New Tote Bag

Hello and welcome to my first blog! I keep starting this and then having to do something, like tend to kid’s woes or the dog whining or the cat needing yet more food…so this keeps being re-written and amended.

Today it’s all about the tote. I haven’t made that many totes to sell as they take much longer than a pouch or clutch and therefore must cost more and I’ve struggled with this but people keep asking me for totes and I know I LOVE a nice one and they sooooooo useful so…. I am trialing this one at the moment which really is an excuse to make myself one and I am really enjoying using it. It has in fact replaced my perfect red cork Ellen handbag, so I am my own worst enemy. make a bag better than my big high price item, well done, Sarah…. (I am still learning about marketing…..!!)

This particular tote is made from something called Buckskin and I inherited it from my moms friend. Emma James was a lovely kind gentle woman who hoarded fabric like a demon. So this bag will be named the Emma James. Even though I intend to make it in a variety of fabrics….it’s big enough for an A4 pad and has an outside pocket and an inside zipped pocket. The handles are made out of the same fabric, I think this sort of handle is called a self handle but correct me if I’m wrong (in the comments below!)

Anyway the tote itself is super cute (imo) and quite small. I might make a giant tote suitable for the beach but for now I am getting my head round this size…I have struggled to price totes effectively for me. They take longer than a pouch/clutch and there are so many cheapy-cheap ones on the market that it feels almost pointless trying to compete…..and I know the answer of course, either make mine totally awesome and unique or give up!!

I have three of these on the table at the moment very nearly ready. I have to decide what fabric to use for the internal pockets and then assemble the exterior to the interior and hey presto, bag done. Oh I have to make the handles too. One of the drawbacks to self handles….you have to make them, as apposed webbing which is ready to go but costs quite a lot sometimes £3.50 a metre. I am using the gorgeous Orla Kiely tomato stem for the lining. I love the contrast of the navy blue buckskin against the bright orange lining. It’s very pleasing.