Okay its a longshot but I think it was the apartment of Chris March's friends that they showed on the visit the finalists episode last year. I remember the well deserved gushing you boys did about it and it was certainly an inspirational room.
renaesance@yahoo.com

Miss McCarthy's bag design was inspired by the ice crystals that flew up from his razor sharp blades as he played caboose on the Ice Queen Express Train that paraded around the skating rink in Season 2, Episode 7 with Sasha Cohen.

My first guess is ...
The Liberty Bell.

My first guess...

Your wallpaper? :)

It's a very nice bag btw. I guessed wallpaper because a friend of mine had wallpaper with a very similar pattern. But... imagine it as red velvet print on gold paper, complete with a mirrored ceiling. Did I mention my friend is a bit over the top?

I guess snowfall at night. Now, send the bag!

Flocked wallpaper, somewhere. Maybe in the elevator of a swanky, older hotel? Only this is much, much, better.

Um... Small, hippie-ish design on the bell-bottomed pants from the misspent youth of one of you.

Travel photos of tiles or some other archetectural detail from a sun-soaked vacation in Turkey? Morocco?

The ceiling at Wanamaker's?
The mummer's parade?

I have one more guess... I'll think some more.

"Honeys, you never saw such queenery in your life as the three of us modeled the bags and discussed their merits in the PRGay living room."

What? No pictures??

His pattern reminds me of font dingbats, so I'll throw that guess out there. Beautiful bag, by the way.

1) Chris March's line of dresses that got him eliminated for the first time on project runway season 4?

the gold metal buckles really make it look cheap. it just looked like an overworked beach bag. keep working, emmett :)

From one of the thrift dresses you guys made fun of on your field trip with EMC2 and BF.

Carmelita, I had the same thought. I was gonna say Wing Dings. But how are TLo related. . . oh, never mind.

2) I remember the post about Timm Gunn signing bobbleheads in the large white tent in the courtyard behind his store... and about how he used blue wreaths and etc. Maybe those were his inspiration?

2nd guess..
Albert Einsteins's Theory of Relativity.

The name (equation) comes from Einstein's theory of relativity. The design comes from a vision he had while on an acid trip in the midst of a threesome with T & Lo. (This one was too easy.)

My third an final guess...

The blue gas flame from the grill of that great little Philly cheese steak place on the corner, that we all like to go to after the ball game.

1. one of Sasha Cohen's skating outfits

2. a pair of Tim Gunn's boxers (for when he's entertaining younger men)

3. the wallpaper in Jay McCarroll's bathroom

Could it be upholstery in your lovely home?

tntsquared@comcast.net

Strobe lights in the T-Lounge

Floor tiles in the T-Lounge

Couches in the T-Lounge

Something he saw in Independence Hall?

joym@localnet.com

1 - fractals

2- sea creatures

3- Tibetan drums

Now, how in hell these (inspirational!) guesses relate so TLo, I dunno.

"Equations".... hmmm. I know I should THINK more, but I'm greedy.

Okay:

Wingdings or Dingbats (TLo's favorite font?)

TLo's Christmas decorations for Tim Gunn's appearance at Emmett's store.

(one more guess to come)

First guess, the pattern on Emmett's "Love Sale" postcard that you guys liked and posted.

TLo,
Is anybody hot, warm, or cold??

Guess 1: Do you have an iron fence outside your new house?

Guess 2: Was it a design from a restaurant you guys went to?

gotta thing more for guess 3

As Miss McCarthy took a long drag off her post-coital Virginia Slim while reclining in the enormous round bed in the center of the master suite of TLo's fabulous new Main Line mansion (bought with the immense fortune that they have amassed blogging here), she nudged Tom on her left (who was furiously blogging about the encounter on his Hot Pink MAC), then tapped Lorenzo on his right (who was sketching outfits with his Barbie Fashion Plates, being careful not to get any ink on his orange silk lounging pajamas) and said, "You know, Ladies, I wish I'd packed an overnight bag so I didn't have to do the Walk of Shame and arrive back in NY in the exact same skating costume that I arrived in." Miss Emmett shuddered at the the shame of it all and rolled her eyes upward toward the 14 foot ceilings where she caught sight of the plaster ceiling medallion and exquisite Baccarat crystal chandelier. "Bags! Crystals! Medallions! Darlings, grab me a sketch pad! I'm brilliant, simply brillaint!"

..and the rest is QVC history.

I meant to write "architectural". Greed overwrote my spelling chip, I guess.

Guess 1: Ice crystals on windows from the train ride or cab ride into Philly?

Tiles? Fabulous Spanish tiles?

My guess is...
vintage table cloth.

Oh My God Bill, that is exactly what I was going to guess. But I already used up my guesses. Shucks.

I think you all first met at a chinese restaurant and this was the vibe that he took away from that first sparkling meeting. Dark yet mysterious is how Emmett describes you both and he carried the meeting at the restaurant and the two of you into this magnificent bag!
Let me know when it is on its way!
Madsmom(@)mac.com

Something in my kitchen : )

I'm going with what Bill said. (even though I am still quivering from trying to wrap my brain around the idea of it all)


JESUS, That's hilarious!

Oh man I kinda love this purse.

Silver bells
Brass cymbals
Wedding rings

Rorschach test. You all have the same therapist.

I'm going to go with 1. Chris March's Season 4 ringer collection.

Brooklyn Bomber, I couldn't figure out a logical TLo connection, so just guessed dingbats no one else had yet! I'm just an old type nerd, what can I say?

I wanted to be the first to mention Chris March's friends apartment. Damn work, keeping me from the fun.

veronica.ten@gmail.com

Was Emmett inspired by the tribal designs that Tom has tattooed on his bully-bag?

The wallpaper in your S&M room.

Anonymous said...

"the gold metal buckles really make it look cheap. it just looked like an overworked beach bag"

Amen!
Too much going on. The color with the black straps on the bag would have been really nice. But the big emblem and then the buckles and rings... looks cheap, no?

No.

Bill, even if that's not true, it ought to be, and I vote that you get a prize for "most creative and amusing" no matter what the correct answer is!

stef said, 2. a pair of Tim Gunn's boxers (for when he's entertaining younger men)

Which reminds me: what the hell were those undies Jerrell was wearing????

As a gay man, whenever I see the equation sign I think of the Human Rights Campaign and the Silence=Death slogan. Maybe the line started as a fundraiser or for charity.

Of course that doesn't explain the print, but I think everyone else's guess about wallpaper is a good as any.

The inspiration came when you all were at Red Lobster celebrating with Andrae and Tim after they made up after their little tiff.

1. when he saw laura's vintage louis vuitton luggage (maybe on this blog), he was inspired! Hence the pattern and the hardware. It's reminiscent of the steamer trunks.

I think He got it from a Rorscash Test - the ink blot test given by Psychiatrists ....
How that relates to T Lo - I dunno know!
DebraKay
debeli@charter.net

1. You have a French wall paper inspired pillow like the one found here: http://www.imaginefabric.com/ab02spruce.html

2. You have actual French wall paper in that pattern.

3. He was inspired by your matching tattoos.

Restaurant decorations:
Y'all ate at a Mexican restaurant with symmetric cut paper decorations (that might have been place mats)
Or you ate Chinese with a similar style of cut paper work, as in Chinese opera.

Motifs resemble designs on Hawaiian quilts!

when you went thrift store shopping with emmett (june 2007 post) he found an old vintage dress with a pattern that inspired these new bags. ??

My guess is that it's inspired by a private-area tattoo either T or Lo has.

The question to be asked is, how many martinis did it take before you showed it to Emmett?

Awesome bags, Emmett!

My guesses:

1) inspired by your screenshot of his work on Episode 1/season 3

2) inspired by your screenshot of the gold piece (screen?) in Chris March's friend's apartment from season 4 finale

3) inspired by Laura's luggage, which you brought to his attention

Wendy (f d foster at comcast dot net)

Third guess:

I don't write haiku
For a free bag, black and blue...

oh, wait, wrong contest!

(still envious, Sewing Siren)

Hmmmm...three guesses. This is a difficult one, boys!!!

1. The tea towels in your kitchen?

2. One of your smoking jackets??

3. Wallpaper from the Russian Tearoom???

bkrmoon@aol.com

an Hawaiian whole cloth quilt he once saw

wallpaper in his grandmother's house or in a house in Italy

a doodling of a student in a class who sat beside him

Bill, That's IT! The Haiku contest!

The Cell?

Crap! I thought I would be the first to say Hawaiian quilts, but someone beat me to it. How about Sashiko (Japanese quilting)?

1. Tattoo(s)
2. Fair Isle or other sweater
3. Sea urchins

Third guess: oh, hell, I don't know. Something reference from one of TLo's other blogs -- Dames 'n Divas, or Musical Mondays or something.

I do know what the answer SHOULD be, though, and that's either Bill's or Agnes Gooch's.

OK, love the bag!

My guesses are:

1. The pattern on the bag is an exact replica of a tatoo on Tom's tushie.

2. While you were with Emmett, you drew his attention to a kaleidescope, thus inspiring the fabric pattern.

3. The design on the bag (especially the center piece) was inspired by the architectural details (cornices, or ceiling moulding), in an old building in Philly (maybe the place where Emmett had his trunk show, or something in your neighborhood).

--GothamTomato

Has somebody been pinching somebody else until he's black and blue? ;-)

1. HRC Logo

More guesses to come!

Kate from Texas

The patterns remind me of Nick Verreos' streetphoto inspiration for the challenge when Nick lost his divine model to Zulema.

No idea how TLo is related tangentially or otherwise. Somehow I think this one is a long shot...

Oof - we shouldn't have to think this hard when the pollen count is up...

cleamontis

Oh lordy, another contest! Gorgeous bag Emmett, and I'm not an "It" bag kind of gal.

Well, one guess:

The tangential connection to TLo being the background of the runway shows that are black with blue lighting. We're busy scrutinizing the garments, while in the background almost every frame has the colors blue and black. It's something we see every day in TLo's fabulous screencaps, but never notice.

Well, that's my story. But I like Bill's better!

I am going to guess the T Lo gal's very chic....couch?

Alright, a really obscure guess. In the page two section about Jada Pinkett Smith in Monique Lhuillier , there is a dress in the Lhuillier runway show pic that looks like that design.

Was it the wall paper from the nun's office in The Sound of Music that Tom loved as a little gay boy?

Your visit to Laura Bennett's apartment... something he saw there (from a picture on your blog) was the inspiration.

and if someone already guessed that, sorry. I don't have the energy to read all of the posts today.

-TLo Addict-

ok, Holly Wilson's guess is hilarious.


-TLo Addict-

The black lace on Laura's challenge-winning black-and-white cocktail dress?

MUST. HAVE. BAG.

MUST! HAVE! BAG! NOW!

Ok, so in the right sidebar of Project Rungay, there is an ad for Gorgeous Fabrics that changes every now and then. Perhaps the pattern Emmett chose was related to one of the "examples" on the flashing catsuit from Gorgeous Fabrics...

Honestly, I have no idea...

Second guess:

Emmett got tired of carrying your digital camera, etc. around all the show finale parties he shows up at with you guys and decided to design a wonderful bag to carry it all in?

Not that I'D mind that job at all. No sir....

Thanks, anonymous...makes ya wanna go look at that wallpaper now, though, doesn't it? (I did quote TLo on this-go check Musical Mondays.

ME WANT BAG.

1. Something random that has nothing to do with TLo even though they told us they were tangentially related!

2. Drag queens and gay men are faaaaabulous!

3. I'm not a size 0 and it makes me angry when people don't cater specifically to me when they design! Korto's puffy clothes that make women look even bigger are IDEAL for plus-size gals! Aesthetic! Someone was robbed! Chris March laughs a lot! I agree with everything TLo says! They could reproduce the dictionary here and I'd claim it was the funniest thing ever written!

I don't know about the inspiration for the bag, but I do know it's gorgeous! If I had the money, honeys, I'd buy one.

I'm guessing someone got lucky on a black/blue upholstered couch.

Answer: I'm saying that the HRC's (www.hrc.org) logo inspired Emmett, the yellow equal sign (=) on the blue background. At least, that's what the bag reminded me of.

justsarajane (at) sbcglobal (dot) com

First guess: flocked wallpaper

Second guess: ice skating challange

Third guess: something from the Thrift Store you visited together

close? not close? not even in the damn ballpark?

Winner Korto
Auf Joe

Oh shoot, wrong contest !

I nominate bill's guess @ 2:24.
Fucking hilarious.

God, I don't know.
The straps you hold onto for balance on the subway ? Umm The design on TLo's front door ?

Ummm (I know ! These are lame. I'm just not as clever as some of you fuckers!)

Ummmmm
Arggh I dont...Streptococcus anhemolyticus ?

What can I say? I work in a hospital.

Well, doesn't the name derive from E=MC2?

He was inspired by the cat you adopted last year. I'm just not sure how.

My guess...

fractals!

Or else stained-glass windows.

The HRC logo?

i dont have a fucking clue, i just want the bag!

Guess two: he was inspired when one of you turned black and blue after running into an intricately detailed iron fence.

guess #2

Something spilled and created a shape that inspired the pattern?

guess#3

An image in one of your Lounges inspired the pattern?

k, that's it for my guesses.

1. The make-a-flake website? (http://snowflakes.lookandfeel.com/)

2. frost on a martini glass?

3. deep bruises from harsh criticism?

1. Hawaiian shirt
2. a set of sheets

Damn that thing is gorgeous.

Some decorations in the TLo Lounge?

Looks a bit like one of Chris March's dresses.

Some decoration on some building near where you live?

I just know I want one!

Ok, my other two guesses:

2. A bottle of Bombay Sapphire gin?

3. A carpet pattern at some fab-glam nightclub where y'all met for drinks and bitchiness?

Some of your guesses are a hoot! I especially love Tundra's black-and-blue guess - I needed a good laugh after the day I'm having.

It's reminiscent of artist the Jazz Bowl that artist Victor Schrekengost created for Eleanor Roosevelt.

http://www.clevelandart.org/explore/work.asp?accno=2000.65

1) He was reading your copy of a biography of Einstein(which is excellent by the way.)

2) He thought it was something Laura Bennett would carry based on a picture in this blog.

3) The ceiling tiles of the bar y'all were having drinks in.

Well, I'll take my best shot and try to be vaguely specific to get "closest to the truth" (though I can't help but hear Jack Nicholson saying, "you can't handle the truth!")--1)the pattern is similar to one on furniture at one of your favorite Philly bar-club-restaurants where the three of you went out to dinner. or 2)the details are similar to those in the lobby of your old place in Philly before you moved into the TLounge.

1. Old glamour Hollywood, aka the Reigning Divas
2. Drag queens!
3. Musicals

My best guesses, anyway. ;)

The "Tootie" contest you had back in December. http://projectrungay.blogspot.com/2007/12/ringing-in-new-year-gay-style.html

My fascetious guess (and sorry if it's not as funny as the great ones on here)--the fabric is the same as that to be used for Lorenzo's Halloween 2008 NinagarciafromElle costume. or would that be NiLogarciafromhell in honor of the names in the drag queen episode?

and, WHOA, I just checked the QVC time--4 PM?! Emmett honey, you shoulda blown the bag fag timekeeper for QVC--how can your fans that work catch your fabulous QVC debut at that time?

WAAAAAAH! (though at least I can use my work outlook calendar to remind me to tune in to check the different bags available!!)

Hawaiian quilts

Paper snowflakes

William Morris wallpaper

The logo looks like the equal sign from the famous Einstein equation e=mc2 that is missing from Emmett's logo emc2. If you're asking about the pattern itself, I'll have to think about that.

I know! I know!

But I am not allowed to say.

As it is, I'll be glued to the TV set next Thursday and I'll probably try to call in and gush all over Emmett's bags, style and overall fabulosity.

Whew.....okay, I went through all the archives on Emmett and still don't have a clue! What fun reading though!

1-It has some shared meaning between you boys and Emmett. Perhaps reminiscent of the day you all (and Emmett's lovely partner)spent in Philly looking for vintage fashion treasures? Maybe a found object from that day was the inspiration?

2-The material reminded Emmett of a place you all gathered that led to some fun memories which could or should not be put in writing.

3-Emmett knows that Tom has a fetish for this type of material and this bag is an ode to Tom. Plus, he wanted to make Lorenzo pea green with envy. All done with love and mischief, of course!

a pattern that one of the designers used/created that you really liked and pointed out that it would be great on a bag.

something that was in the lounge that caught emc eye

the design the paper clips made after emc dropped them while reading your blog.

1-Something from Chris March's friend's apartment.

2-A tablecloth at Chez TLo

3-A guest room bedspread at Chez TLo.

Bill, great minds think alike!!! the comment link didn't come up on my computer at first, so i e-mailed tlo with the guess that it was some type of victorian tin ceiling with the medallion from which a chandelier dangled.... of course your story is MUCH more entertaining than mine.....i figure miss emmett swooned (perhaps seeing the man of her dreams?) in some fabulous victorian hotel and saw the ceiling as she crumpled onto a sofa, fanning herself briskly....

OK people, I just read on NYPost.com (article name Hi/Lo - Entertainment section)in an interview with Jerry Tam (remember him?) that the reunion show has been cancelled. What's up with this?

of course, tlo fit into the picture because emmett was there meeting them for lunch? dinner? cocktails???

1. GorgeousFabrics.com Ad
2. Wallpaper at Chris March's Friend's house
3. TLo's bedspread

Bill, you owe me a keyboard! :)

Wow, go out shopping for a few hours and look what happens! That bag is GORG! I absolutely must have it!

Okay, it's a long-shot because I never win jack, anyway...*insert pity here* but, my guess is something Miss McCarthy saw while making the rounds in Philly, recently with lovable Lorenzo on Fabric Row. Perhaps, a vintage fabric remnant. Or, magnified ice crystals on a snowy day seen from Chez TLo. Hmmmmm?

- edina -

So, two people have already said Gorgeous' ad, which had occurred to me, but I didn't say it. . . and now Gorgeous says she knows, so I can't help but wonder. Hmmm. . .

Hmmm....vintage hardware on your cabinets? Yeah, I got nothin'.

My guess is that it was inspired by fractals. I don't know how you were tangentially related, but maybe you were there when someone told him to think outside the normal realm of design, or maybe you're just making a math joke.

I'm going to say that it was inspired by laying in the grass and looking up into the sky at the trees overhead, possibly while visiting your fabulous selves or while he was a youngster, but still in the Philly area.

iweezeri at hotmail dot com

Looks like the HRC logo to me.

Ok,The design is from the shelf paper lining of Tlo's bathroom drawers.
either that or Emmett was inspired from a vision he saw in his toast while eating breakfast with Tlo.

He saw the screen capture of the outfits Maria made for the Captain's children in "The Sound of Music" on your review of the film for Movie Muscial Mondays. That's how he got the pattern inspiration.

The cobalt blue and black color scheme came from Chris March's silkscreened gown at his BP runway show.

The shiny black straps have something to do with your screen captures of Rene Fris but saying anymore than that is strictly NSFW!

BrianB

brooklyn bomber said: So, two people have already said Gorgeous' ad, which had occurred to me, but I didn't say it. . . and now Gorgeous says she knows, so I can't help but wonder. Hmmm. . .

No, Gorgeous Things is just being a catty bitch. Said WITH LOVE, sweetie!

I'm going to guess that the Equation/Equality reference, as well as the symbols on the bag are in reference to equal rights for all - both hetero and homosexual.

I'm not sure if that answers the "inspiration" question - whether it was the name/concept or the design/overall look.. but that's my guess.

1. Michele Obamas's brooch (related to T-Lo because, um, of the heated political debate they had after the last PR viewing party?)

2. Argonauts painting/Jillian's interpretation of.

3. Viceroy Hotel (via TLo Top Design Blog)

Ok, my last two guesses: 1)He got inspiration from Dee's hair, which he saw on your Shear Genius blog. 2) He saw light reflecting off of oil on a puddle outside your new digs.

I'm not even close, I'm sure, and I really like the damned bag. The fact that it has a math symbol on it means its perfect for me, too.

If no one is close, I vote that Bill gets one.

The logo is fabulous! Combines the whole Einsteinian equation element- fitting for EMC with a nod to HRC's logo. And hasn't Emmett shown his support for GLBT causes through events at his store (and maybe his life, though I don't know his personal charitable causes)?

My last guess: Ok, Sewing Siren did it in the Haiku contest so I will, too!

He got the inspiration from someone who asked for the bag.

I WANT IT, EMMETT. GIVE ME THE FUCKING BAG. meep.

I'm pretty sure this isn't it... but there is a little Chinese restaurant down by Penn's Landing that has a mirror with designs similar to that etched on it.

Hey, one of those bags is TOTALLY worth public humiliation.

"...T Lo are very tangentially related to Emmett's moment of inspiration. ..."

Hmmmmm... Is "tangentially related" a clue? A math or physics joke?

I need a kiwitini before submitting my guesses.

Guess 1: Something you saw while watching Mad Men.

Guess 2: The Beijing Olympics

Guess 3: The wrap party for Season 4 of Project Runway.

Horticulture Prints (flowers, plants, trees, fruit)

Underwater motif (coral, anemone, urchin)

Hawaiian Ulu (breadfruit) Quilt Design

You see what I mean about needing a cocktail first, boring answers, apologies all around beautiful people.

I think the designs on the bag look like Hawaiian quilt patterns

OMG. I want that bag.... unfortunately, I have NO idea what the inspiration might be.

So I'm just going to say nature or the nightlife of philly (very generic and lame, I know... I had to give it a shot). Oh, and how much will those run on QVC you think? I need to start saving....

Actually....thinking about it twice (and using my third guess), I think that sagerenee is right: the inspiration is Chris March's apartments. Bam. Done. Hand over the goods.

It's inspired by the wallpaper in the TLOunge picture posted on July 23.

klmaki65@yahoo.com

The interior of the train that he rode to visit you.

Anna in IL

the T LOunge!

obviously, it's inspired by me. emmett lurks in comments, and has long been struck by my comments, and my inability to bring Fashion into my own life. our deep psychic connection enabled him to divine (in all senses of the word) one of my favorite patterns, and create this fabulous bag to suit me perfectly. what's truly impressive is: i don't even really LIKE handbags, but I love and covet this one.

oh bill and your post-coital cigarette saga, LOL! thanks for the giggles after a long day.

I'm guessing he got the inspiration from the bathroom of a gay bar. Not the TLounge. Some other bar. That's why it's peripheral to you. or perpendicular to you. or whatever it is to you. i'm not gonna pry. that's between you and the wallpaper.

1. the design on your bed linens

2. the drapery in your boudiour

3. Something seen at the Phila Museum of Art

I am guessing that the bag was inspired by drapery in the TLo apartment. I'm guessing bedroom blackout drapes. Now if someone has already guessed this,(I'm too lazy to read through all 146 posts), my second guess is....

The set from a Musical Monday report on the other blog.

An item or items in either the Pennsylvania Museum or Phila Museum of Art, possibly Asian collection. Some of the motifs are similar to Chinese embroidery designs or Pa Ndau from Southeast Asia.

1. the design on your bed linens

2. the drapery in your boudiour

3. Something seen at the Phila Museum of Art

1. the design on your bed linens

2. the drapery in your boudiour

3. Something seen at the Phila Museum of Art

1. the design on your bed linens

2. the drapery in your boudiour

3. Something seen at the Phila Museum of Art

1. the design on your bed linens

2. the drapery in your boudiour

3. Something seen at the Phila Museum of Art

wait a minute. tangenitals?

it was the wallpaper in your favorite nyc tanning salon! eureka!

1. derived from some kind of smug comment about a design

2. the friend of chris march with the fabulous apt.

3. your interior decor

Ok, I'm probably totally off-base -but who cares... this is fun! Sacred Geometry: The concept that all life forms derive from the same geometric code, therefore, all life forms are created equal. The symbols on the purse are examples of sacred geometric patterns, and they are symmetrical.

xibarnes@juno.com

I think he was inspired by the later work of Matisse. The pattern on the bag reminds me of the paper cutouts he did.
I also think Joe's outfit was horrid and perhaps it DOES sum him up as a designer. I hope they come up with some twist to bring back Stella. The designers that are left may be talented but they are weird/mean/boring. The past seasons always had someone I would want to hang out with.

I was going to guess that it was based on some kind of wallpaper someplace. The velvety kind, but something more matte would work too.

Christmas paper cut-out snowflakes!! Without a doubt!

My first thought was that it was a fabric or wallpaper or picture of some kind in T.Lo's home that Emmett loved when he came by to visit with his fabu boyfriend. SO that is my first outlandish guess. I am not sure I will be able to come up with anything else.

My guess would be wallpaper because my living room has a very similar pattern.

From a screenshot that you guys captured and published in one of your blogs.

E=mc^2

Energy=mass times the speed of light squared.

E also stands for Emmett, the Energy behind the EMC2 brand. So, the equal sign has been missing for the brand name, but now it is there!

Is that right?

Rorschach ink blot test.

Kzspot

I would guess the bag was inspired by a thrift shopping trip. Maybe a house coat next to the bridesmaid rack.

Or... when you went to visit his QVC debut something hideous was on right before and he promised to reinterpret it into something beautiful.

if I'm lucky enough to come close, please email me at: loreleismom@yahoo.com.

Darn it, Agnes Gooch guessed it already, that`s what I get for guessing first and then reading the responces!

Kzspot

Emmett's divine bag was inspired by an Islamic mosque!

Mary C says - I think it looks like a Hawaiian quilt.....

Guess #1: Rorschach test
Guess #2: Paper Snowflakes
Guess #3: Kaleidoscope

Am I even close?

Pride in Equality

A lovely Toaster

A Happy accident with a paint set!!

...that's all I got....

The design on the bag reminds me of the annual snowflake show on the Saks department store on 5th Avenue in NYC. So perhaps when TLo came to NYC to hang with Emmett during the winter holidays they went to see the Saks snowflakes light up to the Carol of the Bells and Emmett was inspired to make this handbag pattern.

I think from a piece of furniture at YOUR place. The TLo lounge itself.
Oh Yeah.
Jeanne

1. the equality symbol for Human rights campaign.

2. the material from T Lo's place, that brocade.

Womyn2me at aol dot com

Okay--
I fourth or fifth bill's hilarious take on the bag.

1. the design seems to blend both eastern and latin symbols. Maybe something he spotted in TLo's abode.

2. the color of the night as Miss McCarthy was sneaking away from said abode.

3. the fabulous guests at the TLo lounge-- sorry I can't be there any more... I'm back at work-- the blog site isn't blocked, but I can't post to it.

kjthorp ((at)) comcast ((dot)) net

or wait, maybe it's inspired by a vision-visition from emmett's dearly beloved, dearly departed great-great-grandfather, who died before emmett was born, but who he misses terrible. and the vision-visitation appeared in a haze of blue and black, intoning "EMMETT! REMEMBER ME!" (or is that in Hamlet...). The hazy blue-and-black emanations of the spectral ancestor were further fractured by the tears welling in Emmett's eyes - thus the pattern on the handbag.

and from this point forward, Emmett will only, and always, refer to himself in the third person, as a loving tribute to his dead relatives.
*blows kisses heavenward*

Hi...
My guess is, the lighting design/projections in the T Lounge.

Whatever it is, it's a gorgeous bag!

Is it a fractal? The art that is made by computers using complex mathematical equations?

Thats my only idea

A lot of the best guesses are gone.

1. A Christmas card you guys sent Emmett.

2. The color scheme of Deal or No Deal--probably with a screen malfunction on the TV.

3. A visit to an aquarium.

Oh, this bag is gorgeous. I'm trying to picture it in brown. I adore this color scheme....

I'm throwing this one out there: was Emmett's design inspired by some advertisment on the Project RunGay main homepage? I could be wrong, but one of the ads had different prints alternating and that black background/blue floral print could have been one of them.

katt

My guesses on Emmett's inspiration

1) Emmett observed frost developing on a poorly insulated window or on the top of a winter puddle

2) He saw jellyfish swimming in the wild ocean (or aquarium).

3) It's from some horrible nightmare bathroom where you never want to purge the effects from overindulging the previous night. Not that Emmett would ever overindulge....

He was inspired by Katharine Hepburn who you named (after many votes) the ultimate Dame/Diva who was in Love Affair with Tom Signorelli, who was in Sleepers with Kevin Bacon, who guest starred in a very memorable episode on Will and Grace, a show about Team Gay, of which you two are members, Team Hag (with love, Debra! :)), and Team Lush.

So I'm going to say, Kate Hepburn's Love Affair with Kevin Bacon and the gays.

Kelly Wearstler?

from Sewhat?

PS, Bill deserves the win for creative writing abilities, whether he is right...or not.

my first guess (and I did not read all 182 before me in advance of posting, sorry) is that it's a bag for one of the doodly girls in the Project Rungay banner (maybe the one of the right needs a bag). My second guess is it was inspired by one of the blog photos of the lounge. Third guess? Well, it gave me a really blue-tv (or blue computer screen) glow.

Medieval paintings?

Once again, back to The Sound of Music, I don't know why I think that has to do with it, but posibly the kids clothes made from drapes? Also--that would totally work with the color green that you crossed out and replaced with brown; I really felt like that was a clue...hmmm....

1) While TLo were on their way to Emmett's fabulous NYC store, they were en massed by a group of adoring PRG fans. As TLo attempted to enter Emmett's store, they were blocked by one particular boisterous fan who was harboring a bit of resentment at TLo's comments about her favorite designer. Said fan wan enrobed in a particularly patterned dress, and Emmett, whist chuckling over TLo's predicament, began imaging the wondrous pattern used in a series of bags that any PRG fan would enjoy carrying.

2) Waiting at a swanky hotel for a lunch date with a client, Emmett saw recent PR winner, Princess Puffysleeves, rush through the entry, followed by a gaggle of press, fans, and wannabes. Emmett blew out his breath and thanked his lucky stars that he was not chosen the winner of PR, yet had still become benefactor for the lovely TLo. As he thought about his adoring wards, Emmett glanced in a random corner of the hotel and wondered how he could use the lovely wallpaper pattern to create a handbag his TLo would love to carry...

3) In Philly to visit TLo, Emmett discovered he had need to use the water closet. Whilst said facilities were loving decorated, recent events had left if quite cluttered. As Emmett looked around for a place to set his belongings that would allow them to remain unsoiled, he happened upon a lovely piece of wallpaper and imagined a lovely bag that would at that moment aid him in his predicament.

(Can you tell I've been reading Jane Austen recently? :-) )

J. Hamner
ejhamner@hotmail.com

I want that bag so freakin bad. I must have it.

Emmet's inspiration came from the 12/10/7 Tim Gunn bobble head show whereas when TLo arrived they somewhat criticized the holiday decorations and took over saying "No, no, no. Those gold bows look awful. You should use silver and blue, like the EMc2 colors! Get out of the way, we'll do it." Moreover, they wrapped fake presents and put EMc2 ribbons on the wreaths (because that's truly the meaning of Christmas: corporate branding), sprinkled some styrofoam snow all over everything and stepped back to admire how fabulous they are.

rtsinc1 at gmail dot com

darn, i had commented earlier and guessed "some advertisment on the Project RunGay main homepage," and didn't think to check the resource to be specific about the Gorgeous Fabrics ad. =P

then again, it may not have been the gorgeous fabrics ad, but another ad elsewhere on the website....=P

it seems likely now from reading the previous comments that it's the gorgeous fabric ad answer (from gorgeous things herself, and several other entries).

oh well, i thought it was a weird guess, but since others have brought it up, i guess i'm not the only one with a sort of photogenic memory? lol. =)

since i was reaaaally close, would you consider any compensation prizes?

tangenitals. tangent. tan gent? it's inspired by something in michael kors' collection? eureka!

and i agree. bill gets the award for cleverest comments!

hello, i'm patsy stone said...

No, Gorgeous Things is just being a catty bitch. Said WITH LOVE, sweetie!

Of course sweetie darling! And I have nothing but love for you. So save me a seat next to you at the next TLounge so we can get catty together.

By your apartment there is a small patch of forest that emmett has been through, this is his inspiration.

During grade school in math class, emmett thought of making a bag; tom and lorenzo met in math class.

Emmett used a fabric from a store that is advertised on your site.

1. the ocean! Specifically I am reminded of the reef.
2. Hinduism! (Got some interesting multi-armed-god patterns in there.)
3. the journeys of Cortez! (to explain that last one--my ex-boyfriend used to talk in his sleep all the time, and one thing he once said out of the blue was "Cortez. Equation." and he could never explain it. Today, many months later, I thought, aha! A sign!)

happysharkie@gmail.com

Was he on vacation in Mexico with me?

1. Snorkeling in the reefs (yes I know someone else guessed)
2. Mayan design
3. those street vendors who sell chotchkes to tourists

The bilateral symmetry of the look of Einstein's brain

combined with

The bilateral symmetry of the equation sign

(did one of you go to Princeton?)

info@aloetile.com

Emmett, That bag is GORGEOUS!!! I really do want one desperately! I love all your stuff (I love your Emily dress and only wish I could fit into one!)

So, here are my guesses.

1. The colors are sharp. That blue is very crystal-like to me. And the print is crisp and precise, even though it's not balanced (sorry, I don't remember the exact mathematical phrase for things being same on both sides). So guess #1 is that your bag is inspired by mathematical and architectural simplicity, and TLO are related because you found your inspiration in some architectural designs in / around their neighborhood.

2. My second guess carries with the architectural theme, but I will say that Emmett was inspired at one of his EMC2 gatherings by a woman at the party (perhaps that T Lo were speaking to or brought with them or met at the party) and he wanted to create a bag based on her look and that the women who love his work (like me) would absolutely adore. In other words, he took his inspiration from his inspiration.

I hope anyway. I love Emmett; I love T Lo; I love that bag...

symmetrical! that was the word.

Having now read all the responses after my guesses, I am now sad because I won't win! But I'll give my third guess, just out of desperation.

Guess 3: Emmett found inspiration for this design when TLo were visiting him in NYC. The design is based on a work of art they saw in a gallery that references the big bang and emergence of the galaxy. Alternately (and I hope this can be considered part of the same guess, otherwise, cancel my guess 1 in my previous post!), same context, but they were walking around NYC and it began to snow. It was getting dark, but they were by lamposts, so the light cast a beautiful hue onto the flakes, showing each and every different element. Emmett immediately thought how beautiful they were in their complexity--yet how simple, a snowflake! And imagined them on a bag to protect one's goods from the elements of the world.

please, please, please!

I am THRILLED ProjectRungay readers like my EQUATION bags!
ProjectRungay readers are wickedly smart and never miss a stitch!
Tom and Lorenzo spent hours in the TLo Lounge last Wednesday inspecting the Equation bags and every inch & tiny little stitch. A big sigh of relief was had when Lorenzo pronounced: "I LOVE THEM BITCH, AND I DON'T SAY THAT BECAUSE YOU ARE MY FRIEND" & "MY GOD, STYLE WITHOUT SACRIFICE, THEY ARE FUCKING AWSOME QUALITY"

That is when Tom and Lorenzo ramped up their readers with this contest.

YOU ARE GETTING WARM.

Thank you for all your support and Big LOVE to Tom and Lorenzo. If I pass the test of the Queens of ProjectRunGay, I know my QVC debut will be FABULOUS!

PS: Dimitry Chamy is EMc2's Creative Brand Director and the creator of both EMc2 and Equation logos.
He is a GENIUS talent, and my best friend.
Dimitry worked on the handbag collection along with a team of the handbag industry's most experienced product developers and manufacturers to insure fine quality materials and construction.

I think they're artistic interpretations of crests (like a coat of arms), especially the one in the center. The McCarthys do have a family crest, you know! But I think these could be representations of crests, which can be quite flowery and ornate, complete with fleur-de-lis.

As to the connection with T Lo, crests *are* connected to queens...