Student Success - amazing messenger bag creation
Earlier this year I had the pleasure of teaching Christiane in my Two Day Bag Workshop where she made this beautiful and multifunctional messenger bag. Christiane contacted me back in the summer of 2024 with her interest in my workshops, particularly this two day course in order to realise her ambitious project. I created the two day course for this exact reason; for people who wished to make a specific design (not one of my patterns) of their choosing, hence the two days instead of the usual one or even half day so some of my simpler bag courses. However, when she told me about all the elements she wanted to include, I was concerned we wouldn’t have the time to complete it, until I saw her previous work! Below are 3 of Christiane’s creations of fabric bags she has made multiple sections, involving great skill so I know she was up for the task!
Bags made by Christiane prior to the course
On the first morning of the two day workshop, we always start with planning out the paper templates for the bag which involves lots of sketching out and measuring. Christiane came fully prepared and had actually already mocked up her own paper model of the bag which helped this stage enormously and saved a lot of time. However, the complexity of her design meant we had a few elements to work out including the order in which to make and construct each part of the bag.
Mock up and bag sections after day 1
Once all the main elements of the bag had been made, she could start to construct the bag. We were doing well for time in the morning but it is amazing how fast the time goes when you have a deadline! We managed to get the bag completed but Christiane needed to do a few finishing touches at home including burnishing all the edges of the leather. She also decided to shortened the strap slightly, include a strap for her keys, add a popper on the flap as well as adding her own fabric straps in order to use the bag as a rucksack - very multifunctional indeed!
Completed bag, photography by Christiane Guenther & Wolfgang Altmann
Christiane clearly came with previous skills and was already very adept at bag making, she is also a full time potter up in Norfolk and works in a pottery in Cley, you can see more about them here - I will definitely be going up for a visit soon! Being someone who works with her hands day to day definitely gave her an edge but you do not need to have any experience to come on the Two Day Bag Workshop. Infact, most people who attend have never sewn before! This course is also limited to two people so you get maximum help and guidance from me along the way. You can see examples of other people’s creations on the course on the link here to get a sense of what is possible. Get in touch if you would like to have a go!
Christiane’s course review
I booked the two day leather course with Rosanna, to make a messenger bag after my own design and I couldn't have made a better choice! There are not many workshops that allow for individual one-to-one support on a project of the student's choice and this was exactly what I was looking for. I was able to use leather that I had bought previously and Rosanna guided me through the process from start to finish with great expertise. I felt I learned a lot and came away with a stunning bag. I would happily recommend her workshops or even attend another one.