Visual Inspiration!

I don't know about you, but I get ideas and inspiration from checking out what other people have made.
Then my ideas just domino from there.
I love the hand-stitched details on this bag.
Crispin Bixler, purse from an Urban Outfitters t-shirt


Lots of inspiration on Flickr.com (links will take you to their Flickr pages)
Tinkerbell bag from Purseonality Bags
She sells her bags in her etsy shop


Wired Ware bag from Puck-Man


Cannoli Backpack from Fisheye3
It's for sale in her etsy shop


Fun bag posted by Gutstrings (see design info on flickr page link)
Note the ruffling and the zipper--this is a perfect example of thinking outside the box.


I love this Cherry Bomb bag by Trendy Wendy Crafts.
Note the hardware on the handles

Simple T-shirt Bag (video tutorial)

Thank you to ThreadBanger and Tiny Happy.

Tutorial

IMG_4802
Originally uploaded by smallyellowfish

This cute bag, posted by SmallYellowFish, is made from a tee shirt .

What makes this design different is that the sides of the tank top are shifted to become the front of the bag, then the sleeves become the handles.

The post on Flickr.com has a link to a tutorial.
You can garner a lot of information just from the pictures, but the text is in Greek.
Just use Babelfish to translate the text into English.

Finally, a new gallery and a new theme (with a great prize!)

Okay, I'm at a client's house so I have access to a computer.
Well, unfortunately the last challenge only brought forth three entries.
Sigh...
It was really difficult to choose a winner, but I did promise to offer a prize this time, and I can't afford (I wish I could) to send prizes to all three.

So I decided to give Kara the prize this time.


I am sending items that I think can be useful in purse-making: bodkins for lacing ribbons or elastic through casings, a marking pen, a magnetic clasp, and a purse-shaped cookie cutter (everyone needs a little sugar for energy).

The gallery is up on Flickr.
I want to thank all three of these ladies for offering continual support to this blog.

Okay, now for a new theme.
Let's try this one more time, shall we?
Tell all your friends--let's get some response this time, okay?

Summer is coming and we could all use some little beach bags, gym bags, or quick and easy projects.
The new theme is Tee Shirts!
Yep, recycle a tee or several tees into a bag.
And I don't mean simple squares--please try to think outside the box.
Send me a jpg of your bag to my email at barbian7(at)yahoo(dot)com.
You have until the end of June.
I will post a new gallery July 1.

For example, Smashley Bug made this adorable bag from two shirts--the main bag portion is from a tee, and the handles are from a tank top.


It's a great way to memorialize a tee you have sentimental attachment to, but it no longer fits or it's worn in places.
I'll try to find more examples to inspire you.

Pfeffermint_ish has a great tutorial for her yellow bag on Craftster that you might want to try.


And yes, I'll offer a prize to someone too--a tee from Threadless!