2007 was a good year. I was a partner with my law firm, our kids were both in college and I was participating in two groups that were beginning to stoke the artistic flames in my heart. One group met weekly and we shared our creative writing efforts after completing a 12-week “Artist’s Way” course that was introduced by Julia Cameron by way of a book published by the same name. The second group – the Material Girls - was all about fabric, sewing and quilting. I was a newcomer to this world and I did not view myself as a quilter, but I continued to show up as we shared our “show and tell” projects over a glass of wine once a month.
It was the Material Girls who urged me on as I made one of my first handbags, using four of my husband’s retired silk neckties. The silk fabrics were rich in color, the contrasting paisley, stripe and diamond patterns complex. Although petite, the handbag sported all of the features of a designer bag – double-stitched fabric handles, snap closure, a delightful stack of designer buttons and a fussy decorator trim across the front pocket that added flair and dimension.
In 2007, I had become interested in a new Indianapolis nonprofit – Trusted Mentors – who provided volunteer mentors to assist individuals and families who were either homeless or otherwise at risk of losing the roof over their head. As part of their fundraising efforts, a Trusted Mentors’ postcard invitation came in my mail the same week that I finished the silk tie handbag. The postcard announced an upcoming fundraiser, a handbag competition, to raise funds for the nonprofit’s mentor volunteer programs and I decided to enter my handbag for consideration, complete with a catchy application title, “The Ties That Bind Us Together.”
The competition was held in the Indianapolis Arts Garden at Circle Center Mall, just a few blocks from my law firm’s offices. It was a Tuesday and I arrived during my lunch hour, joined by my law partners – Deb, Linda and Betsy – and my most dear administrative assistant, Linda. I was in my usual lawyering uniform – business suit, pearls and those infamous “travel buff” stockings and black heels. The Arts Garden was all a buzz and the 20+ handbag entries were on display and doing their very best to generate votes, supported by money contributions, both from the crowd and through the nonprofit’s online portal. The three handbags that raised the most money would be recognized as winners at 1:00 p.m., the close of the competition.
Much to my surprise (and true elation), “The Ties That Bind Us Together” handbag won first place and raised almost $1,000 in support of Trusted Mentors. The woman who contributed the most money “votes” in support of my handbag took it home, never to be seen by me again, although this first Wabi Creations was featured in a 2009 edition of Haute Handbags in recognition of the nonprofit’s handbag competition.
Thirteen years later, I have used thousands of my Wabi Creations’ sew-in labels to adorn my many handbags. Although hundreds were never finished or ended in the trash, there are a wealth of totes, cross body bags, clutches and other sweet little creations like the “Ties That Bind” handbag out in the world today, helping us to celebrate, yet again, the incredible beauty in our lives. Blessings abound indeed.
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