Drafting a design element.
Punching 'strap holes' in the finished felt.
Paper patterns...
...are pinned onto two thin layers of pre-felt...
...and cut out...
...then placed onto a layer of cotton scrim...
...wetted out...
...and felted.
...echo the accidental ones along the side seams and purse bottom.
A strap and bag attachment are fashioned from a piece of leather...
...(which masks an earth magnet).
The expanded bottom provides a roomy interior.
The purse front.
A close-up of one leather closure.
The blending of white and brown wool fibers...
...results in its 'heathery' appearance.
The back of the finished purse.
Naturally, when thinking about 'rescue'...
...these two international symbols of help and healing sprang to mind.
In creating design elements that mimic the distressed look of my bag...
...I hoped to change the viewer's focus...
...in a felting 'sleight of hand'!! :)
