Meet the maker Jo Toft

Hi - my name is Jo and I am a handbag designer trading under the name of “The Girl”. Why The Girl you may ask. Well, I part own a hairdressing salon called Flaxen Hair with my partner John. Hence I am The Girl - with Flaxen Hair (as opposed to the girl with the flaxen hair). My salon is in the small village of Melbourne, Derbyshire on Derby Road and I always try to have a good selection of my handmade bags in the salon should you wish to pop by one day and see them in the flesh.

Inspiration comes in many forms. I often find myself purchasing a random piece of fabric just because I can't bear the thought of leaving it behind once it has "spoken" to me. I have even designed bags just to suit a simple button in the past. I have great fun recreating the ideas that seem to appear in my head from nowhere. Most of my bags are “one offs” so to speak, but if something catches your eye and it has already been sold there is always the possibility that another could be made to order or at least a similar version. Please feel free to contact me if you have any queries or wish to discuss any specific requirements.

I have been designing bridal/special occasion bags since 2009. Here I can showcase delicate hand embroidery, machine embroidery, beadwork, ribbonwork - and I feel it is through these bags that my true creative passion is expressed. These bags are pure joy to design and sew and it is an honour to think they are part of somebody's special day. I am currently developing my own brand/collection and I look forward to showcasing my work in the very near future.

My online store was launched in May 2013 and is not only dedicated to all things handbag, but also all things handmade, sewn, knitted, loved and cherished. I hope all you budding handbag makers out there find my store useful. All my products are of the highest quality and I guarantee that any order received will be in the post to you the next working day following confirmation of payment. I am constantly resourcing new, useful and exciting products to keep those inspiration juices flowing.

I also love to knit. I may be wrong - and you would have to ask my Mum if I am or not - but I feel like I could knit before I could write. I know I am right in saying that my first pair of knitting pins were little metallic pink ones and I am so sad I no longer have them. I can remember sitting on the sofa with my Mum and sister learning knit row, purl row; and making tiny knitting pins out of cocktail sticks and even knitting a few rows for the family in my dolls house. My “Visual Knitting Dictionary” was also launched in May 2013 as part of my online store. This is obviously an ongoing project which will probably never reach a conclusion as there are so many stitches out there! I would very much like this aspect of my store to have a sense of community, so If the stitch you are looking for is not there yet please drop me a line and I shall endavour to add it for you. There will be several more "visual dictionaries" and I look forward to sharing these with you.

My blog, basically, is my way of sharing and showing appretiation to the many creative ideas that influence and inspire me personally. These are not always my own unique ideas and I always make reference and give credit to the original artist wherever possible. I think we all love a new project therefore my blog provides me with endless fun and creativity.

It only remains for me to say thank you for taking the time to visit my website and I hope you return often.