Or should I say, do one for me. After making all of the bags for various entities, who shall remain nameless, (you know who you are, Lois), I decided that I would like to do one for just myself, incorporating just the features that I liked from all of the bags I have done. I wanted a Book/Messenger bag that was simple, yet could handle enough things I carry, to be useful. I actually have a couple of commercially made messenger bags that I use for bicycling, so I know what I want and don't want in a simple bag for use off the bike. Not lots of compartments inside, like the messenger bags I have, but just big enough to handle a few things, like books and magazines, I might want to carry while walking about. What I came up with is shown in the pictures below. The size is 16" x 16" x 2" and is made in the Log Cabin Pattern. Under the flap on the second picture is shown the two 8" x 8" pockets on the front of the exterior of the bag, with covered flaps, with snap closures. It has a long enough strap to allow wearing it like a messenger mag across the body from the left shoulder, or for use on the right shoulder hanging like a shoulder bag. (Duh! That's why they call it a Shoulder Bag, Silly, Me). It is the culmination of ideas from all of the other bags I have done and represents one of the nicest ones I have done, so far. The Batting I used is a Cotton/Soy Batting, that I got recently, and I really like. It doesn't have a gigantic amount of loft, and yet gives definition to the pattern without being hard to sew through, or too "Puffy". Not very expensive either. Kind of an everyday batting choice. Here are the pictures showing the open and closed views. The Pattern is done larger in an 8" size than the others which were 4", so it has fewer squares. I like this bag a lot. John
The Bag: