Tea Towel Purse...

Hannah Lamb
Having always loved the textile work of Hannah Lamb, I picked up some purse frames Online a couple of years ago. I must have spent days trying to figure out how to sew a purse that not only would fit into the frames but also open up wider then a fingers width - with NO success. Well yesterday, my dear friend Judy and I decided we would put our heads together and 'figure it out'! After about two hours of feminine swearing and fiddling with patterns Judy went on line and found This LINK! We knew the solution would be easy, we just didn't know it would be that easy to find on line. I decided to use a wonderful PINK French Tea Towel that I bought from Quel Objet a while back to make my first purse. It went together with ease, once we had the pattern-drafted. The most difficult part of making the purse was attaching the fabric to the frame. Rather than gluing the fabric into the frame (didn't know what kind of glue to use?) I bought a small rubber mallet to gently pound it together. It slipped quite a bit and I had to re-pry it open a few times and re-hammer. I think this is something that one perfects over time - at least I hope so. I made a small stuffed handle but wanted the option to add a long strap later, so I attached the handle with buttons on either side of the frame. I'm quite happy with the outcome, and look forward to playing with lots of different shapes and fabrics in the near future!!!

Here is a photo of the purses made by Hannah Lamb that inspired me...

Comments

[Denise Fontaine]

I love these so whimsy!!

[Delphine]

The work is nice, Ulla, but I am a little bit shocked: the towel on the top, the pink one, is one of my favorite, I have one like this, and I use it on the table never in the kitschen. It is very very cute, with a design from " Robert le héros", 4 french women designer, with Cyrano de Bergerac saying a lovely sentence in the Cyrano de Bergerac piece of theater... but perhaps yours was so old... that's why I think it's a bit a shame...

[Dorian Fletcher]

I love the quirky handle attached with button loops. Also...the pink and orange - so 60s! It has always been one of my favorite color combinations. Lovely work, as usual, Ulla!

[Melissa McCobb Hubbell]

love your pink purse!

[cruststation]

Your purse is adorable ulla, they look a little fiddly to make (great idea with the buttons)...loving the inspiration from Hannah.

[Pinkie Denise]

Your purse is great Ulla, I love Hannah's too,
thanks for sharing Pinkie Denise

[Judy Scott]

These are wonderful, just wanted to say your blog brightens my day daily thankyou for such inspiration, Judy

[Terri]

These are just too darn cute! Will you be selling them? Very nice!

[inge Bekaert]

Hello Ulla,

they really look good and funny !
Can you use them or are they just decorative ?
Seems funny if you need some small coins down in your purse...

greetings
Inge ( from Belgium)