Purple kimono clutch bag

 I'm loving this purple kimono clutch bag which uses a combination of vintage Japanese kimono pieces from my collection. Each piece has been carefully considered to create a truly unique accessory.

On one side of the clutch bag there is a combination of florals and geometric motifs. The floral on the left looks almost hand-painted and has a variety of shades that give it depth and detail. The middle print is a stylised version of a chrysanthemum. The right hand fabric is a simple geometric motif.

On the other side of the clutch bag I've used two patterned fabrics, one is the geometric motif, the other creates a criss cross ikat pattern in shades of red, teal and yellow.

I've added a fabulous matching purple tassel to the zipper pull.

This clutch bag is perfect for storing essentials for a night out and makes a great wedding accessory. Team it with the purple kimono scarf to make a great gift combo for someone special.

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Purple passion

Purple is the colour of passion and mystery and is often associated with royalty, luxury and power. It's one of my favourite colours and I decided to revisit some purple items in my store.

This clutch bag is made from a stunning outer kimono which has a delicate chrysanthemum motif on it. Chrysanthemums are often used in Japanese design and I love the way that this motif becomes abstract due to its scale and placement. This clutch has a detachable chain handle which fits over the shoulder or across the body.

I love to give each of my items an interesting lining so that the user has a little surprise when they open it up. This bag was crying out for a hot pink lining. I love that flash of colour when the bag is opened.

In my store I also have a selection of silk scarves made from vintage kimono fabrics. This one has a pretty maple leaf design on it and looks great tied in a loose knot around the neck.

The cuff bracelets are a popular item in my store and make a nice addition to an outfit. This one is made from a purple and black vintage kimono fabric and has a kimono fabric button to hold it closed.

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Purple perfection

I've just added this purple stunner to my store. It's a handbag made from a purple and cream vintage Japanese kimono fabric with stylised images of chrysanthemums and flowing water, classic motifs used in Japanese art and design. You can find it in my store here.

I decided to add a vibrant turquoise blue cotton fabric for the lining.

The bag has a detachable chain handle which can be worn over the shoulder, across the body or tucked inside the bag and used as a clutch bag.

This lovely clutch bag makes a perfect match with the three purple silk scarves in my store which you can find here.

His Purple Highness

I'm still reeling from the news that Prince passed away yesterday and can't quite believe it has happened. Like millions of people around the world, I have been remembering the concerts I went to and listening to his amazing music that has been part of my life since my teens. 

I first really fell in love with Prince's music when I went to his Lovesexy concert in 1988. I never really appreciated his skill as a musician, dancer and all around performer until I went to see him then, and that did it for me! I have amazing memories of chasing Prince around London in 1990 during his Nude tour, with my dear friend Katharine. We went to see him four times that summer, and in between concerts, we chased him round London in my little red Mini. The first time we did it was after going to a Prince appreciation night at the Hammersmith Palais, where Prince turned up! When we realised he was leaving, we decided to jump in my Mini and follow him. His driver soon caught on that a red Mini was in hot pursuit, so he sped up, and so did we.... We ended up on a high speed chase round the back streets of London, until they came to a tiny nightclub on an empty street off Conduit Street. No one else was around part from us and Prince's car, and there he was, stepping out of the car and into the nightclub. Somehow we managed to blag our way into the club, where we were surrounded by famous people - Mick Jagger, Stephen Spielberg, Michael Hutchence. I remember feeling completely out of my depth and like a rabbit in the headlights, but it was an amazing experience as well. Prince was sitting in a dark corner, observing the scene around him and surrounded by beautiful women. What a wonderful summer!

In memory of His Purple Highness, I have made a pretty purple clutch bag, using kimono fabric from my collection. It's a stunning colour and very befitting as a memorial to the great man. It has a pretty chrysanthemum motif woven into it and I decided to add a lilac cotton lining to compliment the outer fabric. You can find it in my store here.

Juicy threesome

I've had a little break in creating some of the large clutch bags, but now I'm back and have three juicy ones to showcase. Each one is made from a beautifully soft vintage kimono fabric, all of which I picked up on my last trip to Tokyo. I love the variety of colours and gave each one a suitably contrasting lining for a flash of colour when the bag is opened.

I love the smoky blue of the fabric on the clutch bag below, and its use of traditional Japanese motifs of maple leaves and blossom. It has a lovely contrasting mustard lining.

The fabric of the red blossom kimono clutch bag below is stunning! It has a rich brown lining and (like all the large clutch bags) a long chain that fits across the body or over the shoulder. It can also be tucked away if you'd rather not use the chain.

You can also find this fabric in one of my small clutch bags.

I do love the purple kimono fabric used on the clutch bag below! It is such a vibrant colour and the flowers have touches of gold on them. This bag has a fabulous golden yellow lining.

J'adore violet!

Anyone who's a regular to this blog or to my Etsy store will know that I'm a tad partial to the colour purple! I've had a stunning purple floral kimono sitting in my collection for a while and decided to take the plunge and cut it up - a rather upsetting experience! Luckily, I have made two lovely items out of it, both of which you can see below, and you can find them in my store here.

The kimono fabric has a lovely big flower on it.

 I decided to place it in the bottom right hand corner of this clutch bag.

This bag has a detachable chain handle so that you can use it as a clutch bag or as a handbag.

I used a hot pink kimono fabric for the lining.

This handbag is made from two different kimono fabrics and has a long woven strap, designed to be worn across the body. It can also be worn over the shoulder.

It has a hidden magnetic closure to keep the bag closed and everything safe.

Check out that hot pink lining!

The colour purple

I've just added these purple beauties to my store. They are both made from kimono fabrics and each has a stunning image on the outside as well as a bright flash of lining on the inside.

Cheeky Leopard clutch bags come in two sizes. The large one fits everything you could possibly need for a night out and has a handy detachable chain handle. The small one is perfect for a posh meal out, or could be used as a pretty cosmetic bag.

I've used this feather fabric before and love it! It's a kimono outer jacket fabric which I bought from a lovely old man at an antique market in Tokyo. You can find it in my store here.

The chain can be detached, or can flip neatly inside the bag if not needed.

This little clutch bag is made from the softest kimono fabric. There are touches of red in the flowers and I decided to mirror that and use a red cotton for the lining. You can find it in my store here.

 Whilst researching the colour purple, I found many interesting facts about it! 

- It is a colour associated with royalty and religion. 

- Purple was one of the first colours used in prehistoric art.

- The dye was originally made using thousands of tiny snails. The juice from a gland in the snail was extracted into a basin and then left in sunlight where the juice turned from white, to yellow, green and eventually deep red. The process was stopped at just the right time to achieve the desired colour.

- An easier way to obtain the purple colour was to use blackberries, but their colour faded in the sunlight or when washed. 

- Lichen was another natural form of obtaining the colour purple. 

- Apparently many world leaders wear purple neckties as it is considered less aggressive than red but more active than blue!

Prince, here I come!

Anyone who has known me for a while will know what a massive Prince fan I was back in the day. Me and my friend Katharine spent a summer in our late teens chasing him around London in my little red mini and if any of my friends got a lift in the mini, they were subjected to Prince songs back to back. 

It appears that I will be reliving those days (no doubt in a slightly more toned down way) with Katharine, my partner in crime. This Friday we are heading to Leeds to see him in concert!!!!!!! I am so excited and to celebrate, I have added this purple clutch to my store - Prince's favourite colour.

The fabric was featured as a Fave Fabric Friday piece a few weeks ago and seems very fitting as the latest addition to my collection.

You can find it here.

Purple and gold

One of my recent fave Friday fabrics featured a stunning vintage 1960s coat in vibrant shades of purple and gold. 

I have now made it up into a stunning clutch bag and you can find it on my Etsy shop here.

Indian inspiration

Friday's favourite fabric consisted of a selection of pieces that I bought whist in India last year. I was quite productive over the weekend and here is the first little creation from that selection. It's a melange of items that I have picked up on my travels, using a vibrant purple and gold sari fabric from India, combined with a purple Japanese obi fabric. I decided to add a trim of terracotta gross grain ribbon from France to create an accent, which has also been picked up in the colour of the lining.

You can find it in my Etsy store here.

Magenta magic

I recently added these juicy magenta beauties to my Etsy store. One is made from Japanese obi fabric and one is made from a stunning pink satin I bought in Vietnam. Both of them have purple kimono fabric as lining.

You can find them on my store here.

Purple blossom

I recently added this rather juicy purple clutch to my Etsy store. The outside is made from a pretty printed blossom kimono fabric and the lining is a vibrant green fabric that I bought on a trip to Vietnam.

You can find it in my store here.

Clutch bag and earrings giveaway!

I am honoured to be teaming up with Madeline at Simply Mad Jewelry to offer a fab giveaway! Cheeky Leopard will be giving away a little clutch bag made from purple Japanese fabrics and Madeline has made a beautiful pair of earrings to compliment it. The chance to win the giveaway will be open until friday, when the winner will be chosen.

All you have to do is click here.

Purple Passion

Earlier today I added this vibrant clutch bag to my Etsy store. It's made from a vintage kimono that I found on my wanderings round Tokyo and I bought it because I love the richness of the purple silk, mixed with the delicate blossom print. There is a touch of turquoise in some of the flowers in the print, so I decided to use that colour as the lining colour so that there is a flash of brightness when the clutch is opened.

You can find it in my store here.