Well, sports fans / fashion fans / art fans / fans of quirk (I consider you ALL my own...) it's that time.  Last year about now my friend Rosemary Price, managing director of eWomenNetwork here,  forwarded me a little something about the (then) upcoming  Independent Handbag Designer Awardsalso known as the "Handbag Academy Awards".  They were seeking entries, and they even had a category for Best Green Handbag.  As you probably know, my one-of-a-kind bags are all of recycled and "found" components.  Green.  Perfect. 

That "little something" from my friend turned into quite a "big something" for me.  The Awards organizers received over 700 entries from all over the world for prizes in five categories, and my handbag "Summertime" becoming one of five nominees for the 2008 Best Green Handbag!   I went to New York City in June for the ceremony, held at the beautiful New York Historical Society on Central Park West in my old neighborhood.  I met loads of wonderful other designers, Iconoclast Award Recipient Judith Leiber, and generally had a great time re-visiting my city of 11 years in a totally different capacity from my former self!  

Although I wasn't the category winner--Ecoist, the "woven wrapper"handbag folks deservedly took home the trophy--it took me weeks to "wipe that silly smile off my face"!  Here I am at the awards, with "Summertime", and the silly smile.  I'm holding another of my "All About Time" series of bags, an evening bag entitled "Night Time".  

So NOW, it's time for me to pick this year's entry!  It was very tough choosing which of my bags to submit last year, so this year I am calling in recruits--you!  I can only enter one, so through my next few blog entries, I will show you several of my favorites.  Please let me know what you think; either through a comment here, or a phone call, email, whatever works for you--I SO APPRECIATE YOUR INPUT!  Here's my first candidate:  "Serengeti Tears".It's a large vintage Italian woven paper & cotton tote with double rolled leather handles, a magnetic snap top closure & interior zip pocket, a beaded tassel, iridescent rust glass beads and a large, carved wooden giraffe face.  It measures 18"x 11" x 6".