered Zebra Print Silk Scarf, Brown Double Layered Animal Print Silk Scarf, Blue Double Layered Animal Print Silk Scarf, $18.95 each, available at LaPurse.com

3. Funky Sunglasses

You might know this trend by the name of “bug-eyed” or “cat-eye” sunglasses. If until now, you’ve been shy to try on a pair, let us tell you that this spring large, funky sunglasses are a must-have accessory. Over sized sunglasses have been a trend for some time, with celebs such as Nicole Richie, Victoria Beckham, Kim Kardashian and many more sporting the funky accessories on several occasions.

P.S This season, feel free to opt for colored frames or/and colored lens!

Bebe Sunglasses $9 , Popkiller Original Sunglasses $13 , Heart Sunglasses $12.00

4. Big, bold, statement bangles

You’ve probably figured it out by now: spring 2011 is the season to get creative and have tons of fun with fashion accessories! So far, we’ve had big hats, animal print scarves, bug-eyed glasses, next stop on our list: big, colored bangles.

Blu Bijoux Turquoise Resin-Cut Cabochon Bangle $36.00 from maxandchloe.com, Color Pop Bangles $9.80 from Forever21 and Ethnic Bangle Pack $40.00 from TOPSHOP

5. Stylish Leather Satchels

Complete your spring accessories collection with a fashionable and functional leather satchel in this seasons hit colors: tan and beige.

Call It Spring Satchel $79.99 from Zappos.com , Beige faux snake skin satchel bag approx. $104.00 from Debenhams.com and Melie Bianco Madison Small Satchel $82.00 from Piperlime.com

Don’t shy away from telling us which accessories will you be shopping for this spring!

They are a one stop shop for beautiful antique furniture, vintage jewellery,  leather bound journals & albums and leather satchels.

I want one of everything!!

The bags are roomy, built to last, look very stylish and are used day in, day out by game park rangers in South Africa to pack away their gear.

The Daz Shopping range of bags and holdalls come in all types and sizes: Bags that are perfect for your laptop, bags that are great for short breaks away and larger leather and canvas bags which can be a great holiday luggage set. They are super for fishing tackle, for packed lunches for the kids and are really reasonably priced.

The bags all go well together with our range of boots, hats and other accessories.

Just click here to browse the Daz Shopping online Boutique bags section.

If you live in the UK you will know that we have just had our mid-term break and that made me think.

I know busy parents, are always looking for ways of entertaining their children.  Ways of entertaining them

that, a) do not involve the use of a purse or wallet  and b) do not involve the use of technology.

With the Christmas holidays already looming in the horizon, I have decided to dedicate a few ruminations to

providing a few entertaining solutions that do not cost and that can be enjoyed in the autumn/winter months,

so, wish me luck!

The first activity, which I carried out with child#5 (photos below), was blackberry picking and making a apple and blackberry crumble.

You will need:  1) a very bored child, 2) a basket or plastic container, 3) appropriate footwear for mud and 4)knowledge of where to find blackberry bushes,  and 5)preferably a beautiful, sunny day.

Now for the apple & blackberry crumble recipe (make this with child also):

200g plain flour, 100g butter in pieces, 100g sugar, 500g apples (peel,cored, sliced), picked blackberries(thoroughly washed), 1tsp cinnamon (optional), extra sugar and some water for fruit, squeeze of lemon (optional).

Mix flour and butter until coarse oatmeal consistency.

Add sugar and mix.

Place apples and blackberries in ovenproof dish, sprinkle with cinnamon and sugar to taste add a little water and a squeeze of lemon, put 180˚ oven for 10 minutes or until fruit softened.

Cover with crumble topping.  Bake at 180˚ until golden and bubbling at the edges….and enjoy with ice cream or custard, yummy!

It is such a delight to cook and eat something that you have foraged the ingredients for, even if your child does not like fruit, believe me, they will eat something they have worked hard for!
Finished product:

displays and huge bonfires.  A night for having fun and for rejoicing with family and friends.  And so that you will

rejoice a little more (if you are in the UK), and so that you will have something to rejoice about (if you are not in the UK),

at retrosatchels.com we have decided to let you on a little secret:  we are reactivating our 10% off code for this Xmas …

starting right now!  So, here it is, the code:  86N, go on and rejoice by bagging one of our satchels with a 10% discount!!

Happy Guy Fawkes Night!

Leather Handbags are equally popular in the different parts of the world. Be it in the UK or the U.S.A. or any other country, the leather bags have always formed as the best choice of accessory among the women.  The high popularity of the bags has prompted to develop bags of different styles. The Leather Handbags UK showcases a wide collection of leather bags of different patterns. Among the different styles of Leather Handbags the most common are the cross bags, clutches, purses and satchels. Apart from these there are also some other stylish categories. These are like the duffel bags, the designer bags and hold all bags.

There are many leading places in the United Kingdom that showcases a good collection of Leather Handbags UK Among the different notable names, the Assots is one of the most popular ones. The store has a wide range of collection of attractive designs of leather bags for the customers. The Leather handbags UK is available in attracting hues that are sure to win the hearts of the customers.

High quality leather is used to manufacture the Leather Handbags UK. The leather bags are processed through various stages to give them a perfect finishing look. Often different other accessories are used with leather to bring a variance in the designs. With the regular changes in the fashion, the Leather Bags UK has also undergone some changes to bring a contemporary touch in the designs.

The Leather Handbags are the most possessed possession that requires special attention to be taken. There are some common ways that can be helpful in keeping the bags in good condition. It has often been found that dusts, grime and body oil causes some havoc to the leather bags. The handle and the clasp is the main regions that require special attention, as

An easy and simple way of cleaning the bags is with the baby washes. The bags can be conveniently cleaned with a towel wet with the dilution of the baby wash. Apart from the baby washes, normal shoe polishers can also be used to provide a touch up to the bags. The bags can be polished at regular intervals with small quantities of shoe polishers. This brings about a temporary shine in the texture of the bags. However, it should be remembered that too much use of the polisher may cause damage to the tenderness of the leather of the bags. With profound use, the leather may become harder. Thus, the Leather Handbags, leather satchels are the best part of the accessories that brings about a real classiness in the style.

Mayhem, based in Sidney Street, is the independent boutique where you will find

renowned national and international designer brands.  If you want something a little

bit special, if you want to escape the High Street shops, go to Mayhem!

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>>> First up and perfect for this ‘back to school’ or ‘still at work’ time of the year are shoulder bags from The Cambridge Satchel company. Ever popular, we have these handmade leather satchels in 13inch, over-the-shoulder style. Ideal for carrying around your laptop/books/umbrella.

Our favourite for Autumn is this beautiful yellow satchel – (as seen on TV) for just £95. A lifelong companion right?

If yellow ain’t your thang, we have a full range of Cambridge Satchel colours available too, have a look.

>>> Second up (and timely as ever with these Winter clouds rolling about) is this superb unisex Cloud Tee – complete with silver lining! If you, like us, get SAD over Winter just wear this t-shirt and remind yourself that everything is going to be A-OK.

It’s easy to see why this has been one of our most popular t-shirts ever on Facebook!

>>> Next we’ve got these prints by illustrators Adrianne Neil and Illustrated Sport. Exclusively available at Kuji Shop, we think these have a stunning Wintery tone that are sure to add interest to any wall. Struggled to pick a favourite so you can have our top two:

If your walls are already filled, these make great presents and at just £20, they’re a bargain!

>>> Fourth on our list of Top Picks are these grizzly bear tees for men and women. We could easily write a whole list of grizzly related puns but we’ve bearly got time and it wouldn’t be fur on you readers. We’ve picked the Sitting Grizzly t-shirt for the ladies and the Roaring Grizzly tee for the men…

Grrrrrrreat aren’t they? Each designed by an artist in the UK and all printed ethically.

>>> In at number five (though there’s really no order here) we’ve got these brand new wooden phone cases, each laser cut with a different quirky design. Lightweight, durable, sleek and just £25, you can’t go wrong with these. Our favourite at the moment has to be this Vintage Camera design though:

The wooden cases are made from a range of woods, including bamboo! Nice.

>>> Sixth on our list has got to be this super soft Extra Long Sleeve women’s sweater (for extra slouchy days). It is made from 100% soft mottled Indian cotton and has a fleecy inside. Perfect for these chilly days and nights, we think this is an Autumn essential.

We suggest wearing whilst curled up on the couch, or when having a duvet day. This is bound to become your new best friend.

That’s just a quick roundup of our faves from our latest stock, what do you think? There are plenty of other new arrivals that you should check out too, and of course, more on the way… Make sure you don’t miss out!