You ever have an experience where, in retrospect, you can't help but ask yourself, "What the hell was going through my mind?" A while back I decided to carry a sketchbook around everywhere I went so I would always have one handy and practice all the time -- you know, like real artists. Obviously, I "needed" a drawing bag of some sort. It was a simple thing...hold the sketchbook and the pencil box. Wait a minute. It needs to be durable. Yeah. So I would make it from leather. I have plenty of scrap leather laying around. I'll have it done over a weekend. Oh, but it has to completely open up (for the life of me, I can't remember why). And if I want to carry the pencil box AND pens, I'll need an extra pocket inside. Good thinking...plan for the future. Hmmm....now I have this pencil box on the outside bottom and an empty space at top. I better add another pocket up top to help fill out the space. Yeah. Looking sweet. Hey, this is kinda heavy. Guess I better beef up the handles and shoulder strap rings. Excellent. This could carry the weight of a car. That's about the time the little imaginary dude sitting on my shoulder finally got my attention and said, "What are you doing? Is this a drawing bag or tank armor?"
Here's what I ended up with...check it out. Heavy-duty construction and enough space to carry more than I need. Sides are open, but snap together. That allows the bag to open all the way (I still don't remember why).
Nice handles, right? Except that now the bag flap won't open past vertical.
And finally, look at the pockets. Pencil box at the bottom. Enough space in the top for a 3-piece chicken dinner. Well, you know....I get hungry.
I suppose I actually need to go through something like this every once in a while to remind me not to over-think things. I have no idea what I'm going to do with it, but I should probably keep it in a prominent place so I remember not to let things get out of hand.
