Monday, December 14, 2009

Obviously....

So, obviously I made a bag.
I made it for me and even though I forgot the magnetic claspy thingo I am pretty happy with it. Whenever I try something like this I lament my lack of drawing skills. But really who's to know I wasn't going for the whole naive childlike quality on purpose???
and yes, I made the bag when I should have been making Christmas gifts, or planning for Christmas, or making lists or sending emails, or doing housework or organising end of year school crap or taking my very sick computer to triage, but it was either make a bag or have my head explode.......so I chose the bag.
but you know in the cold hard light of day I have to admit that the exploding head may have made a more interesting photo.

54 comments:

Gillian aka Silly Gilly said...

Would you just look at that work of art!! Loving the stripes, loving the pea green boat.... Loving the jaunty, happy expressions. You should wear that bag with pride Mrs Ric-Rac!

Vireya said...

I love it!

Vic said...

Oh that is JUST GREAT! Seriously, the Owl & the Pusscat... adorable!

I forgot to tell you that Rocket arrived safe & well (I DID blog it though lol - that's all that matters, isn't it...?!) & the birthday plan was twarted by love at first sight... thank you again!

I love your bag. I do!

Tania said...

You know, I'm more than happy you posted bag photos over the exploding head. The bag is fab and the alternative would more than likely have been out of focus.

I Purr-Furr to Craft said...

The Owl and the Pussycat is my Most Favourite poem of all time!
Love your drawings Jodie, they are just great, by the way, i am glad that there was no exploding head.
Sometimes you have to stop and do something different to give yourself a break, Plenty of time left for gift making.

Vintage Blue Studio said...

That bag is fantastic! And it's ok to work on something other than Christmas presents for others. Sometimes it's good to give yourself a Christmas gift.

Jo in TAS said...

It's called "ME" time and we all deserve to have lots of it, it makes for happy crafters! The bag is fabulous Jod, love the childishness of the charcters.

beck said...

Hey Jodie, nice bag work love! My brother read the Owl and the Pussycat when Mark & I got married so I am quite fond of that little poem. Hope you have a lovely,relaxing Christmas and look forward to seeing you in 2010. xo ps still haven't located Alice!

katiecrackernuts said...

Jodie, You make me laugh. You really do.

laura said...

That bag is too cute! Really!

Clair Acres said...

Glad you chose the bag option, head explosions are so messy.............I've heard it takes quite a while for a new head to be grafted, and who's to say it'd be a head you want to be seen with!

Btw....loving those patterns, thank you.

Christa said...

Awesome bag. My mother in law sang the owl and the pussycat at our wedding so I am very sentimental over it.

rachelmp said...

Beautiful! .. and I have a skirt on the go for those exact reasons..

Corrie said...

cute! love it! I still have a huge pile of blank Christmas cards! I wondered why I hadn't received too many the other day so I better get cracking!

corrie:)

Liam's Mummy said...

I've been making bags (and elephants, but not robots, yet.) when I should be making lists and presents and stuff too. I love the owl and the pussycat, and head explosion photographs are technically difficult, so making yourself a bag was the better alternative. Merry Christmas!

Paisley said...

wonderful wonderful wonderful bag!
Follow your bliss and have a Merry Christmas.

busy lizzie said...

you dont have drawing skills? Looks like you do to me. Love that bag. Dont feel bad I was out dress shopping for myself for Christmas day, when my daughters nativity concert was on that night, and I hadnt even thought about her costume yet!!!!

Stomper Girl said...

It's a really ace bag. I bet all the emails and the end of school organising you could have done instead wouldn't have been nearly as good as that bag is.

Katherine said...

I think your new bag is fantastic, Jodie. Did you laminate the fabric?

susan said...

Love the newspaper print on the boat and the cheery striped sail. I have always loved this poem, and also 'the gingham dog and the calico cat', the crafty version of which I have had floating in my head for ages. Good on you for getting this bag out of your head and onto fabric- it looks fabulous!

Becky said...

So hard to get the composition right in an exploding head photo...

Love the bag! I saw similar drawings on Heather Ross's blog not that long ago so you are in very good company with 'The Owl and the Pussycat'.

Great use of fabric to highlight the scene too!

beccasauras said...

You can draw for me anytime! I thought it may have been a printed piece of fabric- you're amazing! Puts my little tapestry ones to shame!

Bianca Jae Makes Stuff said...

Crafty Christmas procrastination hehe! Fab bag!
Thanks so much for the pattern! Arrived last week, as did the mag. It even smelt like Balarat, so hubby said. Great little mag, subscription is differently on the cards xox

sue said...

You know I really like the childlike images, not that I think they look that child like but I know what you mean - takes me back to when I used to draw as a child all the time (every possible minute). I really should start drawing again as I do miss it. The owl and the pussycat look fabulous as a bag. Very unique!

clare's craftroom said...

Oh come on , it's Christmas there are expolding heads everywhere so your bag is much more interesting !

silverpebble said...

'Dear pig, are you willing
To sell for one shilling
Your ring?'
Said the piggy 'I will.'
So they took it away
And were married next day
By the turkey who lives on the hill.

Yesterday I should have been doing all kinds of loads of piles of stuff. I twiddled with last year's Christmas cards and made a garland instead. Useful!

silverpebble said...

BTW, what was that about lamenting your drawing skills? Blah blah blah rubbish! The bag is genius.

Maggie said...

much too modest, its great.

Nanette Merrill and daughters said...

I was thinking that drawing was actually fabric! Thats how good it looks.

Anonymous said...

You have absolutely fantastic ideas - I love your blog.

MK from other side of the world Finland

Lucy Locket-Pocket said...

How can you possibly say that you can't draw? Are you completely deluded woman??? That bag is fan-flipping-tastic!

So what if you should have been getting ready for Christmas - there's always another one next year.

Locket xxx

Cath from chunkychooky said...

Very nnice bag workmanship in deed. I would never attempt anything so difficult- you have done a great job. I love the Owl a dn Pussycat poem.

I Love Baby Quilts! said...

I LOVE it!!! That red and white stripe just makes it.

Moogsmum said...

I can fully understand the need to sew bags rather than deal with all the usual Christmas stuff. Lovely job Mrs.

I'm rather partial to a bit of The Owl and the Pussycat as my brother and gorgeous niece did a wonderful rendition of it on the occasion of my marriage to Mr Moog :)

xxx

ladydi said...

I've loved that poem for about 47 years (but didn't know it's a song, too!) Your bag is charming, and you will enjoy Christmas much more if you don't drive yourself to head explosions getting ready. :>} I actually spent two perfectly free hours READING A BOOK, when I had lots to do.

Thimbleanna said...

Ya gotta do what ya gotta do. Sometimes you just have to step back from the mayhem and do something for yourself. Good for you -- it's adorable!!!

Thea said...

I LOVE the bag and I LOVE the drawings. I have been doing a lot of things just for me lately too. We just need to sometimes. I just blogged about you and borrowed on of your pics too. x

knitting sprouts said...

sensational bag and you know you will appreciate it more than anyone will a christmas present! and I love that you have an exploding head tag

tea and cake said...

Sorry, but another 'WOW!' and 'BEAUTIFUL!' from me. This is stunning, and so different from anything else on the net at the moment. Happy Christmas to you!

alexandra s.m. said...

Hello jodie,

Just wanted to say: "I love love love your blog and art!" Thank You for sharing!

Cathy (Tinniegirl) said...

It's fabulous. I don't know what you're talking about with the supposed lack of drawing skills! Maybe you could draw an exploding head and make that into a bag.

Have a fabulous festive season. Not long now till the end of the year. We can make it, just like the little engine did.

craftschmaft said...

LOVE the bag! Who needs a head explosion when you can make a bag as gorgeous as that!

Jenny said...

Glad your head is still in one piece! Lovely bag have a wonderful last day!

Cindy said...

Owl and pussy cat is my favourite - it was actually our wedding poem so I may be a little biased but I love the bag.

QuiltingCyclist said...

Love the bag. I have had the same problem with doing something completely off the list to avoid a cranial explosion. You have to feed that urge some days to survive. Thanks for all of your lovely gifts to us via your blog. A very Merry Christmas to you.

Micki said...

The bag is exquisite!
Micki

angelina said...

hi, love owl and the pussycat! where's the honey? is this oilcloth or a drawing, where'd you get the fabric? tell us all honey; we're listenin, i want to make one now! love it love it!!

Handmade said...

Great bag - I love it and I love all of your reasons for making it!

Doda said...

That is adorable. I think you just have to go with these creative moments sometimes, even if we do get a bit distracted from the task in hand!

Linda said...

oh wow Jodie the bag is fabulous the drawing looks wonderful just perfect and waaaay better than an exploding head!

Little Mysteries said...

I love your new bag. Making something that is not on the to do list, is therapy. Its certainly better than having your head explode. Its great!

Sew Useful Designs said...

Darling I'm glad you think you can't draw - because if you did you wouldn't create these gorgeously arty and fabulous pieces! Being artistic is more than being able to draw lifelike items - and girl - you've got it happenin'!!!

Yay for school end!!! Love the bag Jod, thanks for the info about the bloggy "doos" and have a fabulous Christmas!!!

Hugs! Vikki xoxo

Gloria J W said...

Know the feeling Jodie....and sometimes it just takes a little bag!! Great work, and Merry Christmas... Rainbow smiles.. Gloria

Miss Sews-it-all said...

I LOVE IT! So cute, and doesn't it feel good to just do something for you?