messenger bag 1

The messenger bag is designed to fit my sketchbook along with the usual assortment of personal stuff. I like a cell phone pocket or zippered pocket on the outside and some good inside pockets. The deep flap is an opportunity to feature the beautiful materials, inside and out. Choices of belts or tack for the strap and hardware details can take the design from menswear to bohemian. The strap is long enough to wear cross-body to save shoulders.

The leathers in this one, both the charcoal brown mens jacket for the body and the great belt with the silver tip, love each other with their gorgeous worn patinas. The lining is a fine wool from an Armani mens jacket with lovely pockets for the interior. I have used the ruched waistband from the bomber style jacket for the side panels.

Bags

With decades of interdisciplinary work (painting, video, photography, installation) backing me up, I am committing a crime of passion. This is the launch of a line of one-of-a kind bags made entirely from found materials. My obsessions around ecology, fashion, mixing media, scrounging and steep learning curves have all found room to play in this venture.





When the right belt meets a well aged jacket, its heaven. The best jacket is out of style, with big shoulders and worn around the cuff, but just acquiring the perfect patina when it is chucked out.

Here is a little bag made from a really old jacket with great collar detail. I crafted the flap to make use of those collars, joining the two bits with a piece of cuff. The freedom to respond to the quirks the discarded treasures offer is one of the seductions of the process. There are many.

army tent tote bag

This bag was made from pieces of an old army tent, leather from a man's jacket and a set of braided reins. The reins had been tied in a beautiful knot, who knows how long ago, so I left them that way. The lining was made from a woman's shirt of the same tone that had great pockets and details. The two greens were so compatible and the reins had enough strength and character to hold up beautifully to the strong tent fabric. Love the grommets on the tent with their great patina of time.