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Thursday, April 09, 2009

What's In A Name?

The response has been overwhelming.  I'll be starting with the handbag pattern.  I've already started bag-making, as some details need to be worked out before I can start writing the pattern.  One of those details is the name of the handbag.

Personally, I think a lot is in a name.  And, as you know, I love naming things.  And, as you also know, I sometimes have trouble naming things despite that love.

And that's how we got here, 2.5 years after it's initial creation, my poor handbag still doesn't have a name.  I just call it "the handbag."  So sad.  I tried having one brainstorming and the best I came come up with is "The Orwell."  I must have been in a weird mood.  Nothing really kills the excitement surrounding a handbag like politics, don't you think? Ha!

I've also considered calling it the "futuregirl handbag" but I plan on designing more, so wouldn't  they all be "futuregirl handbags?"  Lame.

It's been easier for me to name the incarnations of the bag, like the Bleeding Heart Handbag, the Birdcage Handbag, and the Nautical Handbag.  Not super-creative names, but at least they are descriptive.  I've also made many unnamed versions of the handbag like this and this and this and this.

What would be great is an overall name for the basic bag pattern that could be used in conjunction with it's design name.  So, let's say I name it the Acme Handbag.  Then we'd have the Bleeding Heart Acme Handbag and the Birdcage Acme Handbag, etc.

But, maybe that's way off-base.  Maybe it needs it's own special name ... design be damned!  I just don't know.  For some reason, I just can't find the right name for the handbag.

So, I'm turning to you for help.  What should I name the handbag pattern?  

You're my only hope!
51 Comments leave a comment


Jo-Ann said ...
Hi, how about the "Alice Basic Carry-all", then you could have the "Alice Bird-cage carry-all", etc.
4/9/2009 8:55 AM

Former-lurker Mae said ...
I actually think that "Bleeding Heart Orwell", "Nautical Orwell", etc has a snazzy sound to it. "Is that an original Orwell?", "Oh yes. An Orwell of my own design."

See? Snazzy.
4/9/2009 9:13 AM

Corvus said ...
I'd call it "Blank Slate" or "Tabula Rasa", because it's a design that leaves you so open to play and create on it (as its various incarnations show), but I don't know if "Bleeding Heart Blank Slate" works.

Hmm. What other phrases and words have similar connotations to "Blank Slate". I suppose just "Slate" or "Tabula". "Potential" or "Potentiality" or "Possibility". "Free Range"? Nah, that evokes a bit too much of the meat market. But something that hints at the possibilities for creativity, for development and experiment with your template as a starting point ("Template"?) seems appropriate.
4/9/2009 9:36 AM

Skulleigh said ...
I actually kind of like Orwell. You need something that's one word so that variations don't end up with humongous names... so while I like the Tabula Rasa suggestion, you would end up with Bleeding Heart Tabula Rasa Handbag... which is a touch unwieldy.


4/9/2009 9:59 AM

Hilary said ...
I personally like Futuregirl Handbag. Sure, there will be other "futuregirl handbags" down the road, but as your first handbag pattern, this can be THE Futuregirl Handbag.
4/9/2009 10:38 AM

Jocelyn said ...
How about: "Design Your Own Handbag" since your basic design leaves it open for so many wonderful possibilities?
I love designing handbags!
4/9/2009 10:53 AM

cyndy said ...
I love the trend with naming accessories after girls names. I see this bag as "The Chelsea" or "The Abigail." I kinda like that. Or you could go with "The Jane" or "The Emily" for a more traditional feel. Or just use your first name...Cute? No?
4/9/2009 11:21 AM

Amy said ...
I was thinking something along the lines of "versatile" or "modular" but I'm liking "Jane" a bit too: Plain Jane, Birdcage Jane, Bleeding Heart Jane, etc.
4/9/2009 11:46 AM

Jackie said ...
I like "Mama". After all, it will be the mother of all the other bags and, as a mother, I can totally see myself carrying all my assorted mother-related sundry in that very cool bag. Also, how cool does "Bleeding Heart Mama" sound? "Birdcage Mama", etc.
4/9/2009 12:49 PM

Michelle said ...
Ooooh. Gotta think about this one for a while...
4/9/2009 1:30 PM

E to the M said ...
Sow's Ear
4/9/2009 2:40 PM

Kim said ...
Plain Jane is so clever. Corvus's blank slate idea is nice, too. Maybe 'Basic' would suit. The FutureGirl Basic Bag. It sounds ripe with possibilities. Or Mod. It looks Mod. Immediately makes me want to see it in a bright color or with a flower. Straight and compact--a little Jackie O flavor to it as well. I can completely see someone holding it in wrist-length gloves. Maybe a Mad Men inspired name. Manhatten or Paris Handbag, and then continue with a city theme for other bags.

Good luck! It's worse than naming a baby.
4/9/2009 2:53 PM

kathy said ...
I like Alice's basic Bag that way it sounds like a bag you can make and add to it the way you want to embellish it.
Plus you can give ideas on the pattern to do this.

good luck with name hugs kat
4/9/2009 3:16 PM

Penny Peberdy said ...
The bags remind me of chalks in a box - why not call them the Chalk bags.
4/9/2009 3:34 PM

nandinisreenath@gmail.com said ...
I like Chalk bag... or maybe because they have a square bottom?.. you could call it .. fair and square, but that would make it too long, and because its so simple, u could call it CLASSIC, AUSTERE.. how do you like these :)
4/9/2009 5:59 PM

stephanie said ...
How about HOLY STINKING CUTE handbag? I love it!! I think I need one.
I think there are lot of great names to choose from up above - good luck!
4/9/2009 8:14 PM

Craft Passon said ...
I am not good in naming things but "Ivory Romance" crossed my mind immediately after seeing your handbag!!!
4/9/2009 9:45 PM

Simplistic Handbag, or Simplicity Handbag. That's all I have.
4/9/2009 9:56 PM

Amy said ...
Isn't Orwell like a vacuum or brand of popcorn?
4/9/2009 10:03 PM

Lauren said ...
I like naming things after people too, so I think the Alice bag would work.

It might be fun to incorporate something futuristic into the names of your bags... each one could have a "space age" type name. But all I can come up with when I think of the future is the Jetsons.... the Jetson bag? Maybe Alice is a little nicer. :)

I don't care what you name it, I can't wait to make it!!!
4/9/2009 11:36 PM

kat said ...
they look like mummified mike wazowskis.
fabulous & gorgeous, yes - but i'm seeing one-eyed, round monsters, wrapped in rows of white cloth.
was that helpful?
4/9/2009 11:39 PM

Ann said ...
What a really cute bag! To me, it has a "Jetson's" vintage futuristic look. Or maybe a Scandinavian look? Neutral color, minimalist lines?
4/9/2009 11:47 PM

tori said ...
I think you should definitely name it after yourself. Alice for the original bag and Jane would be cute for the wristlet.
4/10/2009 1:02 AM

est said ...
how about "alice no.1" with the trademark logo at the end? or "alice's basic" or "the naturalist" or "the White" or "alice's White" or .. :)
oh gosh.. i couldn't even make up my mind for one answer!
4/10/2009 1:31 AM

michelle said ...
How about just Alice?
4/10/2009 2:01 AM

Katrin said ...
I played around a bit with the Random Name Generator http://www.behindthename.com/random/ and of my upcoming results I liked "Brava" the most.
Because this bag looks like it was up to any challenge and thus for really brave...
4/10/2009 2:40 AM

Blue said ...
Just off the top of my head, I am thinking "Grab Bag".

I've obviously put no thought into it, but the bag has always said to me "That's something I'd grab while walking out the door because it's cute, functional and handmade!". I must admit to being disappointed when you stopped selling the bags as I was just getting around to asking The Hubs for one as a gift ;)

Anyway, those are my two pence for what they're worth :)
4/10/2009 4:55 AM

Betsy said ...
How about the everygirl hand bag
4/10/2009 8:22 AM

emily said ...
the "it bag."

(maybe?)
4/10/2009 9:33 AM

Cassandra said ...
The Birdcage Handbag sounds good for me.
4/10/2009 5:14 PM

Ash said ...
Corvus was much quicker reading your blog than I was, because I was thinking the exact same thing!
4/10/2009 5:34 PM

Puglette said ...
"my future bag" i also like the alice hand bag.
very cute!
hugs,
puglette
:o)
4/10/2009 11:39 PM

Angie said ...
I agree with Lauren, I don't care too much, I just want to make it! Okay, so I did think about it while wistfully staring at the picture, and I was thinking of all these "s" words- simple, sophisticated, sweet. So I think you should name it the "Super S Bag"! Super because I always think of Superman when I think of the letter S all by itself. Now I am Silly. sssssss!
4/11/2009 4:43 AM

Jace said ...
I'd dearly love to learn how to make this bag as I've never actually crocheted a full-size bag before. They always seem so daunting. :) As for the name, I'd like to suggest "The Alice Merlino Classic Bag". Since you're the creator, it should bear your name, which is a "brand" in itself. I think the bag looks classic, hence "Classic Bag". Future bags can be named according to their looks or function BUT always include "Alice Merlino". :)
4/11/2009 1:55 PM

Jennie said ...
I have been drooling over your bags for years. I am so glad you are going to make patterns!!!

As for the name of the bag, I really think you need to incorporate "futuregirl" in it, since it's THE futuregirl bag.

How's the "futuregirl tote"? You could have different names for different bags.

So excited.

jennie
4/11/2009 7:12 PM

Rachel said ...
Maybe the AM Classic bag - for your initials? Then the variations could be the Bleeding Heart Classic bag, etc. That wouldn't be too unweildy to distinguish the variations then. To me this is a very classic bag and so that name just makes sense to me. Love it!
4/11/2009 10:12 PM

Suzanne said ...
Immediately a name came to mind, "The Good Girl Bag"....Not sure why that name. I always say a girl should follow her intution.
4/12/2009 1:14 AM

krysalia said ...
The Dairy ? something with milk or cream in the name ? clotted cream for example :)
4/12/2009 6:21 AM

marietta said ...
"you're my only hope" which makes me go straight to star wars...the leia...the solo...the luke....the han...the chewie...the obie wan...can i help that i am that much of a geek? - i am so happy soring is here becuase i can take out my alice/birdcage/obiwan/orwell bag and use it properly :)
4/12/2009 11:01 PM

Liz said ...
Alice, I am not sure the name of your bag would really be that important to me. However, I would go for 'The Orwell'- you were once clearly inspired by that- or maybe you could use your surname as is custom with designers. Thus you would have the Merlino Bleeding Heart Bag, the Small Merlino, the Medium Merlino etc. It's the pattern itself I am more interested in!
4/13/2009 6:49 AM

Sabra said ...
I agree with using Alice or Merlino in the name! It does sound cool with the other variations in front of it. As does Orwell. It has to be something simple. Can't wait to make it!
4/13/2009 11:09 AM

Tweedlebug said ...
I was thinking along the same lines as Corvus, though I suggest taking the 'blank' part and playing with it (much the same as the bag itself; taking a blank and creating even more fun with it). Rasa, Roz, Razzie, Raw, Rosa...
4/13/2009 12:18 PM

Stephanie said ...
My friend and her mom, when they make patterns {ones a knitter, the other is a sewer}, they name the pattern after a family member, or a friend - especially if the pattern was originally intended for them ^___^
4/13/2009 5:17 PM

Brandie said ...
delurking to join the naming fun..... my suggestion: "the white rabbit"
4/14/2009 12:14 PM

Shelly said ...
While I really like Orwell, it just doesn't seem quite right. I really think the bag's name is Hank. :)
4/15/2009 2:36 AM

Deena said ...
As soon as I saw your lovely handbags I was reminded of an original Nantucket basket. The style of a handbag always evokes a "place" for me, and names of that sort have appeal. So how about it? The Nantucket. Whatever their name, the bags are beautiful!
smiles,
Deena
4/15/2009 10:42 AM

Victoria said ...
Hi,

My name is Victoria. I'm an art therapist at a county hospital in NY. I run crochet groups with teens while they are getting chemo. Recently one of my girls brought your URL to me and told me that she was inspired by your beautiful purses. I wanted to send along the message!!!
We are anxiously awaiting your pattern :)
4/16/2009 12:45 PM

Nic said ...
YEEEEEEEEEESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSA!

You could call it piece of crap and I'd still want to make it. I'M SO EXCITED!
4/16/2009 2:39 PM

Karen said ...
That is probably the cutest crocheted hand bag I've seen!!! Too cute! I haven't crocheted in Years!!! And I never made anything more than chains, but I've been inspired to try making those cute flowers I'm seeing everywhere. Who knows...maybe I'll learn enough to really get into......yet another craft! :> I stumbled on to your blog and I'm going to bookmark it to make sure I come back again! Cute stuff! :>
4/17/2009 7:35 PM

Kim said ...
How about: THE ALIBAG?
4/29/2009 7:33 PM
 
Kirti said ...
How about Alice's Pearly bag or "The Pearl White bag" or "The Pristine bag" or "The Snowy" or Alice's Albescent bag (meaning light colored).
5/4/2009 6:27 AM

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