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September 28, 2008
The Things They Carried, or There is No Sales Tax in Portland
I know that I was in Portland (Oregon, in case you, like me, are having trouble keeping up with my timezone changes) for a conference or whatever, but for several months now, I’ve been thinking of the trip as a pilgrimage to visit the Queen Bee Creations studio.
For review purposes, this is the Queen Bee purse I originally fell in love with, The Purse that Rendered All Other Purses Useless (“TPTRAOPU” for short):
If this purse looks familiar, it’s because I carry it everywhere, and also because it is in 9 out of 10 photographs of me, even when I’m at the beach in Cape Cod:
I like to keep it near me at all times, as Eisha is forever threatening to steal it, and that Eisha is wiley.
So, anyway, Alkelda came down to Portland a day early so we could have a day of wild-and-crazy fun before the conference started, and she very indulgently agreed to make the Queen Bee studio our second stop on Friday. This is what we found:
AND:
There was even more, but I stopped taking photos because I didn’t want to be a pain in the ass. Plus if I’d looked at those bags any longer, I would have bought more than I did.
Regarding my purchases, what you must bear in mind is that most everything in the studio is on sale. Also, Oregon doesn’t have sales tax. I don’t know what sales tax is like in other areas, but in my county, it’s 8%. It felt like EVERYTHING was on sale here.
Okay, so I got a bag for Tammy:
How much do I want to keep this bag for myself? A lot. I will give it to Tammy, though, because I also bought myself a nice bag I can put my laptop in:
So I guess a lot of people are blogging about the Kidlitosphere Conference, and soon I will be, too. But first I’m going to spend some more time admiring my new bag and wishing I’d bought one or two more....
Posted by adrienne at September 28, 2008 11:44 PM
Comments
I love my ginkgo leaf bag!!!
Yes, that warranted three exclamation points. I'll take a photo at some point.
Thank you for bringing me to the Queen Bee Studios.
Posted by: Alkelda at September 29, 2008 12:40 AM
Thanks, Alkelda! I had a great weekend!
Posted by: adrienne at September 29, 2008 12:45 AM
Thank you for letting me know where to get that fabulous bag! Who knew it is in my city? I am so glad that you were able to come to the conference. I have been dragging!
Posted by: jone at September 29, 2008 08:53 AM
Oh. My. I *heart* your laptop bag. Maybe if Eisha distracts you by grabbing for your other bag, I can make a run at this one. :)
Posted by: Sara at September 29, 2008 09:00 AM
What a lovely gift for Tammy. It's beautemous.
Posted by: jules at September 29, 2008 12:53 PM
Nooooo, you are breaking my will by putting up photos of these lovely bags!
Posted by: emmaco at September 29, 2008 03:55 PM
I love my bag even though I do not have it yet. But I will in less than an hour! Yay!
Posted by: tonderdo at September 29, 2008 04:07 PM
At the risk of appearing to be shilling for my own blog, I took a photo of my ginkgo leaf bag and posted it here (scroll down): http://saintsandspinners.blogspot.com/2008/09/kidlit-08-in-portland-oregon-part-i.html
Oh, and I (lowers voice) bought a gingko leaf compuer bag for my daughter for when she's older, plus a matching ginkgo leaf wallet to go with my purse. Shameful! And yet shameless.:)
Posted by: Alkelda at September 29, 2008 06:38 PM
Jone, I always love finding unique places like that when I'm out-and-about in other cities. :)
Sara, If you and Eisha join forces, I will be defenseless.
Jules, Thanks! She scrambled out of my house with it singing, "I love my new bag! I love my new bag!"
Emmaco, I hate to be an enabler, but they are really well-made. ;)
Tammy, I am so glad, because you are The Best.
Alkelda, Ooo, awesome! I'm totally embedding the doughnut video here, too. :)!
Posted by: adrienne at September 29, 2008 06:58 PM
Those bags are so cute!
Seriously, I just want to go to Portland for the craft scene. PLA 2010, baby!
Posted by: Trisha at September 29, 2008 09:42 PM
I'm hopeful about going to PLA 2010, but I've been to the last two PLAs, so I'm thinking maybe the rest of the librarians might get irritated with me. Maybe none of them will want to go that far.
Posted by: adrienne at September 29, 2008 10:02 PM