season for change

 

Four score and five years ago…

Once upon a time there was…

Did I ever tell you about the time…

 

Hmmm?   How does one just launch into the announcement that she is closing up her blog?

Say…that wasn’t as difficult as I thought it would be.   Yes, yes.  It is true.  Stepping My Way to Bliss will be closing at the end of August.  There are many, many reasons for it but here are just a couple:

1.  If you have ever read my About page, you know how and why this all got started.  Some of those reasons now seem invalid.  For example, Bliss House doesn’t seem new to me anymore.  It fits and feels like an old, comfortable shoe.  It is my home  not just my new house.  Maybe we will be here for another 10, 20 years, maybe not.  In any case, I don’t feel like I am “arriving” any longer.

2.  The “Stepping” part of my blog title has come full circle.  Once Belle Fille got married in May, I felt like there was closure to being a step-parent.  I mean, yes, of course I am still (and always will be) a Belle Mere. But when Belle Fille said “I do”, she also became her own woman.  She now belongs with another.  Our parental responsibilities have shifted from active participants to casual by-standers.

3.  Now that I am working more, my time is more valuable.  Valuable enough that I am not sure I want to spend as much of it in front of my computer.  There are many other things I want to have time for so I am always seeking balance.

With those reasons (and others), I almost decided to quit blogging altogether.  When chere Fiona ended her blog last March, my sadness was mingled with jealousy.  I started asking myself why I continued to blog.  There really isn’t a theme (or point?) to my blog.  I am not a “Fashion Blogger” or a “Minimalist Blogger” or a “Foodie Blogger Extraordinaire”.  I am just kind of an “all over the place blogger” which was making posting more and more challenging.  I don’t know why I feel I must pigeon-hole myself but I guess I want to.  When a theme is involved, it keeps me centered and focused. I decided that if I was going to continue blogging, I was going to have to simplify my methods.

I began thinking about what makes me tick.  What  things /topics do I really love?  Of course there are many.  But I kept coming around to three basic things (um, these would be the things on the shallow end of my deep thinking pool–just clarifying): I love all things vintage; I love all things French; and I love all things chic.  Sound familiar?  VintageFrenchChic is the name of my Etsy store…definitely a pattern.  So I decided, if I was to continue blogging, I needed to streamline a bit.  Voila! A new blog…Vintage French Chic.

Some of you have already found my new blog.  Others have noticed my username change.  This will be a new format for me to continue writing (if you can call it that), experimenting, and sharing with the masses  the few who do read my blog.  I have designed the blog with simplicity in mind.  I will only have three categories to post in (Vintage, French, Chic) so hopefully this will keep me centered…and creative.  Another big change…I will no longer be Mistress Bliss.  Well, OK, I will be if you want me to be but my anonymous days are over–to a degree.  The new blog will definitely be a little more personal in feel and content.

So I will see out the end of August on Stepping My Way to Bliss with a couple more posts, including one last Visible Monday and the photo challenge.  If you would like to take a peek over at Vintage French Chic, I would love to have you for a visit.

Thank you for reading Stepping My Way to Bliss.   It has been a very enjoyable way to fly.  I am amazed by all the great people I have “met” through this journey.

Au revoir.

~~Mistress Bliss~~

UPDATE:  Changed my mind…this is the last post for Stepping My Way to Bliss.  Makes sense, don’t you think?

visible monday ~~ shades of brown (or an ode to vintage coach willis)

Bonjour, lovely readers!  Today is Visible Monday and  I give you moi in shades of brown.  Which is truly not a summery way to dress but alas I also wanted to show off my “new to me” purse acquisition (and please no reminders of my previous pledges to not buy any more handbags for a year–that deal is so off  now)*.

Recently I started following Atlantic Pacific.  I can’t even remember how I found the blog but I love her stunning array of amazing outfits.  One accessory that she wears often–and it looks great every single time– is a vintage Coach Willis in British Tan.  This bag looks great with so many of her outfits and she wears it with colors I would never think to pair it with.  I have a vintage Willis in black and it has become one of my favorite, go-to handbags of them all.

The Willis is one of those Coach styles I admired from a far for a few years.  Loved it, thought it classy every time I saw it but wasn’t sure it was really me.  Instead I ventured into the Rambler, the Janice’s Legacy and a couple of other classic Coach styles.  Most were too small or not adequate for my needs.  And then I started carrying a Nook.  My requirements in a handbag became very specific.  I found a wonderful style in the Coach Ergo #9033.  Love the simple lines, the outside pocket (a must) and roomy interior, and the shoulder strap length is perfect for me.  Then a few months ago, I saw a great deal on a Vintage Willis (black) and thought I would give it a try.  I have always admired the flap closure with turn-key lock.  Another thing I thought I might like is the cross-body option and, of course, the rear outside pocket.  I bought it and haven’t looked back.  I use it a lot and it gets compliments…because it is a classic.

After following Atlantic Pacific I became convinced that a Coach Willis in British Tan was now part of my destiny.  And wouldn’t you know…they are super hard to find in good shape at reasonable prices.  Black ones are a dime a dozen but the British Tan?  Either they are in high demand or there just weren’t as many made in that color.   I don’t know.  But I was diligent obsessive in my searches and finally landed a good deal.  She just arrived the other day so of course I had to have her out for a spin.  I played it safe and styled her with other browns.  I am very  happy to have another Vintage Willis and I know we are going to have a long, happy union.

handbag: vintage coach willis~sweater, top: talbots~ shoes: bass~necklace: vintage; watch~seiko

Oh!  I just love that thick, glove tanned leather.

Don’t forget to stop by Patti’s for more Visibility.

What is your favorite “go to” handbag?

~~Mistress Bliss~~

*for the record, if anyone cares, i did some purging this weekend and no less than six handbags will be leaving via ebay or etsy.  striving for balance one goodwill load at a time.

visible monday ~~ casual wear for the fair

Summer means many things to many people…sun, beach, swimming, ice cream, vacation, etc.  For me it also means it is time for the monthly antique fair which happens the last Sunday of every month from April through September.  I make it a goal to go at least once.  Last Sunday was my time.  It was hot so I needed to dress cool and smart to protect myself from the sun.  I also knew I needed to travel via bicycle so as not to buy anything more than I could carry home.  This is safe shopping for me…not that I still can’t manage a bit of serious damage.  You will remember that last year was a successful visit due to finding my wiggle dress which I wore as my mother-of-the-bride dress (not bought for that reason it just blissfully worked out that way).  What treasure would I find this time?

While wearing the very hat I bought at the fair last year, I set off to find “it”.  I know a certain blogger who will applaud my style…or attempt there of.   I  actually had a woman compliment it.  Said she, “Very cute hat”.   Said I, “Thanks… um, I got it here.”   I will bet I was the only person in that entire fair who could say something like that.  Check out my mode of transport:

(t-shirt, target; linen pants, jjill; sandals, birkenstock; cross-body bag, baggallini sidney; hat, antique fair)

Master Bliss bought it as my gift for our anniversary in 1998.  It’s getting old but I LOVE my bike.  I love the basket, the ergonomic seat (which needs to be replaced this summer), the color and style.  It is a GT Slipstream Cross bike (or hybrid).  I am not sure if they still make them but if they do, I can highly recommend it.  It has great design with the handle bars…I can sit straight while varooming around.  And does it have a bell?  Bien sur.

A cross-body bag is “absolument necessaire”.  I need my hands free for these type excursions.  Plus, it provides for clutz free browsing.  Some of the booths are narrow and cramped and the last thing I need is to have one of my beloved shoulder bags send a priceless Ming Dynasty vase crashing on the pig barn floor.

If you were to ask Mistress Bliss if she is excited about going to a crowded antique fair on a hot, humid day this is the reaction you will surely receive:

What can I say?  I am an antiquing moron.

What did I find?  Oh, a couple of little gems.  First, there was the need of replacing my old Sunbeam self-lowering toaster.  We have had one for years but it stopped lowering.  My dad took it apart on his last visit here…and then put it all back together.  I don’t know what we were thinking.  He is no electrical engineer…or toaster tinker.  So I was totally geeked (not hard to imagine, please see above photo) when I found one for $20!  And it fit in the bike basket perfectly.  However, it sadly left no room for anything else…

(this is just like the one i found but you can buy this one on etsy…sadly, not for $20)

…except for what could be taken home on my person of course.  I bought this fabulous aquamarine ring:

(have i finally found my perfect right hand ring?  for you astute observers, yes, this is on the left hand…but only for the photo)

I have had a love affair with aquamarine since 9th grade.  I chose that stone for my class ring.  Through the years I have had  a couple of other aquamarine rings but it is difficult to find genuine aquamarine that has good color and is not cloudy–without spending a mint.  When I saw this in the case, sparkling all its bluish goodness at me, I nearly swooned.  I thought for sure it was a simulated stone but its setting, and the fact it was at an antique fair, belied that assumption.  I asked to see it.  The lady told me it was a 2 carat genuine aquamarine stone set in sterling silver…and that I surely wouldn’t be able to find one with that color  and clarity in stores.  I agreed.  She was asking only $66 (a good price).  I said I would think about it.  And I did for nearly two hours as I walked around.  I couldn’t get it out of my head so I went back to look at it one last time.  I asked if she would take $60 (a better price).  She said yes.  I said, “sold!”.  I was thrilled…still am.  But common sense finally kicked in at that point and told me to get the heck out of Dodge before I bought anything else.   I left…pronto.  Not too bad of a day, I must say.

What is your favorite treasure find when antiquing?  Or  thrifting?

Remember, I am linking up with Not Dead Yet Style…so please check out the other ladies.

~~Mistress Bliss~~

visible monday ~~ patricia smith moon bag

Happy Monday!

The weekend was a pleasant one; we had rain (!), visited with family and spent time on Lake Michigan with some friends who LIVE on a boat (more about that next week).  How cool would that be?  During the winter months they rent a place on terra firma but in the summer they stay in a marina.  I often fantasize about living either on a houseboat or in a vintage Airstream.  People, like these friends, just keep the dream alive.   Hope you had a lovely weekend too.

I wrote the other day about getting one of MaiTai’s Horn bracelets, Senegal.  So of course I have been all about wearing it.  The first night I wore it, I received two compliments on it.  It is such a great accessory.  Interestingly, the day after I got the bracelet in the mail, I also received the Patricia Smith Moon Bag I won on Ebay.  Ummm….yes.  I do remember this post  (and this one) where I “vowed” to buy no more handbags.  I don’t know what to tell you.  And I certainly don’t know what to tell Master Bliss.  Well, actually, I don’t have to say anything any more because he says it before I can, “THIS is the last handbag for…” a week?  a month? a year?  It is a big mystery around here.  Now you understand how inherently flawed I am.

Anyway.  The Patricia Smith Moon Bag is one I have lusted after and stalked on various sites for YEARS.  Typically, they sell for some big bucks ($150-$300) range.  I bid on the one I won and got it for well under $100.  I was in a state of shock–still am.  Patricia Smith Moon Bags are iconic with the 1980s.  She personally painted/designed the interchangeable flaps that make these bags so unique.  You can read more here or here about the history of her company.  Now that I have one, I hope to find more flaps to change out on this bag in the future.  But for now I am insanely happy with the one I found.  And just look how great she looks with the Senegal:

I wore the above outfit the first day I received the bag.  Sorry about the first photo.  Master Bliss and I are still working on his technique and my photogenicableness (cool new word!).  So I am blinking/squinting into the sun without realizing one step forward would have prevented this sun-blanched look.  The following day I wore this with the bracelet and bag:

(a JCPenney shot to remind you of how truly uncomfortable I am doing this.  I need to have a pow-wow with you other Visible Monday ladies to find out how you have gotten comfortable in front of the camera).

Notice I am carrying the Moon Bag as a clutch.  However, there is also a long strap I can use on my shoulder or cross-body (tucked away inside bag).  I haven’t carried a clutch in years…probably since the 1980s.  But I am finding I love it!  I truly didn’t think I would like it.  It makes me feel very 1930s/40s movie star’ish.  All I need are a stylish hat and gloves.  And 30lbs off.  And seamed hose.  And a fitted suit.  And a cigarette (eewww.).  Hmmmmm.  Well, it almost makes me feel 1930s/40s movie star’ish.

Please check out the other lovelies at Patti’s Not Dead Yet Style.  And have yourself an awesome Monday!

~~Mistress Bliss~~

Spray Painted Mason Jar Inspiration!

Reblogged from lilibeth's garden:

• 

I stumbled onto these images yesterday and found them to be a sheer visual delight!  Apparently this is not a new idea, but it was new to me.  I'll definitely be copying this brilliant mason jar makeover project!

Joy's Ode to Spray Paint

Click the links below each photo for further tips and inspiration.  I''ll soon be making a trip to the local hardware store to see what lovely possibilities they have in the spray paint aisle!

Read more… 22 more words

LOVE this. As you already know, I love to find new uses for old things. What could be easier than this?

~~Mistress Bliss~~

visible monday ~~ white before memorial day

Greetings, blog-reading earthlings!

I hope everyone is enjoying the long weekend.  Our weather is gorgeous–making this weekend feel like a true kick-off for summer.  Yay!!

On Sunday I decided to wear white, quite rebelliously, before Memorial Day.  I know. I know.  The white “not before Memorial Day or after Labor Day” rule no longer applies but it is funny how ingrained certain “rules” can be.  I think living in a Northern climate made that rule more applicable for some reason.  I paired my linen white skirt with a light blue argyle sweater with some pops of orange.  For the record, I was freshly pressed (but NEVER by WordPress, oh no, everybody else gets pressed, mais pas moi, blogging almost 2 years and nothing–sorry. Rant.) before leaving earlier in the morning–alas, linen.

This photo session was taken outside.  I was really excited to learn more about my camera.  For example, the above picture was taken by moi (Master Bliss did most of the rest) because I finally figured out how to use my timer.  Then I found the “drive” mode which allows pictures in quick succession.  Do you know how many times through the years this would’ve been convenient?  Nevermind.  Perhaps it is time to read the manual?

(sweater, tank, skirt: Talbots; shoes: Clarks; handbag: Kate Spade; watch: Seiko via Ebay; pearls: from Grandma; brooch: vintage via Etsy)

You will be proud of me.  I wore my shoe sans nylons.  I am finally boldly going where every other woman has already ventured before me. : )  Bonjour toes!

Last year I read the book, “Parisian Chic” by Ines de la Fressange.  Since she is French, I took many (not all) of her suggestions under careful advisement.  As a result, I bought a (vintage) straw handbag (page 47) on Ebay to use for summer–of course forgetting I already had one that was my Grandmother’s.  I resold the one from Ebay on Etsy and have decided to use Grandma’s instead (not sure for how long as the straps are weak).  I pictured it here to see how it looks with a summery outfit.

The quick succession mode could capture everything…even rogue bug attacks:

Don’t forget to visit “Not Dead Yet Style”.  Have a fun Monday!

Yay or nay on straw handbags?  Which fashion rule(s) do you love to defy?

~~Mistress Bliss~~

vintage finds ~~ the perfect tablecloth sur la table (pour moi)

 

Serendipitous.

Great word for a great find.  Earlier this month I decided to poke my head in our local antique mall for some timely therapy.  Wedding prep was still in full swing and I needed a pick me up.  Some gals opt for a salon visit, this gal vies for antiquing therapy.  How delighted I was to find the  perfect tablecloth.  It fit all of my “perfect world” requirements for buying:

It was vintage.

It was used, or recycled, as we like to say now.

It was “french”.

And it was “chic”.

I have been half-heartedly looking for a tablecloth for some time because I accidentally spilled some fingernail polish remover on our dining room table.  It is not a big “stain” but it is an eye sore.  It took the finish right off.  So until I get ambitious with some chalk paint and re-do the table, a tablecloth became very necessary.

Many moons ago, in a house far removed from here, I had decorated my kitchen in a vintage–circa 1940s/50s–feel.  One of the things I would pick up at garage sales or antique stores were the old tea towels.  Absolutely love them and there are so many cool prints out there.  My favorite find was this one:

 

I just adore the French-themed print.  I found another one that similarly matched it but not perfectly–they complement one another, if you will.  Well!  How do you think I felt when I saw this hanging on a display?

 

Bonjour, bebe!  As I deftly unfolded it to check its size and condition, my heart was wild with palpitations.  Just beautiful!  The primary four colors of red, blue, yellow, and green match perfectly with the same colors I have with my Fiesta wear.  The blue in it matches my table and chairs.  It fit perfectly as a “topper” so I layered it (as the French often do) over a plain white cloth.  Now most people would stop there but my “inner old lady” got totally paranoid about something spilling on it and ruining it for life.  It’s not like I can just go get another one.  So out came the plastic cover.  I know.  So pas chic.  But it is of the utmost necessity to preserve this WORK OF ART, people.  Not to mention that I smile every time I look at my dining room table now.

On that same visit to the antique mall I found this  too:

It was just crazy…as if all the Frenchness that one could find in my little podunk town was all lining up in one fell swoop.  Merci!  I will take that too.

Don’t you love it when you find something that is SO obviously meant to be?  If anyone would like to know how to make a certain French pastry, let me know.  I can look it up and see if there is a “simple” way to make it.

Have a fantabulous weekend!

~~Mistress Bliss~~

final wedding craft and post before the big day

You might imagine how nutso it is here now.  But it is manageable nutso.  Yesterday was an exhausting day of running around and then hosting a dinner for Belle Fille, Fiance, MIL and us.  It was a nice time together–we watched (most of) our wedding DVD with the kiddos and then some of ”Father of the Bride” (Steve Martin version) because Fiance has never seen it…but we didn’t finish because we got too tired.  The Kiddos also taught Master and me a couple of easy “Latin” music moves–we are all set for partying now.

As you know, I fell in love with this…

…at the wedding we went to Sunday.  So part of my running yesterday was to find this:

and these:

to create my version of this:

Phew!  I am super happy with how it turned out.  I really hadn’t planned to use so many embellishments on it but I was having too much fun with the glue gun to stop at a the point when I passed “cute” to “gaudy”.  I think I can blame this erratic behaviour on listening to Big Band music while I worked.

See you all next week!  Enjoy, enjoy, ENJOY your lives until then.  Well, enjoy them even after then…you knew what I meant.

~~Mistress Bliss~~

it’s a book, it’s a purse….it’s a book clutch!

 

As the big wedding day looms before me, I find myself getting more excited about it–in a good way.  Belle Fille, despite having normal pre-wedding anxiety, seems very content and happy.  Master Bliss is rolling with things and trying not to over-react when a receipt flies under his nose.  I picked up my newly tailored vintage wiggle dress yesterday–it fits great and I can’t wait to wear it with all my fine accessories.  How many mothers-of-the-bride would dare to wear all vintage (with the exception of shoes…and if I could have found a pair…) on their daughter’s big day?  I have visions of the ancient fabric giving way during a pivotal moment…you know, like during “Twist and Shout” or something.   It would be horrifying…yet terribly funny at the same time.  Maybe I will pack a back-up dress just in case.

And during all this normal wedding prep I decided to get a little crafty.  While perusing books on Etsy one day I found a seller who had made purses out of old books.  Loved it!  I Googled tutorials on the internet until I found one that looked simple enough to do.  I made my first proto-type and was rather pleased with the results–despite the fact it was the first time in years I had sewn anything.  I showed it to Belle Fille and she loved it.  She asked if I could make her one and that lead to my deciding to make one for her and her bridesmaids.  I thought they would be nice “thank you” gifts and something they could use for the wedding if they wanted to but certainly don’t have to.

At first I was really determined to make them special.  I asked Belle Fille to find out each girl’s favorite book of all time.  With that knowledge I tried to find copies of these books so I could make the purses extra special.  That proved to be much harder than anticipated–and very time-consuming.  I wanted to use older books and to find them in the titles requested (Jane Eyre, The Great Gatsby, and Pride and Prejudice) meant I was going to be spending way too much money on a good, older copy just to tear it up.  I gave up that dream and instead found a set of Reader’s Digest Condensed Books on Etsy.  They are a nice size and when you get into volumes from the 50s and 60s, they were very prettily bound.  So I started with these:

I made Belle Fille’s first.  I found some fabric at a local store that actually had the music to the “Wedding March” on it.  Perfect.  I bought ribbon to match her wedding colors and I knew I had a plethora of buttons and vintage jewelry I could pull from for embellishing.  Inside Belle Fille’s I used the Wedding March fabric with a floral pocket.  Inside the bridesmaids’, I did the opposite.

Of course, as I was in my little happy crafting world, just starting to get comfortable with what I was doing, my sewing machine malfunctioned.  I think it can be repaired but I didn’t have time to mess with that now (if anyone can tell me why my needle will no longer pull up the bobbin thread before I start to sew I would appreciate it).  I borrowed my MIL’s even older Singer Sewing machine (1952) and it worked like a dream.  I finished sewing the purses this past Saturday.

The rather stinky part of the whole process is using E6000 glue to adhere the fabric to the books and do the embellishing.  I guess it is the mother of all glue but it has been known to “cause cancer in California”.  Well, I live in Michigan so I am safe, right?  It is very strong-smelling and despite working in well ventilated room, it would get to me.  I don’t like it.  Does anyone have other glue suggestions?  But it does bond well, I will give it that.

So here are the finished products:

Belle Fille’s is the upper left hand one.

I used these little shells from a necklace to put the girls’ initials on the books…keeping with the beach wedding theme.  The other embellishments included buttons, ribbon, vintage earrings and pieces from a bracelet.  All the books have the shells and a pink flower to make them “match”.

It was a fun project and a great way to re-introduce myself to sewing.  After the wedding I plan to make more and maybe, if my skills improve enough, I can add them to my Etsy store.  I think there are all kinds of fun things they could become…eReader holders, organizers, etc.

Do you have a favorite craft you like to do?

~~Mistress Bliss~~

P.S.  I would like to thank Viveka from “My Guilty Pleasures” and  Wendy  from “Chez Chloe” who have recently nominated me for a couple of blogging awards (the Kreativ Award and the 7×7 Link Award respectively).  I truly appreciate being nominated by these talented ladies.  Please visit their wonderful blogs to see why I enjoy them so.

accessories that pop with color

I had an exciting mail day the other day!  But before I share my newest vintage finds with you, let me explain one of my 2012 goals I made for myself.

Before the ”planning a wedding business” got going I had worked on a post that outlined some of my personal and household decisions I wanted to do or accomplish for this year.  Namely, in a nutshell, buy nothing new for the entire year (maybe longer).  If something was needed–clothing, household item, etc–I was going to exhaust resources (Etsy, Ebay, Craigslist, freecycle, thrift, barter/trade) to fill a need through reused, recycled, upcycled means.  I mostly live like this anyway–it comes second nature–but I was trying to make it a conscientious goal for 2012– to not buy one thing new (except underwear, personal use items, food–obviously).  I have read a lot about reusing, recycling, etc. and feel very strongly about doing/living it as much as possible…for many, many reasons.   Well, then, Belle Fille got engaged and my main, overall goal, got side-lined.  However, there are still ways to incorporate my ideals into the big day to come.  As I have shared before:

I “plan” to wear my vintage wiggle/cocktail dress which was found last year at an antique fair.

I found a necklace and brooch to wear as accessories on Etsy.  This was my way of wearing the wedding colors with my neutral colored dress.

Unfortunately, I did have to buy new shoes.

I found all the bridesmaids dresses on Ebay.  The bridesmaids were thrilled to save so much money.  I am happy to report they have arrived and were in perfect condition.

But what I hadn’t found yet was my handbag for the wedding.  I half heartedly searched on Etsy and Ebay knowing what I really wanted was this:

“>

REALLY WANTED.

Whimsical, fun, a Mary Frances, expensive.  It nicely brings in the wedding colors and theme, beachy, tropical.   I got Master Bliss’ (because he is the sweetest)  permission to buy it the other night.  I was super excited.   But of course, given the established second nature I have, I searched the internet for the absolute best price (which only varied by $3.00 no matter where I found it).  My finger still hesitated to put it in my cart.  One reason being that I was slowly realizing what a small (6″ x 4.5″) purse it was…especially for the money.  It obviously wouldn’t carry my camera (yes, of course I plan on taking pictures that day!) But it was sooooo cute–I had to get it.   And still, before I committed to buy, I searched Ebay one. more. time.  I don’t even remember what exactly I put in as a search but the most amazing vintage evening purse popped up on my screen.  Everything changed in an instant.  It was beautiful.  Unused.  Vintage.  Hand-beaded.  The right colors.  Larger (still wasn’t sure it would carry my camera).  AND over $200 cheaper.  There wasn’t much time to think…only 6 minutes remained in the auction.  No one had bid yet so I knew my chances of getting it were about 100%.  Did I really want it?  YES!  Behold:

Great design with art-deco accents.

Original tags still on it!

I love it and I think it will look fabulous with the necklace/pin idea:

Now don’t get me wrong…I am mourning the Mary Frances Beachcomber a little still.  Especially after seeing it in this post…so stinkin’ cute.  But I am very happy with my vintage Walborg.  And what do you know!  My camera fits with room to spare.

Do you like a pop of color with your accessories?

~~Mistress Bliss~~