"A Useful [Purse]

...to keep things in."

--Winnie the Pooh, on Eeyore's birthday present

After I made my practice mei tai, I put it away--I haven't been able to try it out so far because there are no babies in Boston :( It will be safe in my hope chest, though, until there is a real baby to practice with, instead of a pillow... :)

But in the meantime, I really wanted to show off the fabulous material I found for it. Since I can't use the mei tai, I thought, I'll make a purse. A girl can never have too many purses, and homemade ones are always so much more fun that storebought ones (after all, if you're going to have something you don't "need" (like a purse to match every outfit and occasion), you might as well be thrifty and make it yourself!). For some reason, no matter how much I like a purse at the store, I can rarely justify buying a new one when I have others at home... oh well :)

Anyway, I downloaded the pattern, cut and pasted the pieces together and then (get this) I actually finished the purse in one night! I was completely shocked when (albeit at midnight) I knotted the thread on the last decorative button.

But here's the other funny thing. I love reversible things. I hardly ever reverse them to whatever-color-is-on-the-other-side, but I love to have things that are reversible. Maybe because I feel like the thing is finished better if it's acceptable for the outside even on the inside? So I made this purse reversible, too.

And don't forget the pocket on the back (that's on the inside when the flowers are out):

Of course, the purse isn't perfect by any means, and I could point out several flaws. But Most people would say that give it "character" (or something). That's fine with me :) I don't mind a purse with character.

Especially if it's so pretty.

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This afternoon Taylor and I are wandering up to Cambridge to spend time at 1369 Coffee House and to browse our favorite furniture store, Asian Dynasty Furniture. We're currently saving up (or, at least we're thinking about saving up) for a Japanese kaidan tansu (a step chest). You can see some good examples here (scroll down to read about the history of the step chest--quite interesting, and very sneaky!). What I love about these chests is that they are also reversible (hmm, can you see a theme here?). That is, the doors and drawers and cubbies open from both sides so it can act as a room divider or so you can arrange the steps any way you want. Someday we'll have an awesome (useful) tansu, to keep things in.