bag lady

I have never thought that I was one of those women that (a) had to have a handbag to match every out fit in my closet or (b) carried around a 10-gallon handbag.  Yet, despite (or is it in spite? ) of these ideas about myself I have been on a many-years long quest for the perfect handbag.  I don't know whether such a thing exists though. 

Last summer I made the Frenchy Bag by Amy Butler and it worked well for the summer after a few small modifications.  I had to sew a line of stitching in to create smaller pockets instead of just two gigantic ones in the lining and I added a ribbon loop and key ring for attaching my keys.  The problem with this bag is that it has dead spaces at the bottom, in the rounded corners.  I think that the neck of the bag is a little long so next summer I may make the short version though I tend to be a bigger fan of shoulder straps than little handles.

My current purse is by an Olympia designer whose label is called Tenderroni.  Scott bought one of her purses for me as a Christmas gift in '08 up at the Olympia Farmer's Market.  If you can't get to the Market you can purchase well-made vinyl accessories at Tenderroni's Etsy shop.   Here is a photo of my purse and my matching coin purse too.

This winter, these accessories have been perfect, come spring I'll need to find something breezier.  Like zakka, I think accessories need to change with the seasons.