Let us speak of tote bags.

I love tote bags. If I could travel easily with just tote bags, I'd do it. In fact, whenever I go somewhere, whether for an hour or a week, the endeavor always involves one or more tote bags. There are tote bags everywhere in my life. Here is just one pile.

There are library-themed tote bags:

 

That last one is adorned with this button, which I love:

I have knitting-themed tote bags:

The button on the Knitty bag (this is my favorite bag because it is deeper that any of the others, plus it has handles long enough for it to work as a shoulder bag):

It is not really such a great button, but I was so delighted to find a knitting button at an anarchist book store that I had to buy it plus the little one next to it, in commemoration of Andrew being arrested at the Republic national convention in New York in 2004. Yep, that's my boy.

Some bags are travel souvenirs. I bought the one on the left, below, in Chinatown in New York City when I accompanied Matthew's high school drama group on their 2004 trip to see Lion King and Phantom of the Opera on Broadway, and the sock bag on the right at Purl Soho when we went to NYC for Andrew's graduation last spring.

The Chinatown bag works best as a bag for smallish projects because the handles are probably not sturdy enough for hard wear. It is currently transporting a pair of socks and a pair of fingerless gloves, both WIPs coming soon to a blog near you.

This messenger bag came home with me from the Madrid airport on the way home from South Africa.

It also caused me to be the target of some very pointed questions from Homeland Security at JFK. "Why does this bag test positive for explosive materials, ma'm?" "I have no idea, sir."

Then Customs started in on me about all the biltong I had in my suitcase. But that is a story for another day. Today we are discussing tote bags.

Some commemorate places and events gone by.

 

Clockwise from upper left, a bag from the Minneapolis public school my kids went to and loved; a Marshall Field bag I inherited from my MIL, who lived in Chicago most of her life; a Macy's bag I have no remembrance of acquiring; and three souvenirs from past tax conferences, aka knitting retreats with CPE credit.

Arghhh! The electricity just flickered -- it happens frequently in the *summer* -- and I lost about half this post because I had forgotten to click on Save for rather a long time. Crap. Retyping...

I try very hard to remember to keep these in my car to avoid having to use plastic or paper grocery bags:

Just last week the mail carrier brought me these to help in that endeavor:

But why am I boring you all with an exhaustive recount
of my vast inventory of tote bags? I told you all that so I could show you this, my latest treasure-toter:

It was handmade in Guatemala and is my belated Christmas present from Andrew. The flowered section is hand-embroidered:

Beautiful. Now, what to carry in it?

Comments

[Barbara]

I have that same orange tiny folded bag! I didn't buy the whole set, 'cause I also have more tote bags than I can use in this lifetime. But, I do have a green foliage one and a red one with flowers... love them. Keep them in my purse all the time.

[Nora]

Very nice collection, particularly the newest addition! (I may never think of my continuing ed classes the same way again - never thought to bring knitting with me!)

[Cathy-Cate]

That is a very impressive collection and rivals my mother's!

I have a Montessori kid right now (the other's an alum, it's also a 'charter school' within the public school here, WONDERFUL teachers and school!); Marshall Field's, sniff, sniff, just not the same in downtown Chicago with a different name; and I am looking forward to my knitting meeting with CME credit next month! (and I'm taking the train there, so double knitting bonus!)

Good taste your young man has, there! But you knew that.

(My husband apparently got in the FBI files at the infamous 1968 Democratic National Convention in Chicago....)

[cursingmama]

A sweater.
(its quite beautiful - you're one lucky mom!)

[Carole]

I thought I had a lot of bags. Clearly, you are the bag queen. Or is that bag lady? LOL

[Chris]

Suddenly, the number of bags I have seems reasonable. Paltry, even. :)

[Susan]

Wow. I always thought I had a lot of bags. Boy, was I ever wrong.

[Jeanne]

Biltong? That last bag is truly beautiful.

[Amy]

The Christmas gift clearly has to carry something special.

[sophanne]

really, ravelry should have a section in "about me" called project bags!

[Kirstie]

I have that Knitty bag! Well, I think it's the same one - it says 'Knitgeek' on the back. Tote bags are great - my collection isn't quite so extensive yet, but I'm working on it.

[Carrie K]

Your belated Christmas present is lovely.

Wow. That's an impressive collection.

Aren't lions also hunters?

[Sheepish Annie]

I used to carry a "purse." I got over it. I am middle aged. I need lots of stuff if I am going to survive an average day. Now I carry a gi-normous bag that is quite tote-like and feel safe in the world.

Totes rule! As does your collection. The new one is to die for!

[Julie]

I love totes!

Your newest one is gorgeous!

[lisa]

Not your groceries! It's a beautiful bag!

[Miss T]

No wonder I can't ever find any bags--they're all at your house!

[elizabeth]

Why, yarn, of course!

[tut-tut]

You can also KNIT yourself another one, too . . .

[dale-harriet, down here]

I thought my "secret addiction" was uncommon! I have a bunch too - the husband calls them "toy bags", because I put in books, notebooks, markers, snacks - usually some kind of a bear, often a kaleidoscope of some kind...you just never know what you'll NEED! I admire your collection, my frien'.....