Monday, March 03, 2008

Who you associate with.

There is an old adage about choosing your friends wisely. This is true even online.

Back in Nov 2006 I became obsessed with the Zelda's. I waffled and sighed and made the bag my screensaver. I made a poor girl at work so crazy that she offered to pay the return post if I bought one and didn't like it. So I purchased a beautiful one from DreamWeavers in Morocco. (PS they are charming people with superb customer service).

It was gorgeous, well made and worth the price. (High praise from me). I do not mind paying a little more money IF the item is worth it. We own a Dyson - Love it. We paid a little more for the dishwasher a few weeks back so that it would be SS inside - worth it. But I will fume for a long time if I feel cheated. (probably should get therapy, but in the grand scheme, that's trivial).

The poor bag went back, and hopefully is currently living with someone that loves it. She couldn't be put in my cubby at work - too long and pokey. Wouldn't stay on the passenger seat of the car - too slippery. Tipped up like a reverse yoga bag if I put my phone in it. The double strap thingy irritated my Sonographer's Shoulder. It stuck out from under the arm and was constantly brushing up against neighboring dirty cars.

Ever since though I have made it a point to fondle Offhand Designs bags. I like the new Tonya but it is wrong for me on so many levels. So is the Zhivago. Now they are discontining the Zelda Tote. And I had been pondering that one. I could replace the strap with a Gel strap that wouldn't cut into the joint. You could wear it crossbody, except it's a bit rigid, not as rigid as the Zelda though. It has the outside pocket for my phone. It's truly a Shoulderbag, so I would have my hands free. It has the snappy top that I adore. And it's on sale in a couple of places or I could pay full price for a particular fabric that I think is the Meow. But it is fabric and a bit broad in the beam.

Let me insert here that I do not traditionally carry a purse. If I am shopping, my wallet goes in a pocket, my phone goes in a pocket. I put my lipbalm on in the car before I get out. If it's a leisurely day I take a crossbody bag for sock knitting. Which if I'm just running in for library books or whatever, I leave it in the car.
However with advancing age I am slowly working my way back toward some grace and Fem Shui. I have been practising carrying a handbag on my days off. Work days involve either city buses, shuttle buses, or .6 mile hikes to work and I usually schlep a bag with lab coat, lunch, snacks, etc. I would like to schlep with more style please. But the bag can not have so much style and hardware that it weighs like "Hoffa" empty. Oh, and for those that remember the bag I made? It was eaten by barbed wire. Sigh.

Okay, back to the point, which was Associating with Like Minded people. I wandered over to Ravelry and found a board called "Knitting Bag Lust". What a treasure trove! People's opinions, reviews, and photos of the inside of bags. Why don't people who are selling a bag as "Knitting bag" show the inside to prove why it's different? If you have an issue -ahem- with bags, do not go here. Live in ignorance. They review different brands I had never heard of. And they come back in a few weeks when the romance has worn off and give it another go.

They almost have me convinced that perhaps I should go with the Namaste Laguna. A bag that when Sheri introduced them I puhshawed. Since then I have heard them referred to on several podcasts with much saliva slurping. It is apparently lightweight, easy to clean, tactily soft, good pockets, adjustable strap, and sorta fashionable. It is also apparently the size of a Morris Minor. However, it is floppy and would hang a little oddly with only a small amount of stuff in it. So I was thinking of using it as a tote replacement during the week and as more handbag practise on weekends. (I'm too young for a fanny pack.)
I love the Olive colour, but one of the ladies on the board offered me a very good price on her Granite one. (she is tiny and it is too big, hanging to her knees if she uses the handle) Either way it's only a 1/3 of the price of a Zelda Tote. And I could probably resell it if it's completely impractical. Several of the colours are sold out nationwide until April.

What's a knitting obsessed unfashionable girl to do?

6 comments:

ChelleC said...

My opinion, and it's only an opinion, is that if that girl on Rav will sell you her Namaste for 1/3 price of Zelda, I'd give that a try. Like you said, you can probably resell it if you don't like it. That way you'd know if that bag works for you or not, and it's an inexpensive way to find out.

I have long admired the Zelda bags myself. To me, the Zelda tote looks a bit diaper-baggish in shape, but again, go with what YOU like and want. If you absolutely have your heart set on one, it may well be worth the price. I find something I don't like about every single bag I buy - knitting bags and regular purses included.

Wendy said...

Not buy the Knittube, that's for sure - that bag is totally crazy.

The Laguna looks sweet to me.

w

Jennifer said...

I bought a Malibu in Turquoise and really like it. Namaste bags are huge, but relatively light. Getting a Laguna in a good deal would be awesome! I belong to that group too. It's a dangerous place.

ChelleC said...

Oh great, now you ladies turned me onto those bags and now I want a Laguna bag in either "olive" or "saddle" color. Argghh!!!!!!

ChelleC said...

Probably saddle. Only $59??? That's not bad, even at full price.

Anonymous said...

Buy what you like and try it out. If it doesn't work, send it back.
Besides you are not unfashionable and even if you were, I would say the same thing- Buy what you like!
I have got a winter coat that is butt ugly, but I wouldn't be without it when the weather temp goes down to zero. I like it and I don't really care what anyone else has to say about it. Kisses! Shelly in Omaha