Ooops

I thought bidding was closing last night - but apparently I lost a day.

V Y Rober "won" both items.

I just happen to know Mrs. V Y Rober and she's a lovely lovely lady and I want to take this opportunity to thank her from the bottom of my heart for being so supportive of this fundraiser and for being such a wonderful, loving Grandma to me for the last 38 years.

I love you Grandma.

Something New ... Something Wonderful

Hey all! We're back with two new items for you to bid on.

• Jennie Lynn - an adorable, highly-detailed fabric doll (so exciting)
• Peony Place - a wonderful messenger bag by Grace

Bid on the items by leaving your name and a bid in the comments section. Bidding increases by whole $s please. Highest bidder at 8pm on Tue, July 21 gets the BAG (or DOLL)! Postage extra.

All proceeds go towards Zaza's adoption.

About the Bags ~ FAQs ~ How to Bid

P.S. A friend of mine is in the process of adopting from Ethiopia. They just got the horrible news that their agency (who they've paid all their fees to) has declared bankruptcy. Please pray.

Jennie Lynn

Jennie Lynn was created by Linda and is located in Phoenix, AZ.

Click on any picture for a larger view.

Bid on this doll by leaving your name and a bid in the comments section. Bidding starts at $40 and increases by whole $s please. Highest bidder at 8pm on Tue, July 21 gets the DOLL! Postage extra.

I just finished reading Before Green Gables which is the prequel to Anne of Green Gables, but not written by Lucy Maud Montgomery. Still, it captured Anne's spirit and vocabulary endearingly. I have also been thinking of making a stuffed teddy bear for Zaza with clothes that she could dress it in. But, in the story, Anne received a teddy bear from one of her foster parents and she wishes the whole time that it could have truly been a doll. Her first doll ever, with puffed sleeves and long blond hair.

So, I made Jennie Lynne... and love her. But then decided that I want Zaza's doll to have a slightly darker skin tone and black hair. So we decided to offer Jennie Lynne on Bags for Zaza... the first Doll for Zaza.

Jennie Lynne is made of vintage linen from my grandmother's fabric collection. She's got a few freckles about and is soft and squishy, like all dolls should be. Her heart is embroidered with soft pink floss.

Her hair is made of pale blond chenille yarn which will stand up to years of combing with a wide toothed comb. It won't unravel like yarn. The ponytails are tied in light pink satin ribbons are stitched to her head as well as the bonnet. All the ribbons have "no fray" on the edges, for longer life. The brim of the bonnet has buckram sewn in to keep it stiff so the sun won't shine in her eyes.

Jennie Lynne's face is an iron-on design that has been enhanced with colored pencils. Her eyes are a beautiful clear blue. She stands 19" tall and is filled with soft fiberfill, yet her neck has a wide craft stick inserted so she will always look straight into your little girl's eyes.

All of Jennie Lynne's clothes are made of 100% cotton and can be machine or hand washed and tumbled dry. They might need a light iron touch up.

Her pantaloons have an elastic waist and pink satin ribbons adorning the fronts of the lace cuffs. The fabric matches the bonnet.

Her dress is made of a tiny flower print of soft rose, has elastic at the wrists and closes with two tiny snaps at the back. Three miniature white buttons grace the bodice for fanciness, as well as a pocket for her to hide her treasures. There is also scalloped eyelet at her neckline.

The apron is made of eyelet fabric and has gathered eyelet ruffles over the shoulders. It ties in the back, so Jennie Lynne will need help doing that up.

Jennie Lynne is so soft and cuddly, any little girl will love to hold her and snuggle with her.

About the Bags ~ FAQs ~ How to Bid

Peony Place

Peony Place 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 $35 and increases by whole $s please. Highest bidder at 8pm on Tue, July 21 gets the BAG! Postage extra.

This week I called the bag Peony Place which the name of the designer fabric. Peony Place is a rich bag constructed with designer fabric samples averaging over $75 per yd. Thanks to my friend Cheryl being at the right place at the right time when they were offered to anyone who could use them! She thought of me and Bags for Zaza!

It is comprised of neutral colors to wear with many outfits. The flap has an off-white 100% floral embossed cotton fabric and a black and white cotton fabric with gold butterflies and white peony’s. I added gold braid for an elegant touch.

The back has the black floral fabric and a silk and cotton blend material with raised polka dots for the double pocket. I decorated the pocket with a silk striped fabric and a vintage off-white button.

Don't forget to click on each picture to see the fabulous textures up close.

I used the above three fabrics on the under flap making sure I put one of the cute butterflies where it shows. The front of the bag is the black floral, the off-white and I found a striped raised fabric that had the same colors for the center of the pocket. I topped it with gold and off-white silk and a vintage button.

The side or cell pocket is black floral with a gold silk border which I used my new sewing machine embroidery stitch for the delicate leaf pattern.

I also decorated the straps with the same gold silk and leaf pattern and used the sturdy polka dot fabric lined with black for the main part of the strap. It measures 42” and is all one piece.

The inside of the bag has a large double pocket made with a designer chenille polka dot fabric. I topped it with silk and a black ribbon. I love the black vintage button I found to secure the top of the pocket. The back lining is heavy off-white cotton topped with black and I had fun using a decorative stitch to add interest.

The bag measures 12 ½ X 11 X 3 inches.

About the Bags ~ FAQs ~ How to Bid

Sleepy Head Me

I have some sort of exhaustion cooties or something right now and last night I couldn't achieve a vertical state long enough to announce this week's Bag Biddies. But here I am now! Wakey wakey, eggs and breaky!

• Swallowdale -- Kristin -- $35
  
• Through Every Season -- J.A. -- $25
• The Cricket in Times Square -- Kinneyland -- $32

Please email BagsforZaza@gmail.com within 1 week to arrange payment and postage/pickup.

Thank you again (we can't say it enough) for your continued support in this adventure to adopt a Colombian orphan.

Another bag will be posted tomorrow (Wed) morning.

Linda's Been a Busy Girl

Linda's caught the sewing bug! In other news, her son caught a different kind of bug.

Linda's bags for this week are:

• Swallowdale
• Through Every Season
• The Cricket in Times Square
  

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 8pm (PST) on Monday, July 13th gets the bag and ALL profits are put towards Zaza's adoption!

Please make sure to check back and contact me if you're the highest bidder.

About the Bags ~ FAQs ~ How to Bid

Swallowdale

Swallowdale 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 8pm on Monday, July 13th gets the BAG! Postage extra.

This perky little lavender purse is named Swallowdale after one of my newly discovered children's series by Arthur Ransome. It is made of a tiny denim Levi Strauss miniskirt that was Kenadee's and donated by her mama, Darla. (Thank you!)

The lavender and purple ribbons were all found at my mother's house and I'm not sure where I found the "lacy" light purple fabric? The inside of this little darlin' is a purple cotton with tiny white dots. There is a pocket inside graced with a gingham bow.

The handle is stuffed gently with batting to give it some oomph. I also added a purple polka-dot "scarf" tie on the back belt loop. (I saw a lady with a Coach purse at In-N-Out Burger sporting one of those!)

The three dark purple felt flowers with lavender flower centers and bling-bling are hand-sewn on by yours truly.

The bag measures 15" across the bottom, 11" tall and the strap is 16" long.

This is the perfect purple princess purse for the Lil' Miss in your life.

About the Bags ~ FAQs ~ How to Bid

Through Every Season

Through Every Season 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 8pm on Monday, July 13th gets the BAG! Postage extra.

Through Every Season is an appropriate name for this versatile bag that can be utilized in every season. Yes, it's a new pattern! Exciting! I saw this style while browsing through the pattern books at JoAnn's store and loved the construction and all the pockets. It is called a "birder's bag" because someone who loves watching birds needed a bag for her binoculars, bird guide, notepad, water bottle and snack. [Editor's note: However, we don't recommend keeping birds in this bag.] But I realize there are many organized women who may not watch birds who would also appreciate the useful design.

I dug out a donated roll of this fabulous tan, beige, brown and Robin's Egg blue designer fabric. It is so rich and textured... nice for running your fingers along. The other fabrics used are denim, light blue cotton/poly blend with tiny shiny dots and a soft tan cotton "canvas". Beautiful!

Under the flap is one large pocket that would easily handle a day timer or calendar.

The back of the bag is loaded with pockets at different levels for easy access without lifting the flap. The bottom is one wide pocket for receipts/sunglasses/keys/map/museum brochure, etc. There are two light blue pockets that extend to the bottom of the bag, one perfect for a book and the other for pens or pencils.

Inside the bag are two half-pockets of denim trimmed in tan canvas. They are ideal for your cell phone, iPod, lipstick or compact. The entire inside is made of the light blue fabric.

The strap is knotless and very strong. It measures 44".

The bag measures 12" tall, 10" across and 2 3/4" wide. A binder does fit in it quite nicely.

About the Bags ~ FAQs ~ How to Bid

The Cricket in Time Square

The Cricket in Time Square 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 8pm on Monday, July 13th gets the BAG! Postage extra.

I chose The Cricket in Time Square obviously because of the lime green stripe on the bag (maybe not too obviously!) This purse is a black and white wonder with a bold cricket stripe in lime.

The bottom and straps are made of a woven wool. The rest of the exterior is of heavy designer cotton. This chic little number is a lightweight bag so your arm is not burdened down while shopping and looking chic. I did use iron-on interfacing on the entire bag to give it some form and stiffness. The front and the back are identical.

The inside is constructed of a pale lime green polyester that feels and looks like silk. It is roomy and bright. There is a magnetic closure to keep your goodies safe and sound.

Inside there are two pockets just the right size for a cell phone, checkbook or sunglasses.

This purse measures 17" across the top, 11" across the bottom, 10" tall and 3 3/4" wide. The straps are 19 1/2" long.

Did you notice the care and concern I took in matching up the black and white stripes? Inside and out they all line up. (Makes my mama proud). I also did the top stitching by color so there is always matching thread on fabric. :o)

Just a great purse for your matchy matchy days of black and white.

About the Bags ~ FAQs ~ How to Bid

Silver Stuff

Boca in Bend - you're the highest bidder on Anne of Avonlea.

Please email BagsforZaza@gmail.com within 1 week to arrange payment and postage/pickup. Thanks so much for your support. All proceeds from this fundraiser go towards Zaza's adoption.

And now if you'll humour me, here's a conversation I recently had with my 12 year old soon-to-be-adopted son...

William: Mom, when did you put that silver stuff in your hair?

Mom: What silver stuff?

William: You know, when did you dye all those hairs silver?

Mom: Right. Well, you see, I couldn't decide between the latest crazes in hair styles, so I thought I'd do something original and dye a few (hundred) individual strands of hair silver. And while I was on a role, I had them crimped, too -- you know, just so they'd be all wiry and fashionable looking.

... at least he called them "silver" and not "gray".