Granny Square Fanny Pack

Purses 

Granny square is a classic crochet pattern.

It refers to any type of crocheted square that is worked in the round.

It uses double crochet stitches worked in clusters of three with two chain stitches separating the sets.

Left: Small coin purse. Right: Fanny pack.

Not to bore you with crochet talk, I'll segue into my brilliant idea of how I used up such squares.

I stitched several of them together to make a fanny pack for keys and a cell phone.

Perfect for a walk.

Four of them sewn into a larger square, then folded in, transformed into a small coin purse.

That's right.

Even though the world is becoming more digital, there will still be occasions when you may need change. Instead of keeping it loose at the bottom of a gangly bag, I can use this stylish container instead.

So, grannies need no longer be square. They can be hip as well, literally and figuratively.

  

Polka Dot Puppy Wristlet

 Purses 

I won't lie.

This whole getting older and being responsible thing is getting in the way of fun. The prime of my life has already passed me by, and it didn't even have the courtesy to let me know it flew overhead.

But...

I've delighted in the thought that I can continue to surround myself with youthful stuff that just crack me up every time.

Take this adorable puppy wristlet, a random gift from Second Daughter.

So cute! With a quilted floral body and pink polka dot ears, dangling paws, and pert tail.

In lieu of lugging a saggy Grandma bag, I think I'd get up and groove with this perfectly-sized pooch (pouch?)

Shall we go?

My puppy is eagerly yapping toward Tropical Trends. Time to shop for an axolotyl mood ring and a lucky maneki-neko cat.

When God Created Fathers

By Erma Bombeck, humorist and author 

When the good Lord was creating Fathers, he started with a tall frame.

A female angel nearby said, What kind of a Father is that? If you're going to make children so close to the ground, why have you put the Father up so high? 

He won't be able to shoot marbles without kneeling, tuck a child in bed without bending, or even kiss a child without stooping.

God smiled and said, Yes, but if I make him child size, who would children have to look up to?

And when God made a Father's hands, they were large. The angel shook her head and said, Large hands can't manage diaper pins, small buttons, rubber bands on pony tails, or even remove splinters caused from baseball bats.

Again God smiled and said, I know, but they're large enough to hold everything a small boy empties from his pockets, yet small enough to cup a child's face in them.

Then God molded long slim legs and broad shoulders. Do you realize you just made a Father without a lap? The angel chuckled.

God said, A Mother needs a lap. A Father needs strong shoulders to pull a sled, to balance a boy on a bicycle, or to hold a sleepy head on the way home from the circus.

When God was in the middle of creating the biggest feet any one had ever seen, the angel could not contain herself any longer. That's not fair. Do you honestly think those feet are going to get out of bed early in the morning when the baby cries, or walk through a birthday party without crushing one or two of the guests?

God again smiled and said, They will work. You will see. 

They will support a small child who wants to ride to Branbury Cross or scare mice away from a summer cabin, or display shoes that will be a challenge to fill.

God worked throughout the night, giving the Father few words, but a firm authoritative voice; eyes that see everything, but remain calm and tolerant.

Finally, almost as an afterthought, He added tears.

Then he turned to the angel and said, Now are you satisfied he can love as much as a Mother can?

The angel said nothing more.

Floral Coin Purse

Purses 

A purse blog on Father's Day? Of course. I cannot seem to run out of Dad stories, all of them my favorites. Here's one to remember my Dad by.

*****

Some people don't believe in heroes, but they haven't met my Dad.

Dadee is one of my favorite parents. When I obsessed with, wanted or wondered about anything, or thought of a project, he was my go-to person. No and not possible were never options for him.

Thus, for my fixation on my tenth year on an upgraded purse, I went to Dadee.

I entreated him, Bili mo ako ng pitaka. Buy me a coin purse. (BTW, Mie had already said, No.)

The object of my childish desire had been prominently displayed on the front glass case in Kaga's corner tienda store - a 4.5" x 4" floral-print purse with a clasp closure.

I thought it was elegant and classy. Its two separate compartments could hold coins, candy, and other small items.

Internet pic only

At first, he grumbled and lightly coughed, his mouth quirking in a crooked smile.  I could so guess the myriad words on the tip of his tongue that for a minute, I wasn't as sure of my ground.

He shrugged, flashed a sheepish smile, and said with a mischievous grin, What did Mummie say?

When I simply rolled my eyes up, understanding lit his eyes. He gave an apologetic goofy smile, thought for a while, and then...  Yes, he said.

Yes, with a little half-bow, as if he were some sort of man-servant from ye olden times.

I remember stepping into his embrace, unable to say anything because I hadn't been so excited about a Yes since he last said I could join the Girl Scouts.

Everything else that followed is a blur now, but what remains to this day is a warm sense of home filtering through me, making my heart ache sometimes.

The confidence that with my Dad, almost anything was possible. 

Hongkong Pouch

  Purses 

Anticipation of pleasure is, in itself, a very considerable pleasure. - David Hume

I was, maybe nine?

Aunt Luchie and Uncle Ed brought me back a gift from their honeymoon in Hongkong.

Internet pic only

Wow! A gift from abroad. 

It was a small, leather bagger pouch with Chinese-like inscription. My first real coin purse.

To me, it conjured images of dancing dragons and bursts of colored light from fireworks. Perhaps, a rickshaw? I'd like to ride in one.

I could imagine red paper lanterns strung across the street.

And food! The smell off spices carried in the steam from sizzling pots. Skewers of diced meat on a makeshift grill peddled curbside. I could sit cross-legged at tables with people eating rice with their hands.

I'd love to be there. And for sure, I'd bring my Hongkong purse filled with coins for pork bao and shumai.

I'd been looking forward to it.

Anticipation was half the fun, I'd been told.

P.S. I did have a one-day stopover in Hongkong when I emigrated to America in 1973. Now married and with a six-month old baby in tow, I recall feasting on Chinese lauriat in a sit-down banquet there.

Surprise! I still had with me my Hongkong purse, turned yellow with age.

Then again, in 1981, our family of four traveled to Hongkong, enjoying the sights - and dim sum, of course. The trip was part of our vacay itinerary that also included Hawaii.

My pouch was no more.

 

Paper Coin Purse

Purses  

What was wonderful about childhood is that anything in it was a wonder. It was not merely a world full of miracles, it was a miraculous world. - Anonymous

Cousin Didi and I had been making paper coin purses way before we heard the word origami.

Any scrap of paper about 8" X 11" would do. We tore colorful pages off the Pilipino komiks or Liwayway magazine.

Follow along to learn how to make it.

(1) Fold the paper lengthwise for a guideline. Fold the left and right ends toward the guideline.

(2) Fold the pointed end in.   

(3) Turn the paper over. Fold right side 1/3 of the way in.

(4) Do the same with the left side. 

(5) Fold top down to reveal pointed side.

(6) Fold down bottom, folding corners into small triangles.

(7) Insert into bottom opening.

(8) Decorate.

Voila, all done. Be sure to try it.

We used our small wallet to store our five-centavo coins. Then, like old ladies with our purses pressed close to the chest, we'd skip along to Aling Deling's sari-sari store.

Whoever said money couldn't buy happiness simply didn't know where to get Choc*Nut or Mik Mik.