Cristina and I were so inspired after the first day of Lyda Rump’s complex bag workshop that we continued working after Lyda went to bed and both had our bags finished by 1.45am on Sunday morning!  We really enjoyed working together and somehow the time just seemed to fly.  Although my photos aren’t the best here goes with the final reveal! 

Front of my finished bag

I had a great piece of driftwood which made the perfect handle, Alan says I need to cut it a little shorter but I am happy with the length myself and let’s not forget it is me who will be using the bag!  Friend and fellow felter Nancy Schwab (hope to see you at Urban Fauna Studio in October Nancy!) throws out the question on her blog ‘do we have to use a felted handle for our felted bags’?  My answer is a definite no.  Obviously a felted handle is perfect for some styles of bags but other different materials and found objects can just be so exciting and unexpected.  That is not to say that many designs don’t suit an incorporated handle (more of that in my next post), just try and think outside the box sometimes and experiment with other types as well. 

Back of my finished bag

To answer a question from another friend and experienced felter Dawn Edwards yes, it is actual fish skin inserted into some of the ovals!

And finally ……

Underneath the flaps