The First Bag

My mom made me my first purse, the first ever Journey Bag, for my birthday. I’m pretty sure it was my 10th birthday but I can’t quite remember. But I do remember how excited I was to see the piece of art that was presented to me by my mom.

I grew up with my mom constantly making things. Up until that point, clothing and children’s clothing in particular, was what she was most often creating. Delicate appliqués on tiny cotton t-shirts, made-for-spinning circle skirts and headbands that felt like little crowns. My childhood was a constant dress up party.

For whatever reason, that year I requested a purse but not just any purse, I had ideas. I wanted something that had lots of pockets for stashing things. I wanted special pieces of fabric to be used. I wanted it to be safe for traveling. And I wanted something that absolutely no one else would have.

And my mom made me just that: the most unique purse that was all mine with lots of pieces of fabric that each had their own story.

I don’t remember when she started calling them Journey Bags, but thats what they have been for me: my journey bags. It’s turned into a bit of a tradition for her to make me a new purse for a new adventure I was about to embark on. So I have in my collection a purse she made me when I first moved to New York. Then an LA purse. Another one for when I travelled to London. I have my rehearsal purse. And my beach bag. And Disneyland bum bag. And a Berlin bum bag too. The list goes on. Each new journey I have taken I have done with a Journey Bag around my shoulder.