Caramel and Copper; Mica's Bag, Part 4

Happy Monday, my friends! Today I have a caramel and copper outfit for you, plus another update on Mica's bag, which I worked at on Sunday afternoon while L was busy. 

But first - outfit! 

One of my favourite VPs was in today so I thought I'd look profesh for her. 

• Crocheted vest - Active USA, Powell River; first worn here in January over a sweater and suede dress
• Blouse - Nanette Lepore, thrifted; purchased here for $7.50
• Trousers - BCBC Max Azria, consignment; first seen here (4th outfit) in July
• Sandals - Chie Mihara; last worn here (4th outfit) in the same outfit as these trousers

I'm done with this crocheted vest thing. 

I liked it with this outfit, but it's a little too bohemian-flavoured for my taste. 

It was fine layered over this new-to-me blouse for its first outing. 

But I have to really work at styling it. Clothing shouldn't be that challenging! 

And I don't like that low back - the shoulders tend to fall off my shoulders.

I only paid $12.00 for it, and I wore it twice, so I'm totally okay with letting it go to a new home. 

Masked up.

I liked my outfit overall, though. All these caramels and coppers are my jam. 

Incognito. 

The weather's settled into pleasantly nice and warm, with cool ocean breezes at night. 

Accoutrements: 

I like a bit of fall colour in my summer wardrobe. 

• Scarf - Lanvin, vintage 70s, consignment
• Mask - Lazy Susan's

The stuff: 

I laughed when I realized I'd paired these shoes with my swooshy caramel pants last time too. They're meant to be! 

Copper bling: 

I think I wore most of this copper with that last outfit as well! 

• Red enamel/copper bracelet - Matisse by Renoir, vintage 50s, vintage expo
• Ball ring/aqua ring - vintage, consignment
• Earrings - vintage, vintage expo
• Chain/pendant necklace - Bell Trading Post, vintage 50s, consignment
• Ball necklace/cuff - vintage expo

Why mess with a good thing? 

Art Project: Mica's Bag, Part 4

I'm still not finished the bag, but I'm getting closer. A few more sessions - one with colour, then a bit of detail work - and then I'll be done. 

In case you missed it, we all agreed: "Nice Bottom." 

Link here (scroll way down) to see pics and previous updates.

The back of the bag has stymied me for a while. It's got these black-edged seams, same as the front, but that little pocket features so predominantly. What to do with it? Well, Mica told me that she refers to herself a "crazy bag lady" to other people.

There is a faint outline of my plans above - the paper has a small drawing of the design I was playing with. All the brush-strokes are from cleaning the black ink from my coloured pens (gotta keep them clean). 

If she wasn't Certified Absolutely Official Bag Lady before...she is now! It mad me giggle, and imagine how fun it will be for Mica to show this off. Below is my rough line drawing to get everything where I want it. 

It's a shield (meant to look like a plaque or award that you might get), with a scroll across the top with "Certified" on it. I decided to do a different font, and I KNOW, it's messy in the "Bag Lady" area, but I'll clean that up before you know it, and no one will be the wiser. 

I hid "Crazy" under the flap! Crazy doesn't advertise! 

I'll clean up the little rainbow there  - that was my original test spot for how colours would show up on the bag. 

My alphabet guide for the font - I changed it up slightly. 

Darkening up the lettering to make it look better. I got to this point a couple of weeks ago, then stopped.

I tend to "visit" the bag while I'm working on it - I draw on it here and there when I have a few minutes. One day I decided it needed a couple of crests to make it look more official. 

The one on the left says "Institute of Bagology, Aus. & Canada, Est'd 2008." Of course, I am in Canada, and Mica is in Australia, and I'm pretty sure we met through blogging in 2008 (I've lost track!). The other circle says, "Purse Division, 2022" (as there are other kinds of bags, like knapsacks, luggage, etc.). 

This past weekend, I spent time getting most of the back done - I had help from Vizzini. 

"I'm essential to the process."

He's lurking in the background of the below pic too - such a funny kitty.

I completed the lettering (see? it looks much better!), and added some more details to the shield. I added an exclamation point to "Absolutely!" to make it more balanced.

I drew a little replica of this purse with an "M" on it. A purse...on a purse! Ha! 

I added a little leaf detail under the flap too. 

A better look at the crests there. 

More cat help. 

"Wait, you need even more assistance than my magnificent tum can provide."

And so I did! Vizzini plopped himself down on my lap while I worked. 

"Isn't this better?"

I rested the bag on his back and kept going. 

"Now, don't move for at least two hours."

This is why my knees hurt today! 

Two hours later...all the detail and darkening has been done on the roses, leaves and vines. 

I darkened up the lettering on the crests and added some more detail there. 

Now, it's time to colour this, and then a bit of final detail and I'll be done. L is impatiently waiting for me to start a leather jacket for him, so I'm hoping that the coming weekend will see the purse finished.