Missed opportunity

Aaarrgghhh. I wish I had found out about this earlier.
Craftstylish is a craft site similar to Craftster, or Craftzine.

They just had a Tote-ally Crafty Bag Challenge.
It's too late for any of us to enter, but it's fun to see what people came up with.
Gallery here (scroll to bottom of page for photo links).

I like this soda can tab tote (it won one of the grand prizes)

Family Heirlooms

Janet, one of the participants/readers of this blog, has been kind enough to send me some ideas for this challenge (a gesture I wholeheartedly appreciate).
She sent a link to this bag, and I was like, hey! That's Trish! How did I not find these myself before?!
Trish and I have gotten to know each other over emails before and after So You Think You Can Dance.

Anyway, come to find out my blog buddy has a whole lot of inspirational examples for the photo challenge.

Her Mother Mary Purse was created as an homage to her mom.
Please read the touching post here.

This purse includes a photo of her grandmother, mother, and aunt. She gave this bag as a gift to her sister.Read her post here.

And this amazing purse, made with a photo of her mom and dad on the boardwalk in NYC during WWII. Another gift for another sister.
Please read more here.

Extension

Amy of Tie One On has extended her apron challenge, which means the end date will coincide with the Purse Project.
Because several of you participate in both, I'm going to change this project due date to October 1 in order to stagger the two challenges.
They are sewing up gingham aprons over at TOO.
As Amy says, go get your ging on!

And that gives you one extra month to put together your photo purse, so no excuses!

Clear inspiration

I recently purchased this tote on ebay

The seller said she found it at an estate sale.
I wonder who made it?
It is described as "Vintage dress pattern adorns this Clear Plastic Purse. Silver grommets hold the purse together. Two silver chain handles, covered with clear rubber tubes."
This idea could fit perfectly with the current theme--you could sandwich photographs under clear plastic or vinyl.

This journal quilt, Mexico Memories, by Jane LaFazio, started my interest in sewing with vinyl.
(click on image to enlarge, or click on link to go to Jane's website)
You could consider making something like this in purse form, combining sentimental photos with trinkets.

You might even use a sheer fabric, or print your photos onto sheets of organza made for the printer.