STYLIZED ART DECO
HANDBAG DESIGN!

This handbag design was a big challenge for me!

I had to avoid ‘cute’ at all costs!

I met a young woman at a party who admired one of the belt bags I was wearing. She asked me to design a needlepoint handbag for her.

 

WHAT TYPE OF DESIGN DID SHE WANT?

She wanted:

• a ‘sophisticated’ design (not a lot of colour), but with some ‘whimsy’.
• Colours that fit into her wardrobe, mostly wheat or cream colours and black.
• BUT, because she loves animals, particularly cats, she hoped that I might integrate them ‘somehow’ (!?) into the handbag design!

This was a big concern for me, because I refuse to do ‘cute’! Particularly cute animals!

 

 ART DECO TO THE RESCUE!



 

This ‘modern’ style of the 1920’s and 30’s could have the characteristics I was looking for… sophisticated neutral colours, clean uncluttered lines, stepped forms, and, more significantly for me, stylized animals which were very popular at the time.

In fact, if I create a handbag design well enough, its graphics could be so stylized that the actual pattern of the design would become more dominant than its subject matter!

That was important to me.

Also, because my client had only been stitching for a couple of years, I wanted to keep the design uncluttered and uncomplicated. This also fitted in well with the characteristics of this period.

So I came up with two colour schemes of a handbag design in an Art Deco style… Cat on Hot Tin Roof! The contemporary and youthful shape of the bag reinforces the shapes of the stylized cats and dogs.

These are the two ideas I presented to her, in a graphic format:

SHE CHOSE CONCEPT ONE!

After she selected the taupe colour scheme, I hand-painted the design on needlepoint canvas to the agreed dimensions that would work for her.

She had the option of stitching the same design for both sides of the handbag, or to have me design small pockets for the back.

She preferred the pocket idea.

Here are the matching hand-painted pocket designs for her to stitch ....one long and narrow for her cell phone .... and one wider pocket for her keys, etc.

 

 

 

The ’Cat on Hot Tin Roof’ Handbag!

 

You can see how closely the final stitched tapestry matches the original concept drawing!

 

My client chose a black wool fabric for the back, gusset and zippered top, with large graphite-coloured metal rings to attach the cream leather shoulder strap.

 

 

 

 

 

What an elegant result!

 

The uncluttered clean lines of the Art Deco style dominate the design.

 

The stylized animal forms, integrated into the overall pattern, become secondary.

Nothing ‘cute’.

 

I particularly like how the handbag’s curved shape sits on the body.

 

 

My young client has a great bag, created inexpensively and suited just for her.

CLICK HERE to see this exquisite Art Deco Design as a CLUTCH BAG!

 

 

 

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ALTERNATE COLOUR SCHEMES

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Since I created this design for my client, I have had other requests to develop alternate colour schemes for this same handbag design.

So I now have three alternate colours available.

One could suit your wardrobe!

• Black Background - A strong, bold classic ART DECO colouration.
• Wheat Backgrouond - A soft, delicate colourway that will go with most wardrobes.
• Blue Background - A moody, night-time feel for our cat under the full moon!
  

Of course, should you want a design or colour range just for you, please contact me!

 

 

Click here to GO SHOPPING FOR HAND BAGS DESIGNS with ZIVA!

For other needlepoint handbag designs from the ZIVA Collection, click here.

Go back to Home Page to see other needlepoint designs in the ZIVA Collection.

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