Gatsby, O Gatsby...

I had a tough day a while ago. One of the several nadirs was dropping the lid to my go-cup on the floor at Starbucks, and not noticing that it had actually broken until I put the lid on my coffee cup, "closed" it, then set it on the stroller. It promptly poured scalding hot princess coffee all over my wrist & purse.

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The good things about that? Well.

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1) It didn't scald Eleni.

2) I caught it right away, so it only wasted a little coffee.

3) My bag was shut, not open.

4) I wasn't using one of my "good" bags.

5) It didn't burn bad enough to blister, and even if it had, it was my wrist, not my fingers, so not as pivotal for knitting.

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I got home - eventually. And I looked at my lovely, lovely Offhand Designs knitting bag. It's been on the couch for quite a while; I've used it out in the world three times. And I realized that as much as I love that bag, it's not my style. I love it, and I wish it was me; but it's not.

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Obviously, there are the Littles & their accouterments. Sippy cups, cheerios, diapers, broken crayons. I'm mildy dismayed at what's in my bag at the moment, but I was also very glad to find a fragment of blue crayon to keep Am busy while we were waiting the other day. Ditto the cast-off back-up bink for Eleni, at an emergency nap-stop.
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And really, all apart from that, I need a bag that will survive if I put my mocha into it, and there's some kind of go-cup malfunction. I know it's a terrible idea to put a full cup of coffee in my bag, but it's maybe going to happen at some point. Wash'n'wear, maybe wipe clean. Fates, I know that at some point, I will be looking mournfully at a pile of mocha-soaked something, and I accept that.

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(Amoryn & puppy were very glad to model these - she's never got to touch them before!)

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That being said, I've decided to let them go. One friend suggested that I just hang on to them or five years or so, once we're past the danger point of the kid's sippy cups. That just feels miserly & wrong. These bags have been lovingly crafted, they're gorgeous, and they deserve pride of place & lots of use.

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So they're officially going up for sale on Ravelry. Details will be there; follow this link if you're really interested.

Old Gatsby: $130US, shipping included to US/Cda.

http://www.ravelry.com/discuss/knitting-bag-lust/1376066/1-25
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New-Style Gatsby & Clutch: $180US, shipping included to US/Cda.
http://www.ravelry.com/discuss/knitting-bag-lust/1376089/1-25

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Now, any suggestions on deeply stylish, functional, durable bags? Apart from MEC's ripstop nylon offerings? They're high on function & durability, but lower on the style.