Shop Update - Larger Style Baskets

Last year the thing that I got asked the most was 'Could I please make my storage baskets in a larger size!'. So I took all the sizes that people had suggested and came up with a basket that is based on the average size that people were wanting. And my 'larger' basket was born. I wanted the basket to have enough structure that it can stand up on its own even when empty, so no slouching, but still be flexible that it can be folded away when not in use. I have used heavier weight cotton, which helps with the structure of the baskets, apart from the Black Triangles which is made in a quilting cotton so has an extra stabiliser sewn in, to give it the structure it needs. They have a nice boxy feel to them.

They all have a natural linen/cotton base and come fully lined in a white cotton canvas. Now for the technical details! 

They are, measurements are approximate but as accurate as I can give, 29cm/11.4 inches tall, and are 40cm/15.75 inches wide across the top when folded flat, which makes them roughly 30cm/12 inches wide when open and boxed out, which gives the basket a rough depth at the base of 24cm/9.4 inches. I have found it quite difficult to show the size of these baskets. I have included photos that show the baskets alongside a child's rabbit night light which is 15cm/6 inches tall to help give an idea of scale, and I also got my little helpers to hold them to show the two size of baskets alongside one another. The larger is being held by my 7 year old whilst my 5 year old daughter is holding the smaller basket. It's high on my to do list to get some photos taken of these baskets being used to show how much you can fit into them! If you look at the photo above taken in my boys bedroom, that shows three baskets on a top shelf with a shelf underneath full of their toys, you may spot a lego figure or two, which should give you an idea of how much lego can be stored away in one of these baskets! 

 

I am pleased to say that this larger basket has proved popular, so much so that unfortunately, unless I can source more of the grey arrow fabric, I only have a couple left in stock. I was also pleased to see that a French Scandinavian Design blog called Scandinave featured my baskets in a list of 10 Scandinavian Decoration finds on Etsy. 

So if you are looking for handy storage that looks good that is modern and stylish you can find these baskets as well as others here. 

Long Time......

 Sorry! 

I can't really believe that its been nearly 9 months since I last wrote a post. That's terrible!

For those of you that follow me on other social media sites, you will know that I haven't faded away, in fact quite the opposite! I have found myself so busy with work, that its been very difficult to keep everything going and to get the balance right. You will also have seen if you follow me on Instagram or on Facebook, that I have been busy adding lots of new items over the last few months which I am excited to share with you. So over the next few days I am hoping to bring you up-to-date with all that has been going on at A Crafty Hen!

Saying Goodbye is Never Easy!

I was working away the other day cutting fabric for orders when it suddenly dawned on me that the bib and burp cloth set in 'clouds in gold' that I was busy cutting out was to be the last. I had a moment of panic and quickly raided my fabric stash hoping desperately to find some more of the fabric unfortunately to no avail. I then had a quick scour of the internet trying to find some for sale, again no, which didn't surprise me, this collection is now out of print. So that is it, no more of this gorgeous organic fabric. I am annoyed at myself for my lack of planning and that I didn't buy a lot more of it. But it can be very difficult at times to judge the fabrics that will be popular and sell well. I am also annoyed as I was hoping to make myself a cushion out of it and had thought I had put some away in my private stash but some where along the lines I must have used that as well. So I feel quite sad to say that I have just one 'Storage Basket' left made from this fabric and I have managed to sneak in one lonely 'Baby Bib' out of it and that's it, no more passing clouds in gold! Thankfully a new collection is coming out this Spring which includes some more clouds in different colours so all is not lost and I still have gift sets and storage baskets available in Blue Passing Clouds in my shop. As for me I have learnt an important lesson here always buy more fabric! 

More Storage Baskets in New Designs

I just can not stop making these storage baskets. I enjoy the whole process from selecting the fabric to sewing them to seeing the finished baskets all lined up on a shelf! So its no wonder that I have made a few more! I have added another five baskets in new fabrics to my Etsy shop. The very popular Black Triangle basket is now also available in grey, also in grey is a lovely basket featuring small crosses. Then there is a mint with small white triangles and the odd glittery gold triangle, and 'Crystal Arrowhead' which is what the fabric is called and I rather like the name! There will be only a few of these two baskets available as the fabric comes from a limited addition collection and I have noticed that it has already sold out in many stores. And finally I have got round to listing a deer basket which coordinates with a bib and burp cloth set that is also in my shop. This organic fabric featuring deer in a mix of gorgeous muted colours is one of my all time favourite fabrics and I am hoping to have blankets available in this print very soon. And for those that ask me on a daily basis for larger baskets well, I am working on those at the moment so hope to get a few in my shop in the next couple of weeks! 
Right you can see all of the baskets pictured above and more here!

Happy weekend!

A Trending Item

I received an email from Etsy last week telling me that my 'Black and White Storage Basket' is a 'trending' item on etsy. I wasn't sure what it meant at first! But basically my little storage basket is receiving so much traffic and 'likes' {1559 as I type} that it is one of the most popular items on etsy at the moment! And when I think that there are over 100 million active shops on etsy and over 25 million items listed I can't quite believe how popular my basket is proving! Not only is it getting a record number of views it is also being included in many treasuries like the one above. It all feels a little overwhelming, I am one person working from home, sewing, in between bringing up 3 small people, to think that I have created something that has proved so popular is amazing! And I feel very humbled by it all. It really goes to prove that etsy is an incredible market place connecting people from all over the world.

New Storage Baskets

New Storage Baskets are all now listed in my shop and you can find them here.

A Little Shop Update

My Etsy shop is closed at the moment just for a couple of days while I 'regroup'. It's the last day of the kids school break and I always try very hard to juggle entertaining them whilst still working and fulfilling orders but for some reason however hard I tried it just didn't seem possible this week! So I eventually closed up shop. 

I am up to date with all orders but have decided to remain shut whilst I settle the children back into their school/nursery routines and also to try and get some of the new items I've been working on for what feels like weeks finally finished and listed in my shop. 

I'm very excited with my new work and fabrics and can't wait to show you. 

In the meantime here is a little taster of whats to come!

Lovely Flurry of Traffic!

A Crafty Hen has had an extra flurry of interest over the last couple of days and it was so lovely to find the traffic had come from here a lovely Spanish blog called Eternamente Flaneur. This lovely blogger has included three of my Storage baskets, my yellow 'Free as a Bird' baskets and also my Black and White basket in two lovely storage and nursery combination ideas. It's so nice to see people visualizing my work in this way. I just wish I could cut my images out as well as she has done!!

New Storage Baskets

Introducing my new range of storage baskets. I feel very much like I have gone full circle with these baskets as portable toy storage containers were one of the first things I started selling when I opened my first shop online. I'm not really sure why I stopped making them as they were always very popular, but somehow and somewhere down the line baby bibs took over! But now they are back! The collection ranges from baskets to match the most popular of my baby gift sets for use as storage in a baby's nursery or child's bedroom to baskets like the Glitter Gold' one and the 'Black and White Monochrome' that would not only fit into a stylish modern nursery but would also not look out of place on a dressing table, in a hall filled with post and keys to your living one. Made using a selection of cotton and linen fabrics all the baskets have a white lining and a natural linen base. They are available now to buy from my shop.