The woman who ordered this Black bag (Joanne) was very pleased with it. Here is the text of the email (with her permission) she sent me about it.
Hi Dave - My beautiful bag just arrived and I can't begin to tell you how thrilled I am with it. It's perfect in every single way, and I can't believe how incredibly soft the leather is. I just added a comment to your guestbook, and am really speechless now! It's by far the most beautiful bag I've ever owned, with my Sennit bag running a close second. I just don't know what else to say... Many, many thanks for the beautiful job you did! I am so spoiled now. :-) joanne
This picture shows a view of the bag with a flap raised for access.
After using her bags for a while she emailed me and added:
Hi Dave - I had to laugh to myself this weekend... my girlfriend and I were shopping at Macy's and I was waiting for her to make a purchase and wandering through the purse department. What freedom there is in knowing I finally have the most perfect handbags on the face of the earth! I've had dozens and dozens of handbags, all different brands, and yours are the only ones I'll ever carry from here on out. I must admit I felt pretty SMUG walking through that department! :-) j
All six of the pictures below are of the same bag - the flap is just flipped over to the opposite side. Excluding the strap, this bag is made with just two colors of leather - Mahogany and Rust. It looks like more than two colors because of the different grain and suede showing. Like the bag at the top of the page - it is about 13" wide, 10" high, and 5" across the bottom. The 8 strand round braided strap is made with colors - 2 strands of Brown, Mahogany, Rust, and one strand of Chestnut and Cream.
The 8 strand round braided strap is made with four colors (2 strands of each) - from darkest to lightest they are Brown, Mahogany, Rust, and Chestnut.
I encourage you to read my guest book to see what others have said about the leathers they have purchased from me.
The first 'double flap' bags I ever made were like the two bags shown here. The style became quite popular and I started getting requests for larger ones of various sizes. I then developed patterns for three sizes and those are what I now mainly offer.
The two bags in this picture are like the ones I first made. Neither of them have pleats like the ones above. I usually made them both large enough to hold a personal size check book. The round braided leather straps on these bags are made with 4 strands.
I've developed three sizes of this style - that I refer to as my 'double flapped bags'. The bags' seam is braided and has pleats in the bottom corners to add dimension. It has an 8 strand round braided strap with tassels hanging from its ends.
I really like them because they are built of 100% leather that is tanned/made in the USA. There is no hardware, no lining, no zipper, etc. - nor any thread is used. And, truly hand made - no electricity is used to build them.
small - 6" high with about a 10" opening.
medium - 7" high with about an 11" opening.
large - 9" high with about a 12" opening.
Without any additions, such as pockets or appliques, the base cost of these are $285, $350. and $380 respectively.
These bags are of the large size of this style.
This picture of the bag shows the pleats in the bottom corners of this bag.
A picture of a bag with a coke can to help realize see the size of it.
Two more pictures of one of these large shoulder bags. This one made with the Rust color 4 oz. moccasin cowhide leather.
This picture of the bag shows it with a flap raised for access.
This space is for the medium size of this style, but, I haven't yet founds pictures of one. When I find some, or when I get an order for one, I will surely get some pictures to publish here.
