shout out to all my bag ladies

i like bags. you name it. purse. clutch. handbag. shoulder bag. pocketbook. cosmetic bag. coin purse. luggage. suitcase. backpack. satchel. briefcase. doctor bag. hobo bag. trunk. a bag by many other names…

ever since i can remember i’ve loved bags. of almost any kind. there is always an occasion for a bag. bag for every occasion. i do a lot of thrift store + flea market + yard sale shopping. when i found a great bag i just can’t resist bringing it home.

i’ve acquired quite a selection even after years of constant purging. bags like cars like houses have their own unique character + purpose. there are songs about bags – Erika Badu. a criminal offense – purse snatching.

my fascination + love of bags. part of the “Y” chromosome factor –the female DNA. hereditary perhaps there are lots of bag lovers in my family – i’ve passed it on to my daughter. she loves bags too.

a recent thrift store find. still in great (almost mint) condition. brand new this bag sales for $40-60. i got “the sak” for as they say, “a song + a dance” -about 1/10th of the retail price.

while spring cleaning this season i came across an old purse that inspired a recycling project

after a couple coats of spray paint + a clear coat of polyurethane for a bit of weather proofing. i placed a plastic planter liner inside + chose the plants to fill my newly recycled

“purse planter”

it’s one of the highlights of my container garden this season

embracing change

I use a Digital SLR Camera

my first blog post almost a year ago i’ve always been fascinated by butterflies. when i was 5 yrs old i heard about the concept of reincarnation when loving family tried to explain the concept of death to me because my grandfather had to “put-down” our dog. i latched onto that idea and secretly hoped i’d come back as a butterfly. probably because to me they were the most interesting beautiful creatures on earth, at least that i was aware of and now well into adulthood my opinion hasn’t really changed.

there’s something mystical about their journey that encapsulates the mystery and awe of our human existence and universe in general and the ability + the necessity for us both to adapt and change in order to survive. yes, we all go through a type of metamorphose. a metamorphose that allows more and more of our beauty and uniqueness to be revealed + shine. why then are we afraid of change. i’ve learned to embrace it more and more. to revile in the process and the interesting journey it paves. one of my favorite icons, Oprah, has this very topic on the cover of her magazine’s September Issue. “Transformation” i believe Oprah to very insightful and enjoy reading her letter to her readers. what she knows for sure about transformation “is that it happens when you dare to be awakened to greater heights. when you stay open no matter what. each experience strengthens you and adds depth and wisdom.” to me that’s a beautiful thing and i believe Oprah is absolutely spot on. whatever you call it metamorphose + transformation + change is what leads to the good stuff + your true awesomeness. don’t be afraid.