Missty's DYOB project

[hokka]

quick ? - is the handle drop for both handles the same?

your bag is looking good!

[fafnir]

Originally Posted by missty4

Fafnir - whenever I visit Japan I make sure I grab a bunch of the UM-151 pens, since I couldn't find them in the states. This was when I was back in early college. Now, with the great internet here, you can get them online!: http://www.jetpens.com/product_info.php/products_id/306 Mine is the 0.38mm. The 0.28mm draws much finer lines, but my personal preference goes to the 0.38mm for its smooth lines - just glides across the paper. Plus, I find the 0.28mm easily clogs. Definitely recommend these pens, they're the best I've come across.

Thank you! I just ordered one each of the 0.28 (I do some extremely fine cross-hatching) and 0.38. I've used jetpens before-- got my Prera fountain pen () from them.

And in my excitement over pens (lol) I forgot to say how cute and clever your goldfish "origami" charm is!

[missty4]

Lulu, they're awesome pens! I'm glad that this DYOB project is giving me more reason on using them more since they've been sitting in my pen pouch (aka PM barrel case ) for some time. I saw the cyclops (feel like it's going to shoot a laser beam at me :P lol) bag. The lockheart bag does remind me of it too, with two-tone colors and front face design. The interior looks nice. I'm not sure if I should do cotton lining or canvas yet, but a simple pattern like that would be nice too.

RMC - I'll follow up on Joanne about the white leather. It seems like most the girls in the HH design office are more excited to see a white bag being done since it's been a long time. I've bombarded Joanne with a lot of questions the past week so I'll hold off until I get my test swatch to ask about it more. I hope they do a white bag some time in the future too. If my bag doesn't make it to production, maybe it can at least be a "gateway" to white bags once HH plays with the idea again :P

hokka, it would make sense if the shoulder strap was a longer drop than the rolled handles, but to be honest I haven't thought that far ahead yet, lol. I was more excited to add the braided shoulder strap :P I couldn't imagine the rolled handles being like "trophy mini satchel" handles since they'll feel too short for a bigger sized bag... I'll have to think about that one

fafnir - Thanks! I hope it's not too complex to design the goldfish charm out of leather. Another option I was thinking was oyster. I'll have to check out jetpens more to look for more pens. To be honest, I haven't used them before. I've been meaning to grab different colors of the UM-151's so I'm happy I don't have to bug someone/go to Japan to get them. I can definitely hit that free shipping mark with all the pens I use :P

[RealMcCoy]

Originally Posted by missty4

Fafnir - whenever I visit Japan I make sure I grab a bunch of the UM-151 pens, since I couldn't find them in the states. This was when I was back in early college. Now, with the great internet here, you can get them online!: http://www.jetpens.com/product_info.php/products_id/306 Mine is the 0.38mm. The 0.28mm draws much finer lines, but my personal preference goes to the 0.38mm for its smooth lines - just glides across the paper. Plus, I find the 0.28mm easily clogs. Definitely recommend these pens, they're the best I've come across.

I used these pens for drafting and renderings when I was an architect. Yes, this was pre-autoCAD. Giving my age away now. I think Uniball had just started as a company. They were great then. They must be stellar now. I will have to get me some.

[missty4]

I got a special package from Joanne today!


First up are the white and eucalyptus swatches:


I have to say, I really like this combination. I haven't asked Joanne about the origins of the white yet, but will follow up soon.


Close-up of white


Next to GZ


Comparison with oyster


Joanne was really nice and sent me some other leather swatches she thought I might be interested in. Surprise!

shrunken Lamb - plum, bark, bittersweet
eggplant, cordovan, brandy (washed grain)
lamb zeus - black


I've been (and will) be MIA for sometime because of the weird overnight schedule I'm working. But when it gets slow at night, I sketch. Not getting anywhere though, but am working on it :) I didn't have a gray marker so used light blue that looks kinda like lagoon.


rejects

[lulu3955]

I really like the color combo of white and euc! I almost think the white would be better off with the old grey but that is just me. Bark and White would be cool on your bag too.
I really really hope they produce your bag. I was thinking about what pattern I would do on the front of a bag like yours and I stumbled upon this Japanese wave pattern. I thought I would share.... Have you decided yet what the front is going to look like? I like your sketch on the top right very trophy..esk
Ok enough of my random mumblings...LOL

[Jordanopolis]

I really like white/Euc too!!

[missty4]

Originally Posted by lulu3955

I really like the color combo of white and euc! I almost think the white would be better off with the old grey but that is just me. Bark and White would be cool on your bag too. I really really hope they produce your bag. I was thinking about what pattern I would do on the front of a bag like yours and I stumbled upon this Japanese wave pattern. I thought I would share.... Have you decided yet what the front is going to look like? I like your sketch on the top right very trophy..esk Ok enough of my random mumblings...LOL

I thought about the traditional japanese wave pattern too, but it might be too ornate for me. Since the bag so far has a lot of traditional influences (braided strap knots, crescent swoop) I'd like to balance it out with something more contemporary for the front. That top right corner sketch is the trophy applique basically, lol. I just wanted to see what it would look like. :P

Luciana, it'd be a great color combo

For a while, I didn't feel attached to the bag. After some deep thinking, the white color, reminds me of my grandmother. She always wore white (clothes she would sew for herself). She was like my second mother and I saw her more than my own mom when she went to school/work. I remember I use to give her massages every night and we would have long talks. She liked using white flower brand oil. It had camphor, menthol, wintergreen and eucalyptus.

In Vietnamese culture, after a family member/loved one passes away, you would wear something white in remembrance of them. I remember I had a white bandage cloth around my wrist for a while when I was on my rotations.

I'd like to dedicate this bag to her. It feels like a white color is more fitting. Especially with the eucalyptus. :) I was thinking maybe have some sort of white flower image on the front if it works out, but we'll see In any case, it'll be white with eucalyptus. Now I feel more connected with the DYOB

[Jordanopolis]

That's so sweet! :)
What a wonderful meaning for a bag!!

[kdo]

missty - that's a wonderful story of your grandmother and it certainly gives this bag and this whole process meaning and significance. This whole DYOB is so interesting and amazing to see the evolution.

[cciele]

That's a great story, missty. Your bag is coming along swimmingly, and the story ties in so nicely.

[stylin' mom]

I'm so excited to see the final product!!!

[RealMcCoy]

Thuy, I love the combination. I wouldn't switch from the euc to the GZ or gray. The euc warms the white. I like the two together. It reminds me of gardenias which are in bloom just now. They have that wonderful creamy white on the petals, but where it blends to center of the flower and into the stem is that pale mossy grey.

[jennirane]

Thuy, it's so great to see the updates, but especially to hear you've figured out where your heart was leading you... thank you for sharing your relationship with your grandmother, and thinking of the bag that way is really lovely.

And I love the white/eucalyptus combo, now that I see the swatches! Have one question about the leather: is the "Eucalyptus James Dean" the same "eucalyptus" they've got in production now? I still haven't seen it in person, but had been thinking it was more of the split/nude/completely smooth leather like the Ginger... but in the swatch it looks more thick and pebbly like the old grey and the cordovan. And it's SUCH a warm grey... beautiful!

[jennirane]

BTW... hadn't thought about it clearly, but when you pointed out the top right decal was the Trophy design, I realized it's always reminded me of a stylized octopus, LOL! I know everyone else sees something western, but I've got a thing for octopi. Do you know Kimberly Baker jewelry? I've been wanting this beauty for a while: