This slouchy tote was made from a beautiful herringbone, antique linen. The fabric itself had texture & a beautiful heavy weight but something was missing. When I laid out the fabric, it just seemed obvious that it was calling out for a nice simple stripe down the middle. I do hesitate (usually) to fool with such an expensive fabric by painting on it but this time it just fit. Lately I’m really into the clean white stripe on neutrals. It just makes such a nice pop.
A friend came to me & requested a linen bag. She had a very specific use for it & we wanted to create a tote that could go all around town, hold her things (like a computer) plus extra kid stuff. Her water bottle was floating around the bottom of her current bag so I suggested we add an extra outside pocket to hold her drink. Simplicity was the key, she is a person who has such a beautiful natural yet subtle style. The tote material is an antique, heavy herringbone linen. The handle is a knotted horse bridle that can be removed for washing & the lining is a nice neutral striped linen fabric.
The hand stitched initial was a last minute addition just for her.
I spent a great portion of the past 2 weeks making tote bags made out of antique linen & using leather horse bridles as straps. Each bag was a unique piece that combined different shell fabrics, linings, some had leather bottoms, some not. The straps were the best part as they gave each bag it’s own identity. I started falling in love with the way they all just hung on my office wall together as an instillation. It wasn’t easy for me to sell them as I saw something in each one that I would want to keep & use. In the end, I picked one & packed up the rest. Just before I went to the market I impulsively pulled out 1 more…… I couldn’t help it. I wish I had taken a picture of them all hanging at the Fair as it was a very temporary vision. To my delight & great surprise, they all sold within the first 2 hours of the first night.
I used up all my fabric & all my bridles….. Back to the hunt to find some more ! This is the problem that I tend to run into when I find antique fabrics & hard to find trims. These bags are truly one of a kind.
