Mayka (from CindyMars) recently purchased some flour sacks from our potatoboutique.etsy.com, and created some wonderful bags out of them!  Let me show you the pictures she sent me:

I love the way this Convertible Hobo/Messenger Flour Sack Bag turned out!
Wow!  She upcycled the flour sack, and added leather and denim for a practical, classy look.....
Isn't she so talented....????

It's time to treat your Kindle / Nook (or other electronic notebook) to a fun warm and cozy storage bag to call her own!  How about this zippered flour sack pouch Mayka made....????
I love it....?
{As I'm sure any electronic device would too..... ;)...}

Thank you, Mayka, for sharing your photo's....!!!
Doesn't it inspire you to make some fun handbags too....????
It does me.....!!!!
Yee-hah...!!!

What things have you made from flour sacks?
What wonderfully creative ideas are bursting from your brain?

Linking up to
Life in a Little Red Barn House
Giver's Log
Sew Mama Sew
Sew Much Ado
PurlBee
Fine Diving

The Rachel Potato Purse is the best selling purse here at CrystelleBoutique.com
We thought we'd show you some pictures of the VERY many ways in which this purse has been finished in the past....

Happy photo-looking!  :-)
Finished Rachel handbag:  for sale right here
Patterns to the Rachel Handbag are available right here, here, and here

There is a new bag in town:

The Knotty Bag

·         It is super cute and super big.
·         And it features lots of knots on the front (thus the name…)
·         We have taken it with us to the library and the farmers market and it works out great.
·         The pattern is available at www.crystelleboutique.etsy.com for $6

As a special for July 1-15, we will be offering 20% off everything at www.crystelleboutique.etsy.com


Just enter code HAPPY4TH at the checkout and 20% will be subtracted from the amount. 
At www.crystelleboutique.etsy.com  we offer lots of fun and festive up-cycled sweater pillows as well as easy to follow sewing patterns for bags.

The vintage patterns are so much fun at www.smallandsimplethings.etsy.com

and potato sack products are still in style at www.potatoboutique.etsy.com

Stop by and see what’s new! 
We’d love to have you!


Happy Fourth of July!!!  I am so grateful for all the freedoms we enjoy….

Crystelle
www.CrystelleBoutique.com

We have a new pattern available at the shop!

Yes, it is time to carry something "knotty" around.....

The Knotty Bag is a large bag with simple straight lines; but it has an unexpected playful twist:  strips of fabric on the front with each featuring a fun knot.  This spunky bag is large in both size and fun factor; a great way to hold your books, or knitting and other creative projects.  It will also make a wonderful over-sized handbag or diaper-bag. 

No two handmade Knotty Bags will be alike as you will use unique combinations of random fabrics to make the knotty strips different than anyone else's in the world…. The interior has a handy patch-pocket on one side and a zippered- pocket on the other side, because bags need to be cute as well as functional.  As you use and carry this bag with pride, the knotty design is sure to snatch lots of compliments for you….

Find the new pattern by visiting www.crystelleboutique.etsy.com
Find the discount code while the pattern is being launched by visiting our Facebook page!

CrystelleBoutique was formerly known as

Crystelle Handbags
"Home of the Famous Potato Purse"

To order your own famous potato sack purse, please use our contact form....

I met the nicest person on Etsy yesterday!
Her name is Mary Spence Smith, and she makes FABULOUS personalized purses!
Let me show you what her Marilyn Monroe Purse looks like:

Isn't it fabulous....?????

Does this remind you of the Marilyn Monroe Potato Sack bag we did at Potato Boutique?
It does me!
Read about it here.


Mary also makes theme bags to your specifications.
For instance:
She made a bag as a wedding gift:
Leigh & Ryan's Wedding Palooza
The couple is very arty and creative. They handmade their own invitations, which featured sketches and photos of the bride and groom.
So fun,  so cute!!!!

Another one of my favorite bags from Mary's collection is the Vintage Beauty Handbag
It features Audry as well as Marilyn, etc. etc.   Have a look at the pictures at the end of this post.

Visit Mary's shop right here....!!!!

Au revoir!  Crystelle

I am such a lucky girl....
The editor of Haute Handbags Magazine is a darling.
Her name is Beth Livesay,
and she is a sweet as can be.

Now I must make this disclaimer: I thought she was sweet BEFORE the team decided to put one of my bags on the cover of the autumn 2010 issue of Haute Handbags!

It was quite a treat, though, and I consider myself a very lucky girl....
I guess I said that before....

Anyway:
I you would like a FREE copy of the pattern used for this bag, just drop me a note at this link......


See ya!  Looking forward to hearing from you!
And thanks for stopping by!
Crystelle

Miss Idaho 2010 and Miss Idaho Outstanding Teen 2010 both support their local spuds with pride and both own a genuine Famous Potato Sack Purse!!!
Good for them!

In the first picture they demonstrate the PotatoPurse owned by Jaylee Patterson {Co-Executive Director Miss Idaho Outstanding Teen Program}

Aren't they the most precious girls you ever saw!
They just beam, don't they!

The second picture shows Miss Idaho 2010:
Kylie Kofoed is the happy owner
of a genuine Idaho Potato Sack burlap Purse!

Doesn’t she look terrific with it!
Maybe it’s the girl, not the bag...
hahahaha Probably is!  LOL
Well, if you want to look just as good as Kylie does,
isit the Potato Boutique shop to purchase your own Melissa Handbag…
or make one.....
The pattern is totally easy to make....

{click on the images to view them better....}

To order your own potato sack purse, drop us an email us via our contact form

I was very honored to be asked to make a large tote from a vinyl banner used by the University of Baltimore. During the 2009-2010 school-year, the University of Baltimore  had a campaign  called “Knowledge that Works” in which they featured artist-designed banners on the campus.

The following season they  they tried to think of ways to utilize the fantastic art banners, and came up with the idea to make one into a tote. I came up with a fun tote using a banner with the artwork of Milton Glaser.   And they asked  ME.....!!!!!

It turned out to be such fun.
One one side of the the tote you see a colorful gecko perched with his tongue protruding. Turn the bag over, and the story continues with his tongue going on and on, until it reaches its target on the pocket:  the insect has been caught.




What a great little illustrated story and great “Knowledge that Works” campaign.

On this fun and creative project I got to work closely with Catherine, who is the associate director, Office of University Relations and editor of the University of Baltimore Magazine She is fun-loving happy person with incredible writing talent!!!
All in all this project was just TOO much fun and a thrill to participate with..... yeee- hah!!

Thank you Catherine and the University for letting me be a part of this campaign, even if it was for just a short time…!!!
I hope the tote will go on LOTS of picnics an visit the beach regularly.......

I can't believe it!
The second time our bags have been in a magazine.......
Speechless.......
I am soooo lucky....!

Here is the current issue of Haute handbags: Spring 2010
And yes, two or our bags are within the pages:
pages 110-113

A four-page spread.....

Oh my....
I am blushing now!!!!

{click on the pictures to get a better view.....}

This time, instead of making the bags out of potato sacks, I used some of the scraps I have collected after sewing sooo many potato sack bags, and made some flowers out of them.....
On the first bag, I made some potato sack burlap poppies...
Very sweet
Very easy
Click here to learn how to make them.
and on the second bag I showed some burlap roses.....
very easy to make!
Just watch this short video to see how.....

Featuring in the magazine are two new patterns:

• The Dedre Backpack pattern, great for hands-free shopping or day-trips.....
• The Ronda handbag pattern, wonderful everyday handbag with cute ties on the side and convenient exterior pockets for cell-phone, keys, lipstick and the like...

Sew one up today! 
You can find the sewing patterns in our shop...



Guaranteed to love your new bag!