Gosh all fishooks has it been a busy couple of weeks!
The wood fired oven project is in full swing and was actually starting to start to look like something!
Yet I say "was" because I spent most of last week covered in mortar and brick dust and sweating my butt off and making fairly decent progress despite the withering, 95+ degree heat. Decent progress right up until the "cheap" 10" wet saw I bought from the cheap tool place finished eating its first blade, that is. I can't say I was expecting greatness from a cheap tool store wet saw, but still.
Anyway, at about 25% of the way through my project, I was looking at ~$200 or so just in blades, and suddenly my "cheap" saw was only a hundred bucks or so less than it's quality counterpart which, needless to say, put it solidly in the "useless piece of junk" category.
So it went back to the cheap tool store for a refund which leaves me saw-less until my new one arrives. I'm replacing it with the real thing, the pro's favorite, a Felker FTS-150. A big girl tool to be sure, and yea, I'm one excited tool geek.
Rest assured, I'm sure it'll be back to 95 and wicked humid as soon as I'm ready to get back to it, but I'd like to think not having to battle with a piece of junk tool will help me keep my cool.


I've also been hard at work on a brand new handbag pattern that's been rattling around in my brain for months. It's a two-handled, satchel style with a wide-ish bottom and a zipper top. I pretty excited about it since it incorporates a couple of new techniques and features I've been wanting to, um, get a handle on.
Ahem.




Anyway, the prototype you see above has been with me in test carry stage for a couple of weeks, and I must say I'm absolutely loving it. It's big enough to hold lots of stuff but not too deep and it's easy to get in and out of but secure. It sits up nice and proper with a wide, firm bottom (the final, for-sale versions will have feet) which is something I insist on in a satchel-style bag. Enough structure to keep it nice and tailored and neat looking without being hard and stiff. Plus, the tubular leather handles feel great and are just long enough to allow the bag to be thrown over a shoulder when you need your hands free.


With a few tweaks, it's a swimming success that I'll be adding to my permanent lineup in either fabric+ leather or all leather. I'm hoping to have at least a couple for sale in the shop very soon.
And speaking of for sale, take notice locals...I'll be at the Spirit of the Lakes Festival on Saturday, July 18th, 11am-7pm in Mound. Do come and say hi and hang out with me for a bit on the shores of beautiful Lake Minnetonka, won't you?

p.s. check in over at Modern in MN for a more detailed oven update+ photos shortly.

Labels: satchel bag