I've been wanting to make myself a new handbag for a while now. I had all sorts of ideas for fabrics and shapes. This is my end result.
I've found it easier to locate items in bags which are wider at the top than at the bottom, which is why I settled on this shape. I like the combination of floral and polka dot fabrics, and I love my outside phone pocket and satin ribbon handle.
My new handbag also has an inside pocket, which I find useful. It's a great excuse to use more polka dot fabric!
The one major problem with this bag, unfortunately, is its shape. It really distorts when I pick it up by its cute satin strap. I've come to realize that most bags which are wider at the top than at the bottom also are U or V shaped at the top so that they can distort gracefully. Lesson learned!
Such a cute cute bag! Great job!
Posted by: tiennie | August 14, 2007 at 01:56 AM
I love it! The fabrics you picked are wonderful.
Posted by: Beth | August 14, 2007 at 06:22 AM
Too cute! You'll get stopped and asked about that one, for sure!
Posted by: Tanya | August 14, 2007 at 06:38 AM
Cool bag! That's so pretty! I'm always in search of The Perfect Bag...
Posted by: Elinor | August 14, 2007 at 07:20 AM
It looks like you have a good concept, and you are so right about the fabrics - they are darling. Maybe a more stable handle would cause less distortion?
Posted by: Liz K. | August 14, 2007 at 08:26 AM
cool!! now that you learned that little tip, you'll just have to make another! :)
Posted by: stacey | August 14, 2007 at 08:45 AM
Distorted when you pick up the handles or not, that is one helluva cute bag! The fabric is excllent. Is there an etsy shop in your future!
Posted by: Kim | August 14, 2007 at 10:14 AM
You are wicked talented! Really nice! It doesn't look at all distorted.
Posted by: Carol | August 14, 2007 at 10:42 AM
Wonderful fabrics! I don't think the distortion is bad. I like how it stands up on it's own in the first picture. How did you get it to do that?
Posted by: Brenda | August 14, 2007 at 11:06 AM
Ooh, I like! I'm totally with you on the funnel-shaped bag thing. It makes the rummaging so much easier.
Posted by: Stella | August 14, 2007 at 12:54 PM
What a great purse - it's invaluable to learn these lessons to tweak it next time as I am also learning on a skirt right now:) The fabrics are wonderful!
Posted by: Stacey | August 14, 2007 at 06:49 PM
you know, i love the way it looks when you picked it up. i skimmed your pics before reading the post and i thought "oh how cool, it scrunches when you pick it up". i know you didn't plan for it to do that, but it doesn't *look* unplanned :)
Posted by: jody | August 15, 2007 at 05:55 AM
Very cute!
Posted by: Oiyi | August 16, 2007 at 02:38 PM
Just gorgeous - love the fabric combos!
Posted by: Ruth | August 18, 2007 at 10:42 AM
So cute!
Posted by: Jean | August 20, 2007 at 02:43 PM