Flat Felt and Leather Purses- Part 4 of ?

Mid-way through felting (front)...

                                          ...and back (with segmented pocket).

                                                         Once fully felted...

                                        ...the colors appear a bit more 'true to life'!

                                          Cutting out leather sides, flap and strap...

                                        ...and machine-stitching them into place.

                                                  The finished purse bottom...

                                                            ...back side...

                                  ...and open leather flap with reinforced buttonhole.

                                         The interior of this purse is quite roomy...

                                 ...and the divided pocket helps to keep things neat.

                              I extended the length of the strap, after trying it on for size...

                                      ...allowing for more comfort and functionality.

                            The finished purse front (with Moroccan button closure).

                                         Next time: scores of tiny squares! :)

Green Nuno Felt Purse With Batik Lining- Part 3 of 3

My finished, fabric-lined bag...

...still needed some sort of a closure...

...so I fashioned a strap from a short piece of black leather...

 

...used a medicine bottle cap to shape the curved end...

 

...and machine-stitched a buttonhole into it.

 

Here it is, in situ.

 

To finish off the closure, I used a special button...

...that my daughter bought for me in Morocco.

 

The purse back...



 ...and front.

 

Even though I lost some pieces of decorative fabric during the felting process...

...I think that the cotton-dot-studded felt provides plenty of interest on its own.

The unexpectedly 'naked' section on the back of the purse...

...also gave me the perfect opportunity to break out some of my vintage buttons...

...and have a go with my sewing needle! :)

Tencel and Merino Birthday Purse- Part 2 of 2

The back side of the finished felt.

The bag with newly-stitched leather handle.

The front side of the finished purse...

...and the back.

I like the subtle shimmer that the tencel provides.

The opened purse with leather button loop.

The purse closure with Moroccan button.

I had fun trying out a new kind of fiber with this project (the tencel/merino blend)...

...and I thought that it felted beautifully.

The color gradation enhanced the very spare purse design...

...and the darkest color is at the purse bottom (to help camouflage wear and tear).

Since my friend lives in New York City, I wanted to make something compact...

...with a long strap, to wear cross-body for security.

For the closure, I used another of the buttons that my daughter brought me from Morocco...

...and I think that it makes the purse extra special! :)

2 Year Bag-i-versary- Part 3 of 3

The felted silk squares...

 

...and after stitching.

 

Inner pleats sewn into the body of the bag.

 

The bag exterior with handles and leather button loops.

 

The back of the bag.

 

The bag front with Moroccan buttons.

 

The completed bag. Finally! :)

 

As you can see...

...this bag underwent extensive 'surgery' to become its final 'self'! :)

I narrowed the bag flap...

...and sewed panels into it as well.

I stitched seams in the bottom of the bag to make it more roomy...

...and pleats along the opening for shaping.

I removed the wonky handle and cut it in half...

...then doubled it and sewed it together again, lengthwise...

...attaching it to the bag back for a more 'pocketbook' kind of look.

I cut strips of brown leather...

...and attached them to the asymmetrical flap points for button loops...

...then sewed on buttons that my daughter brought me from one of her trips to Morocco.

Remember that if you haven't yet commented on any of the three
'2 Year Bag-i-versary' posts...

...now is the time!

I will be closing the drawing at Midnight tonight (October 19th) E.S.T...

...and posting the name of the winner on Friday.

Good luck!