I confess I'm not an island.

Shopping for clothes this summer (yes, I have two daughters in their teen years), I came across an adorable hoodie that employed its own zipper into a lovely tree. I didn't like the trendy price tag, but I couldn't get the image out of my head.

So, thanks to Boathouse and my cheap-osity, I've used that lust for possessions and created a zipper tree messenger bag.

Once I got going on the zipper theme, I just kept on the theme; adding them to the shoulder strap in entirely useless but pleasurable ways. Besides. A generous lady gave me a whole grocery bag full of zippers and I hate using those dang things in the traditional clothing sense of the word. Turning them into trees and accents is way more fun.

I once bought a bulky sweater at the thrift shop mostly because I really liked the buttons.

Now I'm glad that I followed my silly heart on that one, because they look awesome on this bag. Instead of the typical tie ends that you are used to seeing, I used a button hole and three buttons to allow you to adjust the length of the strap.

This set of pockets beneath the flap is one of my more intelligent ideas. I always use mine for a)keys, and b) cell phone.

That doesn't mean my battery is charged, or that you ought to phone me.

Years ago, I made a patchwork duvet cover for my dear friend Rosa Rabbit. Now, I'm not one of those fancy measuring tape kind of people. In the words of Anne Lamott, I find that to be a bit "show-offy".

So, I just throw things together, and when they're too long, I just cut them off. The funky little bits of patchwork underneath today's zipper tree are the remnants of just such an event. I'm glad I held onto that for all these years.

Here, I have turned the bag inside out to give you a proper view. I did something different in the interior side panel- I sewed in a handkerchief in pencil and pen holding lines. I myself am constantly scrambling to find those items in my bag. I thought maybe if they had homes of their own, they'd be less likely to vanish into thin air.

Then, each side holds two pockets each. These are the cargo pockets of my pants. They used to be my FAT pants. Over time they became my SKINNY pants. (I swear they just kept shrinking.... funny how all the pants in my closet did that very thing...)

This summer I said; "No More!" No more torturing myself with whether they fit or don't fit, whether I'm fatter or not. That resolution might have lasted for four or five minutes but hey-- it's a start!

It's a lot in one small package.

Speaking of small packages, I ought to measure this thing.

It's about eleven inches wide and twelve inches deep.

I poured a lot of myself into this darling, and don't want to sell her for less than $80.00 Cdn.

So, if that's cool with you, then please leave me a comment telling me so. In any case, leave me a comment because it's so nice to hear from everyone.

Messenger bag

11 X 12"

$80.00 Cdn

First person to claim becomes the bag's owner.