Also, I have some great customers with ideas I like to incorporate into my designs. Here’s the latest:

I made this wristlet by just using the Tools & Accessory bag and adding a strap. The strap is a narrow road bike tube so all I did was stitch it flat a 1/4 inch or so from each edge and then run a narrow piece of strapping plastic I recycled from some large boxes that were shipped to my work. I also have friends give me pieces of the plastic also. The plastic keeps the strap from stretching, strengthens the handle and keeps the stitches from breaking since the thread is a poly-cotton. It is for sale in my Etsy store.

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The wristlet below I made by just grabbing my favorite D-Ring bag. I am using one of my keychains for the strap. I really like it. I’ve been carrying it for a couple of weeks now. I like that I can also put a key on it and also take the strap off to use the bag in a purse or backpack. I don’t have one listed yet. It will sell for $25.

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They are made from a strip of bike inner tube that I sewed with contrasting stitching. I used a 1 1/4″ split key ring (room for plenty o’ room for keys and grocery store, pet store cards) and I put it all together (OK, I hammered it with conviction) with a metal rivet and washer. The strap is plenty big for your wrist. It’s approximately 10 inches in  circumference.

Anyhoozles, they are on my etsy store now so check ‘em out if you need a hand-free way to keep your keys close.  Here’s another photo to tantalize you…

It’s $13 in my Etsy store. Whaddaya think?

Patch Pocket Coin Cash Credit Purse

I think they are easy to get the cards in and out of.  What do you think of them?

Tool and Accessory Bag

It holds lots of tools, money, a small coin purse, make-up, cell phone, business card wallet, iPod – you choose.

I just re-designed this bag . Now it has a D-ring and webbing in the side seam.

It’s even better now for attaching keys or to clip to a backpack or your bike. It also holds the coin purse and wallet easily.

• Zipper closure with chain link pull
• 7 inches wide at the top
• 4″ tall with a 1″ bottom
• Contrasting stitching

I sew this bag from 3 strips of inner tubes. Each is unique because I use a variety of brands of recycled inner tubes.
I use old chain links as zipper pulls. I do use new zippers and thread for durability and practicality but the tubes and pulls are from bike shops and biking pals.

The D-rings are usually re-cycled from belts I find at the thrift store although I do buy some new.

$19

One has an adjustable strap, the other has the swivel clip so you can hook and unhook at will…if you’re into that sort of thing.

Both have an outside pocket for stashing lottery tickets, secret notes, shopping lists and business cards. They are smooth, sleek and rubbery. And both feel darned lucky to be a part of the fashionable recycled, upcycled, vegan, do-gooder accessory world and not laying around in the landfill. They are smiling and they will make you happy if they end up resting upon your shoulder as you traipse around your world.

I have them up on Etsy now!  If you have questions, email me! They are priced at $39.

Here’s more pics:

For size reference…Caesar is 14 lbs of solid muscle, bone and fur. I just hope he doesn’t pounce on those poor, defenseless purses.

I just put this Grommety Wristlet bag up on Etsy….it was obviously very cold and turning blue that day…or the color balance went terribly terribly wrong…sigh.

I put a CRAZY low price on it so it’ll probably go fast. Have I gone mad?

Stay warm and upright!

Wristlet & Grommet Purse

I’ll be honest….it was a mistake. I was sewing along  just swimmingly and had it almost done then I realized…uh oh, no strap. What to do? Well, poke a hole in it of course! Then add a grommet, then a ring I found at a thrift shop, slide on a cool little wrist strap and voila – NOW we have some fashion here, people!

AndiIt feels all swingy and sassy hanging off my wrist, for sure. I took it out for field testing

Vitals:

Email me if you can’t live without a Wristlet of your own.

These sell for $15 apiece or two for $25.

Let me know what you think of these!

I call it the Fringe Benefits Purse.

Fringe Purse lounging on the deck.

(The purse is not this blue. I didn’t white balance.)

I love the fringe. I’d been wanting to play around with it for some time and it works great for this bag.  Made of recycled  tubes, this purse is super comfortable and made to be worn across your body, leaving you hands free to do whatever it is you do when you need to have all your stuff on you.

Fringe looks great on my boyfriend.

It lays flat against your hip, making it easy to walk with and it doesn’t make you look fat.

It’s unlined and here are the deets, as the young kids like to say. I think. I have no idea since I don’t have kids. Word.

Details:

9 inch top opening with a 9 inch black metal zipper
14″ width at widest point, 12″ width at bottom
2 D-rings
51 inch strap

I reinforced the strap internally with recycled (oh yes, I hoard) plastic strapping for strength and now it won’t stretch which will keep your wallet, phone, lip gloss, keys, iPod, cosmetics, comb, brush, patch kit, bounce free!

Strap Detail with D-Ring and markings

It’s for sale on my Etsy store. Check it out! Heart me if you like it!

Update: This purse now lives in Florence, Italy!!!! I envy this purse. I sold it 2/2011 to a wonderful Italian photographer. I’m hoping she’ll send me photos of it.

Trip to Family Bikes in Waldo

Rode to Family Bikes today to get more inner tubes.

Inner tubes fit nicely in Basil Panniers.

Theresa, the proprietress was there so had a nice conversation with her and she showed me some lovely Endura wool tops, some gloves and I also really want the knickers. They are on sale, I think, so I may be going back for more than tubes!

The sun made it seem warmer for sure. Lovely day for a bike ride. Hardly seems like Christmas week.

Stopped by the Coffee Girls for a decaf on the way home.  There were no girls there, by the way, except for me.