Wednesday, 24 October 2007 | Easter Monday

(When I fall in love with something, I really fall in love. There's no ambiguity! It makes me stubborn and ridiculously impractical.)

I've worn numerous pairs of shoes through until my bare feet were hitting the pavement, picking up sharp pieces of New York along with way. "Throw those things away!" people say, knowing very well that I won't. "But I like these," my heart tells my head, in a much louder, more reasonable-sounding voice. Sometimes, after I've stepped on something so painful it makes me audibly gasp, or when rainwater seeps in and soaks my socks through, I vow to myself to retire that particular pair of shoes, but then I slip them on again day after day anyway, not content with any alternatives. My heart is kind of obnoxious, I guess.

I used to have a handbag that I was so attached to that I destoyed it in multiple ways. When the strap broke, I knotted it to the body of the bag. The bag had two front pockets to hold small items (like keys or my cell phone) that I eventually had to stop using because they disintegrated. The main zipper was replaced twice, as was the patch I'd had to iron (and eventually sew) to the back of the bag to cover a gaping hole. The hole grew so big that my patch could no longer mask it, and items crept out of my bag and onto the street, inspiring me to finally put the thing in retirement. (I kept it in my closet.)

I could list a lot of items that I've fallen for in this way, most of which are probably pretty worthless to other people. But to me, I'd rather spend the same amount that I'd spend on a new item, just to breathe eternal life into the things that I already own and love.

After my handbag expired, I was surprised to learn that the talented Cinnamon Cooper was capable of such miracles. After I explained my situation, she requested that I send her what was left of my bag, and she deconstructed it, made a pattern, and reincarnated it, from new material! I received it in the mail last week, and I can't quite believe how similar it is to my original bag. It even hangs off my shoulder in the same way.

Cinnamon has posted pictures of the steps she took during the process, and you can see how considered it was -- all the seams are the same -- as well as how sad-looking my old bag had become.

On top of doing an incredible job, Cinnamon kept me updated with thorough progress reports, and even thanked me for the opportunity, because she learned a new stitch. You're welcome, Cinnamon! YOU OWE ME.

My new bag isn't quite as threadbare as my old one, but that's no doubt a good thing, as I'm positive I will eventually destroy this one with my love as well.