Back Online! Four bags to share

I spent a few months trapped in my house dreaming about sewing, sewing about sewing, eating, sleeping, sweating sewing preparing for the Niverville Fair. It was sort of on my "short bucket list" to get involved in something locally, and summer 2011 seemed the time to check that off my list celebrate my community and commitment to Darfur.

I sold a couple of bags!

But not so many that I have none left to share with my virtual world. This fun and rewarding place I can visit any time when physically leaving my house is entirely, completely, utterly impossible.

So, the first bag I'd like to introduce to you has a grand little story attached to it. But first of all- remember the days when I lovingly christened each and every bag with a birth name? Well, this one is named; "Spot The Guinea Pig".

First one to spot Arwin-Das-Pig and offer their cash gets to keep the bag!


But first about the bag.
Which just sold to my special friend Carly!

Cute, eh?
Wannit?

Many years ago when my almost-seventeen-year-old was just a wee toddler, we shared a back lane with a bridal shop. One wintry night, my neighbour and I witnessed a lot of traffic from the rear of that store straight to our shared dumpsters.

My neighbour, worried that I would think her insane, phoned me nonetheless to entice me to venture out into the dark night with flashlights and one toddler in tow.

She didn't know me very well at the time.

it was very likely the birthplace of what I consider to be a lifelong friendship.

My dumpster diving neighbour and I took turns crawling into the container and pitching out box after box of wedding dresses, bridesmaid dresses, veils, satin pumps, and oddly enough- a beautiful piece of embroidered fabric- the very one you see on this June day.

We both have many pictures of our children and all our friends children playing endless games of dress-up from that epic dumpster event.

Arianna doesn't seem to be too scarred from having to hang out in the back lane in the dark with her wacky mother and her awesome friend.

Isn't it the prettiest piece of fabric??

Certainly NEVER belonged in a landfill.

(hi piggy!)

This is a binder-sized messenger bag; the body of which is made from an upcycled handsewn quilt. Yellow. Only one of my favourite colours.

Some vintage yellow geometric fabric fashions the pockets for your cell phone, keys, and mace.
(in case of rabid guineas)

All inside out.

I'm very fond of that little leafy piece with the blue berries decorating it. My volunteering/sewing/Darfur connection pal sent that to me in the mail. (thank you!)

And that completes the photo story for bag #1.

Details: the dimensions are 15" x 12" x 4.5".
The fabric is irreplaceable! (until the next time I live behind a bridal shop that floods and deposits its treasures into the dumpster that is behind my home. That shouldn't be long in coming.)

I will take any reasonable offer of at least $40.00 Cdn.

Just leave me a comment, indicating bag #1, or "dumpster diving" or "spot the guinea pig" or any other creative combo of words that will lead me to believe you love this messenger bag.

Shipping to most places is about $12.00.

And now for:

Bag #2: The One That Got Away

Except that it already got away. Janice needed one more bag to make a well rounded collection of: 4,638,328 darfur bags. The classic tote bag.

Perfect for all your toting needs.

(I should have gone into advertising)

Weirdest thing: a woman at the fair carried this around in my little main street shop for the longest time. She said to me; "This one is calling my name".

Then she put it down and walked away.

This bag is so magical, it has an audible voice!

How can you walk away from that?

I can only surmise that it was something the tote said.

I was so sorry about that, but what could I do?

Okay, seriously now.

The bag measures 13" x 14" x 4".

It is basic, unlined, very durable, and sort of magical.

I will accept any offer at or above $12.00 Cdn.

Bag #3 : This Aint Yer Grandma's Runner

What do you get when you combine a table runner with a throw cushion, one side of a pair of suspenders, some upholstery samples, and some trim?

A bag4darfur, silly.

I had that pillow on my couch for a lot of years.

But I'm fickle and moody with what I have laying around the place.

It was time to embrace the yellows and turquoise in my life.
So I'm passing some of the burgandy, brown, green, and beige onto you, my loyal friends.

This is her, all turned inside out. Someone somewhere along the line gave me this piece of fabric all adorned in fairies lolly gagging around in a flowery field. (Valerie Ruth?) I love its whimsical quality. That's why I saved even little pieces of it, and they became pockets in this here bag4.

See? It even comes with feet.

You don't even have to carry it yourself, if you don't want to.

It's nearly entirely independent.

You know you wannnnit.

Details:
9.5" x 9" x 4"

Any offer starting at $30.00 Cdn will be accepted.

Bag #4: Back to the Sixties: Now sold to Patti!

Okay, so it just figures that I didn't sell this bag on the weekend.

Why, you ask?

Because its one of my favourites.
And it seems that I have eccentric taste.
If I truly love and adore a bag, it doesn't immediatly sell.
Maybe it just wants to stay with me?

I love everything about this tote.

The green button that likely came off one of those plaid coats that we wore when we were little.

The kitchen calendar towel !!

These are my favourite finds.

And when it says 1968 on it, I feel slightly irreverent cutting it into a bag- but what better way to celebrate it?
Much better than drying dishes with it- How Dull.

Every few years when the calenders align, you could actually use this bag as your day planner!

Well, at least for Jan, Feb, March, and little bits of a few other months.

The body is a vintage table napkin in all those glorious retro colours.

I was born at the wrong time and space?

Or possibly- just the right one. 14" x 12" x 4" are the dimensions.

Somehow I neglected to photograph the interior. There are actually six pockets inside, and one outside. The bag is fully lined as well.

I'd accept $20.00 for this here bag, and send it off with hugs and kisses.

Coming soon: an announcement regarding the final tally for the weekend.

It's good.
It's grand.

So, not only am I happy about a fun-filled, successful weekend at the fair, I also noted with some joy that the list of followers on the bags4darfur blog hit one hundred!

Who would have thunk it.
Thanks, all.

As always, comments are free today.

They often bolster me at low points in the day.
And sometimes send me rushing to my bernina with a new idea or two.

If you are interested in any of the four bags posted above, simply leave a comment indicating what price you are willing to pay. As long as it meets the minimum, we've got ourselves a sale. Then e-mail me at re-joyce@live.ca with your location and we'll work on shipping details.

Thanks, all. You've made my life a richer place.