A Bag Lady, Moi?



Angie showing latest handbag 8/21/12



12x15 Loops for adjustable strap

My worst fantasy has come true.  I've become a bag lady! Since making that first handbag, I tried a few more and they turned out good. A woman came over last week to buy a neck wrap and when she saw the bag, she bought it too! $28. Unfortunately I had not taken a photo of it. It's the same size as the first one I made but I used a solid teal color and a flowery cotton and added pockets. The 3rd one (photo) was a special request for a smaller denim bag. Instead of sewing the strap to the bag, I added loops so that it could be adjusted for a comfy fit. The first bag I made had a bit too much lavender in the shoulder strap so I put less in this one. Turned out nice. 



Fragrant lavender in shoulder strap



Writing about bag lady reminded me of a story from my "shady" past. Long ago and far away I was sitting in a food and drink establishment (ok, a bar) waiting for the clock to hit noon so I could order a bloody mary with my hamburger.  Sitting at the bar (I always liked a front row seat) I overheard the bartender say, "here comes Gladys" as he pulled out a shotglass. From the door came an ugly, dissheveled, tiny old woman hollering in a squeaky voice, "where's my drink?" She was appalling, and worse, she was greeting people as she hobbled in.  Rather than await her approach, I threw some money on the bar & fled.  Today, I say, bless that little old gal. The picture of her never left my mind.  Rather it tucked itself away & became one of the catalysts to move alcohol completely out of my life. Her trajedy became my gift. Thank you, Gladys, wherever you are.

Handbag - Smells So Good!

3 views of Handbag #1                    8 6 12

Yesterday I started on my first handbag project. Since I don't often use a purse, I don't really pay much attention to them. But while surfing the web (looking for something of which I have no recollection) I came across the DIY dish blog/website. Twin sisters, Kim & Kris do sewing projects  which they make look so easy. They are fun to watch - perky, cute and fascinating to see how exactly the same they are.  They were doing this purse and I decided to try it.

After 2 false starts (had to go back to their blog to review the steps) I ripped out what I'd done and began again. I've become very good at ripping. It turned out to be very easy to make. I added my own touch, of course, by putting lavender buds into the shoulder strap.  In addition to smelling lovely it gives the strap a bit of thickness to stay positioned on the shoulder.  This one made of green flannel and flowered cotton. It's fully lined with the same material and could be handwashed being careful not to immerse the lavender-filled strap.

It would be easy to put a closure button or snap on it, too.  What do you think?????

July and August

I can't believe how fast it went. It seems I was just preparing for the Colorado Lavender Festival and now it has come and gone and gone and gone!  It was, of course, fabulous.  Great time - sold some items - made a few bucks -- but not as much as last year.  Who knows why.  We think, perhaps, the booth wasn't attractive enough ... not enough bright colors.  Many of my neck wraps and eye pillows are on the dark side -- deep browns, blues and greens -- so didn't "show" as sparkly as lighter colors do. And perhaps too many items on the tables at one time can look a bit junky?  I've revised the layout and packaging for the future fairs and will see if it makes a difference.  Of course, there are so many variables that it could by lots of things contributing to the lower sales.  But it was great fun and so nice seeing old friends and chatting with people.

Last weekend Con and I went down to the Las Golondrinas Herb and Lavender Fair near Santa Fe, NM It's one of our favorite places to visit so I jumped at the chance to go. The weather was nice, not real hot and the place was beautiful.  We also had time to go to our favorite bookstore on Canyon Road and eat at a 100-year old famous local restaurant.  We stayed at the Sunrise Resort, an out of the way place that was once a beautiful spa resort.  We were there about 5 years ago and when I made reservations I didn't realize it was the same place.  It has run down a bit but still very nice and serene - and an outdoor pool which I love. A good library, trees and ponds, we'll go back again.  8 1 12

Fair at Los Golondrinas, SantaFe, NM 7 2 12