It's got purse-onality!

I've been wanting to make a purse for a long time now. The purse I was carrying was just too small and one big inner pocket. I wanted something with lots of pockets for all the things I think are necessary to carry with me at all times. You know - like a tape measure, gum, chapstick, coupons, lots of pens, a cell phone, my wallet, a planner, random pacifiers and toys and various other odds and ends. I wanted pockets everywhere.

In the front:

On the sides:

In the back:
{Check out all those pen slots!!! There are ten!}

And of course, inside:
{There is a pocket at the back, two pockets at the front, and two bigger sections divided by another two pockets.}

With plenty of room for my big, fat wallet {which is stuffed with more junk...I mean necessities}:
{Note to self: Buy a brown wallet.}

I wanted an adjustable buckle type thing for the strap, but I couldn't find one and wanted to be able to use my purse...so this is what I have going on for now:

I found the outer fabric at JoAnn's in the remnant bin and got the toile for the inside there as well. (Coupon!)

For the flap decoration I made my own appliqué of a bird like I made for this card.

It's still not exactly what I had hoped for, but I am happy to announce that even making my own pattern there were no major mess-ups or seam-ripping episodes, so I will declare this one a victory!