A MUCH AWAITED PUBLICATION! (AT LEAST BY ME)

Last year I submitted the 2 collage handbags below to Haute Handbags magazine. Right before Christmas, I got an email from the editor telling me that the 2 purses below had been chosen for publication and asking me to write a technique-based article about the bags! I was delighted and honored and felt as though the Cosmos had sent me the best Christmas present ever! I submitted the article in early January and then began the waiting game until the scheduled release date of April 1. Would my article actually make it into the magazine? How would the pics look? How much, if any, of my original article would actually be published? Until the magazine is all laid out and put to bed, nothing is certain.

About 2 weeks ago I finally got an envelope from Stampington & Company which indicated on the front that it was my complimentary artist copy! At last! Except the envelope was empty. Yes, e-m-p-t-y. The magazine had been lost in transit. Now, I really, really wanted to see the article. My Sis finally found a copy in her hometown last weekend and read it to me over the phone -- at least I knew that it existed. But I still could barely wait to see it for myself.

Well, last night I finally found a copy on the shelf at my local Barnes & Noble. I am very pleased with the article and the pics! I hope you will let me know what you think!

There are also many, many other lovely purses and instructions: one by Sandra Evertson, along with a free online elements sheet you can download to make your own reticule sets, a beautiful Birdhouse Bag (which I think I will have to make), and some elegant BECOMING JANE (Austin) bags by Kristin Robinson. If you love purses, you will want a copy of this edition.

I was particularly interested in an article about a group from Oklahoma who call themselves The Ephemerites. They did a purse round robin and the bag is gorgeous! When it is returned they are going to donate it to a charity auction. I love the idea of a round robin purse. I will have to mull this idea around a bit.

Anyway, that my big news. Thanks for letting me toot my own horn a bit!