Making A Custom Handbag

A lady by the name of Nathalie resides in France.  Recently she purchased a tassel handbag that I made from  my shop on Etsy.com.  She was pleased with her purchase.  We e-mailed back and forth and she decided that she would like another tassel handbag for everyday use that would also be larger.
The finished result is what I picture in this blog.

In this world where so much merchandise is mass produced, custom is a luxury.  Many steps are involved in making custom.  In creating this purse from scratch I had many things to do even before I sat in front of my sewing machine.  I shopped for fabric, both outer and the inner lining.  I shopped for notions such as braid and thread colours and tassel.  I thought about appropriate embroidery designs.  I made an enlarged pattern from which I cut the chosen fabric.  I did an embroidery test on the chosen fabric to see how it would stitch out.  I thought and thought and gave the custom order some more thought too.  I planned the cutting, embroidery and sewing order in my head.  And, then I thought some more!

This is the pale green lining that I embroidered.  The outer fabric is a rich burgundy that has a nap (another thing to be taken into account when planning the embroidery and the cutting of the fabric).  The faux suede burgundy fabric also feels like velvet.

The N initial is on the front of the handbag.  I added this after I had already done the front embroidery.

Here is the back of the burgundy fabric when I am working on the quilting.  See my pins and markings!

Finally I am almost finished.  I just have to close (stitch by hand) the lining at the bottom of the handbag.  That I will do tomorrow.  And then I ship it to France.  What do you think?  It is a one of a kind creation that I made with love.