Review | Handcrafted Leather Camera Strap

Today I'm delighted to share a beautiful product with you all, sponsored by Magpie Accessories on Etsy.

Kathryn was a delight to work with, and though her shop is based in the UK, the shipping was prompt and streamlined.

The camera strap itself is a dream. I selected the Marbled Chocolate Brown strap, which is a lovely rich leather in a classic color.  The quick-release sam brown-style button closure makes changing straps a breeze, and the top stitching is the perfect finish.

The leather itself was a little more thin that I was expecting, and does stretch the tiniest bit if put to strenuous use for long periods of time.  However, I use it as a sort of 'dress suit' for my camera, using it at weddings and events where my everyday bright pink strap might look a little loud.  This classic leather camera strap can go anywhere with lashings of style, bringing your ensemble to a whole new level.

Be sure to check out her shop, and with Christmas coming up, you may want to add her to your favorites for yourself or another special photographer in mind!

MagpieAccessoriesUK

Luxury Leather Designer Handbags & Accessories

Shop // Website // Facebook

About the Shop

Kathryn Sillince of Magpie Accessories designs and crafts the most gorgeous luxury leather handbags and accessories. She hails from a Fine Art background then trained at prestigious Cordwainers London College of Fashion. Kathryn hand selects the finest leathers, linings and hardware and hand-stitches finishing details, creating a beautiful and unique line of camera straps, handbags, iPhone and laptop sleeves, and much more!

Magpie Accessories is run from a charming converted tortoiseshell comb factory in Yorkshire, England. 

Working with ethical chemical free leather and organic fair trade cotton linings makes this company stand out in a world of mass-produced luxury accessories.

Disclousure:  All thoughts shared are my own and are in no way influenced by the sponsor.  
First four photos by Kellie Falconer.  Product donated by Magpie Accessories.

Review | Handcrafted Jacquard Camera Strap

Shop // Facebook

About the Shop

Sarah shares her story:

I started my Etsy site, The Little Things by Sarah Marie, just a couple of months ago but the idea was stewing for quite some time before that. I have been playing guitar and hand sewing since I was young but just started machine sewing a little over a year ago. 

I have always loved the vintage aesthetic of old guitar and camera straps, and after picking up an old camera strap at a flea market last year I realized that I could make them! I know so many people that appreciate the style and quality of vintage items like these, and my goal is to reproduce the straps and vibes from their vintage descendants. 

I get a lot of my fabrics from online sites like Ebay and Etsy. A lot of the fabrics are new, but I get lucky from time to time when I stumble upon vintage fabrics. I go to a leather store in Sacramento for the leather that I use on the guitar straps. Leather is very expensive and hard to buy in bulk so I shop in the scrap bins. This makes shopping for the leather fun.. I never know what will be available when I go in, and so far I have been lucky to find varying shades of brown, red, black and even most recently, turquoise! Although it would be much easier (though out of my current budget) to buy bulk leather, shopping for leather scraps adds another touch of individuality to my products. I am able to use my artistic eye to pair the fabrics with the different leathers. 

Customers of my shop are getting handmade, one of a kind (or at most small batch) items that they can cherish for years to come. I have loved hearing from customers that are buying straps for birthday presents, graduations, or to just treat themselves. 

My shop has finally given me a way to give back to both the art and music community and I feel so lucky and excited to continue this project. As time continues, I am using money from sales to grow the business and be able to buy more leather so that I can make more of the camera straps with real leather (I am using a faux leather right now for most of them). 

I would like to build up my inventory and get my straps into retail locations, as well as around the necks of as many photographers and musicians as possible. 

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I cannot recommend Sarah and her work highly enough.  She was a delight to work with, her customer service is top notch, and her product beyond my expectations!  The little details, such as her packaging - right down to the embroidery floss tag tie, were beautiful.

The strap itself, made with a beautiful jacquard woven trim in a pink and white floral pattern, is lined with a denim padding in the underside making for an ultimately comfy fit.  The leather ends add the perfect professional finish. 

I really love the weight of this strap, not too heavy, yet substantial enough to drape nicely and not fly around in the way when taking pictures or downloading the cam.

The sturdy, well constructed hardware feels so secure and solid, which is a very good thing when you've got your precious camera zooming up a mountain face 40 feet in the air!

And best of all, it's just plain adorable - Algy and this pink strap together are my kind of fashion accessory.

Be sure to drop by The Little Things and give Sarah some love!

Disclousure:  All thoughts shared are my own and are in no way influenced by the sponsor.  All photos by Kellie Falconer.  Product donated by the little things by sarah marie.

Shop Special!

We just hit 99 sales!  I can hardly believe it - this definitely calls for a celebration.

So...

The one hundredth order from Kellie Falconer Design gets a button badge of choice included free - hurry and be the one to get this fabulous celebratory deal!  

(Specify which button you would like in message to seller)

{SHOP NOW}

Just Two more Days

Two more days.  Nearly five hundred entries.  Sixteen lucky winners.

The Anniversary Sale and Ginormous Giveaway has been much fun!  I cannot believe that it all began just shy of one month ago.  

I hope we can do more of this in future=)

Have all your entries in?  Hurry, hurry, hurry!

Join here!

I took a short vacation from the computer Saturday & Sunday, leaving it completely shut down in order to catch up on life and get myself organized for the coming months.  I can't say I was completely successful, but I did get lots done:)  I have some really delightful things to share here in the next few days, including a brand-new product line for Kellie Falconer Design and a fabulous find I procured on Saturday while I was selling my wares at a craft fair.

And a bit of festive cheer by way of a new blog re-decoration!  Christmas music, anyone?

Stay tuned, my dears!

Norman Rockwell Calendar Giveaway

{This giveaway is now closed}

I am so excited to announce our first sponsored giveaway!

Made possible through Business2Blogger, PromosOnline has delightfully donated their Norman Rockwell Saturday Evening Post 2012 Calendar for one happy winner.

This company offers a great range of promotional products. 

PromosOnline features competitive pricing, many customized options, and a wide selection of products, such as apparel, office supplies, travel accessories, ceramics, calendars and planners. 

Visit PromosOnline on Facebook and Twitter! 

This giveaway is for one Norman Rockwell Saturday Evening Post 2012 Calendar, which features some of the delightful work of Norman Rockwell, the master of Americana. Go back to a simpler time with this nostalgic collection of thirteen illustrations, straight from the covers of the beloved Saturday Evening Post magazine - these scenes of Americana will keep you smiling all year long! Each monthly illustration includes its own charming description. Runs from December to December.

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On order to enter, please leave a comment with your favorite part of the Autumn season - and be sure to enter additionally by:

1. Following this blog

2. Following PromosOnline on Facebook and/or Twitter

3. Blogging about this giveaway

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The winner will be drawn on Wed, September 28. If the winner does not contact me within two days, a new winner will be selected.

Have fun!

Disclosure Notice: www.kelliefalconer.blogspot.com is a for profit creative blog that accepts sponsors & participates in advertising & affiliate programs.  I endorse products, shops & blogs I love in the content of my blog. I accept sponsorship from blogs & independent businesses alike. I am legally obligated to state these facts. :)

Experimenting

{Via}

I'm so excited to journey out into the bigger waters of Blogspot blogging!

I just recently signed up for a super neat blog service - Business2Blogger by name. I can't wait to see how it works for me. Basically, Business2Blogger finally levels the blog playing field by giving you firsthand notification of paid review and posting opportunities in your inbox, collaborating with business who wish to take advantage of this unique blog-based market campaign opportunity.

Sounds pretty nifty-slick to me.