Welcome the day with the “day’s eye,” as the daisy was called in Old English. The daisy opens up with the light of the day and closes up at night, reminding us that each day is an opportunity to begin again. As April came, I was reminded that it was time to make her birth flower bag. I knew I had two choices: the sweet pea and the daisy. As much as I love sweet peas, the iconic draw of the daisy won the day! Maybe it’s my wish for more sunshine. Perhaps a call from folklore. Or possibly my subconscious desire to reconnect with a happiness I felt in my childhood, on a hot summer day, braiding a chain of daisies and feeling the summer wind in my hair.
Daisies are said to embody innocence. Something akin to the Buddhist "beginner’s mind,” an approach to life and situations with the curiosity and enthusiasm of a child. It’s this innocent attribute of Daisies that draw me to them. It’s this happy existence a daisy seems to exude that I think the leading lady of “You’ve got Mail”, Kathleen Kelly, was talking about when she quipped ‘Don’t you think daisies are the friendliest flower?” Maybe its the white petals, the happy-go-lucky, sunshine yellow center, or the way they bounce in the breeze. But I truly love that childlike innocence that captures April’s flower.
As soon as the idea coalesced in my mind I went right to work. I cut 1.75” rounds of white leather, which I then snipped away the area between the petals with my scissors. I found some bright yellow suede for the centers and dark green stems and soft lobbed leaves. I was determined to make it on a bright blue leather bag, which looked great with the white petals, but once I placed the whole flower, it kind of lost something. So I swapped it for a melon green suede and bingo! This bag felt spring like and fresh! I also beaded it with matching metallic olivine seed beads. Then I lined and stitched it in dark green to contrast all the lovely lighter tones this bag has.
It truly gave me feeling of lightheartedness. Just like the essence of the Daisy. And as a way to keep it light I procured a handle of bamboo to its gussets with a brass ring and white leather lace. Then I topped it, not with cherries, but a couple of natural veg-tanned leather butterflies.
“He loves me, he loves me not, he loves me!” We’ve all plucked the petals of a daisy reciting this declaration of affection. And thanks to the friendliest flower, we can approach life with the innocence of a child. Or we can carry a smile on our arms to remind us of the possibilities that await us every day of our lives! See the Daisy Handbag here
Yes, I do.