Check!

Sewing machine. Check! New cutting mat and rotary cutter. Check! Lots of donated fabric and notions. Check! Yes, everything is in place for me to start sewing again. Thankfully, you don't have to wait for me to start snipping and stitching; the rest of the team has been busy, busy, busy!

On the news front, Linda has started a blog that is devoted to adoption news: ZazasMama.wordpress.com.

We have three amazing bags for you to bid on this week:

• The Owl and the Pussycat
• The Mother
• The Secret Life of Bees

Bid on a bag by leaving a name and a bid in the comments section for the bag you want. Or you can just leave a (nice) comment as well. The highest bidder at 9pm (PST) on Saturday, January 31st gets the bag and ALL profits are put towards Zaza's adoption!

About the Bags ~ FAQs ~ How to Bid

The Owl and the Pussycat

The Owl and the Pussycat was created by Linda and is located in Phoenix, AZ

Click on any picture for a larger view.

Note on color: The purple corduroy is actually purple - like the crayon (not burgandy or plum). And the red is very red - like the crayon (not orange).

Bid on this bag by leaving your name and a bid in the comments section. Bidding starts at $25 and increases by whole $s please. Highest bidder at 9pm (PST) / 10pm (MST) on Saturday, January 31st gets the BAG! Postage extra.

The Owl and the Pussycat is a dainty denim number that would be perfect for taking to sea in a beautiful pea green boat. It is also the perfect size for holding some honey and plenty of money wrapped up in a five-pound note.

The O & P is a smaller version of our typical Bag for Zaza. It measures 11" across, 9.5" tall and 3" wide. The knotless strap measures 41".

The front flap and the back of the bag are adorned with embroidery on denim in purple, red, white, lime green, light blue and sage green. The pattern is butterflies and flowers.

The main accent fabric is a lush purple corduroy and I saved a pocket from the blazer for under the flap. One denim pocket from the jean skirt was used to be the cell pocket. The cell pocket is also the right size if you buy a ring from the nose of a pig, or need to carry your runcible spoon.

The red fabric that is under the flap, on the edge of the flap and is the sides inside the bag is a thick woven... almost burlap material. It's very sturdy but soft at the same time.

The straps are denim on the outside, with a saucy flash of red, and purple denim on the inside so it's soft on your shoulder.

Inside the bag is a light purple denim fabric and two large pockets of striped cotton. The pockets are topped with a satin ribbon with large red and purple flowers. There is a dainty red button securing the pockets.

This would be the ideal bag to dance by the light of the moon, the moon, the moon.

About the Bags ~ FAQs ~ How to Bid

The Mother

The Mother was created by Jenn V. and is located in Abbotsford, BC.

Click on any picture for a larger view.

Bid on this bag by leaving your name and a bid in the comments section. Bidding starts at $15 and increases by whole $s please. Highest bidder at 9pm (PST) / 10pm (MST) on Saturday, January 31st gets the BAG! Postage extra.

Back by popular demand, is Jenn V.'s simple cotton tote in Asian inspired red and gold prints ... starting at the affordable price of $15.

And if you don't mind wearing your tag on the outside, it's reversible!

The gold fabric features red palms. The red fabric features adorable characters, busy at various tasks.

Both the inside and the outside of the bag have a small pocket. The bag is ideal as a purse, as a shopping tote, as a gym bag, etc.

It measures 16" wide -- 12" high -- and the straps are 24" long.

About the Bags ~ FAQs ~ How to Bid

The Secret Life of Bees

The Secret Life of Bees was created by Grace and is located in Phoenix, AZ.

Click on any picture for a larger view.

Bid on this bag by leaving your name and a bid in the comments section. Bidding starts at $25 and increases by whole $s please. Highest bidder at 9pm (PST) / 10pm (MST) on Saturday, January 31st gets the BAG! Postage extra.

I found a book that suits just perfectly this week called The Secret Life of Bees. One of the fabrics has a golden bee pattern on it. It’s on my dining room chairs and one of my grandkids said “Why would you want to sit on bees?”

What fun I had putting together all these gorgeous fabrics! I used my remnants and almost all new high end donated fabrics. The only recycled piece is a beautifully embroidered section from an antique tablecloth that I used on the inside pocket. The colors are soft greens, gold and off-white. The main fabric is a soft green embroidered ultra suede remnant.

To change thing up I made a knotless strap measuring 48 inches and used the coordinating fabrics from the bag.

The front flap is a polka dot chenille designed fabric trimmed with gold bumble bees buzzing across the bottom with the edge being gold ultra suede and gold braid trim. The handy cell pocket matches the flap in fabric and trim.

The front of the bag has a large double pocket topped with the reverse of the bee fabric. I made a self fabric button to secure the pocket. The back also has a double pocket trimmed with braid and more bees!

Inside the coordinating check fabric added a nice accent. The large double pocket can hold lots of your treasures and the gold flowers will cheer you up whenever you open your bag. I marched the bees all around the sides and bottom of the lining.

About the Bags ~ FAQs ~ How to Bid

Lazy

My lazy sewing machine has returned from the spa!

This week's Bag Biddies are:

• Giant Treasury of Peter Rabbit -- Mynameiskate -- $40
  
• The Key -- Chelsey -- $37

Bag Biddies, please email BagsforZaza@gmail.com within 1 week to arrange payment and postage/pickup.

Thanks so much everyone! It's fabulous to see you all hanging in there with us. We'll see you on Tuesday again!

If you would like an email reminder when new bags are posted and little BFZ updates, please join the Facebook Group or send an email to me with the subject of "subscribe".

Make that Chocolate

[Edit: Corrected auction closing date]

Oh.My.Goodness. Were two computer crashes really necessary? And yes, I'd prefer chocolate, rather than cheese, with my whine.

This week's bags are:

• Giant Treasury of Peter Rabbit
• The Key

Bid on a bag by leaving a name and a bid in the comments section for the bag you want. The highest bidder at 9pm (PST) on Saturday, January 24th gets the bag and ALL profits are put towards Zaza's adoption!

About the Bags ~ FAQs ~ How to Bid

Giant Treasury of Peter Rabbit

[Edit: Corrected auction closing date]

Click on any picture for a larger view.

This beautiful bag, Giant Treasury of Peter Rabbit, is made from the colors of the garden... the green of mint, the sage of the radish leaves, the golden brown of the fence posts that Peter slid under and the rich brown of the soil that Mr. McGregor tilled.










The straps, sides and bottom of the bag are a faux brown suede (not rabbit hide, I promise). The printed fabric of the flap, straps and body of the bag is a plush vine pattern that is smooth to the touch.


[The Editor would like to put in a request for a cushion or eyeglass case or lingerie sack or something made for hers truly out of this delicious fabric]

The rear pocket and cell pocket along with the gathered trim on the flap are of a dark mint green / teal upholstery fabric with a check pattern. The trim on the pockets is a shiny gold polka-dot.

The pockets of the bag are topped off with gold filigree medallions in a variety of sizes and shapes.

Inside the Giant Treasury of Peter Rabbit is an Asian surprise... with a shiny gold trim on the inside pockets. The inside fabric is a paisley decorator fabric of gold, brown and green. Rich and luscious.

Hurry and take the Giant Treasury of Peter Rabbit home before he gets put in a pie!

Bid on this bag by leaving your name and a bid in the comments section. Bidding starts at $25 and increases by whole $s please. Highest bidder at 9pm (PST) / 10pm (MST) on Saturday, January 24th gets the BAG! Postage extra (from Phoenix, AZ). This bag was created by Linda.

About the Bags ~ FAQs ~ How to Bid

The Key

[Edit: Corrected auction closing date]

Click on any picture for a larger view.

The Key to this classic bag is black, black, and more black!

The front flap features several strips of the same fabric, which keeps it from being too plain. Make sure you click on the pics to get a closeup view.

The strap is knotless and measures 49" long, ideal for slinging across your chest.

This bag is equally suitable for the guys or the gals - we know not all gals are into the frou frou.

Our benefactor, Mystery Pete, donated some large, gently used work pants and lots of unused remnants. The charcoal demin is sturdy and looks a bit worn here and there - just for fun. The darker black lining and cell pocket are a thick cotton.

The bag features two back pockets, a side pocket (perfect for sunglasses), and three inside pockets.






The inside of The Key ... well, it's black.

This bag is sturdy enough to hold a laptop and the mouse would fit nicely in an inside pocket (I tried it).

This bag would look SO funky with a couple of your favourite band buttons pinned to the flap or strap, but if you really want a crocheted flower, I could whip one up in your favourite colour. :)

Whether you look like this...

or like this... This could be the bag for you!

Bid on this bag by leaving your name and a bid in the comments section. Bidding starts at $25 and increases by whole $s please. Highest bidder at 9pm (PST) / 10pm (MST) on Saturday, January 24th gets the BAG! Postage extra (from Abbotsford, BC). This bag was created by Jenn V.

About the Bags ~ FAQs ~ How to Bid

P.S. Modeling credits to The Ranj, T's bicep, and Amanda.

Surviving January

OK, I know this blog isn't about me, but it's a blog after all and I feel like a little public whining. January always seems to be a hard month for me. Nothing traumatic happened in January (that I know of), so I'm not sure what the problem is. I think it's just the lack of sunlight and the post-holiday blues. Anyhow, that's one of my excuses for being a little bit tardy on things these days.

I also haven't got my sewing machine back and am NOT very pleased with Toews Music & Sewing, who said it would be a week or two (it's been 4). Grrrr. If I had more energy, I'd go retrieve it and take it somewhere else. I just keep hoping that it will be done any moment.

Anyhow, we do have two new bags to post and I'll hopefully be getting those up during my lunch break, or this evening at the latest. I'm quite excited because they're both very different from anything we've posted before.

Hurrah!

What a wonderful way to start the year. This week's bag biddies are:

• The Stay at Home Mom -- Kristy K. -- $54
• Espresso for a Woman's Spirit II -- Kelly - $50

Bag Biddies, please email BagsforZaza@gmail.com within 1 week to arrange payment and postage/pickup.

Thanks so much everyone! We'll see you on Tuesday again!

If you would like an email reminder when new bags are posted and little BFZ updates, please join the Facebook Group or send an email to me with the subject of "subscribe".

The Wait is Over

Yes ma'am - BFZ is finally re-opening for business. I STILL don't have my sewing machine back from the spa, but thankfully the Phoenix branch of this endeavor has been busy and we have two lovely newborns ready to make your new year complete.

This week's bags are:

• The Stay at Home Mom
• Espresso for a Woman's Spirit II

Bid on a bag by leaving a name and a bid in the comments section for the bag you want. The highest bidder at 9pm (PST) on Saturday, January 17th gets the bag and ALL profits are put towards Zaza's adoption!

About the Bags ~ FAQs ~ How to Bid

The Stay at Home Mom

Click on any picture for a larger view.

Here we have a classic SAHM bag (The Stay at Home Mom). It's durable to hold the monstrosity of items mother's are required to handle at all times. Yet, it's fashionable and chic. Black and white is the bomb these days.. and I threw in some lime green and hot pink to make sure it pops when you wear it.

The floral fabric is a thick cotton that is backed with interfacing. The sides and bottom of the SAHM bag are black leather. Not the faux stuff either. The flap is adorned with strips of wool, cotton, hot pink grosgrain ribbon and a patterned velvet. The cell pocket is designed to carry over the striped pattern.


The two large pockets on the back are made of a hounds tooth wool with lime green edging and a black accent button. The straps are black on the outside, wool and the patterned velvet, with the inside being a large, designer cotton stripe.






Inside the SAHM bag, there is handsome plaid fabric in black and off-white. The large double pockets are constructed of a black faux velvet with a alligator print, topped with hot pink ribbon, the same black button as the back and the floral fabric from the outside of the bag.





No, your eyes aren't deceiving you, there is no knot on the strap. It's sleek. It's smooth. It's knotless. And it's 44 inches long. The perfect length to wear as a long shoulder bag, or across your chest to your hip.

Bid on this bag by leaving your name and a bid in the comments section. Bidding starts at $25 and increases by whole $s please. Highest bidder at 9pm (PST) / 10pm (MST) on Saturday, January 17th gets the BAG! Postage extra (from Phoenix, AZ). This bag was created by Linda.

About the Bags ~ FAQs ~ How to Bid

Espresso for a Woman's Spirit II

Click on any picture for a larger view.
*** Description updated Wed morning. ***

Espresso for a Woman’s Spirit II has bold colors of burgundy, gold, rust, red, browns and pinks. I hope there is some gal out there that loves these rich wintery colors.

The main fabric used is a multicolor textured, and sturdy upholstery fabric... I added gold braid, fringed the fabric and put a velvet edge on the flap. The under flap is a taffeta-like fabric patterned with burgundy squares and also edged with contrasting velvet.

The front has a large double pocket secured by a unique button. The back has four squares of the fabrics used throughout the bag.





The cell pocket and the strap are decorated with the self fabric fringe and gold braid.







The inside will wow you with a Waverly bright yellow flowered, embossed print from my generous friend, Cheryl. To add a little interest I cut the square patterned material on the bias for the sides and bottom of the lining. There is a large pocket divided in three with bright yellow buttons sewn on the velvet trim.

The upscale textured fabrics are sure to uplift the spirit of all who enjoy the Espresso dream.

Bid on this bag by leaving your name and a bid in the comments section. Bidding starts at $25 and increases by whole $s please. Highest bidder at 9pm (PST) / 10pm (MST) on Saturday, January 17th gets the BAG! Postage extra (from Phoenix, AZ). This bag was created by Grace.

About the Bags ~ FAQs ~ How to Bid