Winterberry Handbag

After seeing how my sister's and my mom's new bags turned out I decided that that was the style I needed to make for myself. However, I'm not a black and tan or black or gray kind of person. I need to have some color or I'll just be all meh about it. I don't know what took me so long to think of gray, but once I latched onto it I started concocting different color schemes for what might work best. My coat is a pretty shade of turquoise, so I was thinking gray and that or gray and lime, but I couldn't find anything that seemed just right. I had to pick a few things up at Joann's so I figured I'd have a casual look-see. When I walked past the purples there was one there that just seemed to say "Please won't you pick me?" I'm not a purple person (I'm actually quite fair-skinned, bahahahahaha). Seriously, purple may be my least favorite color. But this was more of a cross between fuchsia and plum and was quite acceptable, especially with the gray. Throw in the perfectly matching lining and a trip to the Kona solids section for a matching berry solid and bam! My new handbag.

The gray and the white and the medallions all make me think of snow, and the soft purply light that comes just after sunset (especially when there's a white blanket covering the ground). I always found there to be something so...survivalist about berries that grow even in winter. Like in 'Farmer Boy' from the Little House series where Almanzo and Alice go digging through the snow for wintergreen leaves and berries. Something so wintry and cold, but sweet and hopeful. 

I put the diamonds to the side instead of upright, just for a different look. I was going to fussy cut the diamonds and mix them in with the berry solid, but then it would be too purply, which just would not do at all.

The inside is a tiny medallion print that looks like a snowfall inside. LOVE!!!!!! I usually buy my zippers in bulk over the internet, and it's hard to tell the colors accurately sometimes. As such, I end up with weird colors and wonder just what the hell they'll go with. Well, if you wait long enough you'll make a winterberry bag and find the perfect use for the purple zipper you bought. Patience, kids. Patience.

I obviously still have not mastered tying the bow. Stupid thing that's stupid and won't be tied right. If you use eyelets and grommets in your sewing and don't already have one, I highly recommend the grommet/eyelet setting pliers. They make everything snug and secure, and if you have some aggression you need to work out a few squeezes and you'll be back to calm. They're not always an easy squeeze, so if you have carpal tunnel issues the little anvil kit that you whack with a hammer works just as well too (both for the eyelets and the aggression). I used silver rectangle rings for the straps:

The basic construction of this one is the same as the other two I've made, and I love the versatility of the bag. It looks good in different materials and prints, in patchwork or plain. It took me a Saturday afternoon to make my bag, and a full day each for the other two (because of the patchwork and measuring, etc.). Because I have an almost complete idea of what works and what sizes work best for all the parts even the patchwork versions would be quicker now. I'm not saying it's going to happen in a wink (most likely after the holidays), but if you think you might like a sew-along for this one please let me know in the comments.

Ta for now!

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