New and Improved Laptop Bag, Part 2!

To prove to myself that I could do it, I actually told a girl--who was admiring my denim, owl, laptop bag as she took my information before I donated blood--that I was trying to sell them, and would she like to commission one? She said yes, we agreed on a price (which I've decided was maybe a bit low, after remembering how much time it took to make, but oh well, she'll just get a first-customer discount! ;) ), and I set about collecting the materials for a second bag. It's very similar to the first, right down to the owl appliqué, because it turns out she also collects them. :) I didn't use ties this time, as they're expensive (even from D.I.), and she opted out of that price bump. Instead, I used a rather heavy-duty interfacing, so the bag would still have that solidity. Turns out it might be a little *too* solid . . . but it works, and it's way cute. It's just a bit stiff. :)

I was worried I wouldn't be able to quite duplicate the bag with another single pair of jeans, as the pattern fairly decimated the material, and that was a large pair with huge bell-bottoms. The pair I used this time was an old on of Kyle's, and he's a touch skinnier than I, and doesn't wear flared jeans. ;)

Nonetheless, it worked! :D Not quite as much slant to the leg seam on the bag's flap, but it's cute anyway. :) Besides, each item being handmade out of mostly found

materials, you're going to get a lot of variation from one to the next. :) All things considered, I think it turned out way cute. Love that owl. :D I think on the next bag, the only thing I'll really change is the length of the flap--it came off a bit short, this time.

New and Improved Laptop Bag

I posted a good while ago about the laptop bag I made for my new netbook. Well, it wasn't big enough for my longer trips, when I like to carry not only the netbook and its cord, but also an external hard drive, my iPod and its cord, my phone cord, a book, a notebook, maybe a movie, pens, sunglasses . . . the list goes on. So I made a second, larger bag. :D

Designed around an owl appliqué I'd found at Jo~Ann's

some months earlier, and made out

of an old pair of jeans. The inside's lined with ties, which gives it some extra stability, and a super sleek look. :)

The inside has a laptop pocket padded with a cut-up Yoga mat, and a second floppy pocket on the other side, for random stuff.

Here it is, filled with random stuff! :D

I re-purposed the butt pockets, attaching one to the front of the

bag as you can see above, and sticking a zipper in the other, and leaving it loose, as something of a coin purse that lives in the bag.

The handle is a fairly standard nylon strap, covered in another tie. The pattern used up almost all of the denim from the pants, leaving little more than scraps around the zipper, waistband, and bottom cuffs. The bag itself is probably a similar size to what I would've gotten had I simply cut the legs off the pants and used the top as a purse itself, which I've done once before---this bag is WAY cuter. :D

And, best of all, it's a super easy pattern to repeat, and I *do* plan on selling these bags, if people are interested! :D Just let me know . . . I can also do all sorts of other crafty things, like make a laptop sleeve out of suede (as I did for my brother and his friend), or a custom art portfolio, or whatever suits your fancy . . . I might could dream it up. :D