Sunday, June 28, 2009

you were gone?

Apologies for not having been around much this past week but I had a little project that turned difficult right from the beginning. It's done now so I thought I'd show you what developed when I decided to make a bigger bag (7x9").


This is the front.

















This is the back.





















And this is the inside.




Why was it difficult? First it was a piece of silk that really didn't want to be painted black. All the other colors were okay but you'll likely notice black was an important element and after overpainting and drying the top three times I finally took it off the stretcher and painted the back. That worked. Then there was some difficulty in me imagining how it could be sewed for best effect without just plain sewing up the sides by hand. Once I could no longer see straight I asked my clear headed husband for help and he immediately saw what I was missing. Thank goodness for numb.

It has stitched in loops at the sides and two 36" long ties so it can be worn across the body or tied at the waist. I've never thought most belly bags very attractive but this is a cool idea. I think I'll work on a couple more til I get it just right but meanwhile I'll be back to posting and visiting as usual. Sometimes you just have to work out a problem so you can relax again.

I hope you missed me :-)

Now I just have to figure out how to get i-photo to finish three pictures taken in succession to all have the same colored background which is olive green...

18 comments:

  1. wb susan... yeah, you were missed

    and the reason is a great finished product :)

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  2. I missed you. No question.

    I love this bag! It' gorgeous. I'm glad you found a way to make it work. Because this really works.

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  3. Gorgeous! I especially love the inside flap with its Erte-like tree.

    Of course, you were missed...you had to ask? I visited every day, and was beginning to think those bathers needed to put on bathing suits. I have no problem with naked butts, just that I had seen them every day, and after awhile,...well, they lost their appeal.

    Your bag is beautiful, Susan, and I'm glad you are back.

    :)

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  4. :) wolf - Thanks, it's good tbb and I'll be by :-)

    lisa - It really does, doesn't it? It's a lot better than this morning when I sewed and turned it and it was perfectly made inside out. Yikes!

    the crow - I'm glad you like the mystery tree. Putting surprise touches inside is one of my favorite things to do.

    I missed you too but I'll be over to visit soon.

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  5. i missed you too although I've been playing hide and seek too, not sew but seek...anyway, love this,especially that pop of turquoise and the tree....it's gorgeous...as for the "belly" bag, not a fan either but this is really an interesting idea...can you model it for us? ;)
    xoxo

    is etsy still percolating?

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  6. linda - Hah! looks as if we were doing mutual visits. It's a pretty cool bag and interesting enough to have provided a few more ideas but I'll have to find a tree stump as a model :-) etsy's still percolating.

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  7. See, we did miss you.

    And wow! Great bag.

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  8. haven't been around much myself for a while.... 'course i missed you! doing catchup now. the bag is virry illygint, m'deario. i dream about wearing beautiful things these days. it's sunday, so i get to be clean and look like a girl for a change. most days at work, it's grubby jeans and t-shirt, baseball cap and gloves. love my job, but i'm not crazy about the uniform. or being grubby all day.

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  9. I almost feel a little silly for commenting on a post about a new bag design, you know, being a man and all, but you say right here in your blog that you asked the husband of the species for input, so it must be okay.
    I like the bag. I like the designs, the shapes and colors against the black background. The bag a woman is carrying, (or wearing), is never the first place I set my eyes,( and neither are the things you might think all men look at), but I do glance at their purses or whatever and how they are carried, (or put down and laid somewhere to rest). It intrigues me. (Also reminds me of the Seinfeld episode with the Man bag/purse, hilarious)
    I missed you. I stopped by and saw the same header and passed on by. I was waiting for a new subject. Blogs are like that. I never know how long to leave a post up before posting the next one. I don't scroll down and read those I missed very often, but I will at times. I wonder what others do?
    So there, my 2 cents. By the way, I don't carry a bag. I just lay all the junk I need on the front seat of the car. water bottle, pen/paper or note, sunglasses, reading glasses, bulky wallet, (so it doesn't give me a back ache), cell phone, cell phone charger, bills to mail, forms to be delivered, shirt or jacket, posters to be printed at Kinko's. Wow, maybe I need a man bag!!!!

    Peace.

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  10. I hope you missed me :-)

    Now what kind of question is that?

    Good call on asking your husband's advice. Surely, his is not a disinterested opinion, but much needed perspective, no doubt. Just do me a favor Susan... don't ask him how a certain part of you anatomy looks in a certain dress, pants, etc... His opinion will always be suspect. ;^)

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  11. Yes!We missed you!

    Love that bag. The black silk is just stunning with the beautiful colors and the flap.

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  12. Your back!!! I missed you.

    Gorgeous bag!!! I am wondering if I can commission a bag to hold Lily treats, poop bag and keys. Do you take commissions?

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  13. utah - I'm glad you like it. There may very well be more :-)

    gfid - I think it's the loving your job part that's important. Dirt can always be washed away but the misery of a job you hate doesn't work that way, does it?

    spadoman - I tend to buy a new bag about once a decade when the old one wears out so I can relate. I never expected to be making them either but the silk painting offered a challenge I couldn't resist.

    So far as blogs are concerned it's true things slip into the past quickly. On the other hand I get notified whenever anyone makes a comment on any post - no matter how old - so it works out.

    I don't see you with a man bag ;-)

    spartacus - He's got a pretty good eye for detail after spending so many years with me and always pays special attention when I get new clothes. You could say it's learned wisdom :-)

    nancy (so nice to not have to call you lol anymore) - I tried to make up for my absence when I visited last night. Your doing a very nice job with your blog.

    Yes, the colors are nice but you should see my collection. There'll be more.

    belette - I haven't done commissions up til now but this one at 7x9" is the biggest so far. maybe we should see what else I come up with.

    btw: Is that empty poop bag or full? :-)

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  14. LOL! Empty!!!!:-) I would want something smallish. Lily is too wild to handle with a purse in my hand. I need something around my neck. I would love a crow/weasel bag. But, I would be up for anything that inspires you. Let me know if this is something you would be interested in doing.

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  15. belette - You know, that actually sounds interesting :-)

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  16. I am delighted to have piqued your interest!!

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  17. It's like some extra cosmic Yggdrasil on "special" meds, and I mean that in the best way imaginable. ;-)

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  18. belette - We'll see what develops :-)

    randal - Cool, trust you to notice that.

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