Crafty Projects: Bag Swap

I recently got involved with a bag swap, organized by Audrey's Country Crafts. The participants were paired up by Audrey and we each sent someone a bag. These could be handmade or bought. It was great fun!

I'm not sure if the bag I made has been received yet, but I'm dying to show it off!

It's a simple crocheted purse, about 8" by 8". The closure is a loop that goes around the silver button in front.

I got this lovely tote bag from Paige at Lenox Knits. She also included a hand-knit headband and wristcuff. I love everything! Check out Paige's blog too.

So thanks again to both Audrey and Paige! I love these crafty swaps! :)

Featured Shop: Bags by Melanie

At Bags by Melanie you'll find a wonderful selection of bags, purses, and key fobs. There are lots of colors and styles to choose from and prices to suit anyone's budget.

It was tough choosing a favorite but I finally decided on this bag called Charm.

Melanie talked with me a little about herself and her art:

"My name is Melanie and I am a stay at home mom of three children, two boys (11 and 3) and a girl (1 1/2). I started my stay at home business of making bags and accessories three years ago this August.

"I make and design my own patterns, because of this each bag is slightly different from the one before it. I let the fabric tell me what it wants to be. Just because I have a piece of fabric doesn't necessarily mean that it belongs made into a tote bag. My brain is always full of ideas, some good some not so good, but they are always floating around. I only make one this at a time to make sure I am giving each piece the attention it deserves."

I've put together a sampling of items by Bags by Melanie to create this Spotlight on ByHand.me. Please feel free to go to this Spotlight to see the whole selection and leave a comment.

Crafty Projects: Crocheted Purse/Backpack

Just a few months ago I took up crocheting. I find it relaxing and fun! I've been working on pretty simple projects so far. This has been my most ambitious project. It's a drawstring style purse/backpack made from cotton yarn.

I made it because I've been wanting a small, light bag that I could use to hold things like a pair of flip flops and bottle of water. And I wanted it to be a backpack style because when I'm on an extended walk or hike I hate having a bag that smacks against my hip.

Sorry I can't pass along the pattern because I'm still not even very good at *reading* patterns, let alone writing one. To tell you the truth I wouldn't even be able to even describe the stitch I used for most of the bag. I started out trying to do a double crochet but I knew I was getting it wrong. But then I liked how it looked so I kept doing it wrong! :)