Bag of the Season

Tomorrow is my birthday, and I'm thinking to ask something from the sewing world as a present, so if you have ideas, I'll be thankful!
After a while of being sick, me and my sewing machine, both of us are up and well again, so I could finish my new faux leather bag (pictures soon). It's the first time I sew in faux leather, so good experience there. Let me just take this opportunity to ask you, please don't make bags with real leather. Animals are cute and they don't need to end their lives as bags.



And for the topic of the day (not that there's new topic everyday, but you know).
Season bags. Is there such thing? Bags are fashion, but they're still not clothes. Clothes you wear by season. You know the weather and wear the right clothes for the particular season. Pretty easy most of the time. But how would you pick the right bag to make?
There are bags that you somehow know they're summer bags, or winter bags, etc. by their color, their fabric…bright colors will match so well to the summer time: light blue, pink, yellow, green, purple and so on. Solid colors are more fall-wintery, such as: dark blue, black, gray, brown, etc. But does the color of the bag mean they belong to that particular season? No, it does not. Colors are not everything. For example, a sweater, that is made out of wool, you know it's right for the winter, because it's cold outside and you want to stay warm. Doesn't matter if it's pink, it's still made for the winter. So the kind of fabric matters too. With bags, besides using wool, you can use canvas fabric that is water proof. It's good for the winter because you don't want the rain to penetrate and wet your stuff. And that's a good example.

There is also the non fabric matter, because that's not all that matters in picking the right bag for the season, not only color and material. In the summer we wear sunglasses. So we'll need to find a room for them in the bag. Maybe a special pocket that is right for sunglasses. You can also go farther and invent a case in the bag, outside or inside of the bag, that is perfect for making sure the sunglasses are someplace safe. Let's face it, these things can be very expensive. They can also break, very easy. So you might wanna think how you can keep them safe in your bag.
In a winter bag you might wanna put an umbrella inside. That might be a difficult one, because you want enough space in the bag to put the umbrella and to make sure it doesn't get your other inside the bag stuff wet. There might be another case for that, maybe water proof fabric pocket.
Most people, when going out, take their keys, make up, cellphone, and so on. So remember to not only include the seasonal objects cases inside the bag (in pockets, or whatever, use your imagination), but also the other stuff people take with them. Leave enough room for that whether it's by the size of the bag or its shape. A flip over for a winter bag would work well. I think you can guess why. If not: it protects the stuff inside your bag from the rain.
Point is, do not only think about the bag's beauty and style, but also the design that would help and make life easier for the bag carrier. The designing is not only for the exterior side of the bag, but also its interior. It's not all about colors, it's about the entire deal. That's giving you some thinking assignment. Seasonal bags – there is such thing.

Okay, this one was shorter, but I hope it helped.
Also, an announcement:
I was thinking to make an interviews post with a) bag makers and b) bag people who just love bags. It's not settled yet, but if you're one of those people and want to participate, please send me a message (at the bottom of the page, for quick delivery). More information soon. You can ask me questions if you're not sure. Soon to come!

Bags As a Piece of Art

Are bags more than a fashion accessory? Can they tell the world who you are, the person who carries them? And what does your taste in bags say about you?
Bags, apart from being a fashion accessory, are your chance to express yourself, whether you're making them, or just carrying them around. That's what art is about. Then why not with bags?
I believe bags and the making of them, are art. It's your chance to show the world your creativity. Painting is colors, it's your heart put on a paper (or canvas). You have to be creative, original and talented in order to make your work seen by people and call it art. Fashion is art. It makes people wonder and muse. If you wanna call your bags 'art', you have to make it art. I know, calling your bags 'art' may seem a little out of it. Maybe I'm out of it. But the fact that you put a lot of thought into your bags, make it yours, something that no one else can have (and I'm not talking about purchasing). And just like in painting, you don't want people to copy your design; you made it, it's yours, it's coming from you, from your heart. And you want to put your entire creativity into your bag; you can't make it boring, otherwise it won't work. Then why wouldn't bags become art?

I'm sure you've heard many times before, people who ask the eternal question: What makes something art?
The truth is, I don't know. It depends on one's point of view. You can throw an orange on a white wall, see it smashed on the white background with a nice natural color, and call it art. So in my belief, everything can be art, and no one really knows what art is. To me, bags can be art. And you need to make the world see that your bags are art.
What makes bags art, you ask? Let's try to answer this question.
First of all, they're unique (I'm only talking about handmade bags, of course), and that makes it rare. It's yours. You put a lot of thought into it, using your own imagination. You like doing it and making it. And you like the results. And it's pure beauty. It's different, it expresses you. Even if you don't like your piece, other people might like it, because they see it as art, they see the uniqueness. So it's not all up to you. You might want to add to your bag some kind of… I don't think gimmick is the right word here. You might want to add it the little things that would separate you from others, and separate your bag from others' bags. Maybe a shout. What do I mean by shout? I can also use the words scene (making), or a splash… make it bigger than it really is, turn people's attention to your art. If you want to make an art, you have to make a sound. Not from your mouth, but by your creation. Look at Picasso. His art shouts. You cannot stay indifferent to his work. Now know what I mean?

Don't say "ew" on art.
I think it's important to learn from everything and anything. Even if you can't see anything beautiful in someone's work, there are things, elements, that would match as art. Art might be unexpected, something you didn't expect to see as art. Things start from something and end with something else.
I'm coming from an art background. I've been diagnosis as gifted at arts a few years ago. I used to paint a lot and do many kinds of fun art. Today, besides the bag making, I do other arts; I write a lot, more than other arts. But I have the creativity inside of me. And I try to use it. Any art can help you with the art of bag making. I will expend on than soon, on another post. Point is, you can be an artist. Doesn't matter if you can't paint. I believe we're all artists inside of us, with many different areas and fields. Use anything you can to make art. And even if you're not an artist inside of you, you can find creativity from anything. You can find examples in the post where I'm giving tips, one of the first posts. If you haven't read it, I meant that you can find inspiration from anything: nature, people, etc. You don't have to be an artist to make art. And there will always be people who will point at your work and say "art". You just need to make it work, and make sure people will see something beyond just a bag in your work. From here it's up to you.

P.S. - Don't forget to check the gallery: januarbags.deviantart.com

Design on Computer

Okay, I came to understand that it's not that hard, and turns out pretty well, to design bags on your computer, with the simpliest graphics program, Paint. I started just out of boredom and I made a few, so take a look, and tell me what you think:

Also, I'm thinking of taking a course in bag designing. I looked up around the net, and found some options. If you know of a good school that teaches bag designing, let me know, or recommend me on one. Thanks!

Bags Day

Once in a while, I upload pictures of my bags for you to see. Yes, not everything here is about blah blah blah talking. There are people who actually prefer seeing rather than reading. So today I'm showing you 2 more bags:

Doing Something Your Style Versus People's Style

If you've read last posts, you'd know I'm preaching for finding your own style and not compromise. Most people appreciate it. I do believe in it. But what happens when without noticing, all of a sudden, you start making something that is too much not your style? You're being too much into the latest fashion and start forgetting your own style. Don't know about you, but I'm not gonna do or wear, or watch something I don't particularly like only because it's trendy. People use to say: "no, I'm wearing it because I like it, not because it's trendy". But sometimes people lie to themselves. Because the media or people around, whatever, get into your head and convince you that it's pretty, and you think it's true because you're being blinded by the very thing called "fashion". And I'm not only referring to clothes. And as you know, fashion changes all the time. One day you find something really pretty, and the next day you wanna throw up. Here! The fashion affected you, it caught you and you didn't even see that coming!
So how do you find the fine line between your style and street style?

I have no trouble looking at something, bags for example, and say that even though it's not my style, I still appreciate it and think it's beautiful and well made. I can see through my taste and give it my real opinion. Sometimes I don't like the fabrics, but I can still see the good side in it.
I like looking at bags in the stores, and see what the fashion is. For example, the today's fashion in the bags department is big bags. As for myself, I prefer smaller bags. And I know that if I want to sell, I need to make bags that people will buy. Obvious, right? But I still need to keep it my style. The thing is, if today's fashion is big bags and I make smaller bags, there will be people that will look for them, because most of the bags are by the fashion, big. And when people know you have a different kind of bag, they will come to you. Because you're different.

People today are looking to be different, but in a good way. Let's use another word: special. So I need to help them. I'm not gonna make 2 bags the same (unless asked to), so the bag will be special and give that person a special kind of feeling. That way, you go with the flow AND stay true to yourself.

Same with fabrics. I see many fabrics that many people use over and over again, and you see so many bags with the same fabric. And a lot of times, it's not a fabric I like. And I'm not convinced they (bag maker) like. Again, it can be that they're blinded by the trend. Fashion victims? Now, I'm not making an inclusion. But don't buy something or do something out of something others like, just because it's the fashion.
The fact is, yes, if it's the fashion people will buy. But I believe you have to break the fashion in two, say "not me! What are you gonna do?" and make your own. Because later on, it might pay off. People will notice you more, give you more attention. You will stand out. In the future you could be the next best designer (in all areas, not just bags), and you will be thankful to yourself and your style.
Being proud of your creations and you style is really important. So the real answer to yours versus theirs question, is reinvent the wheel - know the fashion and what people like and be ready, because any minute now, the fashion will change once again. You can look at fashion bags, take it in, and scramble it into something else. Or just look at its features and think how you'd do it in your style. Find the fine line and use it. Don't let fashion invent you, let yourself invent the fashion. That's the key I'm talking about!