Hi Handbag lovers - sorry again for being an absentee blogger! I do, however, have a good excuse this time - I was actually in hospital. Yes, unfortunately, my appendix burst and I was operated on and hospitalized for 4 days and then on bed-rest for 2 weeks. So......just now getting my sewing legs back!
While in hospital, I did have my trusty Iphone with me and was able to check my email and was so thrilled when I heard back from my client that she had presented her friend with the bag that I had made out of her husbands' jacket and she was absolutely thrilled! Big sigh of relief from me - even though it hurt - a little appendix humor!
So now that I'm up and about again - I can't wait to get in motion! Whilst in bed, I came up with more and more ways to recycle and lots of new design ideas that I can't wait to get off the paper and into fruition! One can only watch so much TV - so stay turned for some great new handbags!
Saturday, March 31, 2012
Wednesday, March 14, 2012
Tears of Joy - Love is in the Bag - Part Two
So my client came to pick the bag up last night! I was as nervous as a cat in a room full of rocking chairs! But it was all nerves for naught! As soon as she saw the bag, she started crying. Thankfully they were tears of joy! She absolutely loved it and thought it would suite her friend to a T! I was so relieved and so pleased! It just felt wonderful to have been a part of this project.
The handbag will be revealed tonight over dinner and I have a fervent promise to be updated on the reaction. So stay turned...
The handbag will be revealed tonight over dinner and I have a fervent promise to be updated on the reaction. So stay turned...
Monday, March 12, 2012
Love is in the bag!
So it's been awhile since I've sat down at the sewing machine. There's been a number of reasons - of course I was away for 2 weeks and upon returning home I was met with a couple of personal incidents that will more than likely have some lasting effects and may change my life in more ways than one. Having to deal with the fall-out from this has caused my fibromyagia to flare up terribly. So at best I'm getting about 4 good hours out of each day.
And I've also been remiss because the project that I had before me was a difficult one. As many of you know, I try to salvage peoples cherished items. I was approached by Bev, who had a dear friend who lost her husband in a tragic work place accident. She has held onto his favorite suede jacket for many years. Bev commissioned me to use the jacket to make a handbag for her friends upcoming birthday. Well, this project really threw me off kilter - firstly because I hadn't met the person for whom the bag was to be designed. Secondly it was the situation itself that kind of staggered me. And thirdly because Bev told me her friend doesn't ordinarily carry a purse!!
I spent many hours pouring over the design of the jacket so that I could best utilize it. Why I didn't take a picture of it is beyond me - sorry! I'm still new at this whole sharing thing! I didn't have alot to work with as far as design ideas - Bev didn't want a cross body bag and she wanted me to use the jacket lining which was a beautiful satin, to line the bag. She and I poured through my photo album of bags I've designed and she decided this one would be a good shape and size but without the ruffle detailing.
I kind of felt that if she didn't carry a purse she probably wouldn't want anything too feminine or anything too large.
So after many hours of thought - I grabbed my scissors and began the task of dissecting the beloved jacket. I must have re-worked this design a dozen times in my head, which is normally not at all my process. I usually contemplate the over-all design of the article and work to keep as many elements as possible, pockets, zippers, buttons, etc and from this, a design is born!
Why was this such a stumbling block for me? - I think because I envisioned how much this jacket had originally meant to someone. And then how much it had come to mean to someone else. I haven't had to design based around such emotion before. I felt that this bag needed to be just right - it needed to reflect love and life and the spirit of two people who's lives it ensnared. I finished the bag last night and I still didn't feel that I'd accomplished what I'd intended and it wasn't until I'd slept on it that it hit me what was lacking.
LOVE. Plain and simple. Love. Even though I'd treated that jacket with the love and respect it deserved. I wasn't feeling it. Because I'm not meant to. It's not about me or evoking feelings or emotions from me. I can't intrude on the relationship formed by these two people. All I can do is what is asked of me. My hope is that this bag will be passed from generation to generation and that the love and sentiment that surrounds it will always be apparent. And with that said this is what I came up with -
And I've also been remiss because the project that I had before me was a difficult one. As many of you know, I try to salvage peoples cherished items. I was approached by Bev, who had a dear friend who lost her husband in a tragic work place accident. She has held onto his favorite suede jacket for many years. Bev commissioned me to use the jacket to make a handbag for her friends upcoming birthday. Well, this project really threw me off kilter - firstly because I hadn't met the person for whom the bag was to be designed. Secondly it was the situation itself that kind of staggered me. And thirdly because Bev told me her friend doesn't ordinarily carry a purse!!
I spent many hours pouring over the design of the jacket so that I could best utilize it. Why I didn't take a picture of it is beyond me - sorry! I'm still new at this whole sharing thing! I didn't have alot to work with as far as design ideas - Bev didn't want a cross body bag and she wanted me to use the jacket lining which was a beautiful satin, to line the bag. She and I poured through my photo album of bags I've designed and she decided this one would be a good shape and size but without the ruffle detailing.
So after many hours of thought - I grabbed my scissors and began the task of dissecting the beloved jacket. I must have re-worked this design a dozen times in my head, which is normally not at all my process. I usually contemplate the over-all design of the article and work to keep as many elements as possible, pockets, zippers, buttons, etc and from this, a design is born!
Why was this such a stumbling block for me? - I think because I envisioned how much this jacket had originally meant to someone. And then how much it had come to mean to someone else. I haven't had to design based around such emotion before. I felt that this bag needed to be just right - it needed to reflect love and life and the spirit of two people who's lives it ensnared. I finished the bag last night and I still didn't feel that I'd accomplished what I'd intended and it wasn't until I'd slept on it that it hit me what was lacking.
LOVE. Plain and simple. Love. Even though I'd treated that jacket with the love and respect it deserved. I wasn't feeling it. Because I'm not meant to. It's not about me or evoking feelings or emotions from me. I can't intrude on the relationship formed by these two people. All I can do is what is asked of me. My hope is that this bag will be passed from generation to generation and that the love and sentiment that surrounds it will always be apparent. And with that said this is what I came up with -
 |
| The metal tags read "Live" and "Love". |
Sunday, March 11, 2012
I don't want to wait for Fall to get my hour back!
So I completely forgot about the clocks going ahead! Thank goodness for my Iphone automatically updating my settings! None-the-less, I'm still starting my day waaaay behind!!!! Now don't get me wrong - I love daylight savings time - aside from the robins that have begun appearing in my yard, this is the most significant sign that warmer days are on the horizon!
I'm already dreaming of lazy days at the ocean with my nieces, vases with flowers harvested from the yard, tiring Floyd out with long breezy morning walks in the park and the birds - the birds really speak to my soul!
So I guess lagging a bit behind today isn't so bad after all - not when I think of all I have to look forward to!
I'm already dreaming of lazy days at the ocean with my nieces, vases with flowers harvested from the yard, tiring Floyd out with long breezy morning walks in the park and the birds - the birds really speak to my soul!
So I guess lagging a bit behind today isn't so bad after all - not when I think of all I have to look forward to!
Wednesday, March 7, 2012
The year was 1957...
So I spent much of today thinking about the future, and the possibility of some pretty significant changes that are coming forth. I'm not one of those people who is good with change - so instead I decided to reflect on the past. What better place to start then Etsy! So I designed this treasury around things from the year I was born that stirred up memories from my childhood. I hope you'll enjoy it and maybe it will remind you of times past and bring a smile to your face!
This day in 1957
-
-
-
$70.91 CAD -
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
$24.27 CAD -
-
-
-
-
Saturday, March 3, 2012
I'm a Winner!!!!
Ok so first off, sorry to be absent for so long! Vacation mode took a little longer to recover from - when you have fibromyalgia, travel, weather and stress are like the perfect storm! I'm still in a fair bit of pain but I'm determined to move forward!
So first off - vacation was lovely! Always so nice to get to Florida to spend time with friends and family. Had a fabulous time at Busch Gardens this year - the ice show is amazing - if you have a chance to go, don't deprive yourself of it. It's really lovely.
A little disappointed in the shopping, this year. Beals, is of course, my sister and my favorite store and well quite frankly the dots just had not moved enough for us this year!! The Flea Markets as always were fabulous - always my favorite part - love, love the Big Top!
We had some fabulous meals - my Mom is such a good cook and why or why can't Red Lobster come to Canada?!!!! Mom shared an excellent recipe with me as well and I'll pass it on to all of you-- I'll include it at the end of this post. It's so simple yet just the best thing ever Pickled Green Onions!!! They are fabulous and how many times have I bought those at the supermarket and gone to use them only to find them all shriveled and wilted?!
So upon returning home, I've been faced with some disheartening situations. But I know from past experience that time, friends, family and God will see me through and in time I will look back and know why it was important that I go through this. And so for now - I take one day at a time.
But, more importantly, while I was away, some fabulous things happened! First and foremost I was thrilled to get a text from my son telling me that he had made the Dean's list! I am so proud of that young man! And as the title of this blog implies - I'm a winner!!!! My name was drawn as the winner of the Team Noir Treasury Giveaway on Etsy!
I can't believe it - I never win anything! I know everyone says that but trust me people, I never win anything! So here's what I've won:
http://www.etsy.com/treasury/NTQ5Mzc4NnwyMDA5MDUzMTM3/comment-to-win-this-entire-noir-team?ref=pr_treasury
I haven't received it yet, but how cool are all of these items?! It feels just like Christmas only I'm waiting on the postman instead of Santa!
So as promised here is the recipe:
Pickled Green Onions
As many bunches of onions as you think you need - I used 6 bunches and it filled a mason jar
Pickling Salt
Chop your green onions in tiny pieces using both the green and white parts.
In a large mixing bowl begin by layering salt then onions and continue until all onions are used.
End with a salt layer.
Place a plate directly on top of the onion mixture (not on top of the bowl)
Place something heavy on the plate - I used my bag of salt
Let this sit for a couple of hours.
Remove the plate and spoon the entire contents into a clean jar - refrigerate for a few days until the salt is absorbed.
These are perfect to mix into mashed potatoes, soups, casseroles or stir frys!
Enjoy!
So first off - vacation was lovely! Always so nice to get to Florida to spend time with friends and family. Had a fabulous time at Busch Gardens this year - the ice show is amazing - if you have a chance to go, don't deprive yourself of it. It's really lovely.
A little disappointed in the shopping, this year. Beals, is of course, my sister and my favorite store and well quite frankly the dots just had not moved enough for us this year!! The Flea Markets as always were fabulous - always my favorite part - love, love the Big Top!
We had some fabulous meals - my Mom is such a good cook and why or why can't Red Lobster come to Canada?!!!! Mom shared an excellent recipe with me as well and I'll pass it on to all of you-- I'll include it at the end of this post. It's so simple yet just the best thing ever Pickled Green Onions!!! They are fabulous and how many times have I bought those at the supermarket and gone to use them only to find them all shriveled and wilted?!
So upon returning home, I've been faced with some disheartening situations. But I know from past experience that time, friends, family and God will see me through and in time I will look back and know why it was important that I go through this. And so for now - I take one day at a time.
But, more importantly, while I was away, some fabulous things happened! First and foremost I was thrilled to get a text from my son telling me that he had made the Dean's list! I am so proud of that young man! And as the title of this blog implies - I'm a winner!!!! My name was drawn as the winner of the Team Noir Treasury Giveaway on Etsy!
I can't believe it - I never win anything! I know everyone says that but trust me people, I never win anything! So here's what I've won:
http://www.etsy.com/treasury/NTQ5Mzc4NnwyMDA5MDUzMTM3/comment-to-win-this-entire-noir-team?ref=pr_treasury
I haven't received it yet, but how cool are all of these items?! It feels just like Christmas only I'm waiting on the postman instead of Santa!
So as promised here is the recipe:
Pickled Green Onions
As many bunches of onions as you think you need - I used 6 bunches and it filled a mason jar
Pickling Salt
Chop your green onions in tiny pieces using both the green and white parts.
In a large mixing bowl begin by layering salt then onions and continue until all onions are used.
End with a salt layer.
Place a plate directly on top of the onion mixture (not on top of the bowl)
Place something heavy on the plate - I used my bag of salt
Let this sit for a couple of hours.
Remove the plate and spoon the entire contents into a clean jar - refrigerate for a few days until the salt is absorbed.
These are perfect to mix into mashed potatoes, soups, casseroles or stir frys!
Enjoy!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)