I spun some of the yarn for this bag last year and started knitting it in January at the Destin, Spin In. I think I finished it in a few days and then there it sat.
I had to crochet around the top to make an edge for the lining to be attached to because all those flowers were kind of bulky. I had spun the flower yarn and was so pleased with it and knew I wanted a garden themed bag. I combined yarns- about 5 at once with Deb's help and started knitting her gypsy bag pattern. I couldn't imagine how the finished bag would look and that was part of the whole "getting it finished" thing. This new knitting thing is tough because I just don't visualize it in my head like I do the sewing. I finished some art yarn on Friday morning and went in the sewing room and forced myself to start lining this- step by step without stopping until I was finished. It had to get done- I was tired of seeing it laying around mocking me as I'd move it from stack to stack!
I used one of my new calamity kim woven labels and added collaged Benjamin's in the pocket for fortune. Don't worry about that frog- he's just trying to catch a butterfly and will hop out soon.
The lining fabric is by Jane Sassaman. The fabric line is Prairie Gothic and I love the spiders, moths and teasel and leaves rendered in bold silhouette. On the handle I added vintage crochet work and pinups because they are sunning in the garden.
I also used a little bit of some hand marbled fabric I bought at a recent quilt show along one edge of the handle. It matched the yarns perfectly and was just the right accent for binding the raw edges.
I also used some hand tatted lace I found on eBay and it mimicked the spiders web found in my garden. I try to be symbolic whether the buyer gets it or not. It's all in the imagery for me.
That's the sewn in key chain with a plastic hot dog and words that say "fun flower power day" which is what you would have if you walked out of your house carrying this bag! It is after all designed to be an attention getter! It's another Lucky Bag. Lucky if you ever get one! teehee
The joy for me is in the creation of these things and I normally can let them go so easily, but this bag was such a labor of love, I almost didn't put it in the shop. I did it quickly- the next day in fact, just so I wouldn't change my mind. If no one buys it in a few months then I will keep it for myself. I have another one left to line- it's in pink and brown and I am looking forward to it after the success of this one, but first I have to make some flowers and paper dolls and get them off to England for an order and then there is an Art Show this next weekend.
The Fairy Tale for this bag would be about a magical garden where the flowers are always blooming and the air itself is perfumed with every scent of each flower and even after you leave this garden you can still smell the lovely aroma for hours afterward. You can make tea with the rose petals and the sun is warm as you lay back in the lacy hammock and dream of enchanted knights or maybe Johnny Depp reading poetry and laughing as you watch the butterflies and bumblebees dance on the breeze.
Not a care in the world.
No weeds in this garden bag.
No thistle or thorn.
And of course you would live happily ever after.
