I share space with a husband, a son, two and a half dogs, and a cat. I do not share space with cigarette smoke. When I'm not sewing I'm reading and when I'm not shoveling snow I'm growing food. And yes, I do rock some pretty sweet dreads. The Breakfast Club. 1985. "Basket case" Allison dumps out her huge bag of stuff and says "you never know when you may have to jam". And my obsession with bags begins.

My bags are all handmade, by me, almost exclusively with recycled, upcycled, re-purposed or rescued materials (though I can't resist picking up a great fabric if I find it on the cheap). I salvage everything I can from buttons and zippers to hardware and patches. I especially love to work with great vintage clothing. Giving a new life to much loved but long forgotten article is always special. A piece that has a history all it's own. I enjoy knowing that while it may not look the same, it can still be important to another person, continue on it's journey and not banished to the closet or worse yet, a landfill.

Using fabrics with a history means there are sometimes slight variations in color or texture, perhaps a tiny hole or a spot. In other words, Character. If these are significant it will be noted in the listing and pictured. My bags are unique! Either one of a kind or a very limited production. I rarely use patterns that I didn't make myself(I only own a couple), and when I do I always alter something somehow. I prefer to work freehand, designing as I go, so I couldn't make two exactly the same if I tried. I am not a professional seamstress and each bag is perfectly imperfect and sturdy. I'm an anti-plastic--bag-ite. If I forget my reusable shopping bags when I'm out I make myself carry it all in my arms. True story. I hate to see things go in the trash if they can be used for something. The world is divided into two groups for me. Would make a great bag and would not make a good bag. I can't even really clothes shop anymore because I see cool grocery bags and bag liners instead of shirts and jeans. But don't worry, I still have clothes.