OOPS, I DID IT AGAIN - ANOTHER PENDLETON BITES THE DUST...

If you're gonna' run with scissors, you're bound to cut a really nice wool blanket once in awhile! Mom always warned me against running with them, but at the very least to keep the cutting end pointed down - or at a blanket! It's happened to me TWICE now.

The good news is, it wasn't a total loss - in fact, it wasn't a loss at all! Four shoulder bags and one clutch purse from one seriously HEAVY wool blanket purchased in Santa Fe over the winter - two bags finished this weekend.    

The blanket was a little larger this time - a Pendleton Beaver State (64 X 80"; 82% pure virgin wool; 18% cotton ) San Miguel pattern blanket, to be exact - patterned after Native American blanket designs.

This blanket was incredible on BOTH sides (as are all of the Pendletons) and provided for two totally different looks/"feel" of bag, though the same pattern was utilized for both.  The lighter of the two (it may look cream, but it's a very pale grey) was finished with the same rusty brown lining as the previous red Pendletons, and has dark brown leather thongs.  The 1.5" button on the front is an OLD one. Antique, and made from a horn (don't ask me from what animal), with a detailed brass inlay.

The second bag was finished with red lining to match the red wool cut from the same blanket, with grey crosses that echoed the rest of the design.  Finished with a 2" geometric bakelite button, silver-tone grommets, and black leather thongs.  For those that sew, the pattern used (with my own modifications) is the Lucille Bag by Abbey Lane Quilts.

Both of these are going to their new home in Colorado.  Both will be very loved, I'm sure of it.  Hope your week is off to a wonderful start - watch running with scissors.  You never know what you might cut!

AND THEN THERE WERE TWO...The Pendleton Bags, and a Wintry Glimpse at the Inspirational Town of SANTA FE, NM on "TRAVEL TUESDAY"...

And then there were TWO!  Revisiting the Pendleton Bag post from last summer, where my Mom and I purchased a mighty wool blanket in Santa Fe, solely for selfish fashion purposes.

Summoning up courage to take scissors to it took quite some time - hers came first...

Mine was finished during the past two weeks - two beautiful bags from one lovely, lovely blanket.  The Mexican silver pins belonged to my great-grandmother, and were destined for this - no longer relegated to the dark, top drawer of the dresser.  The blanket turned out to be such a great investment, we did it AGAIN, this January...ahhhh, January.  I know my friends in the Midwest and on the east coast cringe at the thought, but I wish it was back, already!  We are high eighties, with scorpions galore (including the one in the house last night - they go underground when the temps drop, and I don't see them for a few glorious months).  I hate scorpions!  With a passion!  

ALWAYS an inspiration, Santa Fe in the winter is quiet and beautiful - definitely the "off" tourist season.  We popped into town for three days, met by below freezing temps but no snow (the trip back did provide freezing fog, however).  This is the breathtaking Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi, in the heart of old town.

Daytime was a little crisp, but it's quite a different experience walking the town without droves of tourists to contend with - not that we don't consider ourselves well within that definition.  It's just a "different", relaxing atmosphere - and FAR cooler than the beautiful, but beastly hot summer months.  You can also find lodging at off-peak rates in the winter months, which is an added plus.

Mariachi Buenaventura - always a fun drawing point for one of our local haunts (Tomasita's).  The all-female Mariachi group performs on Tuesday evenings.  The music is as wonderful as the musically gifted girls are beautiful.

A walk through the deserted streets on our way to dinner provided a far different look from daytime, for a favorite shop - the one where the newest Pendleton was purchased (a stunning grey and white one with red crosses...scissors are almost ready to fly on that one, now that the nerves are out of the way with the first two bags).  This window display - beautiful and ominous at the same time - belies the rest of the Native American treasures housed within.  This is a DEFINITE must-see - THE RAINBOW MAN on Palace Avenue.

Which led us to this dark "alleyway" next door, through which we wandered to our newest culinary discovery in town - one we have avoided in the past, for fear of it being more of a "touristy" spot (we tend to frequent the "locals" eating spots outside of town, for the more authentic stuff - OK, we're looking for the hot stuff).  We couldn't have been more wrong, all these years...

And, I hesitate to let the cat out of the bag (though I realize we were probably the last people to know about this joint, sadly), for fear of dining overload leading to us not being able to get a seat, but it's FABULOUS!!! - all the way around.  THE SHED has been cooking up incredible New Mexican meals since 1953.  Situated in a brightly painted hacienda that dates to 1692 - outstanding traditional dishes featuring Hatch, NM green chilies, blue corn tortillas, and a surprising twist in french garlic bread to sop up all the goodness.

Santa Fe in winter - a definite must see...from beauty and the beast, margaritas and fabulous regional cuisine...and bag inspiration - leading to MORE bags.  It's a hot town, even in the cold!

THE SANTA FE PENDLETON PROJECT...I CUT UP A SERIOUS BLANKET!

We bought a ridiculously gorgeous, expensive wool blanket with every intention of taking scissors to it.  It then took me a couple of months to work up enough courage to actually do it! Splitting the cost with my Mom, on our way through the southwest, this summer - an idea that both of us had been mulling over for a few years, but never bringing it up to the other.  This summer we did - "How about sacrificing a wool Pendleton blanket for the sake of fashion accessories"?!

Hers was finished this week, and flew home with her to CO, just this afternoon.  Large hobo bag - a pattern modified to accommodate the design woven into the blanket; straps of my own design; with the addition of grommets and leather ties.

Lined with a heavy/sturdy brushed cotton/denim (so soft to the touch) in a gorgeous rust/brown.  Two zippered pockets in this - I salvaged the blue tag from the blanket to sew into the lining, under my own label.

Brass grommets and leather thongs cinch in each side.  Hesitation on my part, but this thing sewed like "butter"!

A large, thick, black Bakelite button carved into something reminiscent (at least to me) of a poppy design - the center reminded me of a SW conch, but it had me at the stylized look of a Georgia O'Keefe poppy.

While the body of the bag is mainly deep red and black, this rust/black design ran the length of each side of the blanket, making it perfect for the straps.

I'll show you the other substantial purchase I made, later - more of the gorgeous blanket for now.

One bag done - a second/mine to follow.  Fraternal in nature, they will be, though cut from the same cloth (this was a 39" x 68" blanket). Loved having my Mom here while this was in production...she provided that little "nudge" (the old "Atta' Girl!") of confidence I lacked on my own with this one - Mom's are like that, aren't they?!  My sewing skills and inspiration come from her - I am happy to be able to give a little of that back to her.  I think she quite possibly left here a happy camper today.