Handmade Meets High Tech: Seven Super Accessories

Now that we're all so dependent on technology, we have to take good care of it. Artists and crafters are coming up with many creative ways to carry, coddle and dress up our laptops, iPods, phones and cameras. You know how people sometimes use fabric covers for their paperbacks? Well, now they're making fabric covers for digital readers. Those crazy kids! What will they think of next?

Let's take a look at some great gear for gadgets:

You think you need a vacation? So do your hardworking iPod and iPhone! Let them recharge by getting back to nature in Woodtec's docking stations, which use a standard USB plug, and can be used to charge and sync with a computer.

Rogue Theory's Kindle sleeve will keep your hi-tech reader looking stylish and safe from bumps and bruises. They come in all kinds of sophisticated fabric choices. How, um, novel :-)

Clara Uribe's boxy camera cases are made entirely of recycled felt, in the colors of your choice. There's even a special pocket to keep your batteries, memory card or a small amount of money. What a great solution for when you inevitably lose the case that came with your camera!

Byrd and Belle's felted wool laptop cases are so sleek and sophisticated, it comes as no surprise that they're designed by an architect. Angie Davis, Byrd and Belle's creator, channels her passion for design and craft into her tech accessories. The bags come in 13-, 15- and 17-inch widths, and you have the option of black accents instead of brown.

This Chococat iPod cover is just one of Sewinmachine's menagerie of felted animal iPod friends. They keep your device safely covered and look at how they hug your earphones! Awww.

Substrata, based in Oregon, makes elegant iPhone cases in woods ranging from fir to padauk to zebra wood. The company, which donates a portion of profits to reforestation and sustainability efforts, also makes iPhone boxes with sliding lids. Ladies: A great gift for your iPhone-addicted spouse.

Mareri's cheerful laptop bags definitely stand out. They can be carried by hand, or on the shoulder; a long strap is included. If orange isn't your favorite color, pick a different one – the bird on a branch design comes in many different colors. 

Tell us about how you keep your gadgetry safe and stylish!