Nothing Special Large Tote Bag

I’ve started a slow, ongoing project. To use fabric kept over from past projects, to create something a little extravagant (one-of-a-kind), that uses hand quilting.

I wanted to make a carry bag that felt generous — in scale, in touch, and in spirit. Something you could fill for a spontaneous weekend away, without having to overthink it. A bag that invited possibility. It must have equal doses of utility and delight.

The exterior is soft cotton velvet in a deep, botanical green. For the lining, I chose some of the last of my orange Pacifica Print on hemp and organic cotton — a natural fibre with substance and integrity. Inside are two pockets, because small things deserve a place.

The bag is hand-quilted with 200gsm fill for structure and softness. I stitched it in a large running stitch using burnt orange cotton thread, laid out in a diamond pattern. Quilting slows everything down — each pass of the needle sets the rhythm. That slowness becomes part of the object. I thoroughly enjoyed this project.

The handles are ruched velvet, comfortable and sculptural, hinting at theatrical.
Around the opening, small glass beads catch the light. You don’t see them at first, but they will reward your attention. That’s the kind of luxury I’m interested in — beauty discovered rather than announced.

At 60cm wide, 33cm high, and with an 18cm gusset, it’s spacious without being unwieldy. It fits clothes, books, toiletries, and the odd bottle of wine. It’s made to be used.

But beyond its practicality, I made this bag for joy.
To remind the woman who carries it that she’s allowed a weekend away, to do what she loves, to create value in her own life. The bow says it all.

Handmade objects have a way of holding that intention. They carry stories as well as belongings. Special, and for no reason.