Friday, January 1, 2010

COLLECTION.

for whatever reason, i don't really like using the bags that i make. instead i have a growing collection of treasured old bags that i like to use. they are all very special to me so i thought i'd write a bit about them here.

found this leather duffel/suitcase last year at our favorite winter time flea market for $20. i use it when i take longer trips away from home. i'm not sure of its age.. but it's real old. and it's in almost perfect condition. my favorite part is the zipper that goes all the way along the bottom. gives me a nice spot to store books while traveling.


newest addition -- a small RRL dopp kit bag to hold all my tolietries.


found this leather backpack sometime last year. it originally came with a huge metal framepack attached on the back.. but some heavy duty bolt cutters made it relatively easy to detach. i like using this bag for short weekend trips or for days when i'm carrying around heavy things.

found this woven market bag at the flea market this past summer for $5 and it hasn't left my shoulder since. this is the bag that i use every single day.



i'm not trying to play favorites or anything - but this duffel is probably my all-time favorite find. it's a WWII era US navy sea bag and i've never come across another one like it. the stitching details on the straps and the three rope/grommet closures are what really make this bag incredible to me. it's super sturdy so this is the bag that i usually stuff full of books and other heavy things. it's also just the right size for weekend trips.

and finally -- the sweetest little leather pouch. it originally held fishing lures and hooks but now functions as my wallet.

13 comments:

Caylie said...

This is a fantastic post, I'm always drooling over the bags you make and wondered what kinds you use yourself. Love love love them all!

Hanna said...

I love every single one of these bags!

sk said...

Just gorgeous. All of them!

Caroline said...

i would probably kill a baby for that backpack. aaaarggg!

D said...

very nice collection ... i've [still] got exact woven bag from the 90s i think ... i even used it to bring my new kitten in from the car, very handy indeed ;)

Belinda said...

what a lovely collection! that WWII duffel bag is particularly beautiful.

Unni Strand said...

Really lovely bags!
That backpack is similar to the ones all of us used to have when we where around sixth grade. Mine where white, but brown was the most common colour.

Unknown said...

what an awesome collection you have. you've inspired me to take a closer look at bags while i'm out and about thrifting and antiquing.

Unknown said...

Wow....you have an amazing collection! I am most definitely going to be on the look out for some vintage bags this spring. Thanks for sharing!

Pawling Print Studio said...

what a beautiful collection. so much history!

sunny said...

Great post! I've been buying purses since I was a pre-teen with an allowance..and used my allowance each week to get a new bag. I will look more closely for bags when I'm out and about - to find treasures like yours!

Nee said...

I would like to live in the first bag. Not only because of how perfect it is, but because I really have no where else to go.

A said...

alice! i love these. i have searched and searched for a vintage army dopp bag like that forever. how do you find them?....so jealous.