Tuesday, March 31, 2009

Aaaahhhh-choooo!

Yes, the weekend has come and gone - and still no new bags. I'm sick sick sick with some nasty version of the Rhinovirus which dives right down into the lungs and throws a big party.

Stay tuned!

P.S. A little birdy told me that Linda got her book finished ~ so perhaps we'll be seeing some more of her pretty creations?

Friday, March 27, 2009

JayP in the House!

And JayP gets the bag for $35!

We're taking a little break - please come back after the weekend for another bag or two.

JayP - please email BagsForZaza@gmail.com to make purchase arrangements.

Monday, March 23, 2009

Almanzo

Bid on this bag by leaving your name and a bid in the comments section. Or please the regular ol' chatty kind of comments, too! Bidding starts at $25 and increases by whole $s please. Highest bidder at NOON (PDT/MST) on Friday , March 27th gets the BAG! Postage extra. All proceeds go towards Zaza's adoption.

About the Bags ~ FAQs ~ How to Bid


Almanzo was created by Jennie C. and is located in Abbotsford, BC.
Click on any picture for a larger view.

This bag isn't named after the book - it's named after the character in the book. Almanzo was a man's man, but also someone the ladies could swoon over. And this is a uni-sex bag, so I needed a name that appealed to all.

The flap features my version of the 3Rs: reduce, reuse, recycle! Just like Almanzo, the pioneer, did!

Thank you Cyrus and Ali for a fantastic modeling job!

Almanzo is my standard messenger bag, except the strap is extra long (52"_ and it's also knotless. If you'd like it shortened, let me know. I work in a mall that also has a university satellite campus; the kids seem to wear their bags super long.

The bag has two back pockets, one side pocket (with ziggy stitching), and two inside pockets -- plus a little inside pen pocket.

Sturdy blue denim from Mystery Pete.

Black faux suede (flap) from Melanie G.

Black and white plaid (straps and pocket lining) from a thrift store.

Blue Cotton (lining) from Leah R.

Scraps from Nancy B, Kera B, and Leah R.






P.S. And here's what's up at my house! So proud of my boy ... patiently sewing the emblem on his super hero cape! If the boy wants a cape - he must learn to sew!

He's currently into designing super hero costumes. He has a list of about 18 different heroes that he can switch into, based on the costume materials at hand!

P.P.S. Bathing suit shopping went alright. Ruching is good stuff! It covers all sorts of flaws - not that I have any - oh no :). But how come there isn't one bathing suit with everything right? If it finally provides good coverage on the backside, then there are decollette issues! I had to do some modifications, but now I'm finally ready for some splishin' and some splashin'!

P.P.P.S. That's all, you can bid now.

Monday oh Monday

What is it about Monday's? The fact that I have to go shopping for a bathing suit today isn't helping matters.

But I'm super thankful to Sarah for purchasing The Giraffe and the Pelly and Me. I have never read that book, but it's on my shelf and I think I'll go read it right now for a little pick-me-up.

I'm going to post another bag later today - so stay tuned...

Sarah - please email BagsForZaza@gmail.com to make purchase arrangements.

Wednesday, March 18, 2009

The Giraffe and the Pelly and Me

How do you like our new format? Any questions or comments?

Bid on this bag by leaving your name and a bid in the comments section. Bidding starts at $35 and increases by whole $s please. Highest bidder at 9am (PDT/MST) on Monday morning, March 23rd gets the BAG! Postage extra. All proceeds go towards Zaza's adoption.

About the Bags ~ FAQs ~ How to Bid


The Giraffe and the Pelly and Me was created by Linda and is located in Phoenix, AZ.
Click on any picture for a larger view.

Here is the perfect bag for this Roald Dahl book... if a giraffe was going to be lavender, it would indeed be Dahl who would imagine it!

This looks like our typical BFZ carrier bag, but it's not. It measures almost 12" across, 11.5" tall and only 2.5" wide. With the narrower width, the straps are a bit thinner and the cell pocket is a cell pocket if you have a razor phone. If you do not, it is a lip-gloss or small-ring-of-keys pocket.

The fabrics were mostly a donation from my mother's friend, Cheryl. The giraffe print is a silk with velvet patches in two shades of lavender. It was a sample piece with the coordinating lavender, tan and black stripe fabric. The price tag was still on the silk and it actually said $180/yard. Holy smokes! The spots change colors with the direction you look at them and are so soft!

The front flap and the lip-gloss pocket are trimmed with a black and tan braid for added texture and flair.

The black bottom, sides and straps are a velvety soft corduroy. We thought it was velvet, but if you look very closely, it has tiny ribs. It is some of the softest fabric I've ever run across my cheek.

The back pocket, the lip gloss pocket and the insides are made with a tan ultra suede with a diagonal decorative stitching on it. My friend Donna donated yards of that beautiful fabric.

And the inside pocket, bottom and sides are from a decorator pillow that used to grace my mother's living room. The lavender velvet is a bit stiff so it holds the shape of the bag nicely.

I tried something new with the ends of the straps... circular! It compliments the shape of the giraffe patches and worked rather nicely. They are tied at 45" but could easily be tied 3 or 4 inches shorter or longer.

Do Y'all Get it Now?

Full Circle goes to Alana for $30! Alana, please email BagsforZaza@gmail.com within 1 week to arrange payment and postage/pickup.

In case you haven't noticed yet, we changed the routine. Every 3 or 4 days, we'll post a new bag and you'll have 3 or 4 days to bid on it and then the next bag will go up. Comments, questions, suggestions?

And, of course, I can't say THANK YOU enough. Thank you for buying bags. Thank you for giving us fabric. Thank you for prayers. Thank you for sending kind words of encouragement. Thank you for spreading the word. THANK YOU. (thank you from Zaza, too)

And a special thanks to Nancy B this week. She facilitated the donation of a van load of fabric and yarn!

Saturday, March 14, 2009

Full Circle

How do you like our new format? Any questions or comments?

Bid on this beautiful Creation of Grace's by leaving your name and a bid in the comments section. Bidding starts at $30 and increases by whole $s please. Highest bidder at 9am (PDT/MST) on Wednesday morning, March 18th gets the BAG! Postage extra. All proceeds go towards Zaza's adoption.

About the Bags ~ FAQs ~ How to Bid


Full Circle was created by Grace and is located in Phoenix, AZ.
Click on any picture for a larger view.

Full Circle is made from a wonderful Italian tapestry fabric, a blend of material with wool and viscose being the majority. The tapestry is a thick material and so I made a tote bag so there wouldn’t be so many seams to try and join. The colors are golds, beiges and greens.



I made the front top and the front of the straps in a beautiful beige circle design – another of the over $100/yard fabric samples. It is viscose and silk with a raised nap in the circles. I had a small piece of braid that matched perfectly and so I trimmed the back and front of the bag with it for some pizazz!


The sides and back of the straps are a beige faux suede remnant.

Inside I used mostly Waverly fabric in green check which is a heavy cotton.

There are five pockets made of a black and beige sample piece and topped in beige with black and white polka dots.



This tote snaps shut with a single magnetic closure.

The straps measure 29 ½ inches. The bag is 12 x 13 x 3 ½.

Most of the fabrics were donated by my friend, Cheryl ---Thank you so much!!!

Pay Attention

Thanks gals - the chattiness these last few days has been fun.

Alice the Fairy goes to Jenna for $43! Jenna, please email BagsforZaza@gmail.com within 1 week to arrange payment and postage/pickup.

And as soon as I have a new bag to post - up it goes! So, you really need to pay attention here.

Do you like the new BFZ clock? I'm hoping it clears up confusion about time zones and daylight savings time.

Thank you again!

Wednesday, March 11, 2009

Alice the Fairy

Pay attention people. We're changing things up. This bag is available for bidding for 3 DAYS ONLY! All proceeds go towards Zaza's adoption. And we're starting the bidding at $30.

Bid on this bag by leaving your name and a bid in the comments section. Bidding starts at $30 and increases by whole $s please. Highest bidder at 9am (PDT/MST) on Saturday morning, March 14th gets the BAG! Postage extra.

About the Bags ~ FAQs ~ How to Bid


Alice the Fairy was created by Jennie C. and is located in Abbotsford, BC.
Click on any picture for a larger view.
*** New photos added Wed evening ... and Thurs evening. ***

This bag is fresh out of the oven. I madly sewed it from start to finish last night after work.

I'll get more pictures up as soon as I have the chance [I had the chance]. I'm sneaking this post up while sitting in a workshop for my job. Shhh.

I'm just a tad in love with my recycled recycle bags. It's a great message. It's funky and cheeky (just like Alice the Fairy, a darling little book that is somewhere in my house and is currently refusing to be found [I found it!]).

It has two back pockets, one small side pocket, and two inside pockets. It's a bit smaller than the other bags - about 11" x 10" x 3.5". Still a very roomy purse.

The lengthy 51" strap can be shortened by tying the knot differently.

Sturdy Brown Denim - Mystery Pete donation.

Light Purple (mauve?) Corduroy (flap) - upholstery sample donated by Melanie G.

Wool Scraps (arrows) - an abandoned high-school project, my Great Aunty Del's closet, Kera B's donation.

Light Purple (mauve?) Plaid (lining) - Kera B's donation.

I thought we needed a better picture of the back of the bag, as well as proof that I really do have this book. So, my daughter fixed my hair up and took the picture of me reading on the front step.

The updated photos above were taken by my talented li'l sis, the Informal Matriarch. They're still kinda driving me nuts. The purple on the flap and inside the bag isn't coming out right. I would describe it as a lilac or mauve, definitely less blue than the pics show (on my PC).

Tuesday, March 10, 2009

Ugh

Sunday and Monday were UGH days. The kind of days where you somehow dirty four mugs in the process of making one latte. The kind of days where it's all you can do to keep yourself upright.

So, there's no bag today :(

But I have hope that there will be a bag tomorrow. Please hope with me. And come back!


P.S. Saturday was NOT an ugh day. I had so much fun buying my daughter a whole new wardrobe - at the Salvation Army. $25 gets you 3 pairs of pants and 6 shirts! When I was showing hubby our finds, he said, "Dolce & Gabbana?" Oh. I thought that label looked familiar. I'm so ignorant when it comes to these things. Now I feel a bit sheepish about having an 11 year old in D&G. I'll probably pick off the label :).

Sunday, March 8, 2009

Kristy's Back!

I totally forgot about the bag auction closing last night. My mommy was in town and we were chat chat chatting.

So good to have Kristy back on our blog -- and it looks like she's this week's Bag Biddie! How have you been girly?
  • Grace for the Moment #2 -- Kristy F. -- $50
  • If You Give a Mouse a Cookie -- Kristy F. -- $25
Please email BagsforZaza@gmail.com within 1 week to arrange payment and postage/pickup.

Many blessings to y'all. We'll see you back here on Tuesday.

Tuesday, March 3, 2009

Oh Happy March

I spotted some crocuses (croci) this weekend. And that truly brings joy to my heart.

This week's creations are both from our Arizona crew (do crocuses grow in Arizona?)

Bidding is now open on:
  • Grace for the Moment #2
  • If You Give a Mouse a Cookie
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 chatty comments as well. The highest bidder at 9pm (PST) on Saturday, March 7th gets the bag and ALL profits are put towards Zaza's adoption!

About the Bags ~ FAQs ~ How to Bid

Grace for the Moment #2

Grace for the Moment #2 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, March 7th gets the BAG! Postage extra.

Grace for the Moment #2 is made from one of the fabulous fabrics (over $100 per yd) donated by Cheryl – Thanks! It is from Belgium and is called Symphony - Blue Agate. It is 70% viscose and 30% cotton and has a raised pile in a zigzag design.

The flap features a braid bow in coordinating colors, on brown velvet with the top in blue and brown fabric. The front is the main fabric with a pocket trimmed with braid and is made of a contrasting striped fabric.

The back of the bag is brown, heavy cotton and has a triple pocket of the main fabric, topped in brown velvet with a daisy patterned fabric for added interest. The sides, bottom and under strap are brown cotton. I top stitched in blue for a fun contrast.

I used pieces of all the fabrics on the strap to tie it all together. The strap measures 48 ½”, a little longer than usual, and is all one piece – no knot.

I had fun sewing the lining using the striped fabric on the diagonal on the under flap and pieces of brown, daisy patterned cotton blend with a striped piece in between. The four pockets in the lining are fuller than the usual pockets for easier access. The pockets are a sturdy striped cotton topped with daisies.

The bag measures 13" x 11" x 2½", a little smaller than our regular bag.

Editor's Note: The attention to detail in this bag is amazing. Exquisite work Grace!

If You Give a Mouse a Cookie ... Take Two

If You Give a Mouse a Cookie was created by Linda 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, March 7th gets the BAG! Postage extra.

If this bag looks familiar - it probably is. The original sale fell through, so it's back.

This sweet little morsel reminded me of one of my favorite books, If You Give A Mouse a Cookie. It started out small but turned into something really BIG!

This Mary Kate & Ashley denim skirt was a donation from Darla! It was already adorned with the brown lace applique and most of the bling. I did add the hearts to the front and the back pocket.

Along the bottom is hot pink ball fringe that is so fun to run your fingers along. The flower on the front pocket is made of the same sheer ribbon as the belt.

There is silver sequin trim on the belt loops and on the back pockets. The back pockets look like they button, but they are actually snaps that still work to keep little treasures safe.

The insides and the straps are a thick pink denim with a black pattern. There is a large denim pocket inside with a cutesy pink button on it.

This Cookie purse measures 14.5" across the bottom edge, 9" at the opening, 12" tall and the straps are 14" long. It's sure to bring a smile to a little princess's face.