Spring

Last weekend I had the joy of losing myself in a project. And here it is. Seeing as tomorrow is the official start of spring, this seems like a lovely way to celebrate.

And because of people's generosity with their button collections, I no longer feel the need to hoard the ones that make my heart go pitter patter. I simply sew them on with wild abandon and send them out to live a second or third life of wonder.

I love this inside piece- a gift from Kim Z, and one that I've waited for the perfect oppurtunity to use. It's perfect with a piece from mrs Rickert- the sort of crush velveteen green.

The side panel pockets are ones that I find I don't use much myself, so I've taken to making these two pockets just beneath the flap. They work well for cell phones, keys, and the like.

Looks like spring, doesn't it? Especially with some of the last bits of that wonderful green chennille.

The inside was just as much fun to put together. That really nifty square bit of seeming incompatable green pieces came from a curtain that I discovered at the local charity shop. ;)

And I never seem to get enough of those fabulous 1970's flowers. In fact, I just picked up a queen size at the thrify gift on Tuesday. Lots of fun spring pieces still to come...

I really enjoyed planting this tree on a delicate hanky with tatting along the edge. Such a juxtaposition of art forms. The delicate, highly detailed work of the tat embroiding alongside the goofy tree and loud fun-loving buttons.

Just look at those delicious fabrics.

The orange side of the handle is a beach wrap, I believe. A lovely, bright, airy piece of fabric.

That lilac button? A Christmas gift from my wonderfully artistic daughter Jane. She is so very thoughtful.

And that? A gift from my inspired, inspiring friend Lory. She made it using plastic from a strawberry container which apparently works the same as that shrinky dink stuff that you pay a fortune for at Michaels. Isn't that the sweetest thing? I must have been in a very joyful, generous mood on Saturday, putting all that fantastic stuff on one bag!

Yup. I may be crazy. And tortured. But I find incredible pockets of joy.

So do we/are we all, is what I like to imagine.

This bag was sheer joy to create. And I like to look at it and believe in hope and a future. It reminds me of a creative God. Good people. Hope for spring in all the seasons of our lives.

I'm willing to start bids on today's bag at $35, just to make us all even happier. I'll keep it up until tomorrow morning at 7:00 am, cst. remember that if you like the bag, and you're up at midnight or so, don't hesitate to leave a bid. So far, no one actually gets up in the wee hours to bid these babies up....

Happy Spring.