(Photo by Cheryl-Anne Millsap)

What Chris Lynch has created by stitching vintage, shabby and sometimes quirky oil paintings onto canvas tote bags, is the most practical form of wearable art; pretty to look at but made to be used.  With repurposed women’s leather belts as handles and straps, no two bags are alike.

I stopped by Pink Salvage Gallery last week and Chris was just setting up the art-bags in her tiny vault/showroom. Displayed within elegant vintage frames, the bags look like the little works of art they are.

Chris is as creative with needle and thread as anyone I know. I included a photo of her folding-chair slipcovers created from vintage aprons in a 2005 Treasure Hunt column in the Spokesman-Review’s HOME insert, and every time I chat with her she has a new project going. This is one of my favorites.

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