Anthro Inspired Tote

I'm trying to teach myself how to mix prints together. I see pictures on the web where it's been done and it always looks so good. I tend to stick with the safe pairings, like a print with a solid. This is my first sort of over the top mix of prints. What do you think?

I'm not sure I have a "natural eye" for it, but I'm convinced I can learn how to do it. I think this first attempt isn't too bad. I was inspired by the Yunga tote at Anthropologie. Isn't it pretty?

Here's a few more shots of my version.  

  

I was first going to pad it well to use as a lap top bag, but during the course of making it, I decided I'd rather use it as a flea market bag. Do you ever change your mind half way through a project, or it that just me? 

It's really big and will be a great bag for carrying my purchases around. I put wall to wall open pockets on the inside to give me a place to toss my keys, camera, phone, billfold...you know, the usual "purse" stuff. And best of all, it's mostly all made from reclaimed or recycled fabric. The lining is a table cloth I picked up at the thrift store. The interior pockets are fabric dinner napkins. The daffodil print is remnants of the fabric I used for my kitchen curtains and bar stool recovers. I think the only piece of fabric that was purchased new was the animal print that I bought from the clearance area at JoAnns. Even the leather straps that I riveted on for handles came from the thrift store, (and by "I riveted" I mean Mr. ShowMe-while I watched), and the rings that the handles hang from are reclaimed drapery rings.

Do you mix patterns in your projects? If you have any tips or want to share your own projects I'd love to hear about them.

Thanks for stopping by!