Bags, bags and more bags

Hello friends!  There’s been something on my mind for quite some time and I’d like to talk about it.  Purses.  They come in all shapes and sizes, all different colors and styles.  Some are beautiful and some are downright ugly.

Here is a picture of my dream purse but I cannot find it anywhere for less than $300.  That’s too rich for my blood. (No, that's not me holding it.  It's some other very lucky woman!)

I have a real love/hate relationship with purses.  Because women’s clothing is all about looks, not about practicality and is mostly produced without pockets, I have to carry a purse just to carry my necessities, I.D., lipstick, nail file, etc.  I’ve whittled my necessities down to the point where I can have a small cross-body bag and it suits me perfectly. I must keep my hands free because I have a toddler that requires two hands.

Every month or so, I see a sewing magazine that inordinately has a front cover headline about purses.  Quick and easy purses!  Pretty and fabulous totes!  Purse projects for spring! The styles always change with the fashions and lately I’ve seen more patterns for clutches rather than purses. Tempted as I am to try them, I resist because none of them fit what I need – cross-body or – dare I say it? – fanny pack (on etsy).

The purses are usually pretty cute and use great fabric but I’ve never made a fabric purse. Sure, I’ve made some larger totes in neutral colors to be used at the beach or some other purpose.  They looked fine but never quite cut the mustard for my taste. But, this one is really cute.

So, I was wondering - do you like to sew purses?  How have they turned out?