Rebby said ... I love the embellished bags - the embellishment adds a lot of character - and gives it that "one of a kind, won't be able to find this anywhere else" kind of appeal. I love them! Can't wait till Etsy is back up and running (properly) so that I can check out your shop!
~Rebekah - Lunasa Designs


Anonymous said ... sometimes, when bags are done without embellishment, it doesn't give 'grandma' look but instead it give a classy look , a clean-cut & neat look, with embellishment, people instantly labeled them 'must-be handmade'/she-made-the bag-herself'. but there are so many kind of embellishment,each will give totally different touch on the bag. sometimes, just a simple tiny metal brooch will give a stunning affect :)


sunshine said ... I think either is fine. I have one I made very similar to yours but I have a long over the shoulder strap. I ware itdyagnol (sp) over one shoulder siting on the other hip. Looks more hippy to me no pun intended not grandmaish. Mine dosn't have embelishments on it. I did add a bucket to the strap so I can adjust where it hangs on my side. The strap is all one piece I just pushed both pieces through the bucket and latch it gives a differnt feel to the bag also gives me a place to hang my carabeaner key chain. Mine is a little more fun and funky not histyle just casual


Kuky said ... Well I think it's personal taste. I don't think the plain one's are grandma like. I like them a lot. In fact I think I like them a little more than the ones with the embellishments.


Angelina said ... Holy crap, don't stop embellishing! OK, I think your bags would look good plain too and I wouldn't personally think "grandma-ish" at all. But...here's the deal: you are coming up with such wonderful embellishments that I just can't see any reason to look at ones without.

You're going to think I'm lying to you because this is going to sound like I just want be warm and fuzzy or something, but I'm not the kind of gal that goes crazy for bags, I use messenger bags mostly, but when I see your bags I covet them personally. Yes, I want them in my store, but I want to carry them around myself. So I can look at them all the time. And now that I've seen the one in this post I'm not even sure which one I want the most, the birds, the flowers, or the dots with the shiny bits. I want them all.

You have a great eye for design and color. Shall I shut up now? I design and make things myself and when I look at your work I just wonder how on earth I can never come up with something like that.

I'll let others speak now.


Brahdelt said ... I especially like the ecru ones with birds, but if they were unadorned they would still look stylish and modern.


Laurie said ... I love the embellishment, but the plain bags aren't really plain at all. I agree with the previous commenter that a metal brooch would be lovely on one of your unembellished bags!


Debby said ... I am a person not big on embellishment. But, on the bags it looks great. You use just the right amount, you don't go over-board. I agree with anonymous, you make your bags look classy the way you do it. I really like them.


Hilde C. said ... I agree with rebby. The embelishment make them special. Around in blogland I've seen embelishments I like, and some I don't like, but I think yours are great. So I think you should continue to decorate your bags. I looked at your etsy shop, and I think the ones with the birds are the best :-)


Emily said ... I think both are lovely, but I like embellished the best. If you do solid ones, maybe jazz them up with color or something? I know I am not very much help here =/


Rose said ... I actually think the unembellished ones are more "Modern"...you know, clean, crisp, now. That said, the embellished ones have a lot more personality, and can give some insight into the carriers character.


Bitterbetty said ... I like the embellishments..
I think they give the bags real personality.

Definitely they are well designed and can stand alone.. but what I have always enjoyed about your craft is the amazing attention to the teeniest of detail.. and the embellishments you choose reflect that aspect of your artistry.. The fact that the bags themselves are also detailed in their simplicity underscores that.

But you know my philosophy..

do what you like.. That is where the juice is.


isa said ... i vote for the the bags with embellishment...

they are unique and everytime a little piece of art


futuregirl said ... Thank you thank you thank you! I love getting this feedback and seeing the wide range of opinions.

Please, if you've just come here, feel free to add your thoughts, too. The more, the better.

Obviously, it comes down to a matter of taste. Everyone is different. I think the key is for me to like what I am doing, because my enthusiasm will show through in my work.

Just as much as the design of an object, a person's passion is a big factor in what is attractive to me. If I see someone excited about what they are doing, I can get excited about it too. And isn't that the point of all this crafting? To do something that I enjoy? Yes. Yes it is. :) So far, so good.


Brown Pants said ... I'm pro embellished too! I think it gives them a uniqueness (both in terms of your craft style and the fact that they're pretty much one-offs). I've seen crocheted handbags in shops that are plain with lining and they're great, but they somtimes seem a bit standard (if that makes sense). There's nothing wrong with that, but I really like that all of the ones you make are individual and have their own look and feel. Not that they wouldn't have that without the embellishment I guess...


One Crabapple said ... I say do both. I am attracted to both ideas. I love the modern stark straight stitching look but I like the idea of crocheted edging like vintage gramma and I absolutely love the teal bag felted / sequined / stitched embellisments. I think go with how you feel at the time. If you like it , you definitely have good taste ! and if you like it , it looks good ! if it felt good making the design you know it looks good !

Anyway, did I sayy they are gorgeous ? they are GORGEOUS.


Elizabeth said ... I'm big on embellishment myself.


AmberCake said ... I also think both the embellished and "plain" bags look modern, because of the designs and the colors - I think your bags and your embellishments are simple and clean without being plain. I also think there's something nice about the scale and texture - the yarn and gauge and stitch you're using work really well, I think. If you were really looking for a way to make them cleaner/simpler/still embellished, you could try experimenting with design elements like a second yarn color for a vertical or horizontal stripe, or making the handles in another color. Which isn't to say that you SHOULD, because I really like them as I see them as well. And yes, I'm among the many who adore the birdcage bags.


katie said ... it's me.... just one of the 'you's' you invited to comment - and for what it's worth I like the bag without adornments - I like simple - and although the 'bits' are lovely - the simple plain bag is classy - can be dressed up with a made flower or something - and left plain on other occasions - yes - I go plain - whatever grandma says!
just me though

 
ambika said ... Wow, thanks so much for the value you place on my comments. I really do like the embellishment. And though I wouldn't ever call the unembellished bags grandma-ish, the details you add really make the bags in my mind. It's very subtle (especially the french knots and sequins), unlike the overblown things you sometimes see as embellishment.

Also, thank you for your suggestion about the shoes. Given that I'm highly impractical about shoes, I *don't* actually own a pair of black heels that I could dress up with red ribbon. Sigh.