This bag started on day when I received some abalone cabs and was looking at them.I was stunned at the beauty and thought about what would be the perfect rosette for this. My mind went right to a sea turtle. It was very fitting. Everyone who knows me knows how much I love beading turtles. Turtles really mean something to me. I feel I have learned from them in this lifetime. For one they are so ancient and represent Mother Earth who I love dearly. Their wisdom teaches to slow down and be in the moment and enjoy life. For me when it’s time to go inside and be quiet then do so. Be still and go within calming the mind and refreshing your energy. In water they can move fast and gracefully. So the wisdom in life for me is when life is moving fast and intensely be sure to breath and move mindfully through life’s intensities. If you get off track come back and start again from where you are.
I looked at this beautiful abalone cabochon and picked out the beads I thought would look best with it. So this is the turtle.

Once the turtle was finished it was time to make a choice on what color of leather would bring out the abalone. I looked at some smoke leather, chocolate leather , green leather and then the burgundy leather came in. WOWZA! It was perfect ! It totally brings out the colors in the abalone cab.
Take a look

This burgundy leather bag is ready to ship in our Etsy shop.
I decided on this style bag because in the meantime between making the turtle and the leather purse I had another inspiration flow though me.
So many of us love to journal these days in different ways. Some of us like to sort out our minds this way , some like gratitude journals , dream journals, you get the drift. I have enjoyed journaling mostly by writing a prayer , poem , inspiring thought and gratitude thoughts. I love coloring in mine . It’s fun and makes the journal pretty.
My inspiration is it would be great to have a very special bag to keep a small purse size mini journal in for when you go for a hike or want to sit by the creek , ocean , river or sit in your yard like me and watch the birds.
I needed a bag that would also be big enough for your cell phone and keys.
This is the kind of mini journal I am thinking of. My friend Carola Bartz makes and sells these in her Etsy store

I really love Carola’s Etsy shop.
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Moving on this this week…..
This week I got in some new mint green beads and created this smaller size turtle.


I really love how this creation turned out. I haven’t decided what color of cross body bag this will go on yet. It is still a work in progress.
Thanks for taking the time to stop in and read about my art life!
Love , peace and blessings!
Debbie