photo 3

after the second pouch i realized that making stuff from scratch was fun so i kept the ball rolling. I wanted to make a purse for my then girlfriend (now wife) so i didnt have to carry all her stuff during the festival. filled with confidence from my second pouch I thought "how hard can it be?"

Coming up with a functional gusset gave me nightmares for a whole week. every time I saw a purse, walking around in the street, at a store window, online, I even bought a couple second hand purses I would try to analyze and study them, and still couldn't wrap my head around the way they worked.

I finally came up with an overly complicated 5 piece gusset that kept the bag together. I actually finished the purse right before the festival.

during the festival I realized that I made a lot of mistakes: they dye started to bleed, the edges were fraying, the strap kept digging into her skin, couple of the rivets came loose and sections of my lacing became undone. The purse was functional but just barely.

My girlfriend actually got a compliment on the purse, malfunctions and all, and boy, did it feel good. so I decided that as soon as we got back home I would do my homework and really get into the hobby. It was then that I found this place. a wealth of information and expertise just waiting for me to take advantage of it.