Love it!! Love the color and style! Well done
Thank you, Tomsmom!
The bag itself is a great sensible size and will have its share of use.
Ahoy polloi (an island for the masses)
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Thank you, Tomsmom!
The bag itself is a great sensible size and will have its share of use.
Happy Friday, fellow Islanders.
The definition of insanity has never been more apt than when it comes to me and drawstring bags.
Every time I’ve succumbed to their siren song, I’ve ended up getting rid of them.
To be fair, the bags themselves were never at fault.
Instead it was entirely my ridiculous insistence that the drawstrings be perfectly symmetrical when I would close the bag.
And when they weren’t, I would niggle and fidget with them until they were.
Eventually I’d give up in frustration and end up either selling or donating the bag.
Only to continue to repeat the process with the same predictable results.
That being said, I have yet to learn my lesson.
The way I see it, if I want a drawstring bag I should have a drawstring bag.
But on my terms.
So with that in mind, I’ve purchased two battered preowned drawstring leather bags with the intention to go full on Doctor Frankenstein and give them new life.
Be afraid, fellow Islanders. Be very afraid…
View attachment 5442961
We just can’t wait to see before and after pics, Fim.
We just can’t wait to see before and after pics, Fim.
There may not be any pics of the second bag, Mariapia.
Not unlike your experience with the purported LV, it’s interior zipper pocket is sticky with some unidentifiable gloop and has turned me off completely from doing anything but tossing it in the trash bin.
Thank you, Tomsmom!
The bag itself is a great sensible size and will have its share of use.
Oh dear, I have just realized one of the two bags you mentioned had already been changed into a more practical bag.
Good job, Fim.
Oh dear, I have just realized one of the two bags you mentioned had already been changed into a more practical bag.
Good job, Fim.
Thank you, Mariapia.
I take it as a compliment that you didn’t immediately realize that the B. Makowski bag was one of the drawstring bags I’d mentioned.
Thank you, Mariapia.
I take it as a compliment that you didn’t immediately realize that the B. Makowski bag was one of the drawstring bags I’d mentioned.
Absolutely, Fim.
Very nice! The colour is very pretty snd I also like the quilted leather. The outside zipper pocket will be very practical!It’s alive!
First a bit of backstory. Back in the day the B. Makowski brand was known for quality affordable dependable leather handbags. But that all changed in 2008 when he sold the brand to a conglomerate that chose to to capitalize on his name with bags of much lesser quality.
Fortunately I was able to find one of his vintage bags on the preowned market.
View attachment 5443126
It had the requisite scrapes and dings one would expect of a well used bag. Those were easily remedied by cleaning and conditioning.
Then the real work began. I reversed the drawstring so its closure was on the the back rather than the front of the bag.
Front view…
View attachment 5443127
Back view…
View attachment 5443128
Reconfigured in this manner, the bag closes smoothly while relieving me of my previous angst with drawstring bags.
Then for sheer fun, I attached a gaudy little pink panda bag charm not to actually wear but to illustrate future possibilities afforded by the redesign.
View attachment 5443130
Sorry about the second bag.
Very nice! The colour is very pretty snd I also like the quilted leather. The outside zipper pocket will be very practical!
Sorry about the second bag.
Thank you, Ludmilla. The quilted leather and color made the bag impossible to resist.
The second bag has more problems than just it’s icky inner pocket. Its leather is cracked and faded, well beyond saving.
Fortunately it didn’t cost that much so it’s not a great loss. However, I do feel its seller was disingenuous describing the bag’s condition and my feedback reflected my disappointment.
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There may not be any pics of the second bag, Mariapia.
Not unlike your experience with the purported LV, it’s interior zipper pocket is sticky with some unidentifiable gloop and has turned me off completely from doing anything but tossing it in the trash bin.
You have done a great job with the first bag, Fim, forget about the second one..
I am sure you are still looking for an other bag that you will be able to customize or repair.
Happy Saturday, fellow Islanders! 
Whenever I occasionally toy with the idea of Ban Island, I have a sneaking suspicion how it would actually play out.
“All right, I’ve said I‘m sorry. But if we‘d brought all that food there wouldn’t have been enough room in the lifeboat for my bags.”
Whenever I occasionally toy with the idea of Ban Island, I have a sneaking suspicion how it would actually play out.
“All right, I’ve said I‘m sorry. But if we‘d brought all that food there wouldn’t have been enough room in the lifeboat for my bags.”
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You have done a great job with the first bag, Fim, forget about the second one..
I am sure you are still looking for an other bag that you will be able to customize or repair.
You’re right of course, Mariapia.
These occasional disappointments are all part of the game.
Haha!! Funny because it’s trueHappy Saturday, fellow Islanders!
Whenever I occasionally toy with the idea of Ban Island, I have a sneaking suspicion how it would actually play out.
View attachment 5443819
“All right, I’ve said I‘m sorry. But if we‘d brought all that food there wouldn’t have been enough room in the lifeboat for my bags.”
Happy Saturday, fellow Islanders!
Whenever I occasionally toy with the idea of Ban Island, I have a sneaking suspicion how it would actually play out.
View attachment 5443819
“All right, I’ve said I‘m sorry. But if we‘d brought all that food there wouldn’t have been enough room in the lifeboat for my bags.”
I love the colour...looks great.It’s alive!
First a bit of backstory. Back in the day the B. Makowski brand was known for quality affordable dependable leather handbags. But that all changed in 2008 when he sold the brand to a conglomerate that chose to to capitalize on his name with bags of much lesser quality.
Fortunately I was able to find one of his vintage bags on the preowned market.
View attachment 5443126
It had the requisite scrapes and dings one would expect of a well used bag. Those were easily remedied by cleaning and conditioning.
Then the real work began. I reversed the drawstring so its closure was on the the back rather than the front of the bag.
Front view…
View attachment 5443127
Back view…
View attachment 5443128
Reconfigured in this manner, the bag closes smoothly while relieving me of my previous angst with drawstring bags.
Then for sheer fun, I attached a gaudy little pink panda bag charm not to actually wear but to illustrate future possibilities afforded by the redesign.
View attachment 5443130
Sooooo today I took an exam. And I passed!!! I passed the National Certification exam for School nurses, yayyyy!!