Fireworks and the Hawaiian *honu* tote bag ハワイアン生地でトートバッグ

Hi! Hope you had a good July the 4th weekend.

Here in the U.S., we celebrate the Independence Day with fireworks.  Our family and I visited our local park last night to view the fireworks show. 

It was spectacular!

When I was back in Japan, I used to go to the Summer festivals and Fireworks show with my friends and family, and what I enjoyed the most at these festivals was all the drink and food booth they had over there... such as Yakisoba (fried noodles), Takoyaki (baked octopus), Ika-geso (deep fried squid's tentacles)...

Image of baked octopus, or Takoyaki

I know, I know, these food may sound really barbarous or even disgusting to some of you, but they're actually yummy, when you try them on hot and humid nights in Japan, especially with ice cold beer!   \*0*/ 

Well, too much about Japanese ethnic food and ice cold beer, and let me get back to sewing... I almost forgot that this was my craft blog after mentioning about the ice cold beer... Ha ha!

Here's what I made recently, a large tote bag with *Honu* or Hawaiian sea turtle prints used for the outside pockets.

The light blue fabric used for the outer side of the tote is duck canvas, which makes the bag very sturdy and somewhat stiff.

On one side of the tote bag, I placed a handmade tag made of handcarved erasers of Hawaiian motifs

Honu stamp on the other side of the tag

Side view of the bag.  It is very roomy.

The tote bag is reversible, and the reversible side looks like this.

Close up of the inside pockets

This tote bag was a requested item from my younger sis who lives in Japan. 

I have two younger sisters and two younger brothers and they all live in Japan. 

  This will be a gift to my younger sis #2 who is a grade school teacher.

reversible side of the bag

I really like the *Honu* pockets

Happy sewing and hope you all have a great summer (or winter, for those of you who live on the other side of the planet :)