A few things.

First, I want to know if you have any suggestions on what to do in the blog. If you want me to do something (like tutorials, contests, challenges, stage for bag makers to show their bags and promote them, write about something about bags, etc. it's your decision, what you want to see in this blog.

Since my sewing machine didn't really want to work when I wanted to start sewing a new bag, in the meantime I've prepared the pieces of 2 bags. So I've been working on 2 bags at the time. Here are the pieces that I've prepared:

The blue pieces are already a bag, I finished it yesterday and that's what it looks like:

It has a zipper closure which you cannot see in this picture, sorry. It cotton/vinyl (blue/blue) And I'm hoping to sew together the second bag's pieces (the red ones) very soon.

Last thing, I came across a bag yesterday on another website that has a designing element that was pretty suspicious. Because I presented a bag on the net some time ago that had something that I'm pretty sure I made up design-wise, and I also wrote in its description about this one element. So now I saw that bag for sell, that someone made, and it had in its description the explaination about that element. At first I thought, "okay, coincidence". But then I read the description and it's way too much mine. It could be only a coincidence. But it was very suspicious. My point is, I'm no gonna do a big deal about it, it could be nothing. But I just want to ask you not to steal any ideas. You can be inspired by my bags, sure. But I'm working very hard on finding and making up new and original designs that I'm hoping you haven't seen before, and I wouldn't want people to steal those ideas. I can't copy people because I like being original, and I hope other people feel the same way. I know that when you put your designs on the internet there is a risk in it. But I want to trust people not to copy mine. Hope you understand. It's a little bit off topic, but I had to tell you about it.

Overcome Your Fears

Most of the things invented or discovered, couldn't have happen if someone hadn't taken the risk by doing it and overcome the fears. Things wouldn't have progressed; we'd never know if something can actually be better than the current situation of it.
Doing something new can be both fun and intimidating. But people have been doing it for thousands of years. As humans, we started out with stones to kill and as tools; we lived in caves – no doors. And as humans we can develop and adjust. If we weren't, we'd be dead. Can you develop through bags and other accessories?

I believe you cannot be a designer (or anything else) if you don't find a way to develop yourself in your area, can't find new things and challenge yourself. As a designer, you have big challenges to face and create. You cannot stay put, nor do the same thing over and over again. It doesn't only bore, but also make you monotonous. If you want to be a designer you must learn how to invent yourself every time. Challenge yourself. And if you fail at doing something, don't give up - try again, or another new thing. You need to show what you can do. And if you cannot do, learn how to do it and just do it, even if it takes awhile. What's the worst that can happen, you know?

Let's take something from the bags world. Zippers. A scary word. It even scares me. And just FYI, if you're scared of zippers, know that you're not the only one. Yes, it scared me at first, and it still does. But I learned how to place them in a bag, whether it's for closure of the bag or for a pocket. I learned how to work them in different ways (and there are LOTS of ways). And you know what? I'm glad I tried, because the result is much better now. It looks more professional. I could easily stick with the magnetic snaps. But I felt that I HAD to learn how to make it better, how to make the bags better.
I always find a way to reinvent and not stay put. Because, you know, if you're not moving forward, you're not moving at all, or you're moving backwards.

I guess the main reason for people for not trying new things, is fear. They start saying to themselves: "what will happen if…", "it might…", "I cannot do it!" Fear, fear, fear. And I'm here to say: "no daring – no succeeding". Wouldn't it be too bad if you didn't try? What the world would've looked like if people didn't try?
As people develop, so does the fashion. It always gets better (yeah, not for all of us), and we need to keep up with that, with the rest of the world. Suddenly people's taste change and develop. That means we, as bag designers, must develop ourselves. Sometimes people get bored. And you need to be there when they do; you need to give them what they need AT THE MOMENT. Fashion changes, so you need to, but without losing your own style and taste. That means you have to dare if you want to stand out. Dare doing something no one else has ever done before; the design itself or the bag's features. People, who see something new, will develop themselves if they decide to dare. Yes, you develop and people develop. So do it together as a team work.

If you have an inspiration, something new that you've never come across before, please oh please, DO IT! If you see a fabric that's kind of… outrageous, and want to make a bag out of it, do it. BUT only if you believe in it. If you don't believe in your work, better not do it at all. Your vision is important, so don't be afraid of what people will say about YOU and YOUR WORK. Chances are, if your opinion is a little different, other people will too see the uniqueness and appreciate it (let's hope).

Also, technique wise, I'm sure you saw bags around that have so features that you would like to try yourself in your bags. Not just the design, but also the materials. Me, for example, I decided one say that I will buy rivets or other hardware. I saw it around and decided I'll use it in my bags too. And of course I didn't know how at first, but I learned. Then took the risk (in the first time) and did it. And I'm so glad I did. I decided to try making bags with faux leather. Never done it before. But I read, asked, learned how. And you know what? All that stuff I learned has upgraded my bags and I'm so happy about it. I want to try new things all the time. And yeah, at first it's scary. But I've overcame and now the result was worth it.

Speaking of which, here is my newest bag, which I took a few risks with it, and the result is great. I'm very proud of this bag:

Every Bag is Telling a Story

That's my theory.
A bag can tell many things about the person who carries it or making it. It can also tell where that person who carries the bag is going. A person carrying a classic evening bag will probably mean that that person is going to a formal thing, where there's need not only for formal wear, but also a formal bag, or other accessories. A nice looking evening bag is just like all of the other evening accessories one will wear to a formal: earrings, necklace, bracelet, etc. If you're going somewhere you don't only think about what you will wear and what jewelry you will have. And the bag is an essential part of your total look.
In this case, of an evening formal event, the bag can also tell about a person if they have money. As a bag maker, I'd recommend to create a bag that will look like that person who carries it has a lot of money. Meaning, not a cheap looking bag. On the other hand, you might wanna create a bag that will match your regular clothing. But you will also want that the bag you've created will get many compliments.

A bag can also tell about a person what kind of person they are, not only where they're heading. Again, some people will want to look like they have a lot of money, by showing off their new valued bag. They're the kind of people who care what people think about them. They express themselves through their look, even if they're not really rich. That's a chunk of the population we live in, and they're costumers to consider while making a bag.

And the other chunk of people who don't care about their look and what people think about them. So how do we create something this kind of people will like?
No, we do not make a bag sloppy for sloppy people. In my theory, quite the contrary. Not in the sense of trying to change a person or force them to like something that is completely not in their nature. We find the thin line between their taste, our taste and the top design we can make. We should figure out what the person likes, and make something their style but in a more nice looking way. In other words, create what they like, but make it more glorious looking. Make them like not something that isn't their taste, but take their style and make it better, so they will like it without having to change who they are.

There are fun people. They like their clothes and accessories colorized and sometimes tacky, maybe funny (and fun!). Those people like the attention. So they will want to carry a bag that expresses their fun personality. Colors, gadgets, fringes, etc. Creating a bag for those people might be really fun. It's your chance to mix some weird fabrics, opposite colors, special "effects". But don't make it too tacky or too much. Again, there is a thin line.
And of course there are people who work hard during the day, and at night they go to parties. That's a good chance to make a reversible bag: one side day bag, other side evening bag. Those are great for this kind of people. They get 2 bags in one.
And let's not forget the age factor. Usually, as a person grows, their preferences change. They will want something more serious looking. When people pick a bag to buy, you can tell more or less their age, even if you don't know who they are and what they look like. And you know what? In this case I'm raising my thumbs up if you want to make a fun and young bag to older ladies. There is just no reason to stay in the past when the whole world is developing fashion wise.
And if we combine everything: age, personality, style, taste… we can get a bag that will fit perfectly.

What about you, the bag maker?
Making bags can be a chance for you too, to express yourself. Your style is telling people what kind of person you are. Are you a serious person? Are you the kind of person who likes to have fun? And where? Are you a day person or a night person? Are you a crazy person who likes to be different and therefore you're making outrageous bags? And nothing I say here is a bad thing, don't get me wrong.
If we took me, for example, and if you see my bags, you will see that I have a big variety of bags. Many styles, many patterns, they're all different from each other. Guess what it means about me as a person who makes bags? If you couldn't answer the question, the answer is I'm a person who gets bored easily. I can't make one design twice. I need changes, I can't stay where I am, I have to progress and develop myself. I need things one of a kind and am hopeful that no one will create something same as mine, while I also don't make something that someone else has already made.
I use a lot of colors without pushing it too far, because I like standard bags. I like young things, because I'm young, and I know most people want to look young. So if I find a fabric that I like, but that has something missing, I will find a combo that will make it less serious looking (like faux leather or other "serious" fabrics), and younger. I find the line between serious and young/fun. You can learn a lot about the bag maker through the bags they make.