New Bag Design and Fun with Hardware

About 2 weeks ago I came up with this simple pleated bag design.....

My initial idea was to use grommets as you can see in my first prototype:

(Well, maybe you can't see it too well - this photo was take with my phone)  I didn't have any purse handles lying around, so I quickly braided up some fabric and made some makeshift ones that served it's purpose well.  I just needed to get an idea of what I wanted to do.

I liked the initial look, so I placed an order for some nicer brass grommets and pre-made leather handles.  Unfortunately the hardware is shipping from overseas and I really wanted to complete another bag, so I started thinking of alternatives.

I had some silver gate rings lying around and had recently ordered some rivets that I was dying to try out.....I also had some faux leather so I quickly got to work with another take on the bag.  

TIP:  Faux leather is much easier to sew than leather, not to mention a lot less expensive.  I would highly recommend sewing with this before tackling real leather.  This particular faux leather was an upholstery remnant.  It has a beautiful feel and worked perfectly for a bag.  I used a regular sewing foot and sewed through several layers without difficulty.

I sewed up the bag, just as I had the other and made some matching straps using this awesome tutorial from Emmaline Bags.  I'd say it worked like a charm!

TIP:  The great thing about gate rings is that you can open and close them.  So if I decide I don't want to use this bag any more, I can pull off the rings and use them in another project....or I can pull off this handle and use it on another purse.

I simply added the rivets for reinforcement and aesthetics.

I was having so much fun adding rivets I added two more at the pleats.

 If I made this over again, I'm not sure I would do this again,  While I like the look on the exterior, the back of the rivets are not all that pretty on the lining.  I suppose I could've added them prior to putting the lining in, but I wasn't thinking that far ahead.  Oh well....

I had fun with the lining too.  I used a bright orange fabric and trimmed the slip pocket with a bit of the faux leather.  I also added a zipper pocket - I was lucky to have the perfect matching zipper in my stash!

All in all I'm pretty happy with this bag.  You really can make a simple bag look quite complex by spending some time on the details.  I'll be carrying this one around while I anticipate the arrival of my brass hardware to try out on the other bag I have waiting.  

I can't wait to show you how the hardware will change the look and feel of the same style bag!

Fun!