New Leaf Collection of Bags

 Designing Donna http://www.facebook.com/leafgirl65  ordered another batch of mama's collection bags.

 Because we like to live and create a little bit left of center, she gave me some  inspiration by sending some fabrics that she had lying about. These fabrics shot me right back to her salon in my mind, recalling those wildly inventive cuts that she used to give a much younger me. My designing mojo kicked into hyper mode.....


  I loved working with the fabrics from her collection since they 'told me' information as to what they wanted to be; Designing Donna had selected them, used them, liked them and now they were destined to another invention. Short of speaking right out loud, I got it right away for each piece of cloth.


  The top green bag was an amazing batik print that grabbed my attention immediately.  This bag is packed with pockets and a most interesting tie dye lining.  The strap is a Patagonia Belt; sturdy and well constructed.  The batik flowers have vintage buttons accenting their centers. My favorite.


The second bag is made up of five really swell cloth napkins.  Quilted, sewn together and lined with useful pockets and decked out with key, bead and button embellishments, this very practical tote is about as creative as it gets.

 Then there is the Celtic Tablecloth/bedspread Hippie Bag.  In order to utilize the twining Celtic knots that border and center the tablecloth, I cut it on an edgy triangle and used the border to be the straps. Pockets went high up near the straps on this unlined bag and an embellished weighted flap closed it nicely.  Wouldn't be a Hippie Bag with out bells and beads on the point on the bottom, now would it?

 And for the traditionalist, we have another tablecloth from an entirely different neighborhood.  The Safe Bag, unlined and normal looking because I have to remember that not everybody walks on the edge.  Vintage buttons and a useful pocket on this unlined bag make it a market bag that you can proudly use and use again.

 Because Designing Donna knows that I will try to repurpose anything, she threw in an odd quilted pillow sham so as to mix it up a bit.  Adding some bits of brass saddle embellishments procured at an Amish Store down the road from me, this handy little bag is fun and soft and perfect for those outings when just a small bag will do.

 Do you remember this fabric?  Pretend Daughter Kris bequeathed this lovely vintage Waverly Fabric from her mother's collection to me last fall and  I made a diaper bag out of it for Baby Girl.http://sonowiknow.blogspot.com/2010/11/sewing-sidetracks.html.  This wonderful fabric practically makes itself with all it's wizened history and lineny goodness.  It is so full of linen, that it indeed has bits of flax woven in this very nice finished product.  With some of DD's brocade fabric to line it and a few vintage buttons, it turned out to be high on my list of faves.  DD termed it the Autumn Bag and last I heard, she was calling this one her own.

 Some very utilitarian canvas, sturdy and strong, decided to be retro by adding some flowery buttons and vintage pillow case embellished and I could see it being the hit of the Farmer's Market, able to carry books and eggplant quite aptly.

 On this shipment, I got to premiere my new mama's collection  labels.  Baby Girl took care of this for me and I am quite excited about them.  Hence the blurry photo.

So by now, the bags are being displayed gleefully, proud of what they've become and waiting patiently for just the right someone to come and make them theirs.

Makes a mama proud.......

A New Leaf

When our children were young, I used to tell my husband that I could scrimp on about anything: clothes at garage sales, food at Aldi's, Walmart for about everything else, but I could not, could not scrimp on :

1.) Cologne 2) Haircuts.

 He knew that it was non negotiable and we didn't need to discuss it again.  When a favorite stylist left town or retired, finding a replacement was a painful process.  My pitifully thin hair with the tendency to take off in different directions, needed the guidance of a talented hand or I could (and had) end up in a brush breaking tragedy.


Many years ago, as I prepared to fly to Portland Oregon to visit my newborn niece, I knew that I needed some immediate hair attention that could get me through some major airports respectfully.

 For some bizarre reason, after a myriad of disappointing appointments I was in sore need for a new, talented stylist. So I did what any intelligent woman in need of a good haircut does: Select a stylist based on her last name and it's similarity to a classmate of one of my daughters. I thought the stylist might be the little girl's mother, but after seeing the reed thin, very young lady that was about to attempt to conquer my hair, I knew otherwise.  Yikes. The terror of an untested hair designer. Remember, I was headed to the west coast and I had a Midwestern reputation to dispel.  I could not stereotypically arrive like the hayseed that I was.  To top it off, it appeared that the young woman was angry at some young man.  Lots of statements regarding the irritation and uselessness of the male segment of society was being thrown about as she washed my hair.

 But yet, there was something, something that drew me to this beautiful young lady.  We spoke easily and even though the affliction of anxiety disorder/agoraphobia, that usually made those kinds of visits most uncomfortable, it seemed to be on hold for the hour that I was with her.

 A most wonderful haircut ensued from that most kismet of visits.

 This young woman melded into our family and she humored my inability to come to the salon on occasions, by coming to my house to do my do.  As years gathered, she would come for dinner and take barbering turns with each member of our family.  She even had me come to her house once when I was six weeks post partum with Baby Girl when my schedule was based on nursing and she adapted by seeing me at night at her house. She called us her CareBear Family and we would grin each time she called us that.   
Eldest/Admin worked as her first receptionist when she was able to open her own salon.  Kindred Spirit Friend designed and worked on the decor of the same salon.  E/A's first of many 90's perms came from her.  BG's first trim; same talented lady.  I do believe that my son's first crush on a grown up lady, was her.

 Life took her to different cities but we maintained contact while I measured every stylist that I have seen since,  to her capable hands.  She was and still is, the bar that E/A, BG and myself hold up to any stylist since those CareBear days.

 Then life happened.  We had finally lost touch.  Years passed and current addresses fell off.

 Then the wonder of Facebook stepped up to the plate and reacquainted us again.

 This time our worlds collided at just the right time.

 Her organic salon http://leaforganicsalon.com/ was in need of handmade market bags. This is  one of the things that I do.  I love to make market bags.

 Finally, I was able to return the huge favors that she did for me for nearly ten years.  Times that she took gentle care of me when I needed the boost of a new haircut but was unable to leave my home.  Times that she provided above and beyond the call of any stylist and I did not forget this.  It is pure joy to be able to create for her most lovely of salons.


Designing Donna has received the first of my shipment of market bags, some of those are pictured here.  The lovely leaf bag is for her.  DD has ordered a pesticide free, organic bag to carry her things in and I made sure that it was distinctively her, including her logo and homage to the New Leaf.


God weaves our lives in such intricate stitches.  Thank you Lord for using This Thread in my tapestry....