Piece(s):

Notes:
This is a basic bag that I put together in about an hour last week. Althouh the design is simplistic, the fabrics are flavorful and quite nice. The exterior is a common cotton stripe (off-white/forrest), and the liner is a super-sturdy soft wool (grey). As I said, this is a simple construction bag really used so that I could breakdown the framework itself. I needed to insure my roots before progressing to more complicated bags. As from where it derives it’s name, this bag too can hold a lot of junk in what would be its trunk.

The bag has a few interesting features:

• Shorter flap (I derivated from the design I has been using)
• Not water or weather proof, but VERY lightweight
• Taller design perfect for books and knick-knacks
• Designed much more for a female wearer

This was a definitive success. I am very happy with it.

Random fun with Cole Gamble. I can’t figure out if I like him more with or without the settings. You decide which is more awesome.

Thanks for tuning in.

Piece(s):

Notes:
This bag is not yet completed. I didn’t have the correct web strapping handy, so it will have to wait until tomorrow. The features on this bag definatley surpass any of my previous creations. And although some of the bag I am not happy with, it is a step onto a whole new realm. More to come when I am completed with it.

Piece(s):

Notes:
This bag was a lot of fun to create. It was a gift for JonnyPockets on his birthday, Jan 29th. I actually was working on a wholly different messenger bag for him, but after its tremendous failure (having to deal with binding two types of fabric for a shell and liner), I had to move onto this smaller cloth incarnation. I salvaged the llama, which turned out really well, cut from white vinyl. As you can see, the bag is loaded with features including a buckle flap, buckled shoulder strap, and should slide adjuster. I am so rad.

Also check out my awesome sig XXI.

Bag Beta….SUCCESS!
This bag was a huge step for me. But first, things first. Photo dump….then see detail below.

-bag itself-

-bag on hot model-

As I said, the production of this big was a big step for me. I did it in about the same time as the first bag, but with planning and being less rusty on my machine, I made a superior product.

As you can see I added the following features:
• Padded shoulder strap (words were a nice touch too)
• Shorter top-flap
• Inside pocket (has proved very useful)
• Sternum strap (for stabilizing when riding)
• Much taller

With all of these additions and a big growth in the pattern, I feel I am on the road to building the best bag. The bag rides pretty well, but the strap could use improvement in placement. As you will also notice, there were two beers missing from the six-pack in my demonstration, so I’m off to rest now and think more about the pattern.

Goals for the next bag version:
• Better top-flap
• More pockets and/or large pocket on outside, under top-flap
• Fabric trim to take off the sharp edges
• Better strap placement

That’s about all for now. Tune in later.

My messenger bag is about to give way finally. It’s been with me for a solid two years, and is long overdue for a replacement. Not to mention that this current bag has hardly enough room for a city rider like myself. My first intuition was to go out and buy a Chrome bag. However I quickly found that I didn’t like the way they wore, so I opted away from Chrome bags. Next, I heard about a great made-to-order messenger bag company called R.E.Load, and really liked the way their bags looked. I happen to see one of their “not-so-custom” version at the local bike shop and tried it on. It fit great and felt like a bag that would ride easy.

The problem I found, after contacting R.E.Load, was that I would have to wait 6-8 weeks to actually get my bag. Not sure of how much longer my decrepit current bag might last, I looked for a quicker solve. That’s when I found Federico’s messenger bag pattern and blog about the evolution of this pattern. I quickly started a new, customized version for myself, drawing the pattern in illustrator and noting all the measurements needed.

As you can see above, I have not yet taken into account the straps. But I think those can be done after the main body construction. I’ve also changed the dimensions of the original pattern somewhat to make a larger bag. Seeing as how I am probably 1.5x the size of Frederico, it seems appropriate.

Now to find a sign shop dumpster tomorrow and get this going of the sewing machine….

Piece(s):

Notes:
I really liked making these.If you cannot tell yet, I prefer working with my hands and brain, rather than just my brain. I put these pieces together from some parts I found. The black painted one was also weathered by me. They are both gone now. I believe the three-mirror piece was last given to Kristin Pippin of Costa Mesa, and the five-mirror piece I do not know.

Piece(s):

 Notes:
These are some flowers I made a few years ago for friends. It was something one of my friends had commissioned, but as the others saw her little fabric flower, proudly displayed on her chest, the others asked if I could make more. I tried to produce very over-simplified version of real flowers. Things that were more like a child’s drawing of the plant than the way it exists in reality. As you can see, also, over the few weeks I made these, my designs got more and more perverted from the original “simplified” style. The last one I created was more of an expression than a flower itself.

I used to fancy myself a chef of sorts. Although I still cannot make a casserole to save my life, I learned to master the art of “mash-up” entrees. These mainly consist of whatever you can find, prepared in some classic method and served in a standard venue. I think everyone has done the noodle “mash-up”: grabbing any noodle ready (Ramen normally) and throwing in veggies you find in the fridge and chicken or tofu. Well, today I decided to rekindle my love for the “mash-up” entree and devised the PDX Roll. Prepared and wrapped similarly to a traditional egg roll, however this roll has some ingredients from all over. It’s basically a giant potatoey, cheesy, green veg lover’s treat. There is no meat so it’s also vegetarian.

Here’s the low down:
• Egg Roll papers (New Seasons fridge section)
• Fresh Broccoli (Uncle what-his-face farmer’s market)
• Dutch Blu Cheese (New Season again)
• Tillamook Sharp Cheddar (Any Market - God bless those crazy effing dairy farmers)
• Brown Potatoes (Diced, frozen or fresh -Any Market)
• Extra Firm Tofu (Anywhere but Texas)
• **Secret Spices** (Sorry kids, find your own spices)

Basically, saute the stuff that needs it, wrap em up in the papers and deep fry away.

Yours should look something like this:

Now you are equipped with my newest culinary creation (yet).
So go ask out the cute girl from Powell’s/Buffalo Exchange/Montage/Backspace, prepare some PDX Rolls, serve up a chilled glass of Riesling….and score like a professional athlete on “performance enhancers”.

Enjoy.