tote purse bag

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If you’re like me you get way too many advertising emails in your inbox every day.  But if you want a quick alternative fashion fix, I would recommend signing up for etsy’s fashion newsletter.  Yesterday’s “Pioneer Woman” featured the above handmade leather macrame purses by christijay in Echo Park, California. I’ll bet they’re buttery soft and I wish, oh I just wish I could touch each one of them.

Barbie with Macrame Purse

She walks in beauty like the night
Of cloudless climes and starry skies,
And all that’s best of dark and bright
Meet in her aspect and her eyes;

- Lord Byron

Just fooling around with the tiniest of macrame purses. My littlest granddaughter Tallulah loves her Barbie dolls. It’s amusing to watch her dress and undress them, or spend time folding some small cloth into a useful accessory. I sense she has a soft hand. Naturally I’m hoping she develops a heart for fabric and thread.

Barbie’s macrame purse is very simply knotted in one long rectangle then folded in thirds and sewn up the sides. I used Beadsmith cord size FFF along with matte gray triangle beads. The fringe ends were wrapped with sewing thread, then trimmed and Fray Checked. There is a silk lining that is not at all noticeable, and a sweet little brass chain that makes for a snazzy strap. All in all it’s pretty sturdy, so I think it will hold up well over time. Or in the blink of an eye when she becomes too old for Barbie, whichever comes first.

Monsoon Ombre Macrame Crossbody Bag

I’ve never been one of those big blingy purse carriers. Oh sure, I’ll carry a tote or my backpack if I’m cargo ladened, but usually I have my cell phone in my left jean pocket, my wallet in my right jean pocket and I’m good to go. If I carry a purse I want one that’s small and cute. So I’m simply adoring this “Ombre Macrame Crossbody Bag” available on Monsoon. Love the little size, about 9″ wide x 8″ high, and I love a little zipper that keeps things from spilling out into my car.

Catherine Malandrino Spring Summer 2011

Catherine Malandrino – a girl after my own heart! Her 2011 Spring/Summer apparel collection is soft and feminine and floaty. Pieces I actually want to wear. Many appear to be artisan crafted in all manner of crochet, knotwork, and embroidery. Here are a few photos of her lacy crochet and seriously sturdy macrame leather sandals and tote bag.

Now here I go again wondering aloud about the talented group of craftspeople creating these fabulous goods on a suitable scale for consumer consumption. While I can easily picture in my minds eye a roomful of seamstresses (in just about any country in the world) hunched over their sewing machines turning gorgeous swaths of fabric into designer duds, where in the world are the artists that produce this type of slow handwork? Just wondering.

Images from elle.com runway details