Fairysteps Elder Handbag

Photo © Fairysteps

Look what the postman very kindly delivered to me this week! It’s a lovely new handbag, courtesy of Fairysteps.

In living proof that social media can really work for small businesses, I spotted this on Ren’s Facebook page, saw that this pink “dragon” leather was limited stock, and snapped it up immediately!

It’s going to be a replacement for my big pink Mulberry bag. I bought that back in 2007 and have barely used it since because the straps are precisely the wrong length. I’ll be giving it a bit of a polish, and popping it on Ebay, where hopefully I’ll be able to get back pretty much what I paid for it. (Thankfully Mulberry bags seem to hold their value very well – limited edition colours even more so.)

This new bag’s quite a bit smaller (you can’t quite squeeze an A4 pad inside), but it fits my giant diary and my little netbook – although not both at once. The front pocket is big enough for my phone, iPod and other assorted bits and bobs, and I can’t cram in so much stuff that it makes the bag too heavy to carry. Perfect!

I absolutely adore the clever closure – there’s something very satisfying about squishing the smooth wooden bead through the little gap in the leather. The raw edges on the front flap are so soft and tactile, I can’t stop stroking them. The first time I went out with this bag, everybody wanted to touch it. And smell it. There’s something so lovely about the smell of new leather.

Now I just need to decide which to buy next.. matching shoes, or a matching purse!