Famous Bag Lady

Last night I went to Target. It had been a while. I often think of Mary when I'm at Target, because she once said that sometimes she just needs a therapeutic trip to Target where she can wander through the aisles at her leisure. And last night I only really had four things on my agenda:

1) Return unused drapes to Target.
2) Wander around Target aimlessly, collecting ideas for fabric designs.
3) Go to Home Depot to get all their Behr color "styles" pamphlets so that I have easy-reference color schemes in my office.
4) Go to Barnes & Noble to look at Communication Arts and see if it's worth trying to get work to buy me a subscription. (Yesterday, I kindof mentioned to someone that it would be nice to have a graphic tablet/pen... today I was informed that I'll be getting a graphic tablet/pen. Did I mention I want a raise, an assigned parking spot and a pony?)

As you can see, I'm a little obsessed with my new design responsibility at work, which is a good thing. If at all possible, one should be obsessed with one's work. One should also bill work for all the time that one spends researching at Target, Home Depot, and Barnes & Noble. I'd feel bad doing that, though. I mean, I was there for my own edification/enlightenment as much as I was there for work edification/enlightenment. Besides which, I bought a white shirt and a string of red beads, which was clearly personal. Except for the fact that I wore the white shirt and red beads to work today, which may again make them a work-related endeavor.

So after I went through every relevant aisle at Target, it was time for me to check out. I considered numerous lanes and chose a lane that had one customer checking out and one customer waiting to check out instead of the lane that had only one customer who was buying a lot of stuff. And once I got in my lane, the customer ahead of me turned to me and asked, "Are you El Senor's sister?" I told her I was, and expected her to say that we'd met at some point years ago. Instead, she told me that she recognized me from my blog. More accurately, she recognized my bag from my blog. (I'm sure it didn't hurt that I was wearing essentially the same outfit that I was wearing in the picture of me with my bag.) And that was about the extent of our interaction. I spent the rest of the night imagining what it would be like to have more recognition. More fame. At least in my imagination, it's pretty good.

So tonight I made a new bag. This one is 100% my design. We've been working on canvas bags at work, so I've been thinking a lot about canvas lately, and decided that I just needed a simple canvas tote. Nemesis has one and it's cool. (Nemesis bought hers for a few pounds though, and mine cost me $18 and five hours of time.)

After working all night on the sucker, hardly stopping for food or refreshment (El Senor made me dinner: a celery stalk with peanut butter), here it is in all its glory. If you would like to buy a replica of this bag, it will only cost you $70. It might be smarter to go to England and shop where Nemesis shopped... (Plus, if you look really closely, you can see my poor sewmanship, and really, why would you want to pay $70 for shoddy stitching?)

11 comments:

bedelia said...

I'd recognize you by your bag too. So...the circles, bird, shape things aren't from canvas too, are they? Are they going to fray or did you use felt or something that won't fray? I've been wanting to make a canvas tote as a diaper bag because, frankly diaper bag makers have no style. Adding "applique" stuff like you would be a great addition, I just don't have the know-how.

Cicada said...

Bedelia,

The applique is made of canvas, too. I cut out the shapes, attached them to the bag using WonderUnder, and then sewed them in place. I expect them to fray a little to give it character, but not so much that the actual applique comes off. Here's hoping... I really don't think that I'll have any problems with it, though.

The first bag that I made (the gigantic one) is actually a diaper bag. I can go home and check to see who made the pattern, if you're interested.

Sarah Bellum said...

i'm sorry, i was in a rush and thrown off by what felt like a stalking experience on my part. what i should have said was how much i love your blog, especially your biking adventures and dating the brothers post. the second hitting home all too well.

Cicada said...

Sarahbellum, if you had followed me to Home Depot and Barnes & Noble, then I would have been creeped out. Except not really because you know El Senor.

I have a friend who was recognized by a blog reader recently. Except that the blog reader didn't recognize her; he recognized her boyfriend who looks like Jesus.

So it's okay that you recognized my bag before you recognized me.

Anonymous said...

I LOVE the bag. You are so creative.

i i eee said...

Isn't it great to be famous?

You are so talented! You make me want to take sewing classes from my mom.

I love that you're able to use your design talents for your job -it's seriously the coolest thing ever.

Melyngoch said...

I have to say, with all of these picutres you're posting lately, you get hotter every time I see you.

Tolkien Boy said...

If I carried handbags, I'd buy one.

And I'm not just saying that.

Or even typing it.

(There are those who may contend that my messenger bag with embossed eagle is technically a handbag, to her I say: "Silly.")

Unknown said...

I want to be as cool as Cicada when I grow up.

daltongirl said...

Melyngoch's comment on your hotness is very, very true. And this time I am committed to just telling you outright, instead of only thinking it. You look great! And your bag is super awesome. Do you think you could make me a Christmas sweater? Or bag?

Natalie Gordon said...

That is so funny that it was "tales of wit and charm" sarahbellum that recognized you from your blog, because if I ever saw her, I'd recognize her from her blog. It is a small world, isn't it?