Here are pictures of many of the soft, high quality leather handbags and purses that I have designed and hand crafted - there are quite large pictures on all the pages. Everything is truely handmade - no electricity is used in its construction. Patterns that I have designed are laid out and traced, holes are punched one at a time, laces are cut and then it is braided together. Any sewing used is done by hand. Many are made with personal features that make them quite different from one another and truly one of a kind custom pieces. They are all truly designer bags described to me by the purchaser. With my designs, and the soft, strong, comfortably thick leather that I use, it is best to keep pockets to a minimum.
I avoid using any hardware and nothing in here has a lining. These products are very durable and would far outlast most hardware and any lining I like.
The moccasin cowhide leather that I use is very strong, yet still soft and supple. Unlike a lot of leather used to make purses and handbags - all the leather that I use is American made and non-toxic.
I encourage you to read my guest book to see what others have had to say about the braided leather accessories they have purchased from me. Read entries from folks that have owned my work for thirty years or more.
I call this handmade leather bag my circle flap bag. It's just a nice shoulder bag that has a flap that I can put different appliques on . Here it's shown with a circle applique that has been very popular. It's made with the 'S' applique braid and has a large pocket on the inside. Its size is about 11" wide x 9.5" high x 3" across the bottom. The cost of it, using leather from my swatch card, is $225.00. Click on the picture or the button below to see a larger picture and further description.
These braided leather purses I call my 'roll-button purses'. It now comes in three different sizes. The two pictured on the right, and a larger size yet, in the pictures below. They have two compartments under the flap and a large pocket on the back side of it. The braid it is made with is more elaborate than the "s" applique braid on the bag above. The straps on them are braided. The large is about 10.5" wide x 9" high x 5" ($300.00). The smaller one is 9" wide x 8" high x 4.5" ($275.00). The largest of these designs is about 12" wide x 9" high x and 6" ($325.00).
On the right is a clutch bag. I've made this bag many different ways and sizes. It has a pocket and sometimes a little star or initial on the reverse side of it. There is a large brass zipper across the top. A braided wrist strap on this one. I also make it with long braided shoulder straps.
I call these my large and small sennit bags. That's what sailors call the eight strand plaited shoulder straps. The one on the left has a Celtic knot applique - below it one with two pockets on the front. There are pleats on the bottom corners of these bags to accomodate them holding more. The large brass zippers used are long lasting. There are several more of these designer bags on the page that these pictures are linked to. There are also several more views showing the different features of these popular styles.
To the left is one of the large totes that I make. It measures 14.5" x 14" x 4". This one has my braided leather butterfly applique on the pocket. Click the picture for the description and links to larger pictures of several more of these tote bags - each made a little different, such as, with a braided circle in place of the butterfly.
Below is a link to pictures from an old catalog of assorted bags, etc. that I once distributed.
The small bags pictured below can be made different sizes. The braided straps can be made to any length a person wants. The circle applique can be left off or replaced with an initial. I use large brass zippers. Click on the pictures for larger images, descriptions.
I use this braided butteryfly applique on many different purse flaps as well as other things that I have made. Click this thumbnail for an actual size scan and description of it.
Check out these links to other braided leather things that I make and read my guest book, on my home page, to see what others have said about the leathers they have purchased from me.
A unique leather bag that is linked to a description and larger pictures of the two different sizes I have built.
I've custom made these leather 'double-flap' style bags in many different sizes. Some have a gusset and others have pleats forming the third dimension. I also make a smaller version with a long braided strap that has no pleats or gusset. Click on the pictures to see the various ways/sizes that they have been built.
At this link there are close up views of the large brass zippers that I use.
Here's a fringed leather purse that I made using my braided leather construction. It, too, has the butterfly on the flap. Click it to see more/bigger pictures and a description of it.
The three bags below are all of the largest xtra large roll button purse with different appliques on the flaps. The thumbnails are link to their pages.
a large roll button purse with a zodiac sign applique
This leather zippered bag is about 10" wide x 11" high x 4". It has a long braided strap and pockets inside and out. Click the image for a large picture of it and more details about the design.
Here is another design of tote bags that I make. The dimensions are it are about 13" wide x 10" high x 3.5". I make them with either the flat strap or 8 strand round braided ones. Either way the straps can be made to any length a person selects.
These two large leather bags were ordered by a man. Hence, I've called them my man bags, but, they could be carried by a woman as well. They both have four pockets, but, the style accommodates more. Like many of the things that I build, they are 100% leather - no hardware, thread, etc. have been used. Click the pictures for more, larger images and details about them.
Here's is a picture of the small size bag along side the extra large size bag without the roll button - with a tri-loop Celtic type knot. There is another size of this bag in between these two sizes. A ruler is laid in front of them for help sizing. The image is clickable for a larger view.
A woman requested a double flapped bag like above except with a wider flat strap, hence the custom designed bag on the right.
On the left is another custom bag that I built from a sketch that was sent to me.
Several more pictures of each of these bags with descriptions on it's page link.
There are several diffent versions of this bag on it's page.
A leather belt pouch made with braided leather and a large brass #10 YKK zipper.
