Stupid Hurts

I am rubbing neosporin on my face like it is lotion now. But honestly I don’t think this all will scar once I am healed up and my tan evens out. Aside from that I actually realized one of the fingers on my left hand is broken once I let the drugs wear out and I tried to open a bottle.

I had purchased new a bike on Monday but I was reminded why I don’t like aluminum bikes. The first being road noise, that bike was really really loud. Second it vibration it was a bit uncomfortable. There is a long list of others I will not get into here. The specifications read of the bike read carbon fiber seat post. When I got home bad enough the seat post didn’t have assembly lube on it, but it was actually a carbon fiber sticker wrapped around an aluminum seatpost. It was listing as having a carbon fork. The bike actually had an aluminum fork installed. I think with a fair amount of upgrading it would be ok, but I was offered a new steel bike that had most of the parts I wanted already for the some price. So I returned the first bike today and I pick up the new one tomorrow.

Now time for a new messenger bag.

Progress.

Since I haven’t been sleeping lately, I have had some free time on my hands. I took the time to make myself another bag since my winged bag was wrecked by my trip to California. I have since patched that bag up, but it is nice to have an excuse to make a new [tag]messenger[/tag] [tag]bag[/tag]. The new bag is actually made from part of several older bags I [tag]salvaged[/tag] and cut up so it went together a lot faster since I didn’t have to make straps. The stars where interesting to [tag]embroider[/tag] and I had fun making them.
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I haven’t really been up to much lately. But one of my favorite ways to pass [tag]time [/tag]and get ideas is the messenger bag group on [tag]Flickr[/tag]
Several of my bags are posted in there, as well of several other amazing works of [tag]art[/tag].

A bit back I found this picture on flickr and decided I wanted to reverse [tag]engineer[/tag] a [tag]bag[/tag] from it.

It became even easier when I found a picture of his all his bag parts laid out, then I just had to use the items lying around the room for reference and I was able to draw up my own [tag]pattern[/tag].
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I finally finished my own [tag]messenger[/tag] bag using the new pattern I drew up tonight. I think I did a fairly decent job in the end. I plan on going riding with it tomorrow to see how it feels. Since there are a lot fewer pieces it took less cutting and sewing and it weighs tons less, it also has fewer pockets as a trade off.
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This was also my first trying [tag]appliqué[/tag] in a very long time. That was a lot of fun and I am pretty pleased with the results of the entire bag overall.
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Some time last week I decided I had gotten tired of looking at the scraps of fabric floating around my room so I started on the construction of yet another another messenger bag. Plus I wanted to address several issues I ran into while constructing my last bag. I cut a few corners due to the size of the bag. And since I know what I am capable of I am unhappy with just settling. So once this one is done I may just give my smaller red and white bag to someone. The only bitch part is the fact it has a much nicer set of nice buckles on it.
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The only thing left to do to the bag is attach the flap to the main body, but before I could do so my machine started really acting up. It seems like the timing is off. So I don’t think I will be able to finish anything until I find time to take it apart and service it. Unfortunately I also need to pull apart two bicycles and do a few other small things on my list, so it may be a bit before I get around to it.
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It is going to be a fair amount of time before I order some more cordura to make a new bag. But when I do I really want to try this pattern from Adam over at Zugster bags next.

While I was living in [tag]Oklahoma[/tag] I had gotten started on a new [tag]messenger[/tag] [tag]bag[/tag] because my daily bag (Seen here) can be a bit too big and a bit unwieldy at times. Unfortunately before I ever managed to finish it I got sick. But looking back at the pictures the color combination was pretty hideous. So it may just be for the best it got [tag]scrapped[/tag]. [newline]
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So last week sometime I started an idea in motion and got started on a new bag. [newline]
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I did learn that basic sewing machine doesn’t really like 1000d [tag]Cordura[/tag]. I ended up breaking 4 needles over the course of making this bag. I still have plans for some art work on the outer flap. I just haven’t gotten around to finishing it yet.
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This one weighs a lot less as well. My other bag weighs nearly 5 pounds empty, this one tips the scales at a little over a pound and a half.

So I have managed to put 50 or so miles on my new bicycle. Not very many for me, but I have been busy with another project lately. Aside from needing to finish my saddle adjustments I am pretty happy with my purchase. I think I will be able to make it across county on it will little issue at all.

The other project that has been taking up my free time is a new messenger bag. Originally I was looking around online trying to find a decent place to order one from, but I couldn’t find one I liked for a reasonable price or wait. One of the places I found has a six week lead time on bags. the other wants at least 150 dollars. While I was bitching about this fact to someone online, they made the comment “why don’t you just make one yourself.”

I apparently had forgotten I kinda know how to sew. So a trip to the fabric store and several hours of cutting pinning and sewing later I have a pretty good start going towards my very on one of a kind messenger bag.

I think I have made pretty good progress on it thus far, but since it is all hand sewn it has been a little slow. At this point I only need to attach the shoulder strap, make a strap pad and finish sealing up the top and it will be done. Hopefully I can manage this in one or two more days since my current bag is dying a very slow and very painful death.