My perfect satchel

Hi everyone! Well I've been super excited reading everyone's comments and stories on my post about bras and the 1940s bustline. Even if it's frustrating, isn't there some solidarity in knowing every one of us, no matter our shape or size, has some of the same concerns and issues?

Anyway, a few days ago I got the best package ever in the mail.

Since the beginning of the summer when I got my DSLR camera, I've been frustrated at what to do with the thing when I go out and about. Of course it fits into precisely none of my vintage handbags, and I don't like carrying it on its own across my shoulder. I did find a vintage tooled leather shoulder bag that I can stuff it into, but it's a very tight squeeze, not to mention that I'm frankly not always in the mood to carry a tooled leather shoulder bag when I want to take along my camera. I didn't just want a vintage camera bag, as I wanted to use it as both a bag for my camera and as a purse.

Enter British satchels. I saw a style of bag I thought could be just perfect, carried by several stylish UK bloggers such as Penny Dreadful Vintage, Oranges and Apples and Land Girl 1980. I waffled for months because I knew the ones from The Leather Satchel Co and Cambridge Satchel Company (both companies whose bags I liked the looks of and whose names I saw all over the place online), were quite narrow. Definitely too narrow for a DSLR camera, even inserted in with the lens facing up, which was the way I was looking to place it into a bag.

Finally I emailed The Leather Satchel Co to ask about sizes, as I noted from their web site that they were able to do a series of customizations if you ordered directly from them. I received fast and excellent customer support and within a few email exchanges, I was ordering a British Racing Green 12.5" satchel with a custom depth that would fit my camera.

In about a week I had the most wonderful package waiting for me. I am a sucker for good packaging, and this was excellent. A brown paper package tied with a twine bow, a little tag from the same leather as I chose hanging from the bow.

Let's not forget the amazing little envelope. Really, how could you not be excited to open it?

And inside the parcel was my amazing hand-crafted satchel, 4" deep.

And it fits my camera exactly, with enough room next to it for a wallet, sunglasses and the like. Last night I was even able to fit in a pair of gloves and a scarf. You can see in the below photo that I went with another small customization, which is hidden magnetic snaps under the buckles for easier access. I thought that would be handy. When it's closed, you can't even tell they're there.

Before ordering I thought long and hard about the color.



I knew I'd probably love the bag and eventually want to get a second one, so I went with a color I thought would work well with most of my Fall/Winter coats (seriously, I opened up the closet doors and just stood there staring for a few minutes while I decided!). I figured later on I'd get a light tan or something more neutral for Spring/Summer. Of course, it was relatively warm yesterday evening when we went out, so I just wore it with my 40s wool pullover. I paired that with Heyday trousers, 40s heels, vintage souvenir bracelet from Canada and my same wool beret that I haven't shown you photos of yet. (Yes, the colors are all over the place with the beret and satchel but I just considered it "eclectic". Hee!)

I just love this bag!! It's the perfect solution for carrying around more things than a vintage handbag can fit, but still has a classic and vintage appeal. And the fact that I could get a custom depth is genius. I'm really impressed by the quality of the bag and the overall experience I had with The Leather Satchel Co.

I expect to have a lovely Fall with this satchel by my side! :)

That Clever Clementine Giveaway #2!

Ready for another giveaway??

As you may recall, my mom is selling bags on Etsy in her new business, That Clever Clementine. She's generously donated another awesome bag to give away on my blog.

This giveaway is for one of her Cindy Sue Cinch Sacks, and it's my favorite bag of hers so far!

Here it is from the outside...

And the equally cute (and functional) inside!

It's a handy dandy size at 12" wide x 15" tall x 4" deep. I think it would be particularly great for toting around a crafty project that requires little accessories, since there's two pouches inside, plus a hanging clip (which, in my humble opinion, would be totally perfect for a KnitPicks Emergency Fix Keychain!). I liked the fabrics on the giveaway one so much that she sent me one for my very own. Awww aren't moms great?

I'm currently carrying a knitting project in mine. My inside pockets contain a crochet hook, pencil, knitting pattern and retractable ruler. Here's a picture of it on the go at work with a vintage cardigan in the works. (No, I only wish I could knit at work, I just pulled it out for a phone photo, lol.)

Delightful, isn't it! One can be yours if you're the lucky winner!

How to enter the giveaway:

1. Be a follower of this blog, if you aren't already.
2. Live anywhere on the planet.
   
3. Leave a comment on this post. But first, head over to That Clever Clementine on Etsy and check out the goods, then come back and in your comment tell me what your favorite item was. She's done a few updates lately and has fun new bags in the shop. (I love the retro space cadet cinch sack!)
4. Want an extra entry? Post about this giveaway on your blog, or link to it on Facebook, Twitter, etc. Just post a separate comment on this post with a link to where you mentioned it.
5. How about another way to get an extra entry? Friend That Clever Clementine on her Facebook page,  or add her shop to your favorites on Etsy. Post a separate comment on this post if you do.
6. Don't forget to leave a way to contact you if your blog or profile doesn't have your email address.

The giveaway ends a week from today on Tuesday night, August 30th. Winner will be pulled using Random Number Generator.

Good luck!!

That Clever Clementine Giveaway #1!

Today starts the first of my two upcoming giveaways, both sponsored by someone extra special to me: my mom!

My super crafty mom has recently started a new shop, selling fantastic bags on Etsy as That Clever Clementine. She combines interesting fabrics (often vintage or re-purposed) and makes a few styles of bags that are perfect for knitting projects, makeup, little baubles, you name it! Her descriptions and vignettes are creative and so much fun, too.

Here's how she describes her inspiration:

	My tastes are eclectic -- I am inspired by vintage and retro textiles, but equally smitten with cutting-edge contemporary design. From the whimsical and amusing to the "sensible and clever," I love combining new and repurposed materials in new (and quite possibly eccentric) ways! My motto is "so practical and SO fetching!" I don't think there's any such thing as "too many bags," "enough hats," or "too much paper ephemera." My feeling is that clever accessories and useful-but-delightfully-decorative items make each day richer and more fun. So I hope you'll enjoy the figments ... I mean "products" ... of my imagination.

So today kicks off two weeks of That Clever Clementine giveaways! Each week, one lucky reader will win an awesome bag, made by my own awesome mom!

This week's giveaway is for a bag specially designed for the Briar Rose Vintage Knit-Along that I hosted earlier this year. Except you don't have to have participated in the KAL, nor even have to be a knitter to enter!

The winner will get a Briar Rose Loopy Lulu Bag:

The bag is fully lined and interfaced (both sides shown, though the giveaway is for one bag), with enclosed seams, two sturdy inside pockets, a handy little hanging clip, and a nice long loop handle that feeds through a smaller loop so you can easily tote around your goodies. Laid flat the bag is 10" tall, 9" wide and the handle is about 9.5" long. Don't you love the contrasting prints with the main rose print?

Now for the important part!

How to enter the giveaway:

1. Be a follower of this blog, if you aren't already.
2. Live anywhere on the planet.
   
3. Leave a comment on this post. But first, head over to That Clever Clementine on Etsy and check out the goods, then come back and in your comment tell me what your favorite item was. (I love the bird cage patterned cinch sack!)
4. Want an extra entry? Post about this giveaway on your blog, or link to it on Facebook, Twitter, etc. Just post a separate comment on this post with a link to where you mentioned it.
5. How about another way to get an extra entry? Friend That Clever Clementine on her Facebook page,  or add her shop to your favorites on Etsy. Post a separate comment on this post if you do.
6. Don't forget to leave a way to contact you if your blog or profile doesn't have your email address.

The giveaway ends a week from today on Wednesday night, August 10th.  I'll use Random Number Generator to draw the lucky winner.  Giveaway now closed, thanks for entering!

Good luck! And stay tuned for next week's Giveaway #2, because I'll be giving away probably my most favorite That Clever Clementine bag! ;)