For Bloomin' Sakes!

Well, nothing has gone exactly perfectly this week. I have not been able to publish a single picture here, and have gone to some lengths to fix the problem.

So, I'm borrowing Brian's space for now.
Check out the bag at http://gweegwone.blogspot.com/2009/04/for-bloomin-sakes.html

The auction is on until May 1, 7:00 am, cst.

hmm.... & grrrrrrr...And We Are Still Experiencing Technical Difficulties; AND How Much Can One Patient Woman Take?!

(Blogger is giving me trouble this morning with uploading photographs.
I'll try back again later, and hopefully can show you a tote bag for all your toting needs! )

** turns out that I have used up my available space for uploading photographs and am at the point of having to purchase more space through google.

hmmmmm.........
Secondly, Google says that it may take up to 24 hours for these purchased GB of space to show up at my blog. So, on a week when I am prepared..... I am immobilized.

Grrrrrrrrrrrr...

(fingers crossed for tomorrow anyway...)

......And here I am at tomorrow. Still not playing nice.
Well, there are some things that one can control. Others; not so much. We shall prevail and wait.

Today, WEDNESDAY; I'm getting the same rejection notice. However, when I click on my status, to see how much space I have; I apparently have new GB just sitting there. You know, I may be good with the sewing machine, but mysterious electronics-- not so much.

I shall remain seated until a magnificent rescuer comes upon me in my distress.

(Anyone....... Anyone?)

Back on Monday, April 27

Thanks for another great week!

Mrs Post Lady

In high school, our musical ensemble group did a skin tingley version of the song; Mr Postman.

Whenever I lay eyes on these tablecloths turned tote bags, I can't help but mentally sing out:

"Wait a minute Mr Postman- I've been waiting so-oh-oh patiently. for just a card; or just a letter- Saying you you'll be coming home to me..." (probably got those lyrics pretty unwound there...)

Well, in this case, the Mr is a Mrs. And it wasn't a card or a letter; but two tablecloths.

At my stage, and with my vocation, that's way more stimulating than any old card or letter from some silly boy.

So, I set myself straight down to work converting these lovely relics into tote bags for your toting pleasure.

Inside you'll find a fun apron turned pocket.

Now, don't let that model scare you off. Back in the day, he was known for the marvelous hand-made cards and letters that the Postman delivered to my greedy hands.

Dimensions: 17 x 14 inches.

Sorry for any confusion I may have caused with dates. Sometimes I manage to upload photos a few days ahead of time, and it makes the post date appear earlier than it was. So, this tote bag is available for auction until Friday, April 24, 2009 at 7:00 am. (cst). Bids start at $25 Cdn.

I just read another amazing book: Left to Tell. Gives me another shove in the general direction of my sewing machine to do what I can to raise money for the African countries. So much beauty, so much pain.

Re-Birth

Did this set of drapes and this tired pillowcase ever dream of being rebirthed into a fabulous tote bag?

Or that carefully embroidered tablecloth imagine resting on your shoulder?

(And what a dashing shoulder it is!)

What lovely work our foremothers engaged in. What a pleasure to enjoy it all over again in a new way.

The other side of the bag features two handy pockets.

This is the bag turned inside out so that you can have a good look at the pockets. The yellow piece forms a large pocket, and the sleeve piece forms a small one for your pesky little stuff.

And the shirt front forms a large pocket on the second side.

It's a grand bag for spring and summer. Large and useful. Same dimensions as yesterday's.

Want to make a difference in a country where the word "fair" is unheard of?

Let's start the bids at $25 and work our way up from there until tomorrow morning at 7:00 am.

Tomorow...

..One or more of the bags that are hanging around the place (strapless and shameless) be will properly outfitted and showcased right here.
Tuesday will just fall on Wednesday, is all.

Postmaster tote

Sometimes in life, things happen that send happy shoots all the way through the cloudy and wet spring, through my muddled self, and right to the heart. Like when the postmaster leaves a parcel card in our mailbox and instead of going inside to retrieve a parcel; she hands Brian two tablecloths to donate to the project. I love that sense of interconnectedness and community. And I deeply appreciate it.

Can't you see yourself with a couple of good books, a bottle of water, a beach towel... All packed up in the funnest tote bag ever? I feel all sandy just looking at this bag.

I turned the bag inside out to show you what the pockets are like. And it actually looks quite reversible...... who knew.

We're going to start bids on this beauty with 25 buckaroos.

You may have noticed the starting bids dropping lately. We're stimulating the economy here. My nephew told me last night that you can buy a house in Chicago for $5,000. Mind you, it's been sacked....

But still. It's fun to level the playing field a little and have more people participate. that's about community as well, and goodness knows we're not Gucci. Nor do we strive to that end.

Dimensions: 17" x 14". Straps: 28".

I'll accept bids until 7:00 am, April 21.

Check Out

.......the new totals in the sidebar. We've donated over $13,000 now...

Likely Excuse...

Taking a breather today. I've got to find the floor of the basement and even vacuum.... Among other things. Besides, I'm running out of bags....

Button Crazy

So, we're heavy on the buttons over here in bagland.

This bag makes me happy because I didn't spare any of my favourite things. When I fingered some of my hankies, I came across this one with the loverly coloured floral accents. I thunk to meself.... "The one bunch of flowers looks like the ground, and the second could be like a heavenly cloud of flowers! All it needs is a tree with button fruit!"

From there, it was sheer joy to use a turquoise and white table cloth that I found in Brandon while thrifting with Lory and Rose; and add some length to that strap by cutting up a hand embroidered table runner of a fine garden party lady standing in flowers.

It couldn't possibly be put together without using fabric from a true lady: Mrs Rickert. So, I cut into that marvelous plaid piece that made my heart go pitter patter when I first laid eyes on it.

It's a veritable buffet of loveliness.

Bag measures 12" x 12".

I like comments, and so I'll start the bids at $30. As we've all noticed, these bags are becoming more affordable. But its fun to be part of the game playing; plus I get more rewards when I take a break from my job and check my inbox.

Thank you for all the wonderful comments over the past few days. They stimulated thoughts and responses in me, and then.... Well... I had no chance to sit down and pound them out.

Still, you need to know that you are noticed and appreciated.

I <3 You

A number of weeks ago, I came home one night to a love message spelled out in buttons on my counter. It was from my daughter Jane (who just turned thirteen on the 8th). it was so lovely and thoughtful that I took a picture of it, and then attempted to recreate it on this tablecloth turned tote bag.

It's been complete for a few weeks now, but I've not been ready to let it go.
This photo shows the bag turned inside out, so you can see how I used doilies to create additional pockets. There are actually four pockets on the inside of the tote bag.

The straps are formed from a vintage piece that I've been hoarding for quite a few years now. I like the way it picks up the colour in the trim and the buttons.

Looks kinda spring-ish, doncha think?

It is tightwad Tuesday, so who'll start us off with $15, just because we can?

I'll leave the auction open until 7:00 am, April 15, cst.

Treedom

Been doing this online auction for almost a year now.

Don't know where it will all lead to, or end up as, but it's been quite a joy.

Lately, I've been finding particular pleasure in making button trees. I like this brown one, even as the snow slowly melts away (again...) and the trees make their reappearance. They are brown now, but hold the promise of much to come.

I carry a bag similar in size and function to this one, and find that I really like the pockets just beneath the flap. Perfect for that little stuff that you need all the time but get tired of rooting around for.

Brown sounds so mundane, but it's not. There is something warm and wonderful about all those shades and patterns in brown.

Particulars:

11 x 11 inches.

Four pockets: two under flap, and two inside.

Bids starting at $35.00 and taken until 7 am, cst tomorrow, Tuesday April 14.

Highest bidder at that time gets the bag.

On Monday, April 13, I will post another bag. Today I am rather tired, and I have a sick boy to care for. Thanks for always coming around. Bit by bit, we're doing some good together.

funky fun

I found all the pieces for this bang of a bag downstairs when I was trying to find some order in the chaos. I had apparently cut it all out and then buried the pieces in the mania of everyday living. It employs some of my favourite things- those wonderful paisley thingies in bright colours; and of course- dyed chennille bedspreads.

This bag is a return to the larger bag that I consistently made "in the beginning". So, if you are looking for a place to stash your diapers, books, water bottles, kid paraphanalia, beach supplies, or you just haul around more than your wallet and tylenol.... This is a bag for you.

(Isn't it just spunky looking?)

The strap is made of gingham that was hand embroidered into a table cloth. I thought it worked better here.

A bit of buttony bling to add texture to those daisies...

And two functional pockets at the front. I find that I like to use those for that stuff that always gets lost in the other sections: grocery lists, lipstick, car keys, cell phone. (in no way means that I will remember to turn on said phone).

The bag measures 15" across and 12.5" deep.

I'll keep the auction open until 7:00 am, cst, Thursday, April 9.

(Today is my second daughter's thirteenth birthday. Do you think I'm up for this challenge of suddenly, unexplicably becoming the mother of teens?!)

FAQ's