10" x 5½"

The story of "Two Week Evening Bag"

Ever since my fashion retail days, evening bags have held a special fascination for me.

Evening Bags are wondrous sparkling treasures, classic adornments, whims of fantasy, wearable art, displayed with 'style' in full view, on one's shoulder. My evening bag, a boring black, had become a safe holder for my glasses, lipstick, credit card, keys and Kleenex. I wanted (needed?) a new evening bag but I wouldn't shop for one since "I'd rather be stitching".

I found my evening treasure at Cindy's Needle Art right here in Toronto. Of course, the bag needed to be stitched and then assembled before I would be able to wear it. Cindy assured me that if I could stitch my bag in two weeks, she could have it 'finished' immediately and I'd be able to take it to Florida with me (to wear it to the Opera?) So, off I went in a flurry of stitching to meet my deadline knowing full well that I usually stitch an 'inch an hour' unless I need to 'backstitch'!

The first reality set in when my stitching friend Shirlianne jokingly named this bag my 'two-week bag'! The second reality occurred when medical circumstances delayed our trip to Florida and my stitching time was often spent in dimly lit hospital waiting rooms. Many doctors, nurses and other patients were uplifted by seeing my serene stitching with those vibrant colors and glittering metallic. Many told me their personal stitching stories and they also brightened my day.

All's well again and finally my beautiful bag is complete.

Two-Week Evening Bag made it's debut at the ANG Seminar 2005 closing banquet. As I entered the elevator, 6 pairs of admiring eyes moved immediately to my bag and the ladies were admiring that I'd stitched 'that bag'. It was worth the wait!

The canvas was beautifully painted by Mindy - (www.mindysneedlepoint.com). I stitched with Trebezond silks, Kreinik #12 braid, Needle Necessities overdyes, petite beads, DMC floss, Petite Very Velvet. Trebezond's high luster, the loft of the thread and the fact that I didn't need to ply the threads, made the stitching easier and faster. DMC and Needle Necessities 'greens' recreated the color shading of the painted canvas. Very velvet is rich, tactile and luxurious while being easy to stitch quickly.

Cindy finished the purse beautifully with velvet backing, silk lining, fabulous velvet and leather braided cord, and a black sparkly button closure.

I must admit that I'm now searching for Two-Week Evening Bag #2.

>Click within the stitchings to see the detail images: