A new job . . . a new purse!

I have some exciting news to share with all of you, my loyal blog readers. This coming year I am going to be teaching 3rd and 4th grade at Penn View Christian Academy. For those of you who don't know, Penn View is the school I graduated from, with my degree in elementary education. It is also the school where I student taught in the 3rd and 4th grade just this past year. I am excited to be shaping lives to reach out for Christ! Please pray for me as this is kind of new to me. I know that it takes a lot of work, but I am looking forward to almost every minute of it.

Anyway, this new job opportunity brings an opportunity for a new tote bag. I have always loved purses, and no teacher is complete without a tote to lug all of her books around in. So, I looked at Wal-Mart and a couple of other stores, and found nothing that I could afford with the five dollars I had left of this month's "spending" money. A little later in the week, I went to a craft shop that was going out of business. They were selling material for half price, and I saw and fell in love with two pieces of upholstery canvas. I bought 1/2 yard of each, with a little money to spare! Then I came home and made this bag. It has the outside pocket that you see, and then a handy-dandy inside pocket with slots for pencils, pens, scissors, and post-it notes (One of my favorite supplies).I have never mixed patterns (polka dots and stripes) like this before, but if Vera Bradley can do it and be all the rave, (see bottom picture) than why can't I? I am looking forward to filling this bag full of books.