Blue Jean Bag

Blue Jean Bag, originally uploaded by OldhaMedia.

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Bags o' Fun

I made this purse after having thought about it for years, gathering the bits and thoughts for months, working on it and leaving it until logistical solutions came to me, getting to the store to get heavier and heavier sewing machine needles... (ones to sew leather finally won as the best) and finished it last week...

Actually, not 'finished' finished, it still have to put rivets on the shoulder strap belts.

I didn't embellish it with embroidery as I had to put into use once it was done, and at this point I think it would be gilding the lily.

Awfully handy bag, though. Roomy enough for commuting from New Jersey into Manhattan every day.

I do embroider, but I liked the clean lines of the bag once it was done. I thought the jeans themselves made enough of a statement. I was tempted to add beads and crewelwork, but I really needed to put it to the test before I embellished it. What if my prototype started to fall apart under heavy use? I would have hated to destroy all the 'beauty' work because the function was flawed.

That's also why I didn't use a pair of jeans that had sentimental value to me. I bought these at a thrift shop. They are a Girls' size 14, but with the boxy shape (the sides have pockets that were on the front of the thighs), it ends up being quite a large bag. Smaller than a gym bag, but a large purse.

It's 18" wide at the bottom, tapering to 13" wide at the top, 9" tall and 6" deep.

I am also making a customized insert with dividers so that the small things don't get lost, and pens will have slots that are readily available. I HATE digging around in my bag looking for stuff.

The pockets on the outside are SO handy, and I hang my keys from a belt loop with a brass clip on my keychain, just like I used to do so long ago.

So now, when I'm wearing 'nice office wear', I still have a connection to the 'jeans girl' that I really am.


Comments from the Flickr "Bags o' Fun" Group:
cramzy says:
I think this bag embellish it is a wunderful bag I try to make one and let you see

Jam_mam says:
Love the boxiness of your bag :) and the straps are great too - do you embroider? Maybe next time :)

Kay Susan says:
Love the square shape of your bag, and the way you filled in the top! I used a jeans needle on mine and that was fine, but when I stitched on some of the thickest areas, it forced the feed dogs of my machine down!

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