Three Firsts
In lifeâs journey, we take note of firsts. Â The meaningful milestones that help us mark the before and after of our progression as evolving individuals. Â There is something very satisfying and yet also scary about those firsts. Â For all the feelings of accomplishment of moving âforwardâ, there is also an uncertainty about what this next phase involves. Â Who are we now that we have experienced something new?
This is the first bag I ever made after being given my great grandmotherâs 1947 Singer sewing machine. Â Although the pic quality isnât grand, from the outside, it looks pretty good for a basic tote. Â What you arenât seeing is all the unhemmed, raw edges inside, or the mess of topstitching because I didnât understand how thread tension worked,
Nonetheless, I was ecstatic after making this bag.  I had made a thing!  A thing that could be used to carry stuff and seemed like it wouldnât immediately fall apart.  But it was definitely not the goal.  The goal was to make a bag that looked âprofessionalâ, good enough to sell.  I knew I was a long ways off but invigorated for the challenge.  After this  project came at least ten finished projects and almost as many failed attempts as I taught myself different techniques. Â
Then there was this...
This was the first design I considered a âReal Bagâ. It had pockets, a flap, and an adjustable strap! I put it together using techniques I had learned from other attempts and patterns, but the design was more or less, my own. I made this bag for my then boyfriend, now husband. Unfortunately I donât have any good pictures from when it was first finished. These two are from today, three years later, much used, much loved. It has held up remarkably well considering the daily strains he puts it through.Â
I consider this a first, not just because of the complexity of how it was made, but because it was the first of many bags like it. I really liked the basic design and it has become the framework for most of my current styles. Iâve still improved of course. Even though this was far beyond the quality of that first tote, I still didnât know what interfacing was, or how to make pockets whose corners didnât fray, and zippers were a terrifying prospect.
So I ran with this. I made many more with different fabrics, adjusting bits at a time, experimenting with more advanced techniques. The doorknob of my studio became full with the many ânot quite rightâ attempts. Each one seeming REALLY close, but the perfectionist in me wasnât willing to offer them up to the general public.
And then one day, I finished this.
It felt so amazing to finally produce something that didnât feel crafty. It looked tailored, a quality product, something I could give or sell to another person that was made with integrity.Â
My first âprofessionalâ bag.Â
Some design aspects mimic the green bag I made for my honey, but the craftsmanship is far superior. It has crisp lines and holds itâs shape when itâs empty. The curves are even, the seams line up, and the strap isnât a fraying mess. It is a classy bag.Â
Getting to this goal post however, made everything feel heavier. Who was I now that I was competent at producing quality work? No more excuses about things being not quite right. I had the skills, now I just needed chutzpah to put myself out there. It took me another year of building inventory to get over those âput yourself out thereâ jitters. But after I posted this, my first professional bag, on etsy, I felt that same pride I had right after completing it.Â
Iâve made many more bags since this one, and a good number of them sold before I ever opened the etsy shop. But I am (not so) secretly hoping, that this is my first online sale.