bag

Origami Pyramid Bag

admin — Wed, 18 Aug 2010 16:11:00 +0000

It’s a hot July evening and I’m feeling like a wilted flower. Fashion has always been a great pick-me-up and I’m looking forward to sporting Silvermint’s strawberry Origami Pyramid Bag with a simple black sundress to a friend’s party.

The bag attracted me with its unique design, convenient wristlet style, and high quality, interestingly-textured fabric and materials. The vintage button accents in soft pink and grey give it a girly but sophisticated charm and the grey origami-style animal characters printed on the off-white fabric also elevate it to a conversation piece. When I mentally put together my outfit I saw the bag as an artsy, yet practical and intriguing accessory, perfect for holding onto the few essential items I’d need while at the party. Yet as I stand before the mirror the little 6.7 x 5.9 inch pyramid looks funny hanging from my wrist: like a starched handkerchief or an old-fashioned nurses hat.

While the bag didn’t make it to the party, it has occupied a prominent place on my desk, awaiting the writing of this review. Given that my home office is also the living room, I’ve been gazing upon this finely constructed bag with a mixture of delight, curiosity and appraisal daily for the past two weeks. Each time I look at it I think I really love this little pouch!

Silvermint has an interesting story on how she moved from the world of online gaming to the world of handmade crafting. She began to study how real things are actually made vs. the world of “clicking on an icon with the mouse and Poof! a mechanical chicken has been created.” She gets bonus points for her support of ACRES (Animal Concerns Research & Education Society) and a waste-free philosophy, which leads to greater creativity with materials and design. Her Etsy store is stocked with other cute and adorably unique little clutches and pouches as well as graphic-printed tote bags.

I’ve tried the Origami Pyramid Bag on a few times since the night of the party but I doubt I’ll frequently wear it as a purse. I am sure it will find a welcome home storing small treasures or perhaps protecting a snag-prone item in a drawer or suitcase. The cotton webbing strap is detachable so it can hang from a peg and it also stands on its own (especially if the packing folds are ironed out) so it would also make a cute storage container on a shelf or other visible location.

Written by: Matsya Siosal, August 18th 2010

Strawberry Rectangle Zipper Pouch

admin — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 13:34:00 +0000

By Give Gift

Ten months ago, Singaporean Lilis Lim started the Give Gift etsy shop as a practical method to facilitate her passion for arts and crafts. Lilis loves the process of creation, but creating for creation's sake can get expensive unless you develop a way to subsidize your hobby, which is exactly what she did. Now a part of her everyday schedule, Lilis sews the bags, pouches, purses, and totes at home in her free time, and she drops the completed orders in the post on her way to work or school.

Only a month after she began, Lilis broke her first sewing machine, a mini-model that wasn't able to withstand the thick fabrics and zippers. Since then she has obtained a newer, better performing machine to effectively tackle her many projects. The resulting crafts(wo)manship is apparent in the Strawberry Rectangle Zipper Pouch.

Handmade from a pre-washed cotton fabric that features tiny pink and red strawberries dancing about in a sort of chorus line, the Strawberry Rectangle Zipper Pouch is a cutesy, feminine carrying case that reminds me of a certain popular red-haired, sweet-smelling doll from my youth. The fact that I never actually owned one of these dolls is neither here nor there; Strawberry Shortcake was ubiquitous in the 1980s, and the design of this pouch capitalizes on the '80s nostalgia that has infected America for the past several years.

At approximately 7 x 5 inches, the Strawberry Rectangle Zipper Pouch is big enough to hold your basic necessities—cell phone, cash, passport, iPod—unless you're the type of person who just cannot leave home without a stash of contingency items on your shoulder at all times. I used to be like that, then I developed back problems and a slight right tilt, so I decided my immediate physiological needs outweigh whatever not-really-emergency situation that might-possibly-perhaps-maybe-could strike where I need a bandaid, tissues, lip balm, and a multi-use tool.

Ranging from $3.50 to $23 (and then only $2 more for shipping), Give Gift makes is easy to, well, give gifts because their prices are so darn affordable—additional proof that this isn't a money-making venture, but is, indeed, a labor of love.

Written by: Mandy Van Deven, December 14th 2009

Quilted Gadget Bag & Small Pouch

admin — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 11:07:00 +0000

By bagonebagshop

For no apparent reason, I fell in love with elephants when I was a little girl and started an ad hoc collection. By the time I was an adult I had gathered a small army of elephant kitsch that included everything from crystal statues to jewelry to candles to clocks. My penchant for all things pachyderm made gift-giving occasions an effortless affair for all of my family and friends, but while they were appreciative of the low maintenance mental exertion, their lack of creativity had me a little bit miffed. And when I sold all but my most precious belongings before moving to India—the country with the largest elephant population, by the way—my collection didn't make the cut.

The loss didn't strike me as particularly bothersome until I visited an elephant breeding center in Chitwan, Nepal, where I saw a particularly uncommon occurrence: captive elephant twins! My fondness for the largest living land mammal returned while attempting to pet the ever-mobile baby giants in a manner that was matador-esque. Already strong enough to knock a grown man out of their way (a feat I witnessed several times by a handful of foolish men who wanted them to stop and pose for a picture), as the two month old twins trotted from one end of the enclosure to the other, I would swoop in for a pat as they passed. Once the darling duo renewed my amorous inclinations for their species, Tina Hsieh's Small Pouch was the perfect way to be re-introduced cute creature consumption.

A stay-at-home mother, Tina's creative interest came from her father, a costume tailor. She honed her skills at a fashion design school in Taipei before settling into her current location: Singapore. When she's not looking after her thirteen-year-old daughter, Tina runs her bagonebagshop through Etsy.

Tina's bags are impeccably constructed with sturdy material and reliable stitching. While the Small Pouch (3.5 x 5 inches) works for pocket-sized items—money, a U.S. driver's license, or a compact cell phone—the Quilted Gadget Bag (6 x 4.5 inches) comes in handy for those who prefer to carry goods of a larger variety, such as a Blackberry, iPod, or passport. The Small Pouch comes with a d-ring attachment that can be used with a spring hook to snap it to your belt loop, and the Gadget Bag has a multi-use strap that facilitates several wearable configurations. Both are of excellent quality and affordably priced, even when you add international shipping.

Not into elephants? No problem. Tina's wristlet and clutch designs run the gammut from mod to modern and back again with fabrics that feature everything from flowers and flying birds to fluffy clouds and phrases. And if that's still not enough variety, she'll even customize orders to suit your style. That's what I call thoughtful gifting.

Written by: Mandy Van Deven, November 17th 2009

Marimekko Iloinen Change Purse / Red Flashlight Pendant

admin — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 08:44:00 +0000

By Pinkkis

To an outsider in search of a good meal, what is perhaps most striking about Helsinki are the vegan options. In every restaurant, you will find lactose- and meat-free meals without requesting special treatment. As this aspect of Finnish life becomes more greatly incorporated into the wider culture, it isn’t uncommon to find vegan designers like Pinkkis. Dainty donuts, plastic veggie brooches, and soft cloth pouches are all made from reused, recycled, and all vegan materials in her smoke-free, Helsinki home. Though I might have a soft spot for anyone on the Vegan Etsy team, it’s easy to be won over by Pinkkis’ quirky style.

My Red Flashlight Pendant does not actually light up, but it certainly appears that it would. I often feel lost in this world; maybe this is the metaphor for which I’ve been searching. Made from a one-of-a-kind plastic charm, many of Pinkkis' necklaces use cute, out-of-the-ordinary miniatures. Whether you wear this in jest or to accessorize your spelunking gear, the sturdy ball chain won't snap if you snag it on your headlamp. I have owned a number of small assembly line and handmade pouches along the line, but Pinkkis is above and beyond other coin purses and makeup bags. Made with soft, beautiful Marimekko fabric, the colors are striking but not garish. The inner lining is reused fabric with no rough edges, plush and soft to the point where I might resist using it to carry around my grubby loose change. “Iloinen” means “happy” in Finnish, and the retro aesthetic of all things Marimekko certainly make me iloinen. Unfortunately, that is one of the few words of Finnish I can pronounce.

Another reason to patronize Pinkkis: her favorite materials list includes “boy, do I love glitter.” Her child-like fascination with creation is wholly appropriate, but her designs are not suitable for small children. Keep the tiny pieces away from teeny loved ones for maximum enjoyment by all.

Written by: Brittany Shoot, September 7th 2009

Arts and Crafts Market (8/30/2008)

admin — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 11:46:00 +0000

Baldwin Park

Long Beach, California

These are tough times we’re living in, and it seems as if it has become increasingly rare for people to act out of the kindness of their hearts and the courage of their convictions. The economy is failing, the country is on the cusp of one of the most important presidential elections in American history, an ongoing war is costing the country trillions of dollars and many of us have to choose between paying the electricity bill and putting food on the table. So, what can we do in these times of great hardship? Well, Lisa Vasquez, founder of Pug Clothing, spent a year turning her vision for an Arts and Crafts Market into reality.

“I initially decided to start the Arts and Crafts Market because I began making and selling my own tote bags and finding a way to sell them was really hard. I wanted to put something together at my house so that I could sell my bags, and other artists and vendors who try to independently make a profit could showcase their talents as well. I wanted the event to seem cool and enticing, so I incorporated music, food, and drinks and had it at night time. The way I originally described the concept to people was by saying it was going to be like a ‘party at a swap meet’,” Vasquez said.

Thus, Vasquez’s Arts and Crafts Market was born. The first was held in April of 2008 in Baldwin Park, CA. The gathering, which features about a dozen vendors, was such a success that Vasquez put together another one in August. “I was originally only going to have one Arts and Crafts Market. I never planned on putting together another one, but the vendors were interested in doing it again so we decided to put together another one this past August, which was in Long Beach. We’re definitely going to have a third market, though I don’t plan on always having them in different places. The next one will once again be at my house in Baldwin Park,” Vasquez said.

The vendors featured a wide array of artwork ranging in style from kitschy crafts—such as the homemade dolls and stencil drawings by Suemi and Steve Guerra, the brother and sister team that make up Tiragomas—to the more polished designs of Electricidad Bags (see photo), which are designed and hand sewn by best friends Julie Ruiz and Viviana Covarrubias. Other artists who sold their work included painter Asia Celdera and sketch artist and photographer Rudy Vasquez, who pulled double duty as an organizer for the event.

Vasquez’s Arts and Crafts Market, much like her clothing line, is a labor of love, and there’s something distinctly beautiful about a person who is willing to deal with the stress of putting together an event for no other reason than the strongly held belief that local artists should have a place where they can display and sell their art. “It’s hard to make a profit if you’re not a well-established company, especially for those of us who make everything ourselves. On a personal level, I see the Market as an accomplishment. I’m proud that I’ve created a way to sell the things I make with my own hands, instead of just giving up on it,” Vasquez said. Despite her best efforts, the Market hasn’t been a lucrative endeavor for Vasquez, her partner Rudy, or any of the artists involved, but to them that’s really not the point. In these times of economic hardship, you’re damned if you do and damned if you don’t. We might as well all take a lesson from Vasquez’s playbook and do something we love, whether the money follows or not.

Photo credit: Grisel Leyva

Written by: Tina Vasquez, November 10th 2008

Wallet

admin — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 11:20:00 +0000

By Ember Necessary Baggage

Ember Necessary Baggage is a company founded by one woman, Ellen M. Belanger, who creates personal bags – including handbags, totes, and wallets. Her artistry is seen in cleverly crafted designs and carefully stitched construction. Each and every bag is made by hand, often a one-of-a-kind piece. This loving attention to detail creates crafter kinship, as many of her patrons either create their own works or simply have an appreciation for hand crafted artisan goods.

This Ember Necessary Baggage wallet is made of tasteful blue and cream striped fabric with a hint of yellow. This color combination conveys the relaxation of a summer cottage on the beach. The construction of the wallet is durable with each ending seam being backstitched for extra strength. The wallet itself is a simple design of an overlapping fold secured with velcro that opens to an inside pocket large enough to hold several credit cards and cash. Upon investigation of this pocket a satin ribbon with a gold imprint of emberbags.com is found; which is a lovely touch over those mass produced manufacturer tags found in industrial made items. There is also a card stock tag attached to the wallet that is complete with not only the company name and website, but also the designer’s name, e-mail address, and phone number! Those are personal details only found in a handmade item adding to the customer care and quality of service. This wallet is truly delightful. A sturdy piece with multiple uses, this cute accessory has additional value by knowing it was hand crafted.

Written by: Sarah Eve Nichols-Fulghum, July 2nd 2008

Tour Tote

admin — Sat, 03 Nov 2007 18:32:00 +0000

By SNAP design

Is it possible to have a bag that’s cooler than you are? My street cred increased substantially when I started carrying around the Tour Tote by SNAP design. You see, I live in New York City, but I’m a Southern girl (Athens, GA, baby!) at my core, so I constantly have to negotiate the internal tug-of-war between my current persona (Big City Trendsetting Fashionista) and the persona of my upbringing (Small Town Working Class Thrifter). Fortunately for me, in the neighborhoods that I frequent, the two have melded together to create a blended identity that is more commonly known as “hipster.”

Though hipsters are largely denigrated in the media that is marketed to them (apparently irony is tres chic), one thing I find attractive about this niche population is the way they dress. Maybe it’s because I'm inundated with it, or maybe it’s my own aesthetic sensibility. Whatever the case, I aspire to dress like a hipster from time to time. And when you dress like a hipster, you have to have hipster accessories. That’s where the Tour Tote comes in.

SNAP design is a small, Portland-based, woman-run company that sells handmade items, including multiple bags—tote, shoulder, laptop—with interesting, minimalist stitching on them. A lot of the patterns follow a variation on mod styles, and the deep color variety (navy, mustard, ruby red, sage, olive) is an appealing alternative to the current '80s neon trend. The purse is made out of vinyl (good news for vegetarians!) and the lining is cotton twill, both of which make this sturdy bag able to handle the elements, as well as repeated use. It’s also a nice size (h: 12.5" w: 11" d: 5")—big enough to carry everything you may need, but small enough not to be awkward.

I replaced my messenger bag with this purse almost immediately. It’s a decision I don’t regret. Now people actually look at me when I walk through Williamsburg, Brooklyn. And although the Southerner in me hopes for a smile, a wayward glance at my new bag is good enough.

Written by: Mandy Van Deven, November 3rd 2007

Barfing Girl Tote

admin — Mon, 09 Jul 2007 18:00:00 +0000

Damned Dollies

I've been collecting tote bags for years, long before they were available in bright patterns at Old Navy and Urban Outfitters. As with many accessories, there are those of us who wear belts to keep our pants up, and those of us who wear belts to show that we're aware of the latest trend. I am of the utilitarian camp, and so, I expect a tote-bag to be strong and durable. I want to take it to the Farmer's Market and stuff it full of greens, peppers and a bottle of water for the road. I, then, want to visit a garage sale and know that I can stretch the tote bag to squeeze in a new hoodie. Unfortunately, ironic design aside, Damned Dollies' Barfing Girl Tote lacks in the strong and durable department.

The fabric of the tote is thin, like a pillowcase fabric, not the strong canvas I've come to expect in a tote. Another complaint is that the overall size of the tote is rather small. It is a tote to carry for a night on the town. It is meant for the hip girl who prefers a tote with an ironic image of a little girl puking to a couture handbag made of dead animals. So, while I'm not a huge fan of the tote, I do think I'd like some of the other products on Dana De Kuyper's Damned Dollies website, like the coinpurse or one of her handmade original dolls. Also, I think it is great that we live in a world where women can hand-make artsy items and sell them on the internet and through small boutiques. So, if you like adorable references to either bulimia or the stomach flu, you prefer to buy handmade items and you want a nice, small, lightweight tote, then this is the bag for you.

Written by: Ailecia Ruscin, July 9th 2007

Stefani Handbag and Wallet

admin — Wed, 25 Apr 2007 17:18:00 +0000

ChicCosas

Though I'm not a girly girl, I still have more purses than chairs, and I can always find room for one more. That said, I am picky. My ideal purses and bags must be roomy but not bulky, funky but not too strange.

This mod-inspired canvas tote from ChicCosas (retail price $58) will go with any outfit and be appropriate for any occasion. It measures about 14”W x 10”H x 4”D - enough space for everything you shouldn't stash in a regular-sized purse, but want to anyway. The matching wallet is a nice addition.

Based in California, ChicCosas ("chic things" in Spanish) has a variety of artsy, high-quality items that are, unbelievably, all handmade. The caveat is that they're also reasonably priced. You'd expect to pay much more for such unique treasures. Owner Deborah Maciel has an obvious eye for design, color and durability. In addition to buying a fabulous product, you're supporting a small, woman-owned business.

Written by: M.L. Madison, April 25th 2007

Mosaicii Makeup Bag

admin — Sun, 28 Jan 2007 13:45:00 +0000

By Tanja Koch

I don’t even own a lot of makeup, y’all, but when this make up bag came through my door, I knew I had to have it. Tanja Koch has an eye for fabrics and uses a diverse mix of vintage, mod, and retro patterns to create bags and wristlets that attract the hip and the fashion conscious.

As if the interesting outer fabrics aren’t enough, the bag also has a beautiful, smooth, satin lining. It is well constructed with tight stitching (the mark of an experienced seamstress) so the seams won’t come loose; this also allows you to throw into the washing machine with the rest of your laundry, as needed. Measuring 8 inches by 5 inches by 3 inches, the bad is versatile for those, like me, who might prefer to use it as a clutch. The size also makes it easy to toss into a bigger bag, like when traveling or if you’re the kind of person who must carry everything with you at all times, just in case.

Cute and practical, an added bonus is that Koch’s products are affordable too! This bag is only $25. So get one now before she realizes that people will pay way more than what she’s charging for her fabulous goodies. Or pay her what she deserves, ya cheapskate, because supporting women designers is sooooo feminist!

Written by: Mandy Van Deven, January 28th 2007

Pom-Pom Makeup Bag

admin — Tue, 28 Nov 2006 13:04:00 +0000

By SNAP design

Michelle Kline (aka SNAP design) is a master of minimalist design. She takes an ordinary object (in this case a makeup bag) and makes it fabulous by adding a little hint of detail while also relying on the color palate to speak to one's aesthetic preference. And you know what? It works for me.

These little pom-pom flowers are cutesy, but not too cutesy. I'm not really the kind of girl that uses a makeup bag, but this could make for a quite fashionable clutch purse as well at just 5.5 x 8 inches, and the smaller size (4 x 5 inches), Kline deems as a change purse. This bag could be used to store those little 3 fl oz bottles of shampoo or whatever other liquid you're trying to smuggle onto an airplane these days. Instead of worrying about the contents of the bottles, the scanner will be transfixed by the design.

Okay, so I'm being a bit cliché, but you know you like it. And if you don't like it, Kline has a whole host of other crafty carriers for you to choose from, including the très chic pod wallet for none other than your trusty iPod (or another mp3 player, but does anyone really have something other than an iPod these days?). It's no wonder she's been featured in Bust, Allure, Teen Vogue, and Daily Candy. SNAP design is a fashionista's dream, especially if that fashionista is a feminist of the pop variety. So pop on to her website chicas (and chicos)!

Written by: Mandy Van Deven, November 28th 2006