History 101

A week or so ago I snapped this pic of Ava heading out the door with dad for their weekly library trip. A little Daddy/Ava time, this used to be a trip just to grab a few dvds and some picture books. But now that she's able to read, these trips to the library have taken on a whole new meaning.


Alas, this post is not about my beautiful daughter and her amazing ability to read big kid books.


Oh no. It's all about the bag.


That's right, the bag.


Held snugly under Ava's arm is a corduroy tote bag complete with two outer pockets, cotton webbing handles, strawberry ribbon and red and white gingham check lining. We came across it during a recent cleaning of the attic and she asked if she could use it. This bag is thirty years old!



Not only that but this silly little corduroy tote bag was the VERY FIRST thing that I had ever sewn in my life!


When I was about seven or eight years old, my friends and I spent afternoons at the local Girls Club. My friends took dance class -- I took sewing class. In this class we learned how to make tote bags. No pattern, no fancy sewing notions. We cut with scissors and the blind hem stitch on your machine was as close to a "decorative stitch" as you were going to get. My mom would take me to So-Fro fabric at Lincoln Plaza and help me to pick out the corduroy, cotton lining, handle webbing and ribbon ties.


Thanks, Mommy.


Back in 1980, everyone got tote bags for Christmas. Gramma Grace, Gramma Rita, Auntie Phyl, Katherine... EVERYONE. I know my mom still has hers and I have mine and the one I gave to my grandmother.


And that's how ALL OF THIS began.


I think I'll show Ava how to make a tote bag.