I was in Dublin, Ireland.

It was a Saturday afternoon, March 2022.

I took a solo venture into the city by train and just let myself wander.

 I felt like purchasing something new, so headed for Grafton street, the main shopping district. Grafton street runs through Dublin like the Nile, with many cobblestone tributary streets attached to it. I was certain I’d find something wonderful.

 The streets were packed. I watched people with the freedom of being anonymous in their midst. I love this feeling.

Suddenly I was halted by a street musician named Paul, he had his name written on a sign next to him. Paul began his set with his rendition of one of my favourite songs by the Black Eyed Peas…I gotta feeling. The whole street erupted in dancing .

My entire body was swept through with feelings of happiness as I gave way to the energy all about me. I didn’t know one persons name. Yet somehow I knew them all.

 On the heels of this musical high, I found myself in front of a tiny boutique shop. In the window was the coolest pair of sneakers, perched on a podium. I heard a voice inside me say, “those are yours, go in and buy them”. So I did. I tried them on, a perfect fit. Yes. Thank you!

And wouldn’t you know, at the back of the sneaker shop was a line of small batch, boutique perfumes. I knew I was meant to get one of those too. I scanned the bottles until I saw the name, “on the road”. That had to be the one. I opened it, spritzed myself….and the unique fragrance completely overtook my senses with happiness. It’s another yes. Thank you!

So, that’s the story.

My Grafton street design is infused with all those happy feelings. It’s got pockets full of train rides, new sneakers, stitches wafted together with a one-of-a-kind fragrance & finally all rolled up by the black eyed peas, sung by Paul.

 As fate would have it, the first one I made now belongs to a brilliant Vancouver musician.

 Thank you, Grafton Street…you have my heart.

*This piece is hand stitched to order. Please allow up to 4 weeks for creation before shipping or pick up. Thank you!

the details:

• the leather is a beautiful caramel brown oil tanned cowhide

• The roll top feature on the Grafton allows plenty of extra room for everything you might need for a weekend getaway. It expands and contracts with great ease. The front and side pockets all have a hidden sleeve behind the flap, making for a total of 6 outer pockets. There is a back pocket to stash away your phone, or anything else you want easy access to. On the inside you have 3 pocket sleeves and a large computer sleeve too.

• antiqued brass hardware

• 3 snap closure on roll top

• dark brown stitching

• dark brown adjustable strap

• quick access carrying loop

• dimensions when rolled closed: 13” length x 15” height x 7” width

• dimensions when unrolled: 13” length x 22” height x 7” width

• front outer pocket: 8” x 7” x 1 1/2”

• outer side pockets: 6 3/4” x 6 1/2” x 1 1/2”

• outside back pocket: 7 3/4” x 4 1/4”

• inner front pocket sleeve: 8” x 7”

• inner side pocket sleeves: 6 3/4” x 6 1/2”

• inner back computer sleeve: 10 3/4” x 13”