50th Anniversary Bag

To help celebrate my parents 50th anniversary in February, this totebag was made to store anniversary cards.

In the process of making handbags, and totebags, I've learned a few things, so I asked for this bag back to re-do a few items. The first tote only had cloth strips for handles; whereas the remake was fabric covering an inserted strap made of woven nylon (like you see used on life-jackets). The second change was the insert in the bottom of the bag to create flat surface so the bag would sit upright and hold more weight. The insert in the bottom on the tote bag is redone using a Plexiglas insert covered with fabric rather than plastic cross-stitch mess covered in fabric. Both changes make this bag much more durable.

Using my computer printer and fabric, I copied the invitation to their fifth anniversary party and placed it on the front of the bag. Not totally confident that the ink from my inkjet would be washable, I covered this fabric with a durable plastic sheet and stitched it into place. On the back of the bag, I used the same technique, but printed the words to a love song.

Longer than there've been fishes in the ocean

Higher than any bird ever flew

Longer than there've been stars up in the heavens

I've been in love with you

Stronger than any mountain cathedral

Truer than any tree ever grew

Deeper than any forest primeval

I am in love with you

I'll bring fires in the winters

You'll send showers in the springs

We'll fly through the falls and summers

With love on our wings

Through the years as the fire starts to mellow

Burning lines in the book of our lives

Though the binding cracks

And the pages start to yellow

I'll be in love with you

I'll be in love with you.