Birdbrain

Here is a great versatile tote. The outside is white screen printing on black denim with recycled leather bottom, sides and pocket. It is lined with canoe canvas, a very sturdy weight, so this tote is set to carry all you could want. The leather handles are sewn in twice and then riveted for extra strength. There are two ample pockets inside, one screen printed canvas, wide and deep enough for your ipad, the other a slip pocket recycled from a leather jacket. This tote is taller and narrower than the others of its kind  and the perfect candidate for a shoulder strap. A super comfortable strap of wide webbing snaps on to tabs on the side, but can easily be removed. As I said in an earlier post, I have test-driven a tote of this group and found it well up to the task of carrying my travel and shopping needs. The metal zipper closing keeps all your belongings safe.

I feel like I have been sewing for months, but do see the pile finally dwindling. I love making things. I am not complaining in the least. But it is time for a break. This is one of the last orders– a new turquoise Keller. It is finished and on its way to a someone very patient and understanding. I hope she finds that it is a good fit for her lifestyle and that the colour and design give her pleasure. This is roughly the same bag with a couple of additions. Inside, you will see a leather tab with ring for keys as well as a zippered pocket. The flash of orange inside attached to the ring is an additional key chain. The strap is a little wider and a little longer. But overall it is the same Keller Bag, a great bag with ample room inside and a generous outer zippered pocket. It has a double bottom with metal studs to help it wear well. Here are a few more shots of it including that great lining from Kenya.

My pile of orders is dwindling finally. Today I am making another turquoise Keller bag for a special order. This is the second bag out of this beautiful leather and I think I may have enough left for a smaller shoulder bag. The lining is a piece of wax cotton from the market in Kisumu, Kenya. To me, it evokes the Homa Hills around Lake Victoria and is a perfect lining for the turquoise leather. This bag will have a zipper pocket on the inside as well as one on the outside. You can see the beginnings of the bag above.

Last weekend in Montreal we attended several shows, one of which involved Immigrant Women Entrepreneurs. There were many great vendors there including Afriqua Wax. Here is what I brought home, 6 yards of Vlisco Wax Block Print. I love the complexity of the colours and the design and can already see it lining some new bags.

I have made bags to order before, but this is the first time I have had such a wonderful graphic to follow. As I mentioned yesterday, we were in Montreal for four days, but I am now back and finishing up my Christmas orders. This one is for a special person–another Jan– I enjoyed making it, even being held to account for such precision.

The Jan II is made from pebbly red leather and lined with canvas screen printed with birdbrain graphics. It is small and light and yet durable. As instructed, it has a pocket inside with a zipper closing and an adjustable strap. I have been using my own version of this which is just a little bigger and I find it a perfect day bag. I hope Jan likes this one!