Obi clutch bag

 When I lived in Japan I spent a lot of time trawling the vintage markets and shops, discovering amazing fabrics to make bags with. I bought a lot of kimonos but I also bought obi fabrics. The obi is the 'belt' that goes around the kimono and they are often made of thick, woven fabrics in amazing designs and colours. The thick quality of the fabric lends itself perfectly to making clutch bags.

This clutch bag is made from an obi I bought in Japan. It has a bold stylised floral design and comes in shades of orange, yellow and gold.

The clutch bag has a cream zipper and is lined in a thick orange satin fabric. The size of the bag means it can be used as a clutch bag or as a tablet case. It's lightly padded to protect its contents.

Look closely and you can see the detail of the design. Metallic gold has been incorporated into the design which really gives it a special feel. Great for using as on a night out or as a wedding clutch.

This clutch bag makes a great gift for a Japan-lover. Each item is gift wrapped in pink tissue paper and can be sent straight to its recipient with an optional gift message included.

Indigo blue

 I love Japanese indigo fabrics and collected a lot when I lived in Japan. I love the way that the dye soaks into the fabric and I love the bold, stylised designs that are often used in indigo textiles.

I have a selection of traditional and modern indigo fabrics and decided to use both of them in one design, combining a geometric print with a traditional floral motif.

These fabrics are so dark, they almost look black and were perfect for making into clutch bags.

The clutch bag is lined and lightly padded, with a zipper closure to keep everything safe.

For the lining, I decided to use a modern geometric cotton Japanese fabric in shades of cream and navy, using the reverse of the colours on the outer bag.

The bag also has a lovely silky black tassel attached to the zipper pull.

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Green goddesses

Check out these green goddesses that have recently been added to my store. Each one is an envelope clutch bag made from a selection of vintage Japanese obi fabrics from my collection. The obi is the 'belt' that goes around the kimono and they are often thick and heavily woven. These ones use a combination of greens, along with a good dose of metallic gold to give it some bling.

This gorgeous envelope clutch is made from two Japanese obi fabrics. The main body of the bag is a vibrant green satin, and the flap is made from a green and gold Japanese design. The lining is a turquoise blue cotton and the bag is held closed with a silver metallic snap.

This clutch bag is made from a decorative vintage obi fabric on one side and a vibrant green satin fabric on the other side. I gave it a bright yellow lining for a shot of colour.

The bag is held closed with a vintage button and elastic loop closure and then folded in half.

Unfold the bag and it also doubles up as an iPad case!

These bags use the same fabrics as the large clutch bags in my store. They are the smaller, cheaper option but have no less of a dramatic effect and are the perfect accompaniment to a night out.

You can find them in my store here.

A little gem

At the weekend I had a play with a new style of clutch bag. It's like a mini me version of the large clutches I normally make, but half the size and just over half the price! This is the first attempt and I'm very happy with the result. It is just wide enough to fit an iPhone, as well as the essentials for a night out. The fabric I chose is a stunning red and gold floral Japanese obi fabric and the lining is a mustard yellow.

You can find it in my store here.

At the

A new family member!

 A new member has recently been added to the Cheeky Leopard family! 

I have been meaning to try out an envelope clutch for a while and I've finally done it! I'm really pleased with the result, which is made from a Japanese obi fabric. The front of the obi has been used as the outer fabric of the bag (a stunning turquoise, orange and metallic gold hexagon design), and the back of the obi (a deep orange silk) has been used for the lining. The bag is held closed with invisible magnet snaps and folds over to create an envelope clutch. It can also be left unfolded, to carry larger items such as iPads.

You can find it in my store here.