Sold!!!

The SDARL fundraising auction on Saturday night went gang-busters, the Safari purse being no exception. In total, the auction raised just under $29,000. I was hoping the purse would bring $25. I can only say that it exceeded my wildest expectation - selling to a Mrs. Ray Epp for just over $300. I've included a few photos of the happy new purse owner. She wasted no time putting the purse into good use.

They didn't even care about the South African wine I put in the purse!

You can see Ray was the one doing the bidding. Pam and I were discussing the details. I thanked her profusely for her generous contribution to SDARL.

And then I celebrated. It's a pretty sweet ride, for a princess (which I totally felt like that night)!

Safari Purse - SDARL Donation

A few weeks ago, my husband traveled to South Africa as part of the South Dakota Ag and Rural Leadership (SDARL) program. He is a member of Class V, which consists of about 30 people, who are committed to agriculture and rural development. Each class gets to go on an international trip - for Class V, that was South Africa.

Unfortunately, it was a class members-only trip. While he was away, I went on my own safari to northern MN, and south-central Nebraska visiting family. It was in Grand Island, NE, (Material Girl) where my mother-in-law and I stumbled upon "Big Cats" fabric that embodied all of what hubby was probably seeing on his safari. I couldn't resist purchasing fabric, envisioning a wall-hanging, and a quilted purse as a donation to the SDARL group.

I could hardly contain my excitement over having found African-type fabric that I practically wrapped my husband in it the moment he got home. Naturally I decided it would be fantastic to donate something back to SDARL and decided a purse would be perfect. My local quilt shop owner, Linda, and I went hog-wild over "Amy Lou's Purse," pattern by "Totes By Sandy" which would showcase this special fabric so well.

It was a super purse pattern, and came together very quickly. I decided to go with a "boxy" bottom, per hubby's recommendation (and that I am going to stash two bottles of South African wine inside to help it stand up, and sell). What I fell in love with was the hand beading I did around the top - I call them "zebra" beads. Paired with a cute giraffe button on either side, I'm not sure I'll be able to give it away.

 
Here is one side of the purse (see, one lion)

And here's the other side (two lions!). What you can't see are the zebras, elephants and giraffes that are along the bottom of the bag.

Here's what the inside of the purse looks like - green safari grass and two sunny horizion pockets! A magnetic snap-closure helps the bag stay shut.

What a lovely purse. I can't wait to donate it to SDARL and meet the lucky lady who will become the new owner. That is, if my husband doesn't buy it back for me. :)