Athena Dreams

Pay it Forward .:. Updated

Thanks to all who contacted me about the Pay it Forward phenomenon! I have my (4) giftees now, and so I have 365 days to send them a handmade something in the mail.

For all of you who contacted me privately, feeling concerned about time and holidays and etc, please know that you have 1 whole year to send your Pay it Forward people something that you have made, so it can wait till after all the holiday hoopla.

My peoples are: Anne from How the West Was Spun, Lotta from Knitter Nutter, Jennifer from Words Wits and Wool, and Janine (Guernsey Gal) from Knitting on an Island.

So if you were kinda on the fence, go visit one of them and sign up when they post their own pay it forward announcement.

I want to make sure though that everyone is clear, I am doing 4 Pay it Forwards because of someone else's generosity to me, but the original rules are for 3 Pay it Forwards.

Here are the rules:

I will send a handmade gift to the first 3 people who leave a comment on my blog requesting to join this PIF exchange. I don’t know what that gift will be yet and you may not receive it tomorrow or next week, but you will receive it within 365 days, that is my promise! The only thing you have to do in return is pay it forward by making the same promise on your blog.

Pay It Forward (via Deanna, via Kirsty, via Mrs Eliot and onwards ...

And on that note .:. A Happy Thanksgiving to all. I hope your holidays, in whatever way(s) you celebrate them are beautiful and heart warming and inspirational and thoughtful and thank-ful.

Paying it Forward

Ganesha - Lord of Beginnings and Remover of Obstacles

I first came across the Pay it Forward of art and creative blogs at Deanna's Artist Emerging. I was #4, but she said she was feeling generous and would send me something... I came across it again on Kirsty's blog, and so, I am following the rules (with my own small twist) and Paying it Forward to the first FOUR* commenters on this blog. The rules below say 3, and I dont want to go and change the original theme, but feel I have to up it to 4 because of Deanna's generosity.

I spent WAY too much time being a forensic detective (no blood, just words and links) trying to go back in time to where this started, and after a bit more than an hour, decided perhaps I had better things to do with my overscheduled day. It sure would be great to know where this originated though...

Pay It Forward (via Deanna, via Kirsty, via Mrs Eliot and onwards ...

Here are the rules:

I will send a handmade gift to the first 3 people who leave a comment on my blog requesting to join this PIF exchange. I don’t know what that gift will be yet and you may not receive it tomorrow or next week, but you will receive it within 365 days, that is my promise! The only thing you have to do in return is pay it forward by making the same promise on your blog.

Pretty cool, I agree to make and send something to the first three (*four in my case) people to comment, who then make things for their first three commenters and so on.

There is something SO totally pleasing about artwork and creative projects winging their way around the world for no other reason than, just because.

My Perfect Bag: Or How She Began the Search

I have been looking for the Perfect Bag, pretty much my whole life. The needs change, but the basic want remains the same: Many interior and exterior pockets, some with zippers so things won't fall out, some open for easy access; good depth, but not too too deep or things just completely disappear, never to be seen again; some good width so I can get a book, a sketch book, a sock in progress, some papers and anything else I need to leave the house with on any given morning. And lastly, I want it to look beautiful and feel special, so when I gaze at my beautiful bag, I will smile. Too much to ask? I think not. But let's see how I did.

I decided this weekend I would find the bag I wanted/needed, and move on to new things to mull over and research... I started with Haiku a great messenger bag with some serious pockets, and lots of space. Love it, except I think I don't want to go messenger bag, and have the over flap.

So I then found Bloom Bags, and this gorgeous tote with lots of pockets on the outside, and a beautiful spot of embroidery. But no photo of the inside... need to see the inside.

I also looked at Lexie Barnes bags, the tote in particular, but not enough inside pockets. One is just not enough.

And suddenly, I am on to the top being a zip close or a magnet snap close, and off to Etsy to look around:

Marketa New York

There are 3 slip pockets inside, including a ”new and improved pocket design to hold bottles”. Ooo, someplace to keep my water bottle, now that's a cool thought.

Mackerilla Designs' Project Tote

They say it organizes a wide range of art and craft supplies , as well as folders, notebooks or a small laptop, for “on-the-go, project mobility”. Sounds good...

Now check out the inside of this baby from Sew Chic or Akberry by Ashley K.:

And that is when the realisation hit: My Perfect Bag is really a Diaper Bag.... not an artist's bag, not an "organizer" bag, not necessarily a messenger bag, but a Diaper Bag. Hmmm. Seems they have every pocket need covered AND an added bonus of sewn in elastic to hold a bottle (in my case water) now tht I know such a thing can exist. How cool, and since I don't have a baby, I just didn't know...

So now off to start the hunt again for more Diaper bags from which to choose.... I am accepting suggestions from near and far. Have you found that perfect bag that you want to keep with you forever?