[Insert Hail to the Chief here]

[stoney321]

Yeah. Obama? He's going to be our next president. I for one couldn't be happier.

I don't think that's how you get Hillary's disgruntled supporters. (I like how an "aide" claims that McCain knew about this before Palin was picked. And the IMPORTANT PART is that she's keeping the baby, because they are Strong On Family Values. ...teen pregnancy and sex before marriage is now under the Family Values umbrella? Huh!) And this rumor, if true, would be absolutely devastating to her campaign. What a soap opera!)

ION, I have just made my own messenger bag and it's kick ass. Pics to come once I have my camera charged now under the cut!

My problem with available laptop bags are that they either aren't big enough (I have a 17" laptop) or they aren't cool or hip looking, or they are KA-RAY-ZEE expensive. I found one that was totally cool, but it was over 200 bones. Um, no.

I was at Urban Outfitters with my sister the other day and saw this cool looking rug. (I've been looking for material that was either pop-art or graffiti inspired. That's hard to come by!) So anyway. This rug. PERFECT.



(These next 2 pictures are over-exposed, so the color isn't as bright and I'm too lazy to fix it. *G*)


The back view with the flap opened


The interior, lined with foam padding and an extra pocket in front of the laptop sleeve for papers, etc. I made an inner pocket for my charger.

Now, I still have to hand tack down the lining, so that's why it's puffy and wonky looking. I was just excited at how it turned out. :D I want to add a thin, stiff strip of leather inside so I can hook pens to it and keep them out of the way.

I also need to add the velcro closure to the front and a velcro tab over the laptop compartment, but that's all handwork for later tonight.

Yay Mormon-arts! Hahaha. If anyone wants the pattern, I made a diagram up in photoshop so I could remember the dimensions. I couldn't find ANYTHING online, so that's my contribution to the world at large.

HERE YOU GO:



(Happy birthday to romanyg and mere_ubu!)

Comments

[elisi]

This race is going to be appointment TV me thinks... *grabs popcorn*

[stoney321.livejournal.com]

I think this might encourage them to stick with things that are really important, like national security, jobs, rising cost of living, and not, you know, who sleeps with whom. I don't think they want to go there.

[demonqueen666.livejournal.com]

You realize, if that earlier rumor is true, this poor girl has gotten knocked up twice and forced to deliver (alright, she may have chosen to keep it/them, and if so that's obviously perfectly fine, but given the McCain Campaign Family Values the truly uneasy-making idea that she never was even allowed to consider abortion has to come up) under the age of seventeen. Good god almighty.

Honestly, I'm thinking it doesn't even matter if it's true. The sheer amount of muck-raking this could stir up for the Republican side could sink McCain single-handedly.

...YAY!!!

[stoney321.livejournal.com]

I KNOW! Isn't that horrible? "No, your mommy believes in Family Values, so you can't have any birth control and you have to have your babies and not be able to go to college and grow up. Think of mommy's campaign." Gah.

I <3 Obama. I heart him so much.

[anelith.livejournal.com]

That is a gorgeous bag you made! You rock!

I'm still scratching my head over this Sarah Palin choice. BIZARRE.

[stoney321.livejournal.com]

Thanks, Anne! I'm liking it, that's for sure.

And agreed: what a random selection they made. (Unless it was just to pick a woman, in which case, why not Kay Baily Hutchins? Or Christine Todd of Kansas? Huh. Weird.)

[a2zmom.livejournal.com]

I don't think it was bizarre at all. Very smart and very calculating.

There are people who will vote for McCain solely because he's progressive enough to have a women VP. Plus it mollifies the conservative right wing who will now be out in full force drumming up votes for him.

As far as daughter getting knocked up, I've noticed that people are hypocrites when it suits them. Jamie Lynn Spears seems to be a poster child for the family values group, this girl will too.

[thebratqueen.livejournal.com]

Awesome bag!

And I love how McCain knew about the pregnancy beforehand considering that he barely knew about Palin herself beforehand.

[stoney321.livejournal.com]

Thank you!

Yeah - I'm calling total bullshit on any McCain peeps knowing about that. There's NO WAY. Also, how much you wanna bet that come GOP Convention "I accept!" speech that Palin is no longer the Veep candidate?

[a2zmom.livejournal.com]

Considering the daughter is 5 months along and the baby is only four moths old, that rumor couldn't possibly be true.

Maybe her daughter can blame it all on Jamie Lynn.

I am just disgusted that right wing lunatics refuse to allow kids to have access to birth control. While I would rather that HS kids not have sex, there is wishful thinking and reality.

[stoney321.livejournal.com]

...I thought the baby was born in 2007? Hmm.

Nonetheless, the CURRENT pregnancy is enough to flush them down the toilet, imo. And we're in complete agreement on birth control. Wish in one hand and shit in the other, and see which one fills up faster, right?

I would like to know

[floweringjudas.livejournal.com]

...who the FUCK names her kid TRIG.

Re: I would like to know

[stoney321.livejournal.com]

Please tell me you've been to the Utah Baby Namer site. Because those are the people. :D (Mohonri Morianchumer, Laura. A kid from Lehi. WOW.)

Also, I kinda dedicated that mish fic to you because I'm happy you came out and got away. If that's weird, I'll fix it. I'm just, like, really proud of you.

[jennem.livejournal.com]

Dude.

I would BUY that bag from you.

It looks awesome.

[stoney321.livejournal.com]

Thank you! Man, it is so hard to find something that isn't rip-stop nylon (which, that's fine, but I want something a bit more splashy) or really expensive leather.

I almost made it out of this cool shiny-shiny red vinyl. The idea was to make decorate cut outs on the front flap and put a contrasting vinyl underneath. Then I saw the rug... haha.

[positivelyb.livejournal.com]

I'd love the pattern, if you wouldn't mind. It looks amazing, and I've had similar troubles finding an affordable laptop bag that is both functional and not ugly.

[stoney321.livejournal.com]

Thank you! And you bet! I don't have the strap on the pattern, as you can buy straps, but the way I made mine was to cut a 4 inch wide strip measuring 43 inches, folded it in half, sewed the edge, and affixed a twill basting strip over the raw edges and sewed over it again, to make it look like I didn't use an iron on basting. :)

I'm putting the pattern up under the pics. Let me know if I need to better explain anything...

(You can fudge the numbers to fix your particular lap top. Basically, add an inch to the width and an inch to the length and follow the rest of the pattern.)

[lynnenne]

That is one cool-looking laptop bag! Beautiful handiwork! *admires*

[stoney321.livejournal.com]

Aww, thank you! I am digging it, that's for sure. <3

[beadattitude.livejournal.com]

Such an adorable bag!! So well done!!

I am floored by the whole Sarah Palin babygate thing. OMG.

[stoney321.livejournal.com]

Aw, thanks! I luff it.

Isn't this whole thing CRAZY?! Why would they pick someone with so much drama in her life?!

[aimeelicious]

Get a celebrity to carry that bag and you'll have a fashion company going. Seriously. =P

<3

[stoney321.livejournal.com]

Hahahaha, cool! You know, I used to make money on the side sewing diaper bags and other baby items, then I quit when it stopped being fun. If I ever go back to sewing, I'll HIRE someone to do the hard work.

[knotted-rose.livejournal.com]

That is such a cool bag! Go you for making it! Woot!

[stoney321.livejournal.com]

Aw, thank you very much! (I just uploaded the pattern I made, if you're interested.)

[kseenaa.livejournal.com]

So the election is on now, eh? I am quite happy to, if Obama is your new president. We have been following some of the "action" in Sweden to. At least what is said in the newspapers and the news on TV here. :-)

[stoney321.livejournal.com]

Not quite, we're just ramping up to it. (It's in November) I'm really hoping that Obama wins. My husband knows him and he's just genuinely kind and thoughtful.

[spiralleds.livejournal.com]

I hope for the sake of everyone involved that the rumor isn't true. If so, what a poor, messed up kid. (Both Trig and Bristol.)

The creepy thing is that if it is true, it's a Desperate Housewives plot come to life.

[stoney321.livejournal.com]

It's all so sordid, right? I think it was Colin Powell who said that if it wasn't for the scrutiny and pressure on the families, he would have considered a run. I don't blame anyone for not wanting to get involved.

[beanbeans.livejournal.com]

I'll be completely crushed if Obama doesn't win this race. He's wonderful- I feel hope again whenever I see him speaking, and that's huge. The Palin choice was a pathetic, half-assed, clueless effort to win over women voters, imho. FAIL, McCain. FAIL.

Your bag is gorgeous. You did a fabulous job on it, stoney. Thanks so much for sharing the pattern.

[stoney321.livejournal.com]

I feel the same about him. My husband knows him from a few years back, and he (my husband) changed parties after talking with him a few times. He's a GREAT speaker and a great person. Two thumbs up!

And thank you so much! I'm glad to help people get a pattern. I've been searching and searching for something that I liked.

[essene.livejournal.com]

THAT'S AWESOME.

You're so multitalented I want to curl up in a ball adn die. What use am I to this world when there's the glory that is you??

Also...if you really loved me, you'd make me one.

[stoney321.livejournal.com]

You know I had to go through years and years of Mormon indoctrination to learn how to sew, right? It's like... that's the payment for skills. :D

I guess I don't really love you, then. I thought I did, but... Your lines in the sand are hard to cross. *woefilled me covered in sackcloth and ashes*

[mere-ubu.livejournal.com]

Thank you, ma'am! :D

Ooh, your bag turned out gorgeous. And the print is made of groovy. I can't sew for shit, but I so admire the efforts of people who can. *hands* Not that you sew for shit. This is coming out all wrong! *deep breath* Bag pretty. Pretty bag. Me like!

[stoney321.livejournal.com]

You are welcome, I hope it turned out lovely for you!

And I knew what you meant, so don't worry. You think I'm fat. WHATEVER. *cries*

[deevalish.livejournal.com]

That bag is awesome sauce! Go you and your mad Mormon skillz!!

This election is certainly not boring.

[stoney321.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much!

And dude: it is NOT boring at all. I'm biting my nails from now until November.

[solipsiae.livejournal.com]

Okay, I'm REALLY jealous at your made sewing skills. My mother is a quality seamstress too but I've never taken time to learn how to do it. I want to learn how to sew and cut and pattern now!!

[stoney321.livejournal.com]

Shoot, come on up and I'll teach you how! The most difficult part is the cutting and laying out the pattern. The actual sewing is zippity-quick.

(And thanks. I totally love my bag.)

[bitchygrrl.livejournal.com]

The bag looks great. I am so stealing the pattern.
This Palin mess blows my mind, but so far they have been spinning it to their advantage. The conservatives are supporting the fact that she's keeping the baby, saying it shows her her pro-life values. It just makes my head hurt the level of delusion going on with this whole thing,

[stoney321.livejournal.com]

No need to steal! Take with my blessings. :D

This whole things needs to be over NOW. I know there's going to be some serious nail biting at my end until November.

[brunettepet.livejournal.com]

Late to the party, but I had to comment that that bag is crazy cool! I love the fabric and the detail of the flap stair stepping over the pocket is really eye popping. Excellent work.

[stoney321.livejournal.com]

THANK YOU!! I liked that detail, too. *beams*