Handmade Purse Narrates Life

 'Heart-Felt Cell Phone Purse'... Boxes marked with labels, collections of raw possibilities, never discarded, never forgotten. These boxes weren’t just pieces of fabric, buttons, niddly bits, and thread; they were collectibles from past moments saved to complete their creative purpose one day.

Heart-Felted Cell Phone Purse designed by Minaz Jantz

The cell phone purse began as a purposefully designed concept to hang comfortably from my neck, while making a safe carry bag to protect expensive technology, my first cell phone. Another item to the learning curve this year!

Digging through boxes, I found choice raw materials, all with life lived stories. Making the purse, I work the saved materials into collaged parts, hand-sewn entirely, building up the purse to suit its function. There is no discernible pattern, but rather an idea sketched on scrap paper. I make it up as I go along, such as in my life's adventures so far. This purse is not to match an outfit, but to reflect a funky, creative life with memories that go deep to the heart.

And now, at 66 years young, ME, Minaz, the maker of this ‘Heart-Felt Cellphone Purse’, is starting a new chapter this coming fall to become a university student at NSCAD Nova Scotia Arts & Design to study art. 

I plan to document and share the journey through video, photos, etc. Not sure how to put it all together, but it's coming SOON to social media somewhere near you!

The ‘Heart-Felt purse’, like a talisman, whispers: “You’re not starting over. You’re continuing.”

Just like its maker, the purse is not defined by age, trend, or destination. It’s layered with nuance, beauty shaped by utility, spirited rebellion, and love of adventure. It tells a story about refusing to discard what once mattered, but to shape it anew. 

The purse is a personal metaphor; it isn't just handmade, it’s heart-made. And I am just getting started.

Video demo of Heart-Felt Cell Phone Purse

 In the Rock-n-Zen Garden

The items used & a moment in memories 

* Heart-Felt Purse *

Wool & Paper Felted Heart with Spiral Button

Wool & Paper Heart Square & Spiral Button

FIONA DUTHIE, a felting artist, typically travels to teach around the globe, but in 2021 she took her designer courses online for the first time. I applied for her scholarship in 2021 and was selected. I got to learn online for her first time teaching this method of wool and paper felting. The 7-inch square with the paper felted heart was a method for experimentation and thought, to work with it as a design feature one day.

Recently, I was gifted a resin spiral button from another woman's stash. It was a perfect 'period' at the end of this purse's story, a symbolic pattern of evolution in life!

Crochet Fringe Detail

Crochet Fringe

I had a small ball of blue wool left over from the  'Folk Pillows Series'. I could make fringe all day. I love the tight twisting and looping that makes the wool turn on itself, making fringe.

Rock-n-Zen Garden sign with Concrete Nail Fringe

 I am a FRINGE addict and happy to read, it's making a big comeback. I even made fringe for my latest outdoor wood sign, 'RocknZen', out of concrete nails. Life is elegant and funky with a little bit of fringe!

Macrame Strap & lining complete the purse.

Macrame Straps

Macrame was very BIG in the 1970s and was fashionable for interiors to display massive hanging glass tables with large globe fish bowls made from silk cords tied in gorgeous knots. I sold all of them in my mother's UNCANDU Handicraft & Art Store. Miles of silky cords would pile up behind me, arms up in the air, weaving and knotting until it all came together beautifully. 

In my stash of collectables, I had some light blue cord purchased in the 1980s when I was making designer clothing for my young son at the time. Now it's ready to be made into a simple square knot strap for the funky new cell phone purse.

Overall Bib Brass Buckles for Macrame Strap Attach to Purse

Overall Bib Brass Buckle (strap attachment)

My son in the 1980s had a pair of children's 'Osh Gosh' overalls that he wore out, but I saved the overall brass buckles, which found a purpose to attach the macrame strap holder to the purse.

Lining details with Velcro Closure

Lining, velcro, pocket, beads

The lining fabric I bought in the 70s, a pattern that fits into any era. The velcro was taken from some used clothing that I repurposed as a closure for the top of the purse, so the cell phone does not slip out. I made an inside pocket with some seed beads to highlight the pocket's edge. The beaded inside pocket has a hidden snap closure.

Fabric & Cord Used for Heart-Felted Cell Phone Purse

FROM THIS PILE OF POSSIBILITIES

TO

Heart-Felt Cell Phone Purse

Dig through a stash of collectables and make them new! 

Heartfelt, Minaz