If A Tree....

is uploaded past lunchtime... Does anybody hear?

Still on this whole deciduous theme. Brown textures seemed to jump out at me last week.

This is a small bag (8" x 9") with an adjustable necktie strap.

(clearly not exclusive to men...)

Not the best shot, but I wanted to show the variety of buttons. I spared a few of my treasured femo clay ones. They date back to a street fair on Corydon Avenue in the 80's.

There's quite a magnificent tree topper as well.

Wish I knew the story on that one.

Under the flap.

If you're into chocolate (brown), then this might be the bag for you. (or your christmas list)

Have I mentioned that these bags ship in three business days?

Two inside pockets.

I'm a sucker for those ties. I wonder why.

Nice piece on the back. I'm pretty sure that's from my local angel. She came back this weekend, you know. But since the jig was up, she came right to the door so I could give her a little cuddle.

*

Auction starts now and ends on Tuesday, December 15, 2009 at 9:30 pm, cst.

Start with a minimum of $25- please.

*

This week? A commitment every night. Plus a mammogram to look forward to.

Could we not distribute these joys a little more reasonably? I mean, the mammogram would give me enough writing material for a millenium, I'm sure.

*

Ah, well.

Makes you believe in compact storage in a whole new way....

Cabbage Patch Mini

So, before I became fully aware of the frenzy surrounding the large size brown tree bag.... I made this small size brown tree bag. (8" wide and 9" long)

Which I'm sure, once you really think about it; is what you wanted all along.

I mean- did that fancy big one have this Christmas green gingham on its strap? I think not.

A handy pocket under the flap for your keys and stuff.

Did I mention that after two long and sad months, I have my laptop back?

Yup, it is true.

Now the boys have that to fight over; and not just the wii.

We're very concerned.

Two more handy pockets on the inside.

What fun it was to trim this tree. Almost as much fun as trimming the Christmas tree. Actually- more because this one I could do all by my big self. No one else's opinions to nag at me.

Here's the thing about today's bag. It has been cold here in this hopeless and bleak province that we refer to as Manitoba. Very cold. I wonder all the time what that must be like for the addicted and depressed, cold and homeless in Winnipeg. Just this morning I received an e-mail from Siloam mission appealing for funds for December meals.

December.

Christmas.

Embarrassing.

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For $35.64, Siloam Mission can offer twelve people meals.

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I think I spent that on lego for one advent calendar. Sometimes I think we've got Christmas all wrong.

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So here's the thing. Hit each other with purses with great abandon. Stampede each other in the name of charity. Plow your way up that escalater. Pull that other momma's hair.

Whatever money our Cabbage Patch mini generates will be forwarded to Winnipeg's Siloam mission. I just can't not.

(If anyone is here reading and wondering "What the heck is this woman on about?!" then refer to yesterday's comments. All will become clear then.)

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Time is continuously railroading me; what with band concerts, recitals, swimming lessons, basketball , blah ,blah, blah. So I didn't get this posted at 7:00 am as my ideals dictate.

*

We'll leave this auction open until Friday, December 11,2009 at 9:30 pm, cst. Now you'll notice that I rarely declare a winner at that time because I'm often in bed. But that's for another post.

Please start bids at $25- Cdn.

If You Beg; She Will Build

A few brown trees ago, a comment was made about desiring a larger size.

Point well taken.

I got right on that.

Besides, I had an old table runner hanging around the place that just begged to be part of a cause. So, it became a tree, two pockets, and the sides of a large bag.

(the back)

A small strip of brown cloth with quaint little trees on it has been delighting me for a long time now. It joined the runner and the tree and became a shoulder strap.

(Inside out. Two pockets)

Two more. One is very small and sort of selfish. I made it to fit business cards....

My business cards.

Then there is another sneaky pocket- right there on the inside side panel.

I hope you approve. I had a whole lot of pleasure putting it together.I'm many hours behind "Ideal" for posting this bag, so it will remain on the auction block until Wednesday, December 9, 2009, at 9:30 pm cst.

You just might get it for $25-....

Crunch Time

It has begun.
work parties, church parties, family gatherings.
Birthdays.

This week my auntie turned 92, and my son turned 7.

(She's got just about as much energy as he does.....)
Next week? Brian's birthday.

Throws a little bit of extra challenge into "getting it all done".

But nonetheless, here is the bag 'o' the day.

Still finding those quilt fronts that Janice got me going on.

This one pairs nicely with orange and blue- two of my favourite things.

The inside employs a "Campbells Soup" apron. Three pockets on this side.

Two on the other. I'm liking the smaller pockets on the inside, in addition to the one large one. Helps one to locate the lipstick and keys at crucial moments.

I got to play with two neckties as well- one that I picked up a week or two ago for a whopping .25!

specs:

seven pockets.

large size: 13.5 wide x 14" deep.

adjustable strap.

$25- to start

Bid until 9:30 tonight, cst.

(December 7, 2009)

She Thinks She Can Dance

The body is a collection of mysterious organs; yes?
Why, for example, am I typing up a post at 5:26 am, two cups of coffee into the day? Because my eyes popped open at 4:00 and refused to behave after that.
I really am getting old.Today's bag comes to you from the archives. Well, that is- if you can call finding a half finished bag in a stack of fabric in the basement "the archives".

The pants that form pockets beneath the flap: I distinctly remember that these came from a ballet dancer in Winnipeg who cleaned up a closet and passed over a box of remnants, and a pair of pants. I think it's kind of funky to have a ballet dancer's pants on a bag. It's the closest I've ever come to dance myself.

(I think that' s from a shirt that Roo gave me....)
It forms a side panel pocket. There is one on each side.

View from behind.

I put in a pocket from my own bottoms, just for the sake of equality.

(and to flesh out that whole "I'm part of a dance troupe now" fantasy.)

Yup. That's me. Just hanging out with the skinnies at the Royal Winnipeg Ballet.

Specs:

size: large. 13" wide, 12" deep.

eight pockets. really.

$25- starts it off, bids until 9:30 pm cst, tonight, December 4, 2009.

Back Tomorrow-- (Friday ALREADY?)!

Angels

Something about December that makes me want to work with red velvet and plush green.

And a few buttons.

Wonder what that green was meant for in the real world? A coat? Hard to envision.

These fabrics are thanks to Kim Z. An angel from a city not too far away.

And I know who our other angel is-

A local young lady.

I don't think I was that thoughtful when I was in grade eleven. Way too busy with my own angst. I am very impressed and delighted, A.

Kind of makes you want to lick it or something. Or just snuggle up.

Yeah.... never mind about the well thought out background of: compost pail, garbage can, and laundry that needs putting away.

Can you envision your cell phone and keys all wrapped up in velvet?

The inside pockets are just as pretty- two bits of old fabric that have been around the place for... well forever.

It's a sweet bag and I can only hope that it will be indicative of an excellent day.

specs: 9" wide x 10" deep.

three pockets.

adjustable strap.

attractive.

$25-Cdn to start, please.

Auction close at 9:30 pm cst, Wednesday, November 2, 2009.

Advent

I don't think that December first is actually the first day of advent. But I'll tell you what I do know; and why this post is entitled as such.

My boys have a little tradition, and it is the Lego Advent Calendar. We order it from the lego website and when it comes in the mail; it really is the start of the season.

This year it came early, and the anticipation was just too much. They asked their dad to please hide the boxes? it was just too exciting to have them within reach, but to have to wait another 34 sleeps.

Last night Sam set up his box right beside his bed.

Micah told me he'd gotten a "soundless alarm clock"- meaning that he'd set his box across the room from his bed so that he'd be forced to get out of bed to enjoy his first December day.

Sam bounced out of bed at 7:15 this morning and opened his first window. It's a lego guy with wee little lego snow balls.

How can you not love this stuff?

Well, you might be here about a bag.

I like what Tanya said yesterday- "I don't know about bringing sexy back, but you sure brought funky back!"

This bag was fun to make. (as if some are a hardship- hah!)

A while back, I found a summer dress at the thrift shop. It was from "Joe" which I happen to like. However, I wanted it to be a shirt, and not a dress, so I cut off the bottom few inches.

And used it for this peace symbol.

(bag inside out- pocket)

I also used a pair of Jane's favourite pants that had an unfortunate crotch- busting incident. Still, no sense in wasting those pockets!

(again- bag inside out; pockets. The pant pockets, plus the area behind the pants creates a large pocket).

The excess Joe dress hem went into the strap, and forms the pocket beneath the flap.

Other pieces employed are: upholstery samples, donated (green); and a little piece of corduroy from Mitchel fabrics. From about 13 years ago. (still love it).

I noticed that the colours on some of these photos are a bit wonky. For most accurate colour portrayal, focus on the first and last photos. The colour combo is quite pleasing to the eye.

specs:

14" wide; 12" long.

Large enough for: binder, baby gear, laptop, etc.

$25- starts her off.

Auction concludes at 9:30 pm cst. today, December one!

World Time Zone Converter....

click here.

Save Darfur

Check out Sixteen days of Activism Against Gender Violence on the Save Darfur Coalition website.

Today is Day six; honouring journalists covering violence against women in Sudan.
I'll never forget what fellow Darfur concerned friend once told me in terms of media coverage about the ongoing genocide and displaced persons in the Sudan.

"Darfur just isn't sexy any more".

It just doesn't generate interest any more.

We'd rather gag on H1N1 25 hours a day.

Well, here's to bringing sexy back.

(chennille bedspread; embroidered velvet; orange quilt; odds and ends; Brian's rejected shirt; a calendar tea- towel; and some other stuff).
Inside the bag:

The tea towel forms another two pockets- one for your pen and the other for something smaller like a phone or what-evah.Two more pockets under the flap- nice for the phone and the keys. (both of which I"ve lost. Shoulda had me one of these bags....)

Specs:

roughly 11" x 11".

Adjustable strap.

delightfully colourful.

Start price is $25- Cdn. Bids are welcomed until 9:30 pm cst, this evening, November 30, 2009.

Thank you

for being part of the Darfur project. Thanks to your support, our current total of funds donated is:
fifteen thousand, one hundred and seventy-six dollars!

The Family Tree

The place has been a little lacking in bag-giness over the past few days. That's why I'm posting the tree- thinking you'll all forgive me for calling in sick for the past two days.... I've been at my mother and father's house; trying to "look after them". My mother had a minor surgery on Wednesday, and I hung around the place, awkwardly setting the table, washing the dishes, fetching the cream for coffee.

I haven't slept over at ma and pa's for a number of years. And its been considerably longer that I've ever slept over there without an assortment of babies and children clamouring at and around me.

I liked it because it gave me the oppurtunity to enter their world; instead of imposing mine upon them. What I saw comforted and encouraged me. It reminded me of the roots that hold down my family tree.

Now, my parents aren't perfect.

And we're not the Waltons or anything.

But.

Here's what warms my heart.

When I was a child, my dad started every breakfast by pulling out his Bible and his monthly copy of "My Daily Bread" (a daily devotional). He sat in his spot and read the lot of it out loud to his family. Then he bowed his head and prayed a prayer of reverence and gratitude.

Every day.

And he still does.

He's eighty-six now. He and mom have been together for about fifty-nine years.

I loved being in their quiet, unhurried world, watching their routines and the simple but genuine ways that they care for one another. I love how sharp my dad's brain is, stroke notwithstanding.
~

I know that time is short; growing shorter all the time. I imagine how much I'll miss them. I know how incredibly lucky I am to have such strong and independent parents.
~
and that's a little about my family tree.

~

About the other tree: 8" x 10", four pockets, adjustable strap, lotsa sweet buttons.

Now I know that I generally post these photos in the morning, but this week has been a little out of the ordinary. I'll go ahead and publish it now (quick! before parent/teacher interviews!)

The auction on the tree bag will conclude on Friday, November 27, 2009 at 9:30 pm.

(ah, by that time I'll be leaning heavily into the weekend, full on appetizers and wine..........)

Don't Go Too Far Away....

Super busy day today.
.... and no bag photographed yet.
Perhaps I shall be back later today to launch tomorrow's bag.
Until then, you can find me running between the fridge, the table, the sink, and meting out justice as I see fit. (those pre-schoolers can be tough customers!)

Have a day that looks for the good....

Hold the Lettuce

A lovely shoulder bag from Lettuce in London, England; handwoven on a table top loom.
(How I'd like to see these looms for myself one day...)
For a description of how this bag is put together, check out this post: Letty's woven.

It's a pleasure to host these bags in my home, and have the privelege of auctioning them off for Darfur. People with a love for fabrics and textiles have unique ways of expressing it; and what a joy to share something different here.

Lettuce does beautiful work.

The bag measures 9.5" x 10".

The strap is 18" long.
Auction concludes this evening, November 24, 2009, at 9:30 cst.

Bids begin at $25-.

Evasio

The Augustine United Church in Osborne village hosted a two part lecture series on the "Responsibility to Protect". Part one was the Christian considerations for peacekeeping and peacemaking; exploring Christian traditions of just war and pacifism in light of the united nations responsbility to protect.

I missed that part.

But I made it to part II: Christian Responses to Stories of Genocides & Massacres with:

Waldemar Janzen, refugee from Soviet oppression.

Evasio Murenzi, survivor of early Rwandan massacre.

Marceline Ndayumvire, survivor of Burundi genocide.

Henny Paritzky, Holocaust survivor.

There wasn't a speaker who didn't squeeze some "hmmmmmm's", or "huhhhh's" out of me.

But the one that stands out in my mind is a young man who survived the massacre in Rwanda.

You may remember me mentioning a book by Evangeline Iilibagiza called "Left to Tell"- which was her unbelievable account of survival in that Rwandan genocide. So, coupled with what I remembered from her story, I found Evasio's to be profound and remarkable.

His earliest memories; at the age of five; are of witnessing men setting fire to houses in his village. He was excited and intriqued at this "bad boy" behavior and wanted to join in.

The memories that followed were of people killing neighbours. Machetes. Guns. Death. Flames.

I find it remarkable that anyone could emerge from those scenes in their formative years and be whole, even in the slightest of ways. That he could be upright, law-abiding, peace-loving. That he could have escaped severe mental illness, and sociopathic behaviors.

This is a great mystery.

So, then, this bag is dedicated to Evasio- and all survivors. And to the people they left behind.

The bag measures 8" x 10".

Pockets number four- as photographed.

(and by the time I got back here to add some words; I see that the auction has begun.)

Auction concludes this evening at 9:30 pm, central standard time; November 23.

Fatima

So much to say.
Some mornings I struggle a little with the titles of these posts. This morning it was a toss-up between three possibilities. I settled on "Fatima" because of something remarkable that happened earlier on this week, which I will soon expound on.

The two other possibilities had to do with a relatively new commenter named "Janice" and my almost seven year old son Sam.(bag turned inside out- this is a Campbells soup bib apron turned pocket.)I'll start with Sam. Now, I had a son born to me almost five years before my Sam joined our family. This first son saw most clothes as uncomfortable, flashy, stress-provoking evils associated with life on this earth.

When Sam came along, it was a different story. He liked choosing clothes in the store. I remember seeing him as a toddler holding up a hanger in a store and making happy noises. This was altogether new for me. The other pocket(s) inside this bag are a pair of Sam's pants; re purposed.
They are actually hand-me-downs from a Darfur supporter whose son loved watching the bag action online. They passed down some of his clothes for the project, but they were just about the right size to wear on Sam first; and then make it into a bag. So, that's what we did.

Last night I photographed this bag, and had it slung over a chair, inside out- just like the above photo indicates. Then I came into the office and busied myself getting said photos onto the computer.

Sam came to me weeping.

It was a sad cry, and not his more typical mad cry.

He was sad about those pants. Mommy- why did you make my pants into a bag?!
(I soon realised that he thought these were his current brown pants, and that I'd taken them out of his drawer and sacrificed them to the greater good)

Oh, sweet sam.

(rear of bag- a red velveteen children's dress)

"Bright is in"- that's what Janice said.

She came here in the most serendipitous way. After the privelege of hearing Mariatu speak in the flesh, she went home and googled her name.

And came here.

And has delighted me since.

(this is under the flap: do you see that the two pockets are actually the bottoms of two sleeves on what I imagine is a child's Christmas dress?) The white lace forms the cuffs of the sleeves. Reminds me of photos of my sister and I dressed matchy matchy at Christmas time.

Now about Fatima. I had the awesome privelege of sitting in on the local MCC thrift store's annual meeting earlier on this week. I was duly impressed with their work in clothing and feeding people worldwide- it really looked like Jesus to me.

There was a guest speaker whose work involved operating a central Canadian warehouse from which goods are circulated worldwide. He shared powerpoint photos of baled clothing and quilts and then some of their destinations.

I got sort of breathless when he began to show photos of distribution in the Darfur region of Sudan!!!!! (a note about the straps: one side is a pretend patchwork scrap that I just had to keep. It was small, but I knew it would be perfect for something; and here it is. The other side of the strap is embroidered in flowers that I sat up all night stiching. Not. They really are embroidered, by hand I think I can safely assume. They did adorn a tablecloth in their other life.)

He shared a photo of a woman named Fatima. She was standing in a displaced persons camp, accepting a quilt sewn in the back rooms of some Canadian (Manitoban? Nivervillian?!) thrift shop. (our local thrift shop produces 500 to 600 quilts annually!)

~

It was bright and colourful. And she was grateful to receive something so beautiful.

~

When asked what she was planning to use her quilt for; she told our speaker that it was going to become her infant's bed. When asked where the infant currently slept, she explained that she made him a bed in the sand.

~

Fatima is one of us. She's not someone far away who looks great in photos with a donated quilt and makes us feel comfortable with our contributions to the "lesser". I think that's a pit easily fallen into. I often forget the Fatimas when I'm sewing stuff together in my basement with fifty million toys on the floor, a couple of toddlers, a warm furnace, and fat on my bones. And yes. Sometimes the sewing is measured in comments. Or readers. Or followers. Stats.

~

We are a greedy and selfish nation. (now you're starting to think: geez, here comes the fire and brimstone, and a lion's share of guilt). I think I'll ease off here.

~Particulars~

LARGE. 16" wide and 14" deep.

The lining is made of a thin quilted material. It wouldn't exactly protect a laptop, but it would help. This bag is also practical for: people who carry a lot of stuff, or binders, or small children. Even a mid-sized dog.

Bids begin at $25- Cdn, and the auction concludes at 9:30 pm, central standard time; Thursday, November 19, 2009.

Comments are always free.

Time Zones

Until I figure out a handy dandy way to put this in my sidebar, or along with my other FAQ's, here is Canada divided into time zones. I suppose that's not fair either, since the whole freaking world doesn't live in Canada, does it.

*sigh*

Things seem so easy until you put some thought into them.

Must stop thinking.

Foliage

Very similar to last week's bag (Remembrance)
However, this one fastens closed twice: once on the under flap pocket, and once on the flap itself.
Here is the inside; View A.

Inside; view B.

The back. The green has a velveteen feel to it. Very pleasant to touch.

The bottom.

Bag measures 7" x 10".

Auction concludes at 9:30 pm cst tonight, on November 17, 2009.

Bids begin at $25 Cdn.

Blues

I got that itch again. The one where I just have to sit and lose myself in thought while I stitch on buttons- little works of art. (inside out- large pocket)

(and another on the other side; plus a small pocket running along the bottom of the first)

The back- nice blue.

(although the lighting on these photos is a bit harsh. The top and bottom pictures are a better rendition of the way the bag looks)

The under flap pocket pulls the greens and blues together perfectly.

width of base: 7.5"

height of bag: 10"

Materials: high end upholstery samples, two neckties, a floral piece from Lettuce, two cloth napkins from Jamaica, a bit of quilting fabric, and a special sampling of buttons from lots of people.

~

Bids begin at $25- cdn. The auction will conclude at 9:30 pm, this evening, November 16, 2009.

Must Post Bag.... Must Post Bag... Must...

That Lettuce kills me. She knits up a bag, then throws into hot water to felt the fibers.
The result? Sheer ecstacy.

I turned the bag inside out to give a good look at the lining fabric and the two small pockets.

The exterior has two pockets as well- one at the side, and the second on the "back".

It fastens closed with a lovely button, and a knit button hole.

Approximate dimensions are 11" at the base, widening to 14" width at the top. Height: approx 11". Colour scheme: smokey deep grey at the base; a stripe of blue- sort of a cross between peacock and navy (?) then a layer of soft pale grey, a small stripe of the softest, most subtle pink in the world, then another blue stripe, and at the very top a thin band of light grey mixed with pink. I had to hoard this one for a few weeks because its so precious and beautiful.

But today I am working for the greater good, and not greed. Hence... must post bag.

~

Same schtick. Start at $25 but don't stay there. Leave uplifting and/or amusing comments. Tell all your friends and neighbours. Then tell them about an awesome Ugly Sweater Party coming up tomorrow.

~

Well? What are you waiting for? Go!