Just what is this blog anyway?

In case you're new to this blog, let me just explain what's going on here.
This blog is a reference for lots of tutorials and purse-related websites (the entire sidebar is filled with links), but it is also a challenge.
Every two months, I post a theme and ask readers to make a bag per the theme.
Participants send me a jpg image via email, and I post all the pics on Flickr.com, in hopes we are inspired and motivated by one another.
This challenge idea is based on the apron challenges introduced by Tie One On.

Tie One On does not offer a prize, but she garners lots of interest and participation.
I have had some difficulty inspiring people to play along here, so I have started offering prizes.

The theme for each challenge is posted at the top of the sidebar.
I aim to get people to try new ideas, to step outside the box creatively, and maybe learn something along the way.

On sending in your images...

When you guys email me pics of your finished project, I will always either reply to your email, or comment on your blog.

If you send in a pic and you do not hear from me, your email may have gotten lost in cyber space or my spam file...so please contact me again if I haven't acknowledged your participation, okay?
I want everyone's photos to get the credit they deserve, so hopefully there will be no glitchs.

Now hurry and finish your bags so I can get the Flickr gallery organized!

Welcome to the Purse Challenge!

I think it will be fun to start a challenge to make purses, totes, or wallets, following a given theme of my choosing.
The lot of entries by you could then be viewed on Flickr (just as Amy Karol hosts the apron challenge,
Tie One On).

This is not a swap, just a challenge to follow a theme and express your creativity. Along the way, I hope we stumble upon some fun inspiration and ideas from one another.

My hope is that you'll reach out of your comfort zone and try to make something out of the box...that you'll stretch your skills or try a new one altogether.
Try applique or embroidery if that's new to you. Try making up your own pattern.
Try using an unusual material. Try a unique shape. Try thinking like a designer or an artist, and thereby challenge yourself to learn and grow.

Any materials are acceptable here--fabric, paper, vinyl, juice boxes, gum wrappers, knitting, crocheting, macrame....
consider unusual closures like knots, vintage buttons, handmade button holes, etc

This site will be a place for links to other bag-oriented websites and blogs, links to tutorials, etc. Feel free to forward any ideas you think I should include here. as well as suggestions for future themes. I will continually update the site.

I have queried a few of my blogging friends, and it has been determined that a good deadline for this would be every two months. I will purposefully end this project on a different month than the apron challenge, so we can all participate in both and not be overwhelmed with too many deadlines.

Sound good? Any questions, just email me at barbian7 (at) yahoo.com.

Theme: Okay, so here's our first ever theme: Make a tote or a purse using a tea towel (vintage or new).

Cute pouch using a tea towel design for embellishment, by Dangargyle.


Hip bag by Mandy B Bags

Any pattern may be used (or not), just make a tea towel part of it. Also acceptable: fabric calendars or cloth towels similar to vintage tea towels.

I am aiming to inspire creativity with unusual fabrics and the idea of recycling an item that was originally intended for a different use. In other words, don't just slap two pieces of fabric together and call it a tote--really try to push yourself, please yourself, and submit a little piece of wonderful.

Sure, I'll post whatever you make, but don't you want to aim for the realm of wow?

Due Date: A pic of your bag should be submitted to me before the last day of May, and I will post these June 1.

How to Submit your image: Please email your jpeg image along with a bit of info as to how or why you chose to create this, and include a link to your blog if you write one (and to the actual permalink of your post about your bag, if applicable).
I will not be able to include links to your etsy shop.

If you need inspiration, Rick Rack Ruby has some cute examples made with vintage fabric calendars here and here. And she has an adorable messenger bag here.

or Bella Dia's Big Bag made with kitchen towels.

Box or tote by I Knew That!