I started out with a plain piece of canvas. I stretched it on a wooden board, and used gesso to prime it. Then, I painted a dutch landscape using oil paints. Once this dried, I used the sewing machine to stitch the sides up.
Fast foward a couple weeks while the sewing machine gets repaired.... I guess sewing oil paintings is hard on machines... who would have guessed?
Once the machine is working again, I sewed in a lining with pockets to finish things off.
Upside: this is a really pretty purse. The photos don't do the colors justice. Downside: the oils are beginning to flake off of the gesso. If I ever have free time (may have to wait a couple of years...) I think I would try this project again with acrylics on unprimed canvas. If any of you get to it first, let me know how it turns out!
