Chipmunk Love

A Chipmunk.

That's what my adoring husband said I resemble when I get a new purse. I don't know how to take that comment.

I guess he means that since I am NORMALLY a talkative person, whenever I get a new purse, I hole up like a chipmunk and retreat to a corner, and fill my new purse with stuff from my old one.

Did I get that right, honey? (smile, smile, wink wink)

I guess he's a little right.

There is nothing as exciting to me as getting a new purse, and I've been wanting a new one for awhile.

I was tired of my old one, and tired of ones that have a closed top, that when my cell phone rings, I have to scramble to get open in enough time that my phone doesn't STOP ringing. UGH! Anyone else have this problem, or is it just me?

So, last week I was in Target. Not for a purse mind you, but I DID walk past the purse aisle. I didn't see anything that made my heart go pitter patter, except for this really cute, but plain bag. I think what I liked most about it wasn't the one pocket inside (that is SO not enough pockets for me) but the COLOR of the bag.

It was a greyish denimish color. Clear as mud?

Here. This is what it looked like.

Oh, and did I mention, it had a really cute liner? Well, it did.

I walked away from it and didn't buy it that night. When I had saved up my whole $13.00, I decided to purchase it this week. I knew I wanted to change it. Knew it NEEDED to be changed. I thought I could do it. I HOPED I could do it.

So, last night I decided to take the bag apart. I have never done this kinda thing before, and I was a little scared.

I started from the bottom. I used my trusty seam ripper, and removed the stitches from the bottom and the bottom of the liner.

Now, I didn't take pictures as I went. I don't know how tired you all are of my step by step tutorials, so this step by step will be a mystery.

Once the bag was open on the bottom, I cut off about 6 inches from the bottom of the whole bag. I didn't want a LONG bag. I planned on using that extra to make some ruffles for the front, as well as some more pockets for the inside.

Since the bag was also a bit on the thinnish side, I decided when I added pockets, to reinforce it a little too.

Here's how it turned out.

4 more pockets, plus a pen holder, and here is the outside.

Since I'm addicted to these fabric rosettes lately, I decided to add some. I made them, and just pinned them on the front, so I could use them on something else later.

I'm happy with the outcome. I guess we'll see how it holds up. I like the size of it. It fits my small notebook, wallet, camera, phone, etc. and it isn't too tight.

Thanks Target! Another thing off my to-do list.