All of the leather totes on this page are made with 4 oz. full grain moccasin cowhide. None of them employ any other material/s. Each one is braided together with 1/4" wide laces of the same leather. Initially, I had two main sizes that are pointed out below. However, because variations are always requested, they are all really each one of a kind.
This first large tote bag is about 16" wide (near the bottom) by 14" high by 3.5" (at the bottom). It has a front pocket with a butterfly applique. It also has a full width inside back pocket. The straps are a bit long (30") to enable it to be carried over ones shoulder. The cost of this large leather tote bag, with the butterfly applique, was/would be $390.00. The base cost of this style, like below except without the butterfly applique, is $360.00
The thumbnails below can be clicked to see a larger views.
Most often, I make the straps about 18" long, however, they can be made to any length a person would like. Most of the braided ones have tassels of various lengths, some don't have any tassels.
This tote is how these are built in the basic way ...using the stair step braid, with two pockets on the front, a full width pocket on the inside back, and flat straps.
After Wendy received her tote, she wrote:
The package was at my house when I came home last night. The tote is absolutely PERFECT!!! I cannot even begin to tell you how much I love the bag!! Everything about it is perfect -- the size, compartments, shape, straps, and most importantly the beautiful braiding and craftmanship! I can't imagine ever using another bag (unless of course I'm lucky enough to get another one in a different color!). THANK YOU so much for all your time and patience working with me to create a truly gorgeous customized bag! I am on cloud nine right now (yes, a bag can do that for a woman!). Again, thank you so much for everything!! Wendy
These four pictures are of the same two tone rather large tote. The pocket on the front has (what I call) a braided tri-loop applique on it. It also has a full width inside/back pocket. The straps are braided with eight strands of 1/4" wide laces.
These small leather tote bags measures about 13" wide (near the bottom) x 10" high x 3.5". They have large full width inside back pockets. I make the straps on these any length a person wants, most often, they are 18" to 30" long. The cost of the basic leather tote bag, like pictured on the right, is $340.00. It can be made with any of the colors of the 4 oz. moccasin cowhide leather on my swatch card page.
Below are other versions of how this tote can be built. They most all have the pocket/s on the front and a large pocket on the back inside. Some have two 1" wide flat straps, others have round braided straps. Some have braided appliques.
These three totes are all the same size - 12" wide by 9" high by 4". They all have two front pockets and a full width pocket on the inside back of them. They all built using 1/4" laces from the full grain 4 oz. moccasin cowhide they are made of.
other styles/sizes of tote bags
This Black tote with two tone (Black and Mahogany) braiding has long should straps that have long fringe hanging from the ends of them. The straps are also fastened in a different location than the other straps are. It does have the two front pockets and the inside back pocket that the others have.
This large tote was constructed with the basic 'stair step' braid. It has an extra long round braided strap with extra long tassels hanging from them. It also has a button closure that I fashioned from a circle of leather and a leather loop that extends from the back side.
This tote was built to the dimensions that were sent to me. It was a gift to replace a similar shaped one the person had. It has four pockets - three on the outside front and sides, and another on the inside/back of it. The piece of jewelry was sent to me to attach to it.
This tote was constructed with the basic 'stair step' braid. Besides the butterfly applique braided on the front pocket, it also has long eight strand round braided straps without the tassels that can hang from them.
This dark Brown tote is different by the fact that it has just one shoulder strap. Other than that, it has the two front pockets and inside back pocket that most of these totes have.
This large Black tote has a more elaborate braid on the bags seams. It also has a circle applique on the large front pocket and another full width back/inside pocket.
This large Rust colored tote was also braided with a more elaborate braid. It has another pocket on the back of it just like the one seen here on the front of it.
This Mahogany colored large tote was braided using the basic 'stair step' braid. It has quite long 8 strand straps with 8 quite long tassels hanging from them. It also has a full width back/inside pocket.
This large Black tote was built with small pieces of leather braided together. It has the front pocket you see in the picture and another full width pocket on the inside/back. It also has long 8 strand braided straps.
These two pictures are the back and front of the same Mahogany colored large tote. It was built with small pieces of leather braided together. It has the front pocket seen in the picture and another full width pocket on the inside/back. It also has long 8 strand braided straps.
This Black tote has two front pockets, a full width back inside pocket, and long 8 strand braided straps with 8 tassels on each end.
This Rust colored leather tote has two tone braiding (Rust and Mahogany). It has the two front pockets and the back inside pocket. It also has eight strand round braided straps with eight long tassels hanging from each end of them.
Here is another tote made in the basic way. What's a little different about it is that the front pocket is not divided like it is for most of the other totes like it. It does have another full width back inside pocket. It also has rather short flat straps.
This
This Mahogany colored tote has the same front pockets and back inside pocket that most of the others have. The braided strap it has have long tassels hanging from them.
This Rust colored tote has two tone braiding (Rust and Chestnut). The seams of it are done with the more elaborate braid that folks often request, and, the straps are the more elaborate round braided ones. The braid dividing the front pockets of this tote is the actual 'stair step' side of the braid I've mentioned other totes having. Many of the other tote have the 'stair step' on the inside of the bag.
This Black tote is the basic version of my 'small leather totes'.
This dark Brown tote is also the basic version of my 'small leather totes'.
This Black tote was built using two tone (Black and Mahogany) 1/4" wide laces of the same material it was built with. It has 8 strand round braided straps (without tassels).
This mahogany colored tote is built using the basic construction of this style - two front pockets, a back inside pocket, and flat straps.
This Black tote was also built using the basic construction of this style - two front pockets, a back inside pocket, and flat straps.
This tote is very much a one of a kind. It was built with full grain, dark Brown, moccasin cowhide leather. It has an outside pocket on the front and a full width pocket on the inside/back. The straps are eight strand round braided with eight strands of long tassels hanging from each ot the ends.
This front picture of this two tone tote shows the front pocket with the applique. It also shows the braided straps and the very long tassels that hang from each end of them.
This is the back view of the tote that also shows the braided straps and their long tassels.
This is a close up picture of the strap attachments that is also braided. A potion of the inside of it can also be seen.
This picture is of a portion of the top front of this tote. If you look close, at the larger linked picture of it, you can see how the tri-loop applique is done. I designed this myself and I really like it - so much so that I've developed many sizes of it for different applications.
