Mariko hosted a back tack III party at her house Saturday and I enjoyed myself immensely. There were lovely Portland bloggers there, most of whom brought their back tack projects to show and share ideas, although we mostly just ate and talked. I am not a back tack participant this time, so I was crashing really, but I wasn't the only one, so I didn't feel that bad.
The food was divine and I wish the conversations hadn't been so lively because I could have eaten way more. . .but Mariko was oh-so-generous and sent me home with TimTam (via Alison, thank you, thank you!) and Pete and I got sick on them last night. yum.
Alicia was there and brought in and unloaded two huge boxes of fabric to give away. She is painting her studio and was doing some cleaning. Alicia, I hope it all went well and you are in some sort of organizational bliss right now. I, not being shy, took a bit of fabric home as well. Ahem. I tried to play it cool and did ask people if they wanted what I grabbed (I have a feeling people were just being polite) anyhoo, I made out like a bandit. But I did put it to good use and made this bag out of the goods in this wonderful canvas with a sassy striped lining.
This is loosely based off of the Buttrick BP172 pattern I have. I was too lazy to even cut out the pattern and the shape was a bit funky, so I just went at it from the photo. It's got bias trim and the button closure is not functional, because really, why would I need to unbutton only one side of the strap off this bag? The lining you can't really see in the photos (more photos here) but it's a lovely stripe, another cast off of Alicia's.
It was swell meeting everyone, there are so many cool bloggers in Portland! Thanks Mariko (and Alicia!!) and I have 1 TimTam left. Woo-Hoo!