{kickin' with kokopelli}

My friend, K, in Nevada sent me a message a LONG time ago (sorry, girl!) asking me if I could make her a bag with Kokopellis because she has really been into them lately. I immediately said, "Yes!" and then thought, "What is a Kokopelli? Maybe I can't." Hmmmm, so like we do in this time and age I googled "Kokopelli" and learned something new.

"Kokopelli is a fertility deity, usually depicted as a humpbacked flute player (often with a huge phallus and feathers and antenna-like protrusions on his head), who has been venerated by some Native American cultures in the Southwestern United States. Like most fertility deities, Kokopelli presides over both childbirth and agriculture. He is also a trickster god and represents the spirit of music." ~Wikipedia

This little guy wasn't really new to me, but I just didn't realize he was called a Kokopelli. So, if you were wondering . . . now you know!! :) After some craziness finding and ordering the fabric this bag was so fun to make. I love making a bag out of a style of fabric that I have never used before. This is my first Southwestern bag and I thought pretty fitting that I shipped it to the Nevada desert yesterday. Not quite Southwestern, but if a Southwestern bag is going to live anywhere other than the Southwest it should be Nevada. So take a peek at my friend, Kokopelli, and lets hope those fertility vibes didn't stay in my house! ;)

{something new and a zipper to boot}

Something new to sew! My friend, J, wanted something similar to the Amy Butler Birdie Sling, but, in a smaller purse size AND she wanted a zipper. Yikes! I have always been terrified of zippers and did everything I could to avoid making anything with one. But, not wanting to disappoint my girlfriend I ventured out for such a purse and found a great pattern that would fit the bill. This little sweetheart is "Fiona" by Jenna Lou Designs. It is such a great little purse. Since I had never used the pattern I had to give it a trial run so J's purse wasn't the maiden voyage with this pattern. My first run turned out perfect and the zipper was SO easy. I forgot to take pics of the first purse when she was all crisp and new, but she is now mine! I never have time to sew for myself so I was very happy to keep this for myself. I added a couple pockets to the pattern because what woman doesn't need a couple extra pockets? And yes, one is a cell phone pocket because anybody who knows me knows I rarely make a bag without a cellphone pocket! There is no purpose in life if you don't have a cellphone! ;)

The beautiful purse you see below is the one I made for J. She found the black and red fabric on an online store that I frequently purchase from and then chose the coordinating yoke from my fabric stash via picture texts. The results were perfect, she loves it and THAT makes me happy!!! :)