a convertible bag like the miche?

[hardyjenni]

Has anyone thought about or tried to make something like this? https://www.4miche.com/ver11/index.asp.  If so, how did/would you make the shells stiff?  Fabric stiffener?  Plastic canvas?

[celticchrys]

Interesting idea.  Like a bag that you can "skin."  I had never seen this before until your link.  I guess that you could make a bag with a simple shape like that, and then make a flat panel that would wrap around the outside and attach via velcro or snaps to the outside of the bag?  I think the trick would be to have it lie smooth.  I say, go ahead and give it a go!

[AidanNia]

I just saw a commercial for this and the first thing I thought was, "Hmm, let's jump on Craftster and see if anyone has come up with a good way to DIY!"

This bag is what I have been wishing for my whole life--I hate to change purses! But I kept thinking that you should be able to take the inside out--it is a much better idea to just take the outside off!

[wtpdesigns]

buy cheap aluminum flashing and magnets... it'll hold better and be more seamless, velcro would make a gap and you'd see lint collected in it and such, and if the snaps fail you'd have a heck of a time fixin it and who wants to keep fixin what they make! anyway, pressed mat board or plastic canvas would work, the mat board would be sturdier and would make it an easy no sew kinda project, but i imagine the canvas would be easier to sew and it would have some givefor bulges and such... hope this helps

[jenn1519]

I have this bag!  I love it!  I bought one shell that had no buckles or decorations on it and I've sewn numerous fabric shells to slide over it!

[wtpdesigns]

i'm actually in the process of designing a bag much like this, mostly because i can't justify spending 70, 80, 90+ bucks for any purse... my likes change from day to day... one day i feel like red, the next 5 days purple, a month after that it's black, etc, but i love the idea of not changing purses and knowing where everything is... mine will be about the same dimensions, just with more pockets on the inside... i'll post pix if anyone wants... it may take time since i have to gather some supplies and test things that work best, one thing i can promise, no magnetic closures lol i hate them on purses... also, they are way more expensive than i like... i also probably wont have any feet on mine, it may, but probably not... any sugestions i should think about?

[Feywalker]

I'd say if you're going to do feet, try upolstry tacks, I've heard they work well.  For the whole magnetic thing, walmart carries some small very powerful ones back in their craft section and they're like $2 - $3 for four and fairly flat.  then you could just put a metal strip in the top of the shells (no lining up perfectly needed) or use a sheetmetal base. Mat board wouldn't be waterproof, but would be firm.  Plastic canvas isn't too firm, but if the sides of the base are firm, it should work.  hmmm.

[shellim4]

i'm actually in the process of designing a bag much like this, mostly because i can't justify spending 70, 80, 90+ bucks for any purse... my likes change from day to day... one day i feel like red, the next 5 days purple, a month after that it's black, etc, but i love the idea of not changing purses and knowing where everything is... mine will be about the same dimensions, just with more pockets on the inside... i'll post pix if anyone wants... it may take time since i have to gather some supplies and test things that work best, one thing i can promise, no magnetic closures lol i hate them on purses... also, they are way more expensive than i like... i also probably wont have any feet on mine, it may, but probably not... any sugestions i should think about?

I would love to see your pics!!! Please post them!
Shelli

[cool grandma]

Shelli, Did you ever finish the purse and the skin?  I am very interested in seeing the finished product and to know how you did it!!! Or, can we make our own skins for the miche bag?

[shellim4]

Shelli, Did you ever finish the purse and the skin?  I am very interested in seeing the finished product and to know how you did it!!! Or, can we make our own skins for the miche bag?

That was actually wtpdesigns that was working on one of these. I just posted that I would love to her pictures. Hope she's still around. I'd still be interested in this.
Shelli