a sunny day for sewing !
Sometimes you feel like a short bag.
Sometimes you feel like a cross-body.
Translation.....
Dilemma solved!
If you're hanging out, seeing the sights.....shopping for a few things, you want a bag you can put up on your shoulder...
If you're in a casual mood, being busy.....wanting to keep your hands free...to carry coffee, to carry stuff, to look thru piles of things.....well, you want a cross-body bag. Er, uh, tote bag.
The long strap looped thru and buttoned.
then if you choose, pull the strap farther thru the loop and button it shorter.
I made the straps wide...so they'll feel good resting on the shoulder.
I've never been completely happy with those Yawn! metal slide mechanisms that every bagmaker uses...so, as per usual for me...in addition to using fun and unique blends of mix and match fabrics and prints.....and of course...there is a lot of recycling going on........
so, not only did I give my anything-but-boring line of tote bags/purses a sense of humor, but I invented a simple changeability feature to go to from a shoulder to a long-strap tote...using buttons...
Vintage buttons of course!
always with the vintage buttons....
This is the road map fabric, lined in a weird novelty fabric. Some in this series have ticking stripes..some have solid moire. They're lined so they have body, yet aren't completely stiff.
They can carry the daily......or even a laptop...or your electronic book....(i Pad)
Here's a typical view of the inside....pockets....and a loop that flips over the top and buttons closed.
The other side is a recycled pair of pants with big pockets.....the better to keep things in ..my dear!
Each in the series is slightly different....yet they're all roomy and easy to take care of....made of cotton or cotton blends.......They wash and dry by machine. Yes.
*****The next set of tote bags I'm working on are Bike bags...tie ons for the handle bars, or they can be tied on a belt too.*****
There's always a bit of lace and lots of topstitching too. I make sure it's all sturdy, and I really love my signature loopy stitching at the edges.
and....tho there are lots of pockets to keep the keys handy...to stash the transit card, the lipstick, the hanky.....
I made little zipper pouch purses to go with...
these are handy for a billion things!
each is a mix and match of cute, sweet, romantic, sharp and quirky cotton and cotton blend fabrics, laces and ribbon......some have vintage metal zippers....some have vintage nylon zippers.
my label in muslin....
They're about 7" x 7" or so. They're machine wash and dry...
or hang to dry......whatev'
Showing posts with label road trip. Show all posts
Showing posts with label road trip. Show all posts
Sunday, June 5, 2011
Thursday, December 3, 2009
I love Portland because...

it's quite European...it's just pretty...most of the places that you look....
The White Stag has a Red Nose...
The random vintage signs...
Portland, like Tacoma, like Seattle, is a working class town with similar backgrounds.

The view from our second story room into the deli under the Ace Hotel. The parking lot, and a fabulous Dinihanian sign on the side of the building.

Another view of the corner, with the Grotto and the fire escape.

Seattle is a rather artless, anything goes here, anything goes there.......without much thought other than cheap commerce.
Tacoma...believes it is crap. But it's not. And now most of the authentic charm is being replaced by Fake Working Class....you know...making 45,000. a year but drinkin' Pabst Blue Ribbon 'cause it's cool. Give.Me.A.Break.
Just drink what you like the taste of .....Me? Vodka!!
On our walk around the edge of the Pearl on the west side of downtown Portland we visited Narcisse. Heidi, the lovely hostess/purveyor of fine goods is so gracious. She carries NoaNoa in her shop.
She painted the walls deep plummy gray accented with cream and charcoal..(that's what I remember)Sparkling chandeliers...fine vintage wood furniture and old doors.....there's a mezzanine and a grand staircase.....
It's all so beautiful.
I love how Mark and Tigger are reflected in her glass door.

The obligatory shot of the Joyce with a giant heat ball in the sky......

Blue sky smiling at me.......

and the pink mountain and big moon somewhere near Centralia.....
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