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Published in July 2008 this book shows you how to turn t shirts, candy wrappers, placemats and other odd things into fairly fashionable totes and sacks. Using scissors, tape, staples and little or no sewing the book shows step by step instructions. These bags are fun, but with a little effort and imagination of your own you can turn them into as high of an end handbag as you want.
I, probably like many of you, use recycled reusable bags, but I am always forgetting mine at home. Of course I end up buying more when I shop and now have a collection of the ugliest "environmentally friendly" bags around.
There was a time when I was obessed with Dooney & Bourke's Editor's Travel Tote, but I refuse to pay the full retail price. I am patient. I can wait. I know one day it will be mine. While I wait to run across "the bag" on sale or on Ebay there will be other bags. Bags that entice. Bags that promise to be the one. Bags I may even pay full retail price for. Bags like Sondra Robert's Sachel, featured in this month's vogue - see bad scan. They are suppose to retail for $85 but at this posting aren't available via the company's site. Guess what site is now one of my favorites next list to the D&B Editor's Travel Tote? I hope the D&BETT doesn't find out...
I have been on the search for the perfect weekender for the past decade. After finding and buying at least 6 bags, new and used, brand and no-name, that I thought would be the "one" and being disappointed 
each and every time I have come up with the following criteria for the bag. It must be large enough to hold 3 days worth of clothing including an extra jacket or sweater, 1 pair of dress shoes, 1 pair of trainers, my toiletries and a book. It must have compartments to separately house each of these items but not have so many sections or pockets that I have to label them just to find my way around the bag. The weekender must be clean of all oranmentation, structured and shaped so that it can fit into the plane overhead while still being small enough not to outsize me. It's handles must allow me to carry it comfortably in my hands as well as allow me hoist in onto my shoulders in case I need to run to make a connection. It must be non-seasonal so that I can use it all year around and I have come to the conclusion that it should be black so that it doesn't show dirt and matches almost everything I wear.
s from magazines in hopes of manifesting this bag. Of course I manifested all the bags I had photos of but still no ideal bag. I guess I will just have to make the bag. Since it will probably take me another 5 years to select fabric, lining and findings and test sizes I'll have to carry my weekend supplies in a recyled Whole Foods Bags. Now the question is paper or plastic...
By the time you read this post my new laptop will have arrived and like a brand new baby I will be doting over it and lovingly becoming familiar with all its capabilities and possibilities. And because it will need to be protected from the elements, mostly me, when not in use and when in transport it will be bundled in its brand new toile laptop case - see attached. This month's lucky featured this item, only $32, and the site it is available from, lamadesigns.com. Lamadesigns is an acronym for LatinAmerica in the Modern Age. The site sells contemporary versions of traditional crafts and Latin American designs. I find some of the items available at this time a bit kitschy for my taste but trust that the owner's quest to give us access to unknown Latin American designers will unearth some amazing things for future purchases. Worth adding to your favorites
My mission this month is to begin to use the smaller sized bags I own before I go on the search for a new one. The bags I have are lovely bags. Some of them are even classic "it" bags. Some have never seen the light of day but none of the vintage bags I own will ever be able to support my over carrying habit. I have tried to carry just my lap top, in its own bag, a phone that was a one in all, a thin wallet and a lip gloss but such a light load in a bag that could swallow me whole if I 
reach in too deep to find the keys doesn’t feel right. So instead of switching bags (duh!) in goes the sketch pad, the writing tablet, the leather bound I-bought-for-too-much-in-Rome Day Keeper, the pens and pencils, the wallet, the home and office keys, the bag-o-make-up with its tissues, Q-tips, baby wipes and carry sized contact lens solution. The problem is that I am programmed to carry things "just in case" and they can change on a day by day basis so more stuff goes in until I, like every other commuting woman, look like Quasimodo.
re images that will help me in this search. For now I am gradually downsizing. All my goodies have been moved into a bag half the size of my normal one. They say it takes 30 days to make or break a habit so by the end of February I should be using my vintage bags and then the hunt will begin.
