Here are two new totes for the Gallery 121 sale in early May. More details on the sale soon.
The first tote is made of waxed canvas from England, the second with waxed canvas from the USA. Both fabrics are water-resistant and durable. They bags have cross-body straps, are trimmed in leather and have lots of pockets inside and out. Great for travel or for everyday use. Drop me a note in the comment section if you have any questions.
This is a large messenger bag, able to carry a 17″ computer. The body is made of waxed canvas (which I bought in Kenya and sadly is almost gone) and cognac leather. It has a wide cotton webbing strap with a shoulder pad, a leather grab-handle and durable metal hardware. Under the flap there is a slip pocket and inside a large double pocket. It is lined with durable canvas, has a double bottom for strength and a vintage leather tab closure. Overall, a great bag to take you back and forth to work. 19.5″ x 13.5″ x 3.5″
Here is another durable tote for travel and everyday use. This is the same waxed canvas as the tobacco totes but this time in black. Like the others, it has a leather bottom for extra strength and stability, a metal zipper closure with leather tab and hand finished leather straps with a 10 .5″ drop. There are two large waxed canvas pockets on the outside for easy access and two more on the inside for more security. As well, as you can see from the last photo, there is a flash of a red pocket inside. This is a section of a beautiful red blazer I once bought in Florence. It has a luxurious feel and the bound pocket–can’t beat that Italian craftsmanship!– is perfect for your phone.
Like many of my pieces this tote has a story. The waxed canvas comes from Biashara Street in Nairobi. I was there buying burlap backing for the rug hookers in Matangwe. The leather pocket is from a shop around the corner from the Duomo in Florence. And the gray heavy cotton lining is from the market in Limoux, France. 17″ wide, 15″ tall and 5.5″ deep.
When I can, I like to repurpose leather handbags, using them in new creations. The second tobacco waxed canvas tote has straps and front pocket which are having a second life. The front pocket has a magnetic closure and there are two large pockets inside. The bag is fully lined in heavy cotton and has a metal zipper closure. Both these totes are great for travel or everyday toting of books, groceries, art supplies etc.
I bought several yards of this sturdy waxed canvas on Biashara Street in Nairobi a few years ago. It makes a sturdy and handsome travel tote when paired with leather handles and base. This tote has lots of pockets inside and out and a metal zipper closure, making it an ideal tote for travel or home. 17″x15″x6.5″.
This rugged tote is a one-of-a-kind. It combines my favourite fabric and leather. The handles are vintage, from a time when quality was high. They are still beautiful leather and combine well with the caramel leather on the bottom and sides of this tote. The tote is designed for daily use or for travel with lots of compartments inside and out. It has two large exterior pockets where travel documents, phone etc can be slipped for convenience. Inside it is bright striped canvas from Ireland and there are four pockets, made of orange waxed canvas. one of them zippered. The side has leather tabs for extra strength. The waxed canvas is manufactured in the USA, can be wiped clean and has a great vintage look. In the on-line store today.
In between riding my bike and pulling dandelions I’ve been working on two new waxed canvas bags. Pictured above is a second Nairobi bag, the same size as the last one, but with a few other differences. It will be available at the end of the week along, I hope, with a second bag–a new design–a moss green messenger. Back on Friday.
When I was in Nairobi I was in a fabric store on Biashara Street buying burlap for the rug hookers. As I was leaving I noticed bolts of heavy waxed canvas by the door. I couldn’t resist buying some because I loved the weight and the colours–moss, cognac and black. This is the first bag in cognac, a versatile bag with shoulder strap and lots of pockets.
A great bag for every day, it will also withstand the rigours of travel. It has two deep pockets on the front and a zipper pocket for phone or keys on the back. Inside it is lined in striped cotton with a domed coated canvas pocket for ipad and a zip/slip pocket for valuables. The bag is trimmed in durable leather, has antique brass zippers, rivets and clips and an adjustable leather cross body strap.
Width: 13″, height 14″, depth 5″
Look for this bag in the online store early this week.
Here is the first bag of 2015. It is a great everyday bag for work, travel and leisure and is part of a series of waxed canvas and leather that I have made over the last couple of years. These bags are durable and age beautifully. The waxed canvas is waterproof and wipes clean with a damp cloth. This one is 12.5″ wide, 14″ tall and 6″ deep with an adjustable leather strap and a wide leather base. It is lined in crisp blue and white striped denim. There is a large exterior pocket and inside zip and slip pockets as well as a leather phone pocket.
When I was in Nairobi in February I found some heavy duty waxed canvas and I am ready to start some new bags to see how they go.
This tote is made from the same olive waxed canvas as yesterday’s sac–but this time combined with a pinch of hot cayenne. This is a large durable tote, waxed canvas and leather on the outside and canoe canvas on the interior. It would be a great diaper bag, book tote or travel tote and will be noticed wherever you take it. It has an adjustable strap in olive leather, a double leather bottom with ‘feet’ and high quality hardware including a metal zipper. Inside there is a phone and ipad pocket on the one side and slip/zip pocket on the other. Outside there is a slip pocket with birdbrain appliqué.
Height 15″. width 15″ and depth 5.5″.
