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UPDATE:  The Starling Handbag crochet pattern for the purse above is now available on the free downloads page.  Yay!
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This handbag, for Bethany of Bitter Betty, started as a dream. I awoke one morning with the image of a cream and black striped bag floating in my head. It'd been months since I decided to make her a handbag, and I'd been waiting for the perfect inspiration.

I was so excited that I immediately started crocheting her bag even though I didn't have the whole thing planned out. I don't know if it was Valentine's Day or Bethany's interesting inclinations (or a combination of the two), but as the stripes were forming, I decided to add an anatomical heart cameo.

To create the cameo, I did a Google image search for hearts, and then I made many, many sketches. I traced my design onto tear-away stabilizer, embroidered it on the felt, and then cut out the oval. The oval is edged in French knots. If I had any cream lace, I probably would have trimmed the oval with it. It's for the best that I didn't, because I never would have added the blood drips if there was lace. And I totally dig the blood drips.

Once the handbag was crocheted and embellished, I started to worry. I had no lining fabric. Usually, I start with the fabric and work backwards. I didn't need to worry, because on an impromptu trip to the fabric store, this beautiful tan and black paisley fell into my arms.

This fabric has become my favorite. It seems like I always fall madly in love with my most recently discovered fabric. Does that happen to you, too? I love all my fabric, but I just about swoon every time I see this paisley. Below is the repeat, which is about 11.5 inches. It's a large, bold print.

I also decided to add simple interior pockets.  I'd been wary of trying pockets, but they turned out perfectly.  This is absolutely my favorite handbag so far. It was a fun, easy bag to make for a wonderful, dear friend.