The Purple Bag

I thought I'd share this little bit of textile mania with readers.  This was made for an art exhibition at our local gallery [a few years ago].  There was no brief, other than a word, and my word was 'purple'.  This is a combination of fabrics/threads/beads/ribbons/buttons.  I had no basic pattern other than the idea for six segments, similar to how one would cut the skin of an orange.  

  I've given it the term 'Purple Lotus' because it makes me think of a flower that is closing and opening.  Each of the petal points has been adorned with beads - no rules, just stitch and bead!!  They are attached to the sides, to stop them pulling up.  This also helps act as a casing for the twisted thread drawstring.

This bag is made up of the six segments, three different treatments, two of each.  I've used snippets of braids, threads and trapped beads.  There is surface machine stitching, and couched cord.

Some of the segments have a small amount of simple hand stitching, and each boasts several layers, the final [outer] layer being transparent.  I've used fairly stiff net sandwiched between the layers in order to give it some body.

And of course, the lining is a lovely purple/shot blue dupion silk.  The firm covered circle in the bottom helps hide the necessary gathering stitches.  I've never used it!!  I don't wear purple much at all, so have never taken it to any sort of social function.  I can say that I had lots of fun exploring different options when I was making this, and got a good response to it at the exhibition.

This last photograph was taken to show the side of the bag, so I hope you can see that it has been sewn up with the seams exposed.  It's purely an 'art' piece, and I really can't repeat what my husband has to say about it.  Oh well.................  

Perhaps one day I'll make myself some long dazzling earrings, and a purple silk dress.  Then I'll have a reason to use the bag.  Oh, and I'll need some purple shoes...................