Category: Bag Designs

And a hairband

23/6/2022

I met a lovely lady at the Textile Fair in Braintree who fell in love with this Sanderson Tree Poppy fabric and asked if I could make her a bag. So here it is: a Toots Totes “Rosa” (and matching hairband) commissioned to be large enough to hold papers for a conference and to include a pocket for a water bottle. That was certainly a first! She was very pleased with it and asked if I made dresses too as she needed a new one for the conference! Sadly not, my dress making days stopped when fabric became more expensive than ready-made clothing, and I am seriously out of practice. Unless she wanted a zip top dress with leather handles she was out of luck!

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No excuses...

15/7/2021

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I make no excuses for not having visited this page for so long, but I thought it about time I gave a quick update and show you what I've made since the beginning of the year.
Two lovely ladies sadly left the team that I used to work with, however I was delighted and honoured to be asked to make a part of their leaving gifts.

Zip top 'Rosa' in William Morris Chrysanthemum fabric with leather handles.

I made an additional little purse and mask as my part of the gift

Both were made to the same pattern - my 'Rosa' design, but look what a difference the choice of fabric makes! This design has become a favourite to make and receive it seems! Let me know if you'd like one in your own choice of fabric.

Stylish 'Rosa' in Skinny laminx Flowerfields fabric with a contrast yellow stripe the highlight the yellow flower centres

Yellow cross-hatched cotton lining continues the mid-century vibe. Two interior pockets, one zipped the other elasticated.

Having ordered more fabric from my favourite designer Heather Moore at Skinny laminx, it arrived within 4 days all the way from South Africa, and I set about turning it into yet another 'Rosa'. It makes a lovely summery bag, don't you think? Still available at £80 (inc p+p within UK) Contact me if you're interested in purchasing.

'Rosa' made in Skinny laminx Orla and Flowerfields fabrics with beautiful green leather handles.

A pink spotty cotton lining to echo the pink flower centres. Complete with cute elasticated and zipped pockets.

Beaded zip pull of course!

15 x 11 x 4 inches so plenty of room for everything!

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And so we carry on...calmly...

24/9/2020

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The Emma Bridgewater fabric has been so popular! I've now made four 'Rosa' bags and a little backpack and have just a shelf and a half of the 'dresser' fabric left! Also lots of little bits and pieces, which will make lovely little 'Zinnia' zipped top purses. So keep your eye on my Instagram account where they will gradually be revealed!
Sourcing more of the elusive discontinued fabric has taken up quite a bit of time-there's none to be found unless you can pay mega-bucks to secure it, but I have picked up a cushion cover which I'm hoping will arrive in good condition. I felt quite smug as no other Emma Bridgewater fans had spotted it, so it came at a reasonable price and it will make a lovely bag!

Started with this.

"Rosa" - has a zipped top and leather handles

Just this much left!

Another "Rosa" in a different colour-way

The client requested a bespoke backpack that converted into a cross body bag, making it suitable for walks in the countryside and shopping trips.

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Oh-so-soft Nigella

10/12/2019

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I love selecting just the right bits and pieces that go to make up a bag! With this little knitted "Nigella", I had four choices for the handles. Which one would you have chosen? The verdict from Facebook and Instagram was for the coffee leather handles. I finally went for the bright red leather handles to pick out the red fleck in the wool.

Brown vegan leather shoulder strap

Red resin handles

Coffee leather handles

Red leather handles

The last pic shows the bag yet to have its lining added, but with handles sewn in place. These have a piece of fabric stitched behind each fob for extra strength.

A subtle layer of wadding adds to the already oh-so-soft woolly loveliness and a vibrant lining with two open and one zipped pocket completes the interior, and helps to shape the exterior. It fastens with a magnetic snap.

"Nigella" is available for £40 with free postage in UK. Please message me here for a postal quote to where you live. Payment via Paypal.me

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Adding a "Lupin" to the bunch...

13/4/2019

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It's been a busy couple of months. I've had five commissions to fulfill, two of which were for two matching bags, totalling seven bags. Coupled with a 'March Meet the Maker' challenge on Instagram, where I managed to post 31 pictures and compose 31 captions to tell a bit more about me and Toots Totes during March, I've not had much time to blog here!
One of the requests was for a work bag. Its primary purpose was to safely house a laptop with space for a notebook, in two separate compartments. It needed to provide easily accessible pockets for a work phone and a personal phone. There was to be a matching smaller clutch bag for personal effects that would clip onto the main bag but could go off to lunch with its owner and leave the bigger bag at the desk!

Planning, sketching and selecting haberdashery.

Rather than revamp one of my existing designs I decided to work up a new one and as I prefer to create my own designs rather than buy pre-made patterns, I started by sketching it out. I began with the laptop dimensions, added a couple of cms and as It was to be made in a lovely William Morris floral and I wanted it to look feminine, I gave it some curves! I decided the central divider could double up as a zip topped pocket and two open pockets one side would take the phones.
As it would be a substantial size I thought some piping would define the shape and smarten the look. I chose a larger sturdier zip than usual for the bag top to take daily wear and tear. Topping it off would be some gorgeous leather handles.

Prototype for the clients approval before going ahead

Detail showing piping, handle,zip and lining.

As this was a completely new design I made a prototype in another William Morris fabric to try it out and show the client before I went ahead with her bag. To cut a long story short I did have a few problems to solve! That's what I love about designing my own bags: it's so satisfying to find and apply the solutions to end up with something that works well!

Lovely William Morris Chrysanthemum was the client's choice of fabric

"Zinnia" zip top purse to hold personal items.

Detail showing central divider , open phone pockets and contrasting cotton lining.

"Zinnia" clips to main bag handle.

And I've named this shape: "Lupin" laptop bag! It was unanimous on Instagram (one person replied agreeing with my suggestion!) Another flower added to the bunch!

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I must have flowers, always, and always.(Claude Monet)

21/1/2019

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Having made the decision to give my bag shapes flowery names, I've had great fun and some head scratching to come up with the following. (Hover over or click picture to see caption) Hopefully it will make it easier for you when choosing a shape to give me the name, so that there's no confusion about which is which! We'll see! By the way if the shape isn't quite right we can always tweak it to get exactly what you want-just ask!

"Bouquet"-central magnetic fastener-13 inches tall and 14 inches across the top.

"Jasmine"-zip topped bag-16 inches wide and 12 inches to tallest point

"Tansy" Tote-no fastening-size of your choice.

"Buttercup" - magnetic flap fastening-multi-pur-purse

"Violet" sari ribbon knitted bag-loop and button fastening-11 inches wide and 8 inches tall

"Daisy" backpack - zip under flap and magnetic flap fastening-size of your choice

"Clover" clutch-magnetic flap fastener-11 inches wide and 6 inches tall

"Poppy" crossbody bag-zipped top-Nine inches wide and nine inches tall

"Clover" clutch with bow-magnetic flap fastener-11 inches wide and 6 inches tall

"Fleur" - button and loop-15.5 x 3 inches across the base and 11 inches at the tallest point

"Zinnia" zip purse - 9 inches wide and 6 inches tall

"Flora" child-size zip top backpack 10 inches wide and 13 inches tall

" Petal" baby change bag with mat-approx 18 inches wide and 14 inches tall

"Marigold" messenger-magnetic flap fastening-8.5 inches wide and 10 inches tall or to your own specification.

"Nigella" knitted bag-central magnetic fastener- approx 9 inches wide and 8 inches tall

"Posy" snap frame purse-approx 13 inches wide and 7 inches tall

"Blossom" - button and loop fastening-approx 15 inches at widest point and 11 inches at tallest point

"Rosa" Tote - no fastener- 14 inches wide, 3 inches deep and 10 inches tall

"Lupin" Laptop bag has a central dividing zipped pocket and two open pockets, zipped top and leather handles. It measures 17' across base and 12" high.

"Larkspur" zip round padded laptop sleeve, you choose dimensions to fit your laptop!

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Fabrics and features, details and designs...and finally: Makes a Change

21/2/2016

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My last post in this epic series!

Baby Change Bags

An essential piece of kit for the new Mum, often a bespoke request from Grandma to be!
The open sided first design unfolds, so that once the pockets have been emptied, you can attach the matching changing mat via velcro strips to lay baby onto an extra soft layer.

The other design is a conventional bag with a zipped top and a matching changing mat and oodles of pockets.

Priced from £85, depending on fabric and size of bag.

Choose a grown up fabric that maybe even Dad won't mind carrying!

Add oodles of pockets: zipped waterproof at the top, then two open pockets and a large pocket at the bottom.

Can be hung onto the back of the door as extra storage.

Conventional zip topped bag with matching changing mat with two elastic topped front pockets. (Sold for £85)

Choose a fun fabric for baby to enjoy as he gets older!

Waterproof padded change mat.

Mat fits into lower pocket

has a simple tie fastening and the double handle is a good length as a shoulder bag or to hang from the buggy handles.

And a waterproof pocket on the back.

Extra items: a zip topped purse or drawstring waterproof bag available for £12.50 each

Sturdy zipped top

Four elasticated pockets inside.

Pack it up and off you go!

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Fabrics and features, details and designs...Don't carry a carrier: tote a tote

19/2/2016

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All kinds of everything...

I've lumped the simple totes, zipped top totes and what's left together into one post.

Simple tote (Sold £25)

Big Bag with zipped top and genuine leather handles (Sold £60)

Woolly Wonder with zipped top (Sold £35)

Zipped top tote

Zipped top

Huge beach bag (Sold £50)

Woolly Wonder with buttoned flap (Sold £30)

Button and loop fastened shopper (for sale on Etsy £45)

Zipped top cross body bag (Sold £40)

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Fabrics and features, details and designs...pack up your troubles...

17/2/2016

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no, not in your old kitbag, but in your funky new...

Backpack

This was specifically requested as a bespoke design to ease the burden of carrying a heavy shoulder bag to work. A zip under the flap makes it more secure and double adjustable straps ensure the weight is equally distributed across the shoulders. A reinforced base helps it to stay in shape and soft wadding makes it comfortable against your body. Price £60

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Fabrics and features, details and designs...don't shoot the messenger!

15/2/2016

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Messenger Bags

This wide umbrella title covers all shapes and sizes as long as they have a flap with a magnetic closure...All have an adjustable shoulder strap and the bigger bags will have a reinforced base. Prices start at £40 and depend on the size and materials used.

Spectacular mega-spots messenger

Ladies' Apartments Messenger with added bling beading.

Saddle Bag Messenger

Animal print small Messenger/ Flight Bag

Angel Messenger with zipped pockets front and back.

Child size Messenger

Large laptop sized Messenger For sale on Etsy £45

Got to be a flight bag! Lovely Skinny laminx Cloudbirds

Deckchair Saddle Bag Messenger For sale on Etsy £45

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Author

Hello, I'm Ruth Overton. My nickname as a child was 'Ruthie Toots' which is how the name
Toots Totes'
came about!
I come from a family of artists and artisans and the creative gene has resulted in a desire to make stuff. There's nothing I love more, than to sit at my old treadle machine, sewing. It was handed down to me, through the family having been bought by my Grandad for Grandma in the 1930's. (See my blogs about the machine here.)
More recently I have turned my attention to designing and creating bags and 'Toots Totes' began.
I'm going to blog about how ideas for bags come about and how things happen in the sewing room, so join me there if you want to, or bypass this to go to the store or the gallery, if you prefer - I won't mind!

And a hairband

No excuses...

And so we carry on...calmly...

Oh-so-soft Nigella

Adding a "Lupin" to the bunch...

I must have flowers, always, and always.(Claude Monet)

Fabrics and features, details and designs...and finally: Makes a Change

Baby Change Bags

Fabrics and features, details and designs...Don't carry a carrier: tote a tote

All kinds of everything...

Fabrics and features, details and designs...pack up your troubles...

Backpack

Fabrics and features, details and designs...don't shoot the messenger!

Messenger Bags

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