For Nikol

Bag for Nikol close-up

My very dear friend asked for a handbag. That was it, she just wanted me to make her a handbag. I, being very obtuse at the time, kept asking her what she wanted and she answered ... a handbag with embroidered birds, yo-yo flowers, button flowers, green hippo fabric, a pocket for her water bottle with waterproof fabric, and more that I can't even remember. And then it hit me ... she just wanted me to make her a handbag, one that I created for her from my mind and heart, not a special specific order. I threw all the ideas that she'd given me, save one, out the window and made this bag.

Bag for Nikol

Nikol has been a huge source of support and sanity to me through this separation/divorce process. She has patiently listened to my crying and carrying on on an almost daily basis (not daily anymore ... we often talk daily, but the crying is much rarer now). I owe her far more than a handbag as a thank you for her love and support. I have no idea how I'll ever repay her for all she has done for me (maybe a million handbags and a zillion bags of Belly Flops for starters).

Bag for Nikol detail

Below is the hippo fabric she asked for (the one idea of hers that I did incorporate). It is lining the inside pocket. The pocket and the rest of the lining is a shirt from her husband ... I thought that was such a sweet idea.

Bag for Nikol inside pocket and lining

The ribbon on the front is threaded through two eyelets and can be changed in less than 1/2 a second.

bag for Nikol alternate ribbon

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4 Comment

  1. Jody!
    You made me cry! :)
    Between Jason's comment on the quilt (earlier post) and this beautiful post I am a blubber ball!
    I LOVE the bag and am on my way to go show it off at a meeting.
    Thank you from the bottom of my heart.
    Nikol-

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  2. This is beautiful, Jody! A wonderful gift, and an even more wonderful tribute to a friend. :o)

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  3. What a beautiful bag. I love the fabrics that you matched. I have a couple of friends who listened for endless months to all the tears and twisted thoughts and you just can't repay them. But maybe you can share that love with someone else one day. Cherrie

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  4. What a beautiful semicircle cut out for the snap flap.

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