Recently, I had a Doctor’s appointment and carried my “Story Bag” which reminds me that fun, style, travel once truly existed and flight attendants didn’t get stabbed or beat up on the plane ride to your destination. Some days I need this reminder more than others, and this day was one of them. Plus, it had room for an umbrella and a raincoat as the nor’easter “bombogenesis” was upon us.
The fabric I designed is based on a family photograph of my parents (before they were married) on a visit to Havana, Cuba in the 1930s when US travel was encouraged and before the entire world went to hell and WW II started. My mother is sitting on another man’s lap which is a detail I’ll point out and, then, just move on.
I designed the fabric file and printed it on cotton-linen canvas and then sewed it together in 2020 when no travel, style, or fun was happening anywhere. Yes, it carried memories for me of better days, but, it also carried a bit of hope for future days as well.
Anyway, at the receptionist desk I brought out my medical insurance cards and she said, “Oh, I really LOVE that bag!” She obviously didn’t know it was my parents but just the joy of it, I guess, the size of it? (Big: 26in wide, 16in long) must have been appealing to her.
Next, I am taken in to have some screening done by the Dr’s assistant and she notices it on the floor next to my chair and says, “Wow! I love your bag.” Again, she didn’t know it was a family photo. Two for two, I say to myself. Maybe it brings some joy and glimmers of hope to others as well?
Next, the doctor comes in, a late 60’s doctor wearing a rust-colored fleece jacket. (PS. I notice that more and more Dr’s wear fleece and not white coats. Just sayin’.)
Anyway, we finish our consult and as he stands up he looks over at my coat and bag on the chair and pauses, and then says, “I like your bag.” He walked over to it and touched it. (Exterior is a Linen Cotton Canvas and the interior lining is 100% cotton.)
Since he’s a GI doctor, I figure he must enjoy looking in other directions.
This time, I told him the “story” of designing the fabric from a family photo, pointed out my mother on the far-left and my father, on the far-right, and that I sewed it into this tote bag. He said, “YOU made the fabric from a photo AND sewed this?” “Yep, with a few choice swearword soundtracks, but yes, this is what I’ve done in my bunker for almost two years.”
“Well, you should show “the girls” in the office.”
“Why don’t you sell them on the internet?” he asked.
‘How about you sell them on the internet? I’ll pay you in fleece jackets. ‘ I thought to myself. But, I just rolled my eyes instead and he smiled.
Smiled. Shakes his head. Leaves.
So, here it is. 3 out of 3 is a cosmic message, don’t you think?
Plus, I usually do what my doctor tells me to do.
But, despite having set up what I “thought” would be enough to sell it on my website, I still have not mastered the tech details. Since October 29, I have been clicking, downloading, enabling payments from Katmandu and I still can’t get this set up correctly. A smart person would raise the white flag and pay someone who does this setup for a living to do it. And, if I’ve not been successful by Monday, that’s what’ll do.
Maybe the Doctor does some programming work on the side?
The only thing that will change in the bag is the interior lining as the supply chain of this fabric is not reliable. All I can guarantee is that the lining will be nice and “story” like as in this handwriting fabric and you’ll have leather handles and rivets, three interior slip pockets, and one interior zippered pocket. Oh, yes, and a double slide recessed zipper which triggers my Spotify swearing soundtrack when you zip it closed.
How’s that for marketing hype?
*** it’s now a day later than this post and I think I figured it out!
The Story Bag
The Story bag began as a family photo from the 1930s and it now carries the love of travel, fun, style, and friendship into 2021 and beyond.
I was going to name my business “I Sew Slowly While Swearing” and that’s why it takes two weeks from the time of order to being shipped. Here’s a little movie because this I can do without swearing.
