With Dale Chihuly and my D&G

I'm honored to meet Dale Chihuly at the reception celebrating the release of his newly published 3-book collection Chihuly on Paper.  The reception was at the Chihuly Glass Museum next to the Space Needle in Seattle.

I'm lovin' the lavendar of my D&G that I carried on my arm.  The color is so pretty.  It carries and looks like a nice medium size bag, but when you open the zipper across the top it opens wide and stores like a huge tote.  It includes handy inside pockets and a side zipper pouch.  Beautiful!  And on the outside, just enough bling to reflect all the gorgeous Chihuly glass exhibits.

My coveted purchase of the Chihuly book set.  Notice the artist's signature on the front.  A wonderful reception and event.

One page inside Chihuly on Paper Charcoal.  The other books are Acrylic and Graphite

 

Needing My Annual Italian

Thank you Judith Works for this wonderful purse story - (see more about Judith at the end of the blog)

Needing my annual Italian "fix" my husband and I planned a two-week trip in September. Not wanting to be left out, our daughter and son-in-law decided to join us. We flew into Milan for four days of fun with friends from Spain and Hungary who shared our fashion envy (Fashion Week was about to start), then another four days in a country hotel - actually an old castle and lovely new cottages set in an olive grove.

 

But, as always, my real destination was Rome, my heart's home. We always stay in a small hotel on the Aventine Hill, one of Rome's famous seven, near an area called Testaccio. Again, we met friends, some by plan and even some by chance. Near the end of our stay, we decided to walk to the new Testaccio Market. The old one, taking up a full block, was always full of shoppers buying fresh seafood, meat, cheese, veggies, fruit, and since it is Italy, shoes and handbags. All in all it was the perfect shopping experience with food for body and soul.

 

A couple of years ago the authorities in their wisdom decided to move the colorful market to a new and more sanitary location, one with underground parking - not common in  Rome because every time you stick a shovel in the ground you hit antiquities. The new market was about ten blocks from our hotel and not far from the famous Monte Testaccio, a 165-foot high, half-mile around pile of potshards, broken amphorae from the ancient Roman port. The amphorae were used to transport grain and oils from the Empire, and when they were emptied they were tossed in this gigantic heap for us to marvel at.

 

The market itself was also a marvel - the first thing we saw was a sushi bar - the last thing we would have expected in a traditional market. Nothing else about the design was very traditional either. Light, airy, stalls spread out - it looked sterile. Some stalls were even glassed in, making them into shops. But, oh joy - there were shoes, handbags, and clothing waiting for me. It didn't take long to succumb to a pair of loafers and a leather jacket. We needed to hurry along but I straggled behind looking for something else to remember the trip by. And there they were: a show window filled with handbags you couldn't find anywhere else. I walked in to check out the selection - all handbags with 1950s Italian magazines encased in a plastic cover - irresistible. Nothing like the wonderful leather creations, the symbol of Italian craftsmanship, but something fun, something truly original to remember the trip.

 

 

The shop is called "I Bottega I" The owner told us he made the bags all by hand and scoured flea markets to find suitable magazines. Mine shows women modeling Dior's "The New Look" from the late 1940s early1950s along with ads for Cutex nail polish, a remedy for children's stomach disorders and wood floor polish.   

 

 

 

 

 

As I was digging out my credit card my husband remarked to the owner that the market was overly cleaned up, he responded, “Oh, don’t worry – it will just take a couple of years and we will look just like the old market. This is Italy.”

 

Judith Works, a graduate of Lewis & Clark Law School, is retired from the United Nations, Rome, Italy. She is the author of a memoir about Rome, Coins in the Fountain, available as an e-book, writes travel articles for on-line publications as well as blogging her adventures. She is currently President of the Friends of the Edmonds Library, on the steering committee for Write on the Sound, and on the board for Edmonds Center for the Arts and EPIC Group Writers.

https://www.amazon.com/author/coinsinthefountain

Tig Goes to School

This time the symphony is at our local high school and the venue is the "Great Hall", which is a small but meaningful step up from performing in the Gym. The High School musicians pictured here are waiting for the Band Director who is about to walk in and conduct. Three great wind symphony selections, and the finale is a medley from the musical Oliver!

My captivating and functional, suede Tignanello is such a treat to carry to the High School Fall Concert. The suede is the softest. The emerald green and blue is a great combination with jeans, or slacks, or a splash of color with a plain grey or black skirt. Tonite it gets me close to the school colors of green and purple! Thank you QVC for this fabulous Tig TSV (Today's Special Value)

Look at how incredibly big this Tig is on the silky, signature lined inside.  Looking at it in the other picture balanced on my knee in the bleachers, I bet you had no idea how much room there is. The two side pockets are totally zipper secure. The middle opens up from a snap at the top into such a handy area for my camera, the school information I had to drop off, the information for the Music Boosters group, my phone, and a few more little items in the zippered pouch on the side.



Three very different symphonies in 4 nights, feels like a record. I'm done with concert fun for awhile.

Ooo-la-la Chanel and An American in Paris

The Cascade Symphony sent the audience onto the streets of Paris tonite with their stirring, live performance of Gershwin's An American in Paris.  Good thing I had my Chanel with me.  What's more Parisian than Chanel?  A perfect little evening bag, with the iconic double C's, including the zipper pull.  And on the inside the name sake smooth lining.  Seemed like Gene Kelly must have been smiling down at us and tapping his toes.

An amazing, full performance by this incredible Cascade Symphony Orchestra. Gershwin was the finale. Other selections were by Verdi, Haydn, Dvorak, Liszt, and Mendelssohn.   Conducting is the talented and delightful Michael Miropolsky.

 The phenomenal cello solo was by world renowned cellist Efe Baltacigil, poised to begin. 








  The double C's were C sharp tonite!

What a treat for Edmonds, Wa tonite!  We love our Cascade Symphony and this is a dream start to their 52nd season.  Among other recordings, in 2013 the Cascade Symphony Orchestra collaborated with Rick Steves on the innovative Europe, A Symphonic Journey both a CD and DVD released also on PBS.

From Garage Sale to Mozart with Seattle Symphony

Mozart's Symphony 29 - here is the Seattle Symphony moments before the performance. This work was composed in 1772, during his teenage years! This piece was heavily influenced by time he spent in Italy with his father. Also featured was a melodic soprano, and a beautiful violin/bass solo, and a soulful accompany on the organ. Stilian Kirov conducting

What a garage sale find! Silky, midnight black, luxurious material with an elegant jade ornament and tassle. Just a lovely evening bag for Benaroya Hall. Inside tthis bag there is a strong magnet clasp to hold in the few items it can carry. That is the dichotomy of the pretty, little evening bag - so dainty and elegant, but such a struggle to identify only the essentials to carry.

What a delightful evening! When my dress is a busy pattern, I prefer a plain bag to complement. Not bad for garage sailing - what great finds have you made?

Purse Inventory for Handbag Day!

What did you carry on National Handbag day?  I saw lots of wonderful handbags out on the town celebrating today.

National Handbag Day! October 10th!

Yes, it's real! There is a National Handbag Day!  Celebrate on October 10th!

Here's the link all about it National Handbag Day from Purseblog

I think on National Handbag day I'll celebrate with my beautiful Jessica Simpson. How will you celebrate?

This is an elegant, stand out red. A big bag, but does not feel like a big bag when you're carrying it.

Deep side pockets that are great for my keys and other small things I need to put away on the run.  Full open pockets that are the width and height of the purse on front and back. Love those!  And each are secured with snap tops. And then the inside is the roomiest!  It has great, light lining so I can easily see what I need. Really stylish secure hardware with a brass look.

I love this feminine, big bag.

Lady with red

See the roomy front and bag pockets opened up. So handy and fit plenty without losing the purse's shape. And this gives you a glimpse of the pretty, light lining.

A Bag For Every Reason

Back from the Write on the Sound (WOTS) writing conference.  What an incredible 3 day weekend! I really enjoyed all the classes, and meeting the authors. And I enjoyed facilitating one of the Table Topics on Creative Reading and Writing Book Recommendations.

A working conference means the need for multiple bags!

Lots of women were carrying multiple bags for everything they needed for the day.

1. I had my "bucket style" Bruce Makowski (thanks QVC!) for my normal purse contents. I especially love the way he styled the outside corner pockets, 2 on each side of the purse.  Just the perfect size for my phone in one and my keys in another.                                                                           
2. And my Dennis Basso tote (thanks QVC!) is so roomy for all my writing and presentation materials.  But, still includes an inside zipper pocket and a couple of slide pockets for quick access to essentials while I'm in a class, so I don't have to search and search while the presentation moves forward, and disturbing people around me. It really kept my own presentation materials so handy too!
3. And finally, a treasured souvenir tote I brought home from a visit to the amazing New York Public Library.  The outside is a representative picture of the famous lions outside the door. I use this to carry library books (how fitting!) back and forth from the library, which is right by where the WOTS conference was.

Good things come in three's!

Fasten Your Seatbelts, It's Going To Be a Bumpy Night!

Have you seen the new, upcoming trend? Recycled seat belt purses.  Environmentally great, creative, practical, and beautiful!  What do you think?  See examples at this link -

Images of Seat Belt Purses

Steve Martin, Steep Canyon Rangers, Beaded Bag, and a Little Kate Spade

Night on the town at Benaroya Hall to see the amazing Steve Martin and equally amazing Steep Canyon Rangers. Wow! Great show! Even a big bag girl like me switches to a beaded clutch for this kind of event. I learned since that one Seattle Symphony event I went to with a friend, and with one of my big shoulder totes. A couple days later she complained about women with big purses being in her way. Uh oh! Lesson learned - small bags for small spaces like halls and theatres.

My beautiful beaded evening bag next to my Kate Spade card holder. Tonite Kate is holding my tickets to Steve Martin and Steep Canyon Rangers, ready for the concert! Can't fit much in an evening bag, just the essentials.

I love this beaded bag! I bought it at an auction, at a benefit for the Seattle Shakespeare Company. I was so excited to get the winning bid!