Getting lost can help you find a new bakery.

Looks good, huh? 

Today, I went back to the purse factory and the small showroom floor shop selling purses.   They had lots of new additions of the new spring line.   The song, "IF I were a rich man" was spinning in my head... (ok, with a variation ... "IF I were a rich woman...") as I looked at all the lovely new models and colors.   A room just full of leather purses.  (Sorry for those that think it is wrong to make things out of leather.)

I did buy a basic black leather purse and a red one which is what I had gone there to purchase the last time-- but, I got overwhelmed by all the choices and left the store without my black or red purse.   I did buy a blue and green and a medium brown leather purse though on my visit several days ago.

So, today... I did buy my intended colors.  I stuck to the plan (mostly).   It's a good thing that I did go back because... there were ONLY 3 black purses being sold.  I got the only one that was a solid black.  AND, 'bonus' ... I liked it.  No, I loved it!

And, the other day... while cooking something or other.  I cut into a bell pepper and look at what I found.   Has anyone ever found this cute little thing inside?  It was kind of like opening up the kinder eggs to get the surprise toy inside. 

Today, on the way home from the 'purse' store... I decided to go to a different location, that is near my house, and I put this place in my navigation device.   Oh my... does my 'navigation' device like to take me traveling around.  Even in my limited knowledge of the area... I knew that I wasn't going the right way.

I love the little spiral pepper center.   So, I finally found a place to pull over and wouldn't you know the exact place that I found just happened to be next to a house and my car was partially in front of the wrought iron gate that locks 'driveways' and houses in Italy.   Not a problem 'usually' but, I just happened to glance over and sure enough there is a car 'with a driver in it' and clearly wanting out of his driveway!  Oops.   At this point, I just put in my own little Italian town and drove home.   That was enough excitement for the day.  However, in my 'random route' that the navigation system was taking me on-- I did find a tiny little bakery and I bought a small round loaf of whole grain bread.   I didn't have my camera with me so I couldn't take a photo of the very old building where this tiny bakery was located.  So, the 'different route' wasn't a lost cause because I love home-made Italian bread- especially the whole grain breads.  I just cut the bread open and I added the photos.  The inside is the softest bakery bread that I have ever purchased.   I grabbed some soft local cheese and spread it on pieces of the end piece that I cut off of the round loaf.   So, so, so good... ubbmsuummummm nom, nom...  (that's me eating the bread) *P.S. You can click on the photos for an even larger yummy view.

New Purses...

Generally, I don't tend to carry purses.   Let me clarify that... I used to intensely dislike carrying purses.   IF I had to carry a purse- my motto was... "The smaller the better" and about all that would fit would be my keys, some money, and my ID.  However,  IF I could get away with it- I would just put my ID, some money, and my keys in a pocket.   However, now that I am all grown-up and like to haul my knitting around with me along with a water bottle and sometimes my Ipad (before the glass screen got shattered) or my Kindle Fire (bought as a replacement this summer so that I'd have a way to use email/etc. while recovering from my knee surgery).  I also need to carry an emergency inhaler and my classroom keys.  I usually carry one of those small packages of tissue.   The tissue carrying is from living in Asia and most of the time there wouldn't be any 'tissue' in the public bathrooms- so, you learn to carry tissue with you at all times.   I also carry one of those small bottles of hand-cleaner for the same reason... you'd be surprised at how often that there would be NO SOAP or paper towels in the public bathrooms too.   I also usually have a small knitting project or something to read with me.  Add of this together and it is TOO MUCH to carry around in pockets.   Even coat pockets.   So, I find that I need to actually carry a purse around.  I do tend to still haul around a small backpack- maybe it is the 'I'm not going to carry a purse around defiance?'   Who knows?   However, I have decided that I do need some 'nice' purses in a variety of colors that will match almost everything that I might find myself wearing in the future... and I felt obligated to purchase at least ONE Italian purse while living in Italy- since, I didn't do so the other 2 times that I lived in Italy. A good basic soft tan color.  I loved this one.   Do you see the KNITTING stitch pattern?  HOW, could I not buy this?  And, it is in blue-- one of my favorite colors too!   It is a soft swede leather.  You can just barely see the light tan top... I like how the handles sometimes have stitching details on them.   Very nice quality purses and of course... I would 'never' pay full price.  I have so enjoyed my times living overseas-- getting to buy the local stuff at prices far, far less than what the store purchase price would be.   .  I might go back and buy another purse.   In a black color?   I wanted to go now while they still had some of the 'winter colors/styles' in stock.  I wish that I had thought about going earlier when there were even more choices.

So, when I was out doing my shopping errands this weekend- I went to an Italian purse designer and bought a few purses at awesome 'very discounted' prices.   That's one thing- I got sturdy leather purses because- I want the purse to be able to handle being 'thrown around' since, I'm not all that careful- I think it is from years of hauling backpacks around while shopping in the markets and traveling about all over the world?

Felting success and good intentions...

I knitted this purse 1 1/2 years ago.  I used the new yarn line from Knitpicks (at the time anyway) that had a gradual long color change.   I used a rainbow colored yarn and I also used a solid blue to tie the colors together.

Then, I felted it... dramatic demonstration of how much the felting changed the size of the purse,
 utilizing my 'fun fur' flip/flop that I made that summer too.

Have I put a purse handle on it?   No.   Have I gifted this to the person that I knitted it for?  No.
Have I knitted a purse for myself in a different colorway?   No...

Ahh, such good intentions.   Honest... I had them. 

Meanwhile, I need to get back to unpacking the boxes of 'stuff'... that the movers left.   Because, as much as I'd wish otherwise I know that they aren't going to unpack without my help.

PS  I discoverd a great 'local' neighborhood pizza/pasta/restaurant tonight.   Food was great, cheap, and served in large portions.   The bread served was also fresh and very good.   I wonder if there is a 'bakery' in town somewhere?

So, what have you been putting off?   Any knitting projects like this in the 'almost' finished stage/s?