Painting on a bag

It happens very often, that we are invited to a Birthday celebration and we don't know what present to give; either 'cause we know nothing but a few for the person, or they are very easy and tell you 'I like everything'. So what do you do when you want your present to be a special one and not just something. I like to give presents that people would be happy to receive, and not something that will end up in a closet.
So what I do is use my imagination and creativity. And oh I love to be creative! I collect all the things I have, like watercolors, colored pencils, wool and stickers etc.. and I try to make something beautiful and unique. People usually appreciate receiving presents that you make for them.
Last time that I went to a birthday celebration I offered something relatively small; a letter set ('cause as you already know I love letter writing and I know that this person does send a lot of letters). I wrapped my small present in paper and I placed it in a bag that I decorated myself!

I had a plain fabric bag. I made a plan in my mind of what I wanted to draw on it. I started with a soft pencil and gave shape to the basic structures of my image. Then I used watercolors to make it alive! In the end, I used a blue-white thread that I had, in order to 'close' the bag. It gives a Greek nuance in the present and keeps things intact. In the following images you can see the steps I followed.

Oops! I forgot to mention the most important detail! While I was painting the bag I placed some old clothing inside the bag! If you don't do so is possible that the watercolor passes through and leaves marks on the back side of the bag as well!