Custom tote bags, leathercrafts, and more available by commission.
Email totebug@gmail.com for more information.
Custom tote bags, leathercrafts, and more available by commission.
Email totebug@gmail.com for more information.
My leather tote bags are crafted from top grain or full grain, high-quality leather. They’re stylish and refined, yet durable and wear beautifully. As a commission item, I work with you to create a personal bag that is unique to you. The strap length is measured for that perfect fit. The dye color, rivets, lining, and pocket layout are all tailored to make your perfect personal bag.
Leather bags can be lined or unlined with recessed zip closures, magnetic clasp closures, or regular snaps. Rivets come in various colors: gold, silver, bronze, antique brass or black. Handles can be leather, nylon or polyester webbing, or polypropylene.
Do you have a cotton fabric that you love? A favorite old shirt? Let me make a bag out of it! Cotton bags are light, durable, and available in a wide variety of configurations. I use Pellon® fusible, woven interfacing for both outside and lining fabrics, giving the bag a nice drape and feel. The strap length, depth, and pocket layout are all adjusted to make a unique, personal bag that I’m sure you’ll love.
Mother-daughter totes make unique gifts.
In addition to cotton and leather, quilted bags are timeless and elegant. Available by commission, I’ll work with you to bring your ideas to life. The quilt pattern, fabric, and inner/outer pocket configuration are tailored to create your unique, personal, beautiful tote bag.
Pair your cotton tote bag choice with a smaller zipper bag, for a stylish pair that you can bring anywhere.
My smaller, wallet sized zipper bags easily hold your smaller items like your phone and keys, all in one place.
Clear vinyl bags are popular and often required at large venues when attending concerts or sports games. They can be made in various sizes and come in 8, 10, or 12 gauge vinyl, with or without decorative patches.
Boxed zipper bags can be made of cotton, leather or vinyl.
Handcrafted from high-quality top grain and/or full grain leather, my wallets are perfect for keeping your ID and credit cards neatly tucked away.
Make zip tab ends about 2X2” or larger; fold ends to center and press. Sew onto each end of your zipper. Cut excess fabric of tabs along side of zipper.
I am using Batik fabric, 7” zipper, 12 gauge clear vinyl, size 14 needle and Metler Silk Finish cotton thread.
Make two strips about 4” longer than your zipper and about 2” wide. Fold long edges to center and press. Press again to center, with fold lines even.
Cut two rectangles of vinyl about 2” longer than the length of your zipper and as wide as you would like your pouch to be, but make it at least 4” (for room to turn the project).
Place one long edge of vinyl into the fold crease of the edge fabric, and sew it to one side of the zipper using a zipper foot and use 2 lines of top stitching. You will be stitching through the top binding fabric with the vinyl inside the crease, and the zipper at the bottom.
Sew the vinyl to the zipper on the other side.
Open the zipper and turn the project over with zipper facing down.
Fold it so the zipper is facing inside the pouch; (this is essentially ‘right’ sides together). Make sure your zipper is OPEN.
Stitch around sides and bottom of pouch. Start sewing about 1/8” from the outside edge of your zipper tab; do not catch the end of the zipper tab in the side seam.
I am using a square corner here, but stitching slightly rounded corners will make your pouch easier to turn. Also, you can ‘box’ the corners if you so chose.
Trim close to the edges all around the pouch; clip corners carefully.
Gently, with patience, turn the pouch to the right side and push corners to straighten. A hair dryer on low heat can help make the vinyl supple and easier to turn. Or, you can place the pouch on an ironing board after warming the board with an iron, but not too hot. The radiant heat will help soften the vinyl.
For a finishing touch, add a pull tab to your zippered pouch!
Made by hand in California
