Bags

I have no idea why, but I love bags -- handbags, tote bags, clutches.  I have loved them since I was little.  Easter shopping was fun because my parents allowed me to get a white patent leather purse to match my white patent leather shoes.  Although I've grown out of my love for white patent leather, I do still love bags.

My latest obsession is with fabric bags.  A woman in my community makes a living as a seamstress.  She is from the Czech Republic and, while my age, seems old worldy in her skills.  Here's the scoop:  she makes window treatments, pillows and fitted slip covers.  Her jobs come from some super swank clients in Manhattan.  She uses custom made fabrics that the clients choose and is allowed to keep the left over.  Now this isn't some cotton stuff found in Walmart; this is beautiful fabric made of linen or embroidered with wool.  What's a woman to do with so much extra, glorious fabric lying around?  She makes bags.

The bag on the left is the first bag I bought from her.  While it's big enough to be a tote bag, I use it for a handbag.  It's big and simple.  And I get tons of compliments whenever I carry it.  The spring/summer farmer's market had a preview this past weekend and advertised Irena as one of the vendors -- I put the date on the calendar and set out as soon as the market opened.  The bag on the right is my newest purchase.  Outwardly they look the same, however, the new bag is lined and is constructed with heavier fabric.  The flowers are embroidered too!

These fabric bags are not the first of my obsession, however.  Many years ago, my father dated a woman who carried at lined velvet tote bag.  I LOVED that bag.  So, when my father saw some in Paris while on a business trip, he bought it for me.

I got this bag when I was a senior in high school.  I still love it as much now as I did then.  Although the black, cheese cloth like lining could be replaced, I wouldn't swap this bag for anything.

My friend Andrea claims she loves shoes because no matter how much she weighs, shoes always look good on her feet.  I suppose that's how I feel about bags.