Search Results for: waxed canvas

The leather laptop bag is finished. This is the first time I have worked with oily pull-up leather and it is both beautiful and challenging. I love the finish–it has a great look and feel and will wear well. The challenge comes because of its heft–sewing this was a real physical experience, especially turning it inside out. The bag has a minimalist look, simple lines, simple pockets and simple hardware. It is designed to carry a 14″ laptop as well as the other things you need for your work day.

It has a finished leather strap with vintage buckle and leather shoulder protector. It also has a front buckle closure, a quick grab handle and inside key ring. There are two outside pockets and one inside as well as a waxed canvas compartment with knob closure for the computer. Overall measurements 18″ x 12″ x 4″. It is shown here with a 13″ macbook.

I’ve been working on a new messenger bag for the last little while. It is designed to hold a large macbook and the other essentials needed for the work day. The bag is made of beautiful heavy leather which stands on its own. Hardware and design details are simple and understated. It has a double bottom and three pockets, two outside and one inside, and a front buckle closure. Still to come is the leather shoulder strap with a buckle adjustment. Every step of the way has been a big learning , but it is finally coming together. Next time you check, it will, I hope,  be ready for action.

Inside is a brown waxed canvas compartment with a knob closure for the laptop. This photo also gives a good view of my label which I made with the new birdbrain branding iron. 

I’ve had a couple of requests for coated cotton pouches for travel. I spent an afternoon this week using up some remnants to make a few small makeup bags, big enough for a tooth brush and other travel essentials, but compact enough to fit in your tote. And to give a boost of colour!

From the left two striped coated cotton from Chartres, one with a lime zipper one with a cobalt one. Then two magenta flying birds with cobalt and fuchsia zippers and then I could not resist two more wonky birds. The wonky birds are lined with water-resistant orange waxed canvas. The remaining are lined with crisp blue and white striped canvas. A few of these will be in the shop very soon.

Here are two more Marimekko coated cotton totes, 17″ x 14″ x 5″. These were ordered after the original tote appeared on the blog. Keep an eye on the blog for two more totes in this Siirtolapuutarha pattern and a couple in a lovely waterolour print. If you are interested in one  of the new ones, you can use the contact button on the right under navigation.

Inside the totes have a full-width waxed canvas computer compartment with a knob closure. And you can see the red leather phone pocket peaking out. On the other side is a zip/slip pocket with birdbrain graphics. The leather straps have an 11″ drop and make for comfortable toting. A great travel tote or an everyday tote for life’s essentials.

Those of you who are regular readers of this journal, will know I have long been in love with Marimekko, the Finnish design house. I purchased some of their coated cotton last spring and have begun now to make bags. This print called Siirtolapuutarh, makes a stunning tote. This is the large size, 18″ x 14″ x 5″, with a strong metal zipper, and reinforced black leather bottom and carry straps. It is lined with black waxed canvas and has a special large pocket for your 15″ laptop which fastens with a silver knob closure (see the last photo). The tote also has a leather phone pocket and a large canvas slip pocket printed with birdbrain graphics.  I have enough fabric in this design to make a couple of cross-body bags and two more totes. This one is currently in the online store. It would make colourful statement as a great weekend travel tote.

I finished a new leather tote, lined in orange waxed canvas with lots of pockets. It is of made caramel coloured leather with a double leather bottom which carries up to make two deep front pockets. Inside there are more large pockets, made of easy-clean striped coated fabric. Carry handles and a cross-body strap give options when your hands are full. This tote looks good enough to go to a meeting, but would also make a great diaper bag with its roomy storage and easy-clean interior. Durable metal zipper and hardware. Width 17.5″, height 13.5 inches, depth 5″.

Here, finally, is a 1510 backpack ready for the on-line store. I first designed this bag with one of the favourite young women in my life and since then have made four for order. The design gives a nod to the classic backpack but has its own personality. Each 1510 has had refinements; it’s the great thing about remaking a design. And what started out as a request to use a favourite belt has become a search for vintage pieces to use as a signature closure. This version has a great vintage leather strap with a pewter buckle. It makes the bag unique.

Standard 1510 features: large metal zipper pocket on the back of the bag for security, double leather bottom for strength, carry handle for versatility, adjustable straps, and easy drawstring closure under the flap. All the seams are double stitched. Under the flap is a great piece of dark brown upholstery leather. Inside the bag is lined in black waxed canvas with two leather pockets in red and pink–easy to see! It’s made with great butterscotch leather with care and love.

Height: 13″, Width 12″, Depth 4.5″

This new laptop bag is designed to fit a 15″ laptop and to be able to withstand  the rigours of rugged travel. It is made of two layers of heavy moss Nairobi waxed canvas with caramel leather flap and details. All the seams are double stitched and reinforced. Overall dimensions: Width 18″ Height 13″, Base 4″. 

The bag has a very large zippered pocket on the back with a leather phone pocket tucked inside. On the front there are two large slip pockets under the flap. Inside there are more large slip pockets and a leather zippered pocket for valuables. The hardware, zippers and buckles are heavy-duty metal. The adjustable strap is brown cotton webbing with leather shoulder protector. Small leather ties can be knotted to keep the bag secure under the flap. There is also a small carry handle repurposed from a vintage bag.

The bag is lined in water and stain-resistant fabric in moss green. This photo shows the exterior and interior double slip pockets as well as the lining and the leather ties.

I thought I would do a post on the best bags of 2015 which can be ordered. I am still intending to revise the leather gallery so that you can see what is available in what leathers and sizes and the price. But for today, all of the bags below can be ordered in the leather pictured. You can always put the name of the bag in the search box at the top right of this page to see all the posts which feature any bag here. Each of these bags is out in the world now, but I have enough of the leather to make another. If there is another colour or size you would like, you can always ask and I’ll see what I can do. As you know, I am a one-person operation and each of the bags is made with great care and love from start to finish by me. The only way they can be purchased these days is through this blog. If you are interested, check out this wonderful comment at the bottom of the post for the 1510 black backpack.

KD DELTA

1510 BACKPACK

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LARGE LAPTOP BAG

NAIROBI WAXED CANVAS AND LEATHER

 0704 MESSENGER