A Walk Through Handbags

I have three designer purses.

Three.

Coach. Linea Pelle. Rebecca Minkoff.

The Rebecca Minkoff is the most recent edition to my tiny collection. None of these designers is so called high end, but I still like them. I've lusted after Rebecca Minkoff purse for years, at least four. I stare at them, see the price and find myself sighing loudly and waiting for a sale. When I lived in the Dirt Hole, I told myself I'd hit up the after Christmas sale next year, as I was amazed at how much I could get a Morning After Bag for (now I don't remember the price).

I never did buy one.

Then, in the fall (I think), I discovered Bluefly. Or rediscovered it. I don't know what lead me there, or how I got there, but I was there, looking at Rebecca Minkoff purses and drooling once again. One day, I was going through the SUPER SALE on handbags the site was having and came across this Linea Pelle bag that was, well, TARDIS blue. I thought the brand name looked familiar, so I used Purse Blog to check it out and sure enough, it was a brand they'd covered. They had even reviewed the bag.

So I bought it. For something like $180, which for the fracking size of this bag, that was a good price. (It's leather.) I was so excited when it finally showed up. It's really a great purse. It's HUGE. Things get lost. But you can cram a whole coat in it! Among other things.

Well, it's summer now, and technically, I could carry a purse of my own creation. But then it rains and cotton purses don't do well in rain. So, I kept carrying my TARDIS blue hobo bag. (Which did really well this winter. You just brush the dirt off!)

A few weeks ago, I was staring at Facebook. Or Twitter. Or both at the same time. One of these outlets informed me of a sample sale Rebecca Minkoff was having.

Online.

My eyes bugged out.

I wasn't holding out too much hope, as the last few collections she's come out with haven't really caught my fancy. Why? Because I'm boring. I like her orignal line of handbags. I don't like my handbags cluttered with...zippers, studs, or whatever. I like Nikki, the Morning After Bag, Morning After Clutch and the Manatiee (a bag she doesn't really make any more...) I like the mini versions of these bags. (Well, not the MAC mini, it's just too small.)

The sale was going on a week. Or something. And daily, the selection changed. Sometimes it changed hourly. (Yeah, I checked it often.) I know what I want, which is a tragic thing as usually when I know what I want, I cannot find it. However, low and behold, the bag I wanted magically appeared.

Well, one of them.

The Nikki and MAB that were on sale weren't what I wanted. I wanted colored leather, not too bright, with silver hardware. Most of the bags seemed to carry gold. Not into gold. Then it appeared: a full size MAC in purple with silver hardware.

I stared at it for a full twenty four hours before I bought it. I spent the next day freaking out, but then rationalized myself off the ledge. I was bouncingly giddy by the time it arrived. I opened the box and found the purse packaged the same manner I package my own purses (tissue paper with a sticker bearing the designer name). Granted, the bag was also in a plastic bag and came with a dust bag, but it was similar.

I spent the day peeking at the purse, unsure if it was really here. I still catch sight of it and think, "Do I really actually OWN a Rebecca Minkoff purse? Did I really only pay less for it than I paid for my hobo bag?"

Yes. That is the answer to all those questions.

The Coach purse cost roughly $300 dollars. I used it till I wore it out. I spent a lot of money on it, when I didn't really have a lot of money, but I had my first real job and I wanted a nice purse. After I got it, I always regretted not getting the little hobo bag in all leather and going for the stupid bag in canvas. But, I still brought it out when I needed a "nicer" purse. The major issue with it: it's a arm purse, meaning it's meant to be carried on your forearm or in your hand. It fits over my shoulder and into my armpit, but it's not meant to be there. And don't try it if you're wearing a winter coat. You'll pull a muscle.

It got squished in our last move. I unpacked it and it was...dented.

I tried to be outraged. I tried to get mad.

I didn't care.

This of course alarmed me greatly. I should care. I spent three hundred freaking dollars on a purse! What is wrong with me!?!?!?!?

So I hung it on the back of the closet door and forgot about it. I have not carried it since I left the Dirt Hole, which was when I discovered a plastic bit sticking out of the bottom piping and thought, "WTF? I paid three hundred dollars for this stupid purse."

When I traded the Linea Pelle hobo for the MAC, I put it in its dust bag (after I fished it out of the pantry...dont' ask) and hung it on the back of the door with the Coach bag (which has a dust bag, I just don't know where it went.)

I ought to find the Coach dust bag. I think I stuffed with fabric remains.

The Linea Pelle purse isn't falling apart. Granted, I only carried it through the fall and winter, but still, I dont' think it's got any plastic bits in it. Honestly, plastic bits?

I love the MAC. It the perfect size for me and things don't get lost. I also can wear it cross body, so it doesn't fall down on my arm and try to rip it off. I could use a smaller wallet though, as my wallet takes up the whole purse almost.

Not that there's much I carry besides the wallet.

The wallet is Coach. I bought it after the purse, at an outlet mall. The day after Thanksgiving. It's leather. Brown and cost roughly 80 bucks. And would have matched the purse I should have gotten instead of the one I got.

Notice a trend? The one I paid the most money for, I regret getting at all. Hmmmm....mental note: only buy things on sale.

Operation Jeans Day Two

Workout did not occur as early as I wanted because...I....lost...a...button. And had to go to the dentist to get a new one.

Does that sound like an odd sentence? If not, read it again: I lost a button and had to go to the dentist to get a new one.

And by button I mean this little thing that holds my Invisalign braces to my teeth.

Anyways, since I forgot the things I needed to run errands as I ran out the door with my curly, frizzy hair in a pony tail and minimal makeup on, I came back and I did another mile with Leslie. Today went much as it went yesterday. Only I don't feel as...worky outy.

I ate okay yesterday. No snacks and only one oatmeal cookies. Tragically, I think the TARDIS cookie jar makes my cookies...kinda stale soft. Total sad face. :(

Well, that is it for Operation Jeans Day Two.

In other news, they plowed our street so its more than one lane again. The whole things seems so wide...its kind of crazy. I forgot how wide the street was in the first place. And someday, there might be a sidewalk again!

In Purse News: Got some brightly colored denim. Totally excited for bright, spring colors! I almost burst when I came home and was like NOW WHAT DO MAKE! I've been trying to decide if I should break into new designs, but decided to just use the ones I have and just make them cross body. Simple.

Also, thinking about doing a giveaway. With gently used purses, as I don't know what to do with the ones I test out. I have like a million purses that I've used like maybe two or three times at test purses. They are in good shape, but have a small flaw or something. I don't know anyone to give them away to, as they are FINE. Except the one I tired the magnet on the first time. It fell apart. But the one I was carrying these past few weeks has nothing wrong other than the snap is on backwards. I bet no one can tell except me.

Well, there is your news. Come back tomorrow. As it'll look the same (if I remember to update. It will be Saturday...)

Baking in Alaska

A heat wave has hit Alaska, and Basil Bea and I have been baking in our own home, which does not have a/c, because who needs a/c in Alaska? Well, the sun is totally intense, so I have been shut into the house for almost a week now. Yesterday it finally rained and was cool enough for me to really get to work in the sewing room. In a few days I will go out and buy a new camera, so new purses will begin to appear in the shop.

I have been working on clutches. Yesterday's did not go too well. I wanted to make a small draw string bag like the one the tank tops I ordered from Victoria Secret came in. The first two tries did not work in the least, so today I might try again or just work on purses I know will work. I still have to figure out where to take pictures. Now that I am in my own home, I can use the wonderful kitchen table again. Though, I am totally in love with the purple wall in the sewing room. Not sure where to use the purple wall, as the sewing room is always a mess. Total mess.

Well, that is all. The dog and I just went for a walk and I did some yoga. I am starving but its only 11 am. For some odd reason I feel that is too early to eat lunch.

major bust-a-mundo

Well, the whole sale was a bust. Only one person used the code, and that one person had all ready ordered a purse, thus I "technically" had the sale all ready. Such is life.

I spent the whole day running around from fabric store to fabric store in look for what I had in my head for the next custom order. (I heart custom orders, they give me a challenge!) I finally found what I was looking for at Hobby Lobby and happily told the cutting lady there. She guessed right away what I was making. I lost track of the people who told me they like my festive purse (which in all honesty is pretty crappy, as the interfacing I used wasn't thick enough for the size of the bag I made, but I was going to carry it, so it was okay. I think the print distracts people.) Anyways, I've been working on more purses, but I think the holiday ones aren't going to sell. I should have gotten them up earlier. At least they'll be around next year early!

A few days ago, my mom and I drove out to a near by suburb to go to a spice store (I can't remember the name, it begins with a P). We were shopping for sprices for my husband, as Pilot Boy likes spicy things. Also, the store had just come out with a taco spice, and we could use some taco spice. Who knows how our spices will be after spending all this time in a storage unit in the Dirt Hole. However, the highlight of the trip was the pet botquie I got my mom to go to. Called Two Bostons, it was SO COOL. I loved the place. The lady came right up to help us after she was done doing what she was doing when we came in. She was totally helpful with finding a toy for Basil Dog that would keep Basil Dog happy. I ended up getting Basil Dog a huge gingerbread man chew toy that is made for super chewers. O.M.G. Basil Dog LOVES IT TO DEATH. She even took it to bed with her last night. Later, she kicked out the Gingerbread man, but she loves it. And for a soft chew toy, its still in one piece, which for Basil Dog is real good. She usually unstuffs soft toys in a matter of hours. She did get a hole in the head, but she mostly just attempts to run with it, and fails because the toy is as big as she is. But she will play, and play, and play with it. And she loves when you hold it up above her head and she's gotta jump up to get it. God, does she love that! I haven't enjoyed the holidays for the past few years till this year. All sorts of doors open up when you've got a dog and you make purses. I also realize I love buying fabric today, but I sort of knew that all ready. Part of the reason I began making purses.

It sort of attempted to snow the past two days here and the cold weather is really here. Basil was rather confused by the snow, but for the most part she ignored it. She LOVES the cold. My parents took her for a walk today while I was shopping and she was SO HAPPY. My mo was worried about her little paws, but she didn't seem to notice the cold sidewalks or anything. I met her after she was done with her walk (she was pulling so hard, my mom let go of the leash to advoid another dislocated thumb, yeah, Basil dislocated my mother's thumb....) She ran up to me and was SO HAPPY. But, Basil B Dog has had a very good day in general.

We had roast chicken. Basil B Dog loves chicken. She is a chicken loving dog.

Black Friday Bust

Well, I got my sale notice up, posted several new purses and has hardly any hits. I know there are a few more hours left in the day (not to mention the weekend), but this whole Black Friday thing has been a major bust for me. And not just sale wise.

I've been tired and freezing all day long. I fell asleep on the couch for awhile, woke up groggier than before. My back aches (still) and I seem to have come to the end of the internet. I just don't know what to do with myself.

I don't do shopping on Black Friday. I have never really been shopping on Black Friday. I think maybe once or twice I've ventured out. Once I went to Carsons on Black Friday. I remember freaking out and leaving. Last year I went to Wally Martinos. There was like no one there. I cannot remember why we went there, but we did. I remember we had a large conversation about whether to go. And one year, the first year I knew my husband, I spent Thanksgiving in Indiana and was totally bored the day after. We went to the outlet mall and I bought a Coach Wallet for 80 bucks. I also did my Christmas shopping for the most part. Also, this time, there was hardly any one around. But I've never gotten up early to go shopping on Black Friday. I went to work early once. There was a huge line. For Best Buy. Where I did not work. We were busy that day at work, but not as busy as Best Buy. That was also my first day working the service desk. Someone threw a check at me. I can't remember why.

Well, my dog zonked out on the carpet in the family room. I'm thinking she's got the right idea.

Sparkling Diamonds

Sparkling is a thing diamonds do. Period. End. Stop.

In other news, I'm still trying to figure out what sort of Black Friday sale I should have. I've got less than a week to figure it out. Oh no. I made a total of three and half purses today. A half purse, because I didn't finish the fourth one. Though I guess it could be three, as the first one I worked on was a purse I had began a couple days ago. Anyways, I have four purses to take photos of tomorrow, all holiday theme purses. I am on over load getting geared up for the holidays. I feel like I am lagging behind, that I should have started this like two months ago.

This past week has also seen me selling purses! Wow, I know! Selling purses! I have made THREE trips to the post office! I was so excited. I actually ran out of business cards! I had to print more! OMG you guys! I'm also almost out of the tissue paper I bought in the Dirt Hole those many moons ago.

I ordered wipers. They were the wrong hook up, so I had to reorder those. So, I am still without wipers. Oh well. Such is life.

Posting purse

Just posted a new purse, the Teagan Limited Edition Tote. Whoo hoo! Check it out at Ireland Scott Designs!

This bag is made with heavy duty interfacing, so it is a very strong bag. The straps are also lined with this interfacing, so they are super padded! The straps are also a bit longer than usual, so they fit over bulky winter coats.

Black Friday Sales

Would you believe it had not occurred to me that the actual holiday season was upon us? I know this is hard to believe due to the fact that even before Halloween was over, the Christmas decor began to come out. And never mind the fact I've been doing my Christmas shopping since September.

But it had not occurred to me that the actual season was upon us and that I should have a huge sale. I joined the Etsy Black Friday fan page on Facebook yesterday and have been inundated with sales announcements. I should put one out there, I know. I am still only on my 3rd sale (which happened on the day my life took a direction north). The summer sale I began at the end of July or at the start of August has done nothing. I haven't sold a single sale bag. Due to money, I can't really afford the 15 bucks to put an add on Heartomatic through Craft Cult. I hate the forums, mostly because I never have anything to say. I have tried many times to become "active" in the forums, but that usually leads to me obsessively checking the forum and nothing becoming of it other than it takes up all of my time. I hardly ever get an opportunity to hand out business cards, as no one ever asks me where I got my purse any more since I began carrying my own designs. Seriously, no one asks. Before, I always got asked where my purse was from, even once what my purse's name was (when I carried a Coach bag, the Coach bag).

I am at a loss.

So, I guess I will have a huge Black Friday sale and maybe I'll just bite the bullet. I've been tossing ideas around on what to do. Free shipping, 50% off second purchase, 30% off all bags? I'm not sure yet.

exciting places

Last year I celebrated my first anniversary in the Dirt Hole. I spent a majority of the day at Wally Martinos. In keeping with my odd tradition, I am once again located somewhat in the middle of nowhere and once again I went to a Walmart today. However, this time it was not to buy my husband a present (or another present, which was the case). This time it was to buy things the two room flat he's living in currently lacked.

At first, upon my arrival here in southern Oklahoma where he is doing the final leg of his training before we ship off to Alaska, I was appalled at the little flat they gave him to live in. However, after spending two days here I have come to realize it is not that bad. The bed is bad, but the rooms themselves would seem spacial to someone say in New York City. The bathroom is good sized and the closet is large. The bed still sucks and the kitchen sink is too small for the facet its got, but other than that its fine.

I am currently planning my winter line. I created a new purse design before I left to come here and am currently carrying it. With the exception that the strap is way to long, the bag is great. It is a large hobo type of bag. Pretty cool. I bought some plaid print corduroy and wound up using it for the prototype, as I usually carry the prototypes and I like plaid. The bag actually turned out better than I expected, well except I over judged the strap length. I wound up making a smaller version of the bag with the remaining material and was really pleased with the result. I have been making the drop on the bags I've been working on recently a lot longer to be able to wear over winter coats and such, but the strap on this new hobo is just a little long. Well, unless you want to throw it over your body like a messenger bag, which it works well for, especially in airports. I am thinking of calling the bag the Dublin Hobo and hopefully, once I arrive back home, I'll get cracking on making more! (If my mother isn't quilting up a storm again, lol.)

Now, while I am here, Halloween is going to happen. My puppy, Basil Dog, is at home with my parents. She, due to her barking at doorbells and simply freaking out at the people on the other side of the door, is going to have to spend the evening in the basement, as we live on a very popular street for trick o treaters. I did, though, buy Basil Dog a costume, even though she will not wear it as my mother won't put it on her. She'll wear it for Thanksgiving.

trying to get ahead

I've been sewing up a storm these past few days (when I haven't been filling in a large hole with rocks). I went out and bought winter material. I cannot wait to start on the new designs! We'll see how that goes. The winter material is a mix of winter patterns and what I deem as winter like colors (reds, blues and greens).

I ordered more makeup from Sephora. I did this for an array of reasons. One, I needed a new foundation. Two, I didn't feel like leaving the house.

I needed a new foundation. So I ordered Stila Sheer Color Tinted Moisturizer. I searched for days until I decided on it. I have really pale skin (especially since I left the Dirt Hole and am no longer assaulted by the sun daily) so finding a color is hard for me. Why? Because none are "pale" enough. I had my makeup done at the Dior counter once and they lady simply couldn't find a shade pale enough for me and I looked orange when I left (I also had about a gallon of mascara on, but I digress). So, I am always sort of iffy when buying new foundation. However, this stuff is AWESOME. Seriously. It totally rocks. It is sheer, but has enough coverage to cover up my flaws. Perfecto!

I also ordered Two Face's Natural Eye kit. It is also awesome. I've worn it almost every day. I usually opt for the Day eye, but have tested out the Classic. I've worn only one shade of the Fashion line up, but it is glitter crazy for night time, and I'm just not into glitter. But the Day eye is all matte, totally cool. I'm all ready looking into getting more of the Two Face palettes because they are just such a great deal.

The other things that came with my order were samples. I chose three, one was a face wash, one was a purfume sample and the other was another foundation that I had considered. The face wash, Fresh Soy Face Clenser To Go, rocked. I totally want to abanonded the face care line I've used the past three years for this one, but I can't bring myself to pay 15 bucks for some soap. The other sample, the perfume sample, totally won me over. It was Michael Kors Very Hollywood. Man, does it smell good. And I think it lasts all day (Unless you go into Victoria Secret and spend an hour wandering the store while they are pumping in their new sent Amber Velvet or what not).

I also went to the Sephora store in JCPenny's to buy blush. I didn't like the colors I had, so I wanted something new. I got new. I walked in, got HELPED right away and told the lady what I wanted. She did not try to overtly sell me anything I did not want and I was out of there in ten minutes smiling with my small bag of Sephora brand blush (which was where she found me, she didnt' try to sell me an expensive one, just the Sephora brand) and another perfume sample, this one for Gucci Flora. I wore it the day after I got it. Basil Dog sniffed me all day. I guess she liked it?

Well, that is all the makeup reviews I have for the moment.

MIA for a little too long

I've been so bad lately keeping this updated, right after I made a promise to keep it updates. Oops.

So, what have I been up to?

Not making purses. I've stared at fabric a lot lately, itching to buy, but in all honesty I haven't made a single purse for awhile now, mostly due to my mother's quilting. There is just no room for me in the work room...tragic. Hopefully, I'll be able to get in there after she finishes the quilt for my brother. So, instead of making purses, I've decided to create a new line for winter. While I love the bags I make, it is getting somewhat tiresome (which might be why I haven't made any lately) so I need a new challenge. I've been brain storming lately trying to come up with new designs. I'm going to find a notebook and sketch out a few ideas. I guess I am looking for a challenge. I need to make some new patterns and some new fabric. If only I was made of money, lol.

In other news, my husband visited me for a few days last week and we went to Indiana to visit his family. The dog got all messed up by this and the fact her boy returned home. Now she's a complete idiot again. Today she peed in my parents bedroom right at my mom's feet. After we'd taken her outside like 8 times since she had gotten up and she never went. She'd do some sniffing then go to the door to return inside. She spent most of yesterday sitting in the front window, waiting for her boy to return to her. She is rather pathetic. She's been not eating when she will go potty and eating when she wont' go potty. Oi.

In other news, my husband and I are at odd on how to reach Alaska. To say the least, it'll be an interesting journey.

I've been doing a lot of reading as of late. I've turned into this reading machine. I read a lot of books and I will be doing some book reviews, as almost all of them were wildly good and I enjoyed them all. I just finished "Twenties Girl" by Sophie Kinsella. Yesterday I finished "Kan & Able." So good. OMG. I think tomorrow I will take a break from reading and write those out.

Well, that is pretty much it for now. Fall is in full swing here and my nose has set itself to rebel against me during the season I so love.

Reading till my eyes pop

I've been doing a lot of reading as of late. I am not sure why this is, as I've had over a year to read to read to my heart's content, but recently I have had this huge urge to just read, read, read and read some more. I'm staying up till 11 or midnight simply reading. I do not think I have done that since the Harry Potter books came out.

I have read a few library books, one of which was really good. "As the Crow Flies" by Jeffery Archer. My mom got it for me and said she's read all of his books, except his newest one. It is a huge book and I finished it in two days. It would have been one, but I couldn't stay awake any longer. I also read another Mary Queen of Scots book, which I felt went a little better than the other one I'd read, which seemed to make her life heavily romantic, which in all honesty I don't think it was. "Fatel Majesty" by Reay Tannahill was the better of the two. I cannot remember the other one, as it is packed away in some storage unit in the Dirt Hole. The other book was a bit strange, I read it in a day. "The Gossip of the Starlings" I think was the name. It was strange, sort of like the book "Prep."

Due to the fact my dad ordered yet another light for the backyard so we can see Basil Dog the Black Wonder, he also ordered the new Dan Brown book. I've been dying to read "Angels & Demons" since the movie came out, only I had no idea where my copy of the book was. Turns out my Dad ran off with it and it is still in the house. My mom gave it to me saying, "Its in micro print. I can't read it." I had noticed this, as it is a paperback. I also noticed, as I ran off with the hard cover copy of "The Di Vinci Code" they have another one on the shelf in my room. (Which I learned my brother had cleared off for me, only to have my dad invade with all his own books, so I have no room to put things on the shelves.) I am looking forward to reading the new Dan Brown book. More than likely will finish it in a day.

Due to all this reading, I haven't made a purse. I did manage to get all the redo pictures up yesterday and post one. I still need to edit the pictures of the bigger bag and make the one i cut out last week. I am just sort of lackadaisical about sewing thing together at the moment. I have all ready concluded I'm going to basically miss fall, due to this feeling and other things coming up. Oh well. Such is life, right?

No one cares, so why should you?

What I managed to do yesterday in relation to my current profession:

I cut out a purse and ironed the pieces.

This was all I did due to the fact after I finished I could barely stand to stand. I know that sewing the thing together would have required me to sit down, but I was also sweating a lot, so I figured I should go take a nap and maybe it'd all go away.

For the most part it did go away, other than my sinus headache, which I've had on and off today, so all I've done today is re-take pictures. Which I should go load onto my brother's laptop and cut them down to size and redo all the purses I've recently put up for sale.

Will I do this? More than likely not.

My mom and I ordered some stuff form this scrapbooking place online. I need a new blade for the paper cutter, as the blade on the on I found in the drawer of the room I live in needs a sharper blade. Somehow we managed to order blade scorers, not cutters. Not good. The site doesn't have any blades, just the odd score thing. The rotary cutter my mom ordered wont' cut cloth and barely cuts paper. It totally butchard the picture I tried to cut with it. The dull blade on the paper cutter is better. My dad gave me his old photo paper cutter he had for his dark room, which hasn't been used since 1992, thus its covered in rust and dust and has to be cleaned. It is also huge and I usually scrapbook in my bed. I know, not the best place, but I'm not one of those crazy scrapbookers. I just stick thing on the page in a haphazard way. Then I stick some stickers on sometimes. When I was on my game, I stuck random objects I had saved in the book, but so far that has only worked when I went to Scotland.

I've been doing more research on the whole going to Alaska in the winter thing and am thinking the ferry looks like a really good idea. I'm not sure its such a steller idea for Basil, but then again, she spends roughly maybe 8 hours a day in her crate when not barking, then about 12 at night in there. The 8 hours during the day is of her own free will. We've been closing the door so she won't hang out in there, but she's been super smart and nosing the door open. We try to keep her out of there at night because once she goes in there after she eats, she won't come out to go potty, which is an issue.

I ordered jeans from Victoria Secret. Finally. I got 34s because that was all they had, but I really need 32s to wear flats (or heels....it seems). They are a little long, but they fit. They are a size smaller than all the shorts I ordered because the shorts are all falling down. Least to say, my butt looks nice in the new jeans, especially when I've got my super heels on. I've also been surfing through White House Black Market looking at dresses. I'm not sure who runs their site, as there's always a bunch of dresses that they don't have any or they show up in the size searches when there are none of the dresses. I am confused. Last weekend I went with my dad to the mall and I hit up WHBM to see if they had the dress I wanted in my size. They only had a size 0. My dad told me to just try it on.

And I did.

I got it zipped up all the way till I hit my boobs. The waist fit. The lower hips fit. My boobs were just too big. Seriously, my boobs were too big! I knew they were huge. Well, huger than they used to be. I needed about another two inches of material around the bust area. I was so shocked. I stood there staring at myself wondering what was going on. The other dress I ordered back in teh dirt hole was a six. The boobs were a little big, so I thought I'd need a four. I never ordered it because I didn't like the dress all that well, but this dress I loved. It was gone from online when I went to look later that day. Then it appeared again last night. Only they only had a size 8. Then it was on there this morning only they did not have any sizes. Now it is gone.

Thus I have become obsessive in my search of the site for dresses. They don't seem to have any in a size two, which is what I'd need I think.

I think I might be wasting away. I'm not sure why. I don't have a gym to go to any more and I seem to eat more here simply out of boredom. I'm not sure what is going on.

Well, that is all.

Life getting in order

So, last night I began to read a guide book I got for my husband on Alaska and the highway we must use to get there.

And I freaked out a bit more. I did find the section of traveling with pets helpful, but most of the information is geared to the summer traveler, not those of us insane enough to travel in the winter (which if I had my way we'd wait till MAY to go, but guess what, the military has other ideas. Who tells someone to report to Alaska in February?)

I guess I need to do further research on the topic.

In purse news:

Been working on the fall line. I've got this 5 year old laptop named Jess that I use to run my shop. Jess, recently, decided he hates Photoshop. Thus, it is hard to edit pictures of the purses. This has hindered me greatly in my quest to update the fall line. (What has also hindered me is that I failed to realize the scope of my mother's quilting quest.) The other day I finally asked my dad if it was okay if I used his computer (Dellbert, yes we are strange in my family) to crop and resize my images. I had tried my mom's Mac, but her iPhoto doesn't allow me to resize the image. I can crop it to my heart's content and do everything else, but resizing isn't an option. This makes me sad. But, anyways, so I went up to the office the other day to use the computer. It was off, so I turned it on and then realized the screen wasn't on. There is no clear POWER button. The first one I hit did nothing and I was unwilling to hit more buttons for fear of screwing the screen up and incurring the wrath of Dad. I sat for a moment then realized my brother was at work.

So I picked up my camera and went into my old room, now my brother's Man Cave and room while I live here for the time being. I sat down at his computer and plugged in the camera to the UBS port on his screen.

Nothing happened.

I opened Photoshop (he's got the whole Abode suite. I hate him).

Nothing from the camera.

So I used one of the USB ports on the actual computer and WHALA! It worked.

And I breezed through what I needed to do in half the time it takes me to do the same work on Jess. Man, when you've got a new computer...Photoshop works wonders.

I then took the images back to Jess and spent almost a half hour adding a new purse to my shop. Part of this was due to the fact I forgot to mesure the purses, so I had to go do that, the other is that Jess is old (he's like super old in computer years) and the internet here is sort of whacky at times. You'd think living in a major metro area you'd have good internet, but ours has a mind of its own. The internet in the Dirt Hole got slow around the time work let out and everyone went home to surf the internet, but here it'll do it randomly in the middle of the day.

Anyways, the fall line is up and running. I'm going to expand into teacher bags! Basically large tote bags. I've got all these teacher friends, so I might as well use them. lol. My aunt also suggested I do dialysis bags. She has to go to dialysis regularally and always seems to need a bag for her stuff. Which is a good idea. New market! She said she'd have my uncle email the specs for the right size. I am uber excited. I really want to sell some purses so I can buy more fall cloth. The Hobby Lobby here has the best prints in the world. I see purses everywhere!

Well, I'm going to go be productive today.

the date grows closer and closer

The time is getting near. I've been in the dirt hole for a year now and if the end is in site will be told this Friday! I'm totally crossing my fingers and toes to get out of here. There is a small possibility that we'll be stuck in the dirt for another four years, which is something I dread on many levels.

I am still trucking along with my shop on Etsy. I've only had two sales and one no-sale. I'm trying to do things to get my sales to pick up, but due to the fact I have very little drive, I have yet to do anything major. I told D about the shop, as well as his wife P. D informed me the other day he was telling everyone he knew. Tragically, the only people he sees on a daily basis are wanna-be fighter pilots. All male. They are not in need of purses, tragically.

I have an add running on On Scrappy Chic. She contacted me about wanting to run an ad for my shop. It was like the best day of my life when she asked about that. (Okay, I think getting married was the best day, but it was totally one of the better days in the dirt hole.)

As my time in the dirt hole grows shorter (crosses fingers, knocks on wood, does many odd things to assure she will leave), I need to get ready for guests to invade my house. We have a spare bedroom, which is mostly used to collect junk. My husband used it as his huge walk in closet for awhile, then it just started gathering random items after we got Basil. I walked in there this past weekend and was like, "Wow, its filled with pillows and things Basil's attempted to eat." Stuffing was every which where, there was a pilot helmet sitting on the pathetic table bought from Target that never did stay together, and two broken printer were on the floor. In another corner lives the four floursent bulbs we removed from the kitchen after they put in the new lights in our house and we were being blinded in the kitchen. It is still brigher than it used to be in there with only two bulbs. There are also piles of my rejected, too small clothing. I spent about an hour Sunday shoving things neatly into one of the closets (for unknown reasosn the smallest room in the house has two huge closets...)I still have not shoved enough in for the arrival of our new bed on Friday. After two years, we finally bought a guest bed (as well as new printer, but that is not that important except it cost 69 dollars and I acutally pointed with my elbows at it.)

And to end, I will share with you a picture of Basil with a bra on her head. It cracks me up to no end. She is a total modle when I get the camera out. She always poses for me.

what the world is coming to

So, I just found out that Billy Mays is dead.

Via facebook.

Again.

Why is that lately every time someone dies, the first place I find out about it is not the news, the TV or any form of the media, but facebook?

In other news, I saw "Transformers" the other night. I thought it was good, my husband thought it was bad.

You must know, my husband things "Army of Darkeness" is a good movie. Seriously, he liked bad movies, but when he views something as bad it isn't a bad movie. Does that make sense.

I thought "Transformers" was good for a wide array of reasons. I thought it was funny in the right places, corny in the right places and had some nice explosions.

I've seen a lot of movies as of late. I saw earlier last week "The Proposal" which I also thought was really good. It was funny and touching, and only the ending was sappy. Plus, the guy whose name escapes me at the moment, had really expressive faces which just made the movie. Oh, and the fact the lead female character had a Berkin bag rocked. It was orange. She also had killer shoes. Which I totally noticed and spent the rest of the movie watching for the tell tail red soles.

sitting in the dark

I think it is sort of funny that most of the hits for this website come from the entry about Stargate Atlantis and how it ate my soul. That one entry gets almost every hit I get, and yet no one has ever commented on it, thus I can only assume that everyone who actually visits my website thinks it sucks.

Which is more than likely does as it more than likey only makes sense to me. Such is life.

I have been plotting, and this is my plot: Ireland Scott Designs.

I have become a handbag designer! Oh yay is me!

Anyways, come check me out and stuff. Always love selling things!

since you've been gone

well, today is a rather big day. many moons ago, on this very day, I decided I wanted to get married. So, I did. And here I am now, married. And old.

Today, in the mail, I got a coupon to Ann Taylor Loft. In honor of my upcoming birthday (yeah, I decided to get married around my birthday. Just to torture my husband.) I also got a reminded to buy life insurance from my credit union so I could get in on my current age rate, and not my soon to be new age rates. I am not going to be using either of these items as a) there isn't an Ann Taylor Loft for at least 200 miles and b) I have had life insurance since I was about four days old. My dad is prepared for everything. I had no idea I had this insurance until he decided after I graduated from college that I should pay it. So, that was when I found out I had life insurance.

This past weekend, my husband and I tried to figure out how to celebrate our anniversary. Seeing we live in a dirt hole, we were lacking in options. We could go to a restaurant that might serve us bad food for an outrageous price, or eat at home and have it be good. So we ate at home. This morning, I found my present on the wall of our living room. My husband conspired with D in order to get it here and not allow me to find it. I am not sure how he did this all, as it is a large picture and I did find the tube it came in. It was in the trunk of my husband's car. Addressed to me. So, yes. Last night he said to D, "Hey, can you bring that thing I gave you to hold on to tomorrow morning?"

This made little sense to me, due to the fact I would be alone in the house all day while he was off flying in circles. With D. Thus, wouldn't it have made more sense to have D bring it later? Well, it was here this morning when I woke, and of course I cried when I saw the picture, as it was a picture of the place we got married. Maybe he did it this way so he wouldn't be around while I stood there and cried? No idea.

On a totally different note, lately I've been carrying a purse that I've has since I was 17. Or maybe 16. I honestly cannot remember when I got this purse. I remember getting it. I remember why I got it. This girl in my Chemistry class had it and I thought it was a really cool purse. It was a basic black purse. It had a stiff handle/arm hole and was made out of canvas. It looked sort of like a Prada purse, but it was made by Guess? before Guess? went all whacko and tacky. I think I paid 50 bucks for this purse and I loved it. I had a friend who called it my armpit purse, because it pretty much sits right under your arm pit when you wear it on your shoulder. This purse freaked this friend out a little, but not as much as my half round mini backpack Ralph Lauren Sport bag I had. I do not know why she was freaked so much by it, but she was. She was under the impression I think I bought purse to freak her out. But that was not why I got it. I got it because to me it seemed a bit more grown up than the purses I had been carring around. I viewed it as an investment, as to me 50 dollars (or whatever it cost at the time) was a lot of money. I carried it for a long time too, I think. It was a great school purse, and when I did break down and buy another cheap purse at Target, I missed the Guess? purse. Every now and then, I'd bring it out again and carry it around, remembering why I loved it.

I got it out the other day. It was squished on the shelf in the Man Room of our house, along with my other black purse I bought for I think 10 bucks last winter when I was job hunting and needed a purse that fit my resume. The Guess? purse has seen better days. The main body of the purse is loosing its shape, but that darn handle is still stiff as the day I bought it. Besides a little sagging in the body, the purse is still good. Though, I discoved it lacks a cell phone pouch. This amazed me as I stared into the purse. I had a cell phone when I bought the purse, but at that time I guess cell phones weren't that big of a thing, as the purse did not have a pocket in it for the phone. I think I spent awhile staring at the purse, wondering what to do with my phone, as it is a newer phone and I'd like to keep it nice. I ended up tossing it in the pocket I used for personal items. So, I've been carrying this ancient Guess? purse around for awhile now. And I am still amazed just how much I love it. (even if it lacks a cell phone pocket.) Since arriving in the dirt hole, I've been carrying a lot of my older purses. I am not sure why, but I have. No one ever says I have a cute purse or anything. The only time people have said anything about my purse is when I carried my Coach purse for awhile. But, who cares. I like my ancient Guess? purse.

Listen up!

So, I finished two projects since I began my sewing projects...one is what it should be, the other wast turned into something else because I gave up and figured it would make a better shirt. But whoo hooo! I finished the dress I set out to make over a month ago!

Here to the right is where I managed to sew the skirt of the dress to the neckline of the dress. I know, I am very talented. Look amazed! Now!

The dress was easy to make, mostly because I had made it before, it had just turned into a shirt. But that is life. I still did not follow the patter exactly as it said, because sometimes I think it was written in Greek or something and then translated into English.

In other news, I was surfing around over priced purse websites and discovered the following: RED PURSES! I have been dreaming of a plainn red leather purse for years. I have no idea why I was unable to find one, but they just did not seem to exist. And I was just looking at Luna Boston's selection of Rebecca Minkoff purses and found that the mini Nikki (right) and Morning After Bag Mini (left) both came in RED! Oh, if only I had the money to buy one! But alas, it out the range currently. Tear.

In other news, the dirt pit was going to be hit by a hurricane, but the hurricane failed to show up (which is the case with most weather that tries to find the dirt pit, it gets lost on its way here!) For about less than 24 hours I thought I might be stuck with lots of rain, but it seems the rain wants to go else where and not create mud and streams out of the streets.

Stalking the Morning After

I have been stalking the Morning After Mini bag by Rebecca Minkoff for about nine months now. I used to only stalk the bag online at her site, waiting for her to post new colors of the bag, wistfully thinking one might go one sale. Living in a dirt hole has given me a lot of time on my hands, so I have move past stalking the bag only on the designer's website.

Last week I went onto the Purse Blog Forum looking for information on the Bokier bags at Target and stumbled upon the tag for Rebecca Minkoff bags and found sites selling the bags. These sites have sales. The site I've taken to stalking on a daily basis now is Luna Boston, which has a new bag I've fallen for: The Mini Nikki. I always liked the Nikki bag, a classic hobo type of bag, but between the $600 price tag and the fact it looks HUGE, I wrote it off. But this mini! It seems to be the right size...

Not that I have the funds to be buying any purse over twenty bucks currently. I have been reading The Purse Blog for awhile now. At first I began reading it because I was researching Hermes bags for no reason other than I was bored and I liked to tell my husband I wanted one while he told me he wanted an expensive car. At some point I just took to reading the blog, as it fascinated me to no end. How did this writer do all this research on new purses, work, and still buy tons of handbags over the 1000 dollar mark? I still have no answer to that question and I am still amazed when she lists off the bags she has ordered/bought. I thought I was hot stuff when I bought my first Coach purse and wallet after I got my first 'real person' job. It was only after I had bought these two item did I realize that everyone and their mom has Coach bags and it did not make me special in any sense of the word. I had wanted it as a status mark: I had made it now! I owned a 300 dollar purse!

Whatever. Everyone from high school kids to grandma's own Coach purses. I needed something different. Thus, why I zeroed in on the Morning After Mini. It was only 200 more than I paid for that first stupid Coach purse. And not everyone I knew carried one.

In the dirt hole I've only seen Coach bags, or LV logo bags or knock offs of either two. No one carries a RM bag here.

I have realized I will not be owning one any time soon in the dirt hole. And yet the prospect of owning one fascinates me to no end. These people who spend a small fortune on handbags in a year fascinate me. And thus, I will continue reading about the newest Burberry bag or about how wonderfully soft and buttery leather is on a bag that I have never heard of. I will never join these people in owning pricey purses. I actually have recently realize I hate carrying a purse and wish my wallet had a chain or something so I did not actually need to carry a purse. I judge people by their purses and I always feel I do not have one to match with how I want to be judge, because I am a deep repressed cheap skate...I know people who will find that hard to believe, but alas, I am. I almost had a heart attack when I bought the Coach purse over two years ago or so, and I still sit there thinking, "God, did I spend that much on a purse? I am insane?"

And yet, now I dream of a more expensive one. But I am older and wiser now, thus I might not cave and believe I need it. I am insane. It happens to the best of us.