This is my sad little bag. I remember going to JC Penney’s with my Mom to pick this little guy out right before my trip to Europe in the summer of 1995. It was so cool because it had wheels and I could just pull it from train to train. (I know, pretty much everything has wheels now, but this was 1995…this was a newish concept). I bought patches from all of the places that we visited and when I got home I sewed them on (very poorly!). I took this bag on many trips throughout the years, and always put a patch on from the destination. I’ve abused it much and repaired it just as many times. Alas, a fall too great (thanks airline luggage handlers!) damaged the wheels beyond my repair (ok, when I retrieved it from the last flight one wheel was just missing. There must have been an emergency on-flight amputation. poor little guy). I loved this bag too dearly to part with it, so I left it in my parents basement while I continued to travel around (gaining no new patches!).

With the anticipation of travel soon (yay!) I decided that it was finally time to transform this bag into something that I could use…so I got myself a stack of movies and went to work. I changed it into a messenger style carry-on. I left all of the patches in their original places (but stitched over them again!) and made myself little pockets, little embroidery here and there, and lined it with three of my wonderful collected fabrics. It is awesome. I can’t wait to fly with this in the compartment above me. It did take me just a little over two days, but I totally went overboard. There is lining in places where it’s ridiculous to have lining and since I didn’t want to worry about having something unravel I used french seams for most of it. =) I know, I have too much time on my hands. =)

ack! so cute! See the interior pocket lined with red fake fur!? And…for those of you who know me, you know that I love a little scrolly machine embroidery here and there. It reads, hello i belong to laura eh plouzek and then my name is elle below it. I wrote the latter first and realized later that it sounds like the bag is calling itself elle. =)

Hopefully this bag will be coming to an airport near you in the nearish future (uhhh…for those of you that I actually know….)

but, I love you all.
hugs and wet lip thingies-
elle!

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