the {bag}

Projects like THIS one (my sister's senior pictures) and THIS one (graduation announcements) have been on my bucket list, and are checked off.  I think we finally finished my sister's grad announcement, which isn't pictured in the group I linked to....it's a surprise, since I know our aunties and cousins read this.  *wink, wink*

Oh yeah...this is supposed to be about the {bag}. I LOVE how my bag turned out! I loved sewing it; simple, fast, and I did it while watching my friends' kids last week...well, they watched a movie during nap time while I sewed.  I didn't really follow any directions, but instead dreamed about it for three months, how I would put it together, and wouldn't you know it, it went together JUST LIKE A DREAM!

Finally got pictures of it today...

Yes.  That's my breakfast sitting on the table, still.  I had Turtle Cake, complements of a very dear friend.  Thank you Becky!  Ryan said to me as I was taking this picture, "That is an AWFUL background!"  Uh...  I have since washed the floor (and cupboards and walls) and done the dishes.  And I do agree with him...it's just hard to take a picture of yourself holding a bag, and I feel dumb asking him to take one...especially since I was still in my bathrobe when I took this.  *sigh*

I really need to work on my lighting skills...they kinda stink, but here you can see the fun make-up of the bag. I totally ditched the ruffles I had in mind.  I like it's geometric simplicity, which is what its designer, Renske, had in mind.   Afterall, she calls it the minimalist tote bag.  But nothing about me is minimalist...hence the lovely print!  (If you know anything about fabric, you'd appreciate that it was printed ON GRAIN!  You'd also be disgusted to find that after I washed it, I discovered it was cut OFF GRAIN by about 5 inches on each side=wasting 8 inches of good fabric. *sigh*)

Just because I'm in LOVE with the leather strap.  Thanks dad, for the scrap!  I think it might have been intended for the straps on my mom's new chaps, but it was 'cut wrong' so he let me use it.

Here the {bag} is, with the pocket for my trusty new-to-me cell phone, since I washed the old crappy one in the washer.  I SWEAR it was a mistake.  On my honor.  I forgot it was in the back pocket.  And I don't check pockets unless I'm looking for spare change. 

And here's the cool hardware my dad helped me to set.  Okay.  He put it on, I just told him how I wanted it.  Don't you LOVE the grommets, and the star-split rivet backs?  Yeah.  Me, too.

And this is next on the docket:

I can't wait!  Pillows.  For the couch.  I am getting really tired of the brown, brown, and brown furniture. I found the solid at Home Fabrics for CHEAP!!!  ($2 a yard) and plan to do some very FUN fabric folding with it...and the sweet Fleur-de-lis-ish pattern on the left will be plain-ole square pillows.

I told you.  I just can't help myself.  Plus, I'm looking forward to some color in my life.  We got another four inches of snow this morning.  It's kinda-sorta melting, but I was really looking forward to a fun day of bike riding ... I've already put away all the snow clothes.


Speaking of color; I had two sweet surprises last night.  Ryan came home with a beautiful bouquet of the most gorgeous salmon (not peach, not pink) roses, and then my sweet and thoughtful friend Becky brought us by that yummy Turtle cake and some gorgeous red roses to finish off our interesting anniversary day.  (Between the ER visit, skipping out on preschool and not having swim practice and having sick kids and feeling like a zombie, it was just a really odd day.)

I think they complement each other very nicely.  Just pretend with me that those curtains are adding in some gorgeous back-lighting to my even more gorgeous subjects.

In unrelated {bag} news, we were able to finish off the night with some chocolate covered strawberries, more freezer jam and an early bed time.  We were wiped out.  I fell asleep the second my head hit the pillow.

*breath*

And now, if you'll excuse me, I need to get started on my bread, so I can then clean my bathroom, so I can take a shower, so I can go to the mall, so I can buy a new bra that will do what it's supposed to do.  

Toodles.