bags and purses

When I was in Chartres I bought the bright stripes that you have seen in the aprons and the tote. But I also bought this lovely blue toile enduite.  This is cotton which has had a special treatment of acrylic layers to make it waterproof. I had enough fabric for two aprons and this tote.  It is 18x13x5″ lined in canvas, with a zipper closure, leather bottom and straps, a big double pocket on the outside and another double one inside, screen-printed with birdbrain graphics.  At bottom is one of the aprons, all ready for the kitchen!

I am always carrying a tote. My sketching supplies and my camera are the main reasons, but there are lots of other items I stow there. Over the past year I have distilled my tote needs–a big outside pocket, an inside pocket for my phone and a larger pocket to stash papers etc. I like a leather bottom and straps long enough to comfortably go over my shoulder. I tried this one in black denim with a bright orange lining. I am very happy with the way the www dot graphic worked in white and the denim seems strong enough to handle the wear and tear of daily use. The splash of colour inside is perfect. It is a comfortable size: w 19 x h 13 x d 4.5″ with zipper closing.

I have been away for a few days, but I am home now and back sewing. In the meantime, I wanted to share these great functional bags made by my son, Owen, from recycled sails. They  will be available at the December 2nd show in two sizes. They are great for throwing your wet gear into or for toting any paraphernalia around. The sail fabric and graphics–like this logo from a J-24–are very appealing.

This term has been buzzing around in my head since I first heard it on CBC this week–on a repeat episode of Spark. The theory posits that constraints inspire creativity. I have been thinking about what I make and the constraints that come from using recycled materials, by their very nature limited or one-of -a-kind, and discoveries I have made from having to work with ‘not enough’ or the wrong colour, or no zipper in the right size, etc..  I was making some more colour therapy pouches this morning with small scraps of leather–pure constraint–the green is the very last piece of that great Michael Kors suit and the blue from a small leather coat factory in Montreal–the owner literally picked it up off the shop floor and gave it to me. I am constrained by size of the pieces, colour and quantity–and this is what gives rise to creation, each pouch its own design, colour and size. Nothing uniform.  My mother made the hooked rug beneath the pouches–this too is an example of creation within constraint–the size and colour of the squares were determined by the pieces of wool she had in her scrap basket. Much of rug hooking now is based on great choice, but I love the old designs which grew out of a necessary constraint.

On another note, I have made some pouches from the new prints and I wanted to share them too, as well as a new red rough bag. All will be available at the December 2nd show and then later in the shop. I am hoping to revise the shop set up to make it easier for everyone.

This is another unlined bag, 12x13x5″ with a 40″ strap. It has a zippered closure, two interior pockets and a patch pocket on the front. It is a great colour and made of lovely, durable leather.

I have been trying out some new things that I want to show you. They will be available at the December 2nd show. (If you want details, please email me.)  First the Basque Tote, 14x17x6.5″. Leather bottom and straps and lined with canoe canvas. Fun with the screen printed pockets inside! I have some small pouches in this great striped canvas, but this is the only tote.

And some ipad cases! These are made of recycled leather with a zipper closing and a pocket inside. The one on the right has a slip pocket on the outside too. These are one-of-a-kind, since the leather comes from old jackets and couches! And finally a turquoise rough bag. Unlined leather in a great colour with a slip pocket on the outside and two more inside. 12x12x4″  with a 40″ strap.

I had some heavy green leather and some turquoise handles–and the marriage seemed to work. This is the fourth in a series of unlined totes–great for shopping or travel. Ultra heavy duty, 14x13x5″ with two large outside pockets and one inside. So functional, and a great jolt of colour.