I am short so most of normal medium sized handbags are too large for me. I also wanted to have ethically made bag that would also be very durable. Sewing handbag on my own was not possible since I don’t have sewing machine suitable for sewing thigh leather.

While surfing in Internet I found small leather product manufacturer Nippanappa. Further search with Google revealed that customers had been pleased with products and service. In February I had change to visit this shop. I made sketches in train on the way and with this drawing I walked in the shop. I could choose all hardware and leather quality by my self. At the same time we made precise drawings of the bag with all measurements. Some details were altered to be more functional. They promised bag to be finished this week.

The bag arrived today

It is as perfect I wanted! Bag is handmade and even the leather is dyed by hand. Leather quality is very strong and sturdy and it will age beautifully. Shop owners had garments made of same material and they looked fine although they were years old. Sewing is made nicely and edges are turned as in very expensive bags. Inside is very simple as I wanted. Bag is stiff enough to stand on its brass feet.

This bag will serve me for long time!

First I had to draw pattern. Lining material is recycled silk. Bag would be too floppy so I used pieces of plastic mat as hardening material. Unfinished bag looked miserable. Biggest chalence were handle straps. It took me an hour to push soft pipe inside leahter tubes.

Finished bag:

This long key chain is made of recycled class beads and silver beads. Key hangs in large and sturdy s-lock. There is 3 larges closed jump rings in the chain. You can transform this key chain in to Viking style necklace. Third chain is made of silver jump rings.

Highest chain is made of recycled glass beads, silver bead and hundreds of year’s old silver dirhams. Dirham coins were very popular among Nordic women. People made even fake dirham coins if they could not get real ones.

All of these chains have large jumprings in their both ends and it is easy to put s-locks to these rings. You can lock 2 cains together or add pendants between the ends.

In reality Viking era and other Iron Age necklaces have been brightly colored. I decided to make one chain more realistic. It is made of glass beads and 2 silver beads. People used to have amulets hanging of the chain. Small casted silver bear and bird pendants pose as those amulets.

Hair sticks made of quills, sterling silver cones and charms and lapis bead.

This memory stick case is from last year. The stick itself is attached to chain that runs trough holes. There is larger ring in the chain for attaching.

Mother of these crabs was hiding several months and I was sure that it was dead. It had been some where behind plants and back ground materials.
These crabs grow step by step and they have to shed their exoskeleton when it becomes too small. Here is set of these shells. There is also seaurching fossils in the picture.

Water Fig grows very well in this kind of paludariums.

I am going to use brooch with this felted shawl that was made for me by Etsy seller Galina. Shawl is made of very soft merino wool nad silk fibers.

This time I started with this work that has been as parts for at least 3 years. Little bittern was sand casted then and I had to do its feet and reeds around it.

This pendant is 5cm in width. Silver is blackened and partly polished. Here is also picture of the pendant just after soldering and sulphur acid bath. Acid makes the surface whitish because it takes all the other molecules away. Only silver molecules stay in the surface. Fine silver is whiter than sterling that has some copper in it.

Next I started to fabricate this Arrowhead plant comb. I made 2 leafs and stem of silver sheet and wire.

After soldering all pieces to right shape I made the surface sateen smooth. Stames are gilded silver. Ready made plant is riveted to flexible plastic comb.

Viking style Rock crystal ball pendants

I have wanted to make these for several years, but I could not find right size crystal balls. Finally I found 5 balls from Tampere Craft fair. Each ball is 1,2cm in diameter. I fabricated 3 different settings from silver sheet, twisted square wire and tiny silver and gold balls.

Ready made pendants

Haori is Japanese coat that women wear over kimono. Vintage haories can be bought from ebay under the price of materials (usually silk) even if you count shipping costs. I use haori as substitute for jacket or cardigan. Haori is lighter, airy but also warm.

I bought this haori because I wanted to paint this wallcreeper on it.

Fabrics were remnants from previous projects. It’s great to be able to use them to something proper. Front and ear flaps are lined with at least 30 years old Coyote fur that I got from old jacket hood trimming.

Only new part in this hat is embroidered badge from Svalbard. So this was successful up cycling project. I hate seeing good materials or things thrown to rubbish.

Fur in the coat is sustainable wild Coyote.