Handbags

Today I finally got my handbags ready for Leslie's store--what a relief!! That was one of those things that was kind of weighing on me and was becoming stress. My friend Leslie has this amazing little store in downtown Plymouth called North Street Stained Glass Emporium. Leslie is a stained glass artist and her work is amazing!!- so bold and colorful!! It is a store/studio/classroom and it is the coolest! It is what I would want only with fabric and beads. The last time I was at one of her artists receptions she invited me to put some bags in for sale. She hosts a local artist every month, and MY show is in September!! Anyway, I finally got my bags there today: a felted purse, an evening bag with one om my mini quilts as a pocket, and a black back pack with a pink skull motif. This is an example of one of my felted purses. These are really fun to do if you like to knit. Leslie loved the bags and hopefully I will make a sale!

I have fallen totally in love with making handbags, and it's weird, because I have never been much of a purse person. When I get a bag I like, I tend to use it until it practically falls apart. Everyone I know is always changing bags!! As I said earlier, I love the thought of making functional art, and I think people will like using my bags as a way of showing their own creativity.

I have had the past two days off from work and they have been productive, good days. I feel like I have found my path again. Not only did I get Leslie's bags done, but I started my new line of "Grimlets." Last month while I was on vacation, my daughter asked if I knew how to make a wristlet. I said, tell me what that is and I'll tell you if I can make one!! A wristlet is a little clutch with a small strap attached for carrying around your wrist. Sure, I could do that, but when I tried to think of the design in my head I kept calling them grimlets. Yeah I know, nuts. I would say, no, wristlets. But I liked the word grimlets, and wanted to use it somehow. Now, I am a major league horror movie fan, so I thought, why not a grim wristlet, featuring a mildly scary motif!! So I fashioned my first "grimlet" featuring a little skull I have had for years named Jed. It is coming out awesome and will have a picture next time. Woudn't it be cool if these took off?