December, 2009

You may have noticed a sort of vacancy the last few times you've popped over here.

I've sort of been abducted-- the pagaent/recital/concert/drama/Christmas traditions monster sort of got my hands tied in a great big confounded fuddle.

And the past caught up with me. I mean that the small stockpile that I'd built over summer slowly got eaten up until I find myself right back at having zero bags in my inventory.

So, time to back away from the sales pitches until after Christmas. Don't forget all about me, Darfur, and bags though. We'll all need you to come back. Sometime around January 4, 2010.
Expect an update on total amount donated in 2009 very, very soon. Just as soon as I get organized and finish that all up.

It's been a tremendous year of joy and gratitude. Some small strides have also been made in the Sudan, but much still remains to be done.

Thank you.
Thank you!
Mucho el-Grande Thank you all!!

Plus: Merry Christmas and to all a good night....

Oh, The Trees I've Seen...

This tree is special. It attracts wildlife.No. Really.

But it stands on its own quite splendidly also.

It also comes to the rescue should you shirt lose a shirt button or seven over Christmas indulgences.

Or require a necktie at some fancy office party.

Here's another wildlife advantage: space for two of Kanga's little Roos.

Plus other stuff. Like maybe some Darfur Bag business cards?

or credit cards for your multi-multi dashes to ToysRUs?
(my sister used to have one of those really-smart-but-not-very-bright type of friends. She insisted on calling the place "Toysasaurous".)

Big pocket. For big stuff.

Backside. You need one of these, because even if the inside has four pockets; without a back to kind of hold it together; you'd just lose all your stuff.

Lancer. Reminds me of a young man in my daycare.

Also reminds me of Dancer, cupid, dasher. (May have those names all wrong. I grew up with "Nun Isse Ehrshienen" and "Away in a Manger"and "Oh Die Frohliche". Dancer and Cupid were a foreign legend in our parts......)

Mostly I'm showing you that so you think I stitched that washing care label on by myself.

Even though I didn't.

Washable or not, it'll keep your stuff firmly on your shoulder.

I like that sun bursty bit on the side. Its from VEEENS MIBLE DARP. (sorry. Must be the Christmas in the air that's bringing all this German nonsense to the surface.)
For all you worldly anglos: That would be: Wiens Furniture Store. And my local angel was the delivery girl.

She's a goody in any case. And she's big.

15" wide; 13" deep
(the bag not the angel. silly.)

Yesterday's purse flailing was so much fun.

There was some mention of hugging, but more importantly, some talk about shooting.

(All in the name of charity; of course.)

Bids begin at $83.00 Cdn. $25.00 Cdn.

Auction concludes at 9:30 pm cst on Wednesday, December 16, 2009. (yes. My husband's birthday- thank you for asking...)

Give me some action, people. You've whet my appetite for purse slinging, rabbit shooting, elevater crushing, and even tree hugging. (but only virtual trees. If you lived around here, you'd know that your entire body would stick to a tree until spring if you dared to hug it. It's too danged cold.

peace out.

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.

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

Start with a minimum of $25- please.

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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.

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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.

*

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)