Blue Denim Purses

I've been building purses for a week (12).  I have many photos to share with you now and more later.  On an upcoming post--I'll show you photos (steps) how I put them together.  

These (2) purse I made for a client.  They are 9.5" wide by 12.5" padded denim purses with 45" cross-body straps.  I've been making this style of zippered purse for several years.  I make them in upholstery fabrics, faux leather, corduroy, wool and denim.  

I like to play with polymer clay and roll beads to make zipper pulls.  Another part of decorating purses are hand sewing big stitches with No. 10 cotton crochet thread, as well as big medallions of stacked wool with blanket stitching. 

The padded purses are lined in cotton batik.  The padding is leftover batting I trim from quilts I've long arm quilted.  The first year I long arm quilted I was frustrated throwing out all those batting trimmings.  It finally occurred to me to use the leftover batting to make beautiful purses and soft luggage (big overnight zippered totes)  See below:

Olive green carpet bag.  I made the covered shank buttons with a vintage "handy button maker".  Its a big old heavy metal contraption that looks more like a tool of torture, than a covered button maker.  The contraption uses big steel shank button blanks, and works perfectly every time.

Bohemian zippered travel bag.   Made with leftover sub-assemblies from Circus Circus quilt, paired with  navy corduroy, and lined with sturdy cotton batik and decorated with silver metal beads.

Blue Circus Circus queen size quilt (totally impromptu, a more is more concept quilt).

Ok, so back to my story about the two blue denim purses I just finished.  Below is the second one.  

Both blue denim purses feature two interior padded slip pockets.  The twist is, one of those pockets is hidden and marked with a button . . . a button marker to show you where the opening of the hidden pocket is located.  The hidden pocket is big enough and deep enough to hide your passport or folded receipts you don't want swimming around in your purse.  

Since I can't do summer craft shows, I plan to spend lots of time making purses.

More photos on the way--so stay tuned.

Thank you for looking at my work.