@southernbelle43 I think you have both the Bouquet Midi and Calista Midi? I find the Calista Midi slightly small for me as a shoulder bag, would you say the Bouquet Midi is a little bigger? Thanks!
Massaccesi Handbags
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Have you asked him to look for some?
A year ago, Marco ran out of Deep Purple Cuoio Toscano, the leather I wanted for a full sized Sabrina. The tannery had none left either. Marco asked them if they would/could make some more, but the tanneries need far larger orders (many, many skins) to produce a specific colour.
Then one day, 9 months later, Marco found a forgotten and misplaced old skin of Deep purple at the back of a shelf at the tannery
. And it is mine 
.
I did! Marco said he was out of the whiskey tuscania, but maybe sometime in the future he’ll find a skin somewhere tooHave you asked him to look for some?
A year ago, Marco ran out of Deep Purple Cuoio Toscano, the leather I wanted for a full sized Sabrina. The tannery had none left either. Marco asked them if they would/could make some more, but the tanneries need far larger orders (many, many skins) to produce a specific colour.
Then one day, 9 months later, Marco found a forgotten and misplaced old skin of Deep purple at the back of a shelf at the tannery
When I asked him for whiskey, he said tuscania skins are huge (can make 4 bags) and the tannery would require him to order at least 10 skins.Thank you for the comparison! The dimensions seem sort of similar but I guess the round shape and lack of depth makes Calista Midi hold much less. Bouquet Midi is going to be one of my next MM order.
I love these pics!! Is that a mud Verona Little Penelope? I spotted that one right away . You do great lining contrasts on your bags!!
Thank you dear. I appreciate that. I am basically a prime color, vivid sort of person. And yes that is mud verona. That was a gift from a TPR member who "friended" me in 2017. We found that we are soulmates. I opened up a white box from Marco and it was included as a surprise for me. I love it!
I was very surprised. I got them both out and just looking at them started to tell you that they hold about the same. Thank goodness I decided to test that theory. Boy was I wrong.I did! Marco said he was out of the whiskey tuscania, but maybe sometime in the future he’ll find a skin somewhere too
Thank you for the comparison! The dimensions seem sort of similar but I guess the round shape and lack of depth makes Calista Midi hold much less. Bouquet Midi is going to be one of my next MM order.
I know some others were interested in the possibility of whipstitching, so I thought I’d post an update to my inquiry to Marco. Here’s what he said:
“That kind of whipstitching requires lots of holes around each part of the bag involved in that process. If we'd do whipstitching say arount Minerva flap and front pockets we've calculated that we'd need approximately 80 - 90 holes in total.
There are 2 ways to do that: by hand or using a metallic mould that has to be created for each part that will require holes. We'd need at least 4 moulds with punches all around. That kind of mould is extremely expensive but I wanted to know in detail the exact cost that our mould producer would have requested. We haven't received a written quote so yesterday afternoon I called company we work with to have at least an idea of the cost. It would be around € 900,00 + vat (around 1200,00 usd or more).
If we should produce 100 Minervas that could be a regular investment. Obviously that can't be done to produce just 1 bag.
Remaining option would be to do all holes by hand. We can do that but I know that it would require lots of additional handmade work and that result would never be as perfect as the one that is obtained using moulds. I honestly haven't calculated how expensive that extra would be but I think it can be around 100 euro.
If you think that it's worth it then we obviously would say yes to you request.”
I also asked him what it would be for just the flap and not front pockets, and he said about 60 euro. So basically, this is - new request (I think), but yes, he can do it on portions of a bag. But, it would be done by hand and “not perfect.” I also imagine the cost would vary depending on the size of the bag and area of whipstitching.
For my purposes, I think I’m going to pass on whipstitching. I have no concerns about it being done by hand, but I’m trying to be critical and honest with myself/my needs and desires, etc. and I don’t think I feel strongly enough about whipstitching to want to spend an additional 60-100 euro on it. So, I am left with a few choices for my Midi Minerva:
“That kind of whipstitching requires lots of holes around each part of the bag involved in that process. If we'd do whipstitching say arount Minerva flap and front pockets we've calculated that we'd need approximately 80 - 90 holes in total.
There are 2 ways to do that: by hand or using a metallic mould that has to be created for each part that will require holes. We'd need at least 4 moulds with punches all around. That kind of mould is extremely expensive but I wanted to know in detail the exact cost that our mould producer would have requested. We haven't received a written quote so yesterday afternoon I called company we work with to have at least an idea of the cost. It would be around € 900,00 + vat (around 1200,00 usd or more).
If we should produce 100 Minervas that could be a regular investment. Obviously that can't be done to produce just 1 bag.
Remaining option would be to do all holes by hand. We can do that but I know that it would require lots of additional handmade work and that result would never be as perfect as the one that is obtained using moulds. I honestly haven't calculated how expensive that extra would be but I think it can be around 100 euro.
If you think that it's worth it then we obviously would say yes to you request.”
I also asked him what it would be for just the flap and not front pockets, and he said about 60 euro. So basically, this is - new request (I think), but yes, he can do it on portions of a bag. But, it would be done by hand and “not perfect.” I also imagine the cost would vary depending on the size of the bag and area of whipstitching.
For my purposes, I think I’m going to pass on whipstitching. I have no concerns about it being done by hand, but I’m trying to be critical and honest with myself/my needs and desires, etc. and I don’t think I feel strongly enough about whipstitching to want to spend an additional 60-100 euro on it. So, I am left with a few choices for my Midi Minerva:
- Stick with my original order of fringe, no grommets, on the flap. I’m still not quite sure about two flap bags though, even though they are quite different in style and function.
- Change my order to no fringe. But I like how the fringe gives it something extra. I’m just drawn to the look of the fringe version of the bag in a way I’m not with the regular, no fringe, version.
- Instead of full fringe, ask Marco to just do very little fringe/tassels on the sides…similar to the look of this bag:
But, I know the bag above has tassels as a part of the side zipper pulls, which the Midi Minerva doesn’t have. I’m not sure if it would just look really odd to have two tassels/pieces of fringe on each side of the Minerva? Even with the bag above as an example/inspiration, I am having a really hard time envisioning it on a Minerva. - Have Marco make me an actual tassel (one with more than two pieces of leather ) that I can just clip to the side of the bag…maybe a nice long one for a bit of extra flair?
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Marco makes really nice tassels.
Regardless of tassels it is a very good idea to request a hardware ring through the holes at either end of Minervas as it makes it SO much easier to switch between shoulder strap and messenger strap. Can't find a photo of this ring (though several girls here have them), so tried to draw it in yellow:
I imagine this ring also would be the ideal location for tassels (similar to on Angel).
When ordering tassels, I've experienced that it is wise ask Marco to place/attach them where you want them.
Then you are certain to get the correct "hardware connectors" (sorry, I'm sleepy and can't think of the correct terms
)
Regardless of tassels it is a very good idea to request a hardware ring through the holes at either end of Minervas as it makes it SO much easier to switch between shoulder strap and messenger strap. Can't find a photo of this ring (though several girls here have them), so tried to draw it in yellow:
I imagine this ring also would be the ideal location for tassels (similar to on Angel)
.When ordering tassels, I've experienced that it is wise ask Marco to place/attach them where you want them.
Then you are certain to get the correct "hardware connectors" (sorry, I'm sleepy and can't think of the correct terms
)
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His tassels do look really nice! Thank you so much for the info. re hardware rings. It's not something that even crossed my mind, but I just emailed Marco to request them.Marco makes really nice tassels.
View attachment 5312082
Regardless of tassels it is a very good idea to request a hardware ring through the holes at either end of Minervas as it makes it SO much easier to switch between shoulder strap and messenger strap. Can't find a photo of this ring (though several girls here have them), so tried to draw it in yellow:
View attachment 5312074
I imagine this ring also would be the ideal location for tassels (similar to on Angel)
View attachment 5312079
When ordering tassels, I've experienced that it is wise ask Marco to place/attach them where you want them.
Then you are certain to get the correct "hardware connectors" (sorry, I'm sleepy and can't think of the correct terms
I thought of you and your quest for the perfect fringe MM bag when I came across this fringe YSL bag on YoogiI know some others were interested in the possibility of whipstitching, so I thought I’d post an update to my inquiry to Marco. Here’s what he said:
“That kind of whipstitching requires lots of holes around each part of the bag involved in that process. If we'd do whipstitching say arount Minerva flap and front pockets we've calculated that we'd need approximately 80 - 90 holes in total.
There are 2 ways to do that: by hand or using a metallic mould that has to be created for each part that will require holes. We'd need at least 4 moulds with punches all around. That kind of mould is extremely expensive but I wanted to know in detail the exact cost that our mould producer would have requested. We haven't received a written quote so yesterday afternoon I called company we work with to have at least an idea of the cost. It would be around € 900,00 + vat (around 1200,00 usd or more).
If we should produce 100 Minervas that could be a regular investment. Obviously that can't be done to produce just 1 bag.
Remaining option would be to do all holes by hand. We can do that but I know that it would require lots of additional handmade work and that result would never be as perfect as the one that is obtained using moulds. I honestly haven't calculated how expensive that extra would be but I think it can be around 100 euro.
If you think that it's worth it then we obviously would say yes to you request.”
I also asked him what it would be for just the flap and not front pockets, and he said about 60 euro. So basically, this is - new request (I think), but yes, he can do it on portions of a bag. But, it would be done by hand and “not perfect.” I also imagine the cost would vary depending on the size of the bag and area of whipstitching.
For my purposes, I think I’m going to pass on whipstitching. I have no concerns about it being done by hand, but I’m trying to be critical and honest with myself/my needs and desires, etc. and I don’t think I feel strongly enough about whipstitching to want to spend an additional 60-100 euro on it. So, I am left with a few choices for my Midi Minerva:
As always, thoughts and comments are appreciated because it’s pretty clear I can’t make a decision on my own!
- Stick with my original order of fringe, no grommets, on the flap. I’m still not quite sure about two flap bags though, even though they are quite different in style and function.
- Change my order to no fringe. But I like how the fringe gives it something extra. I’m just drawn to the look of the fringe version of the bag in a way I’m not with the regular, no fringe, version.
- Instead of full fringe, ask Marco to just do very little fringe/tassels on the sides…similar to the look of this bag: View attachment 5311979 But, I know the bag above has tassels as a part of the side zipper pulls, which the Midi Minerva doesn’t have. I’m not sure if it would just look really odd to have two tassels/pieces of fringe on each side of the Minerva? Even with the bag above as an example/inspiration, I am having a really hard time envisioning it on a Minerva.
- Have Marco make me an actual tassel (one with more than two pieces of leather
Back on topic for MM, @Fancyfree made a great suggestion regarding tassels at the side. I want to add that you might want to tell Marco to make the tassels longer (going past the bag height), assuming that the burgundy bag you posted is the look that you’re going for.
Can’t wait to see the end result!
What I consider “good” fringe is hard for me to find. That bag would not be considered my perfect fringe bag.I thought of you and your quest for the perfect fringe MM bag when I came across this fringe YSL bag on Yoogi
View attachment 5312633
Back on topic for MM, @Fancyfree made a great suggestion regarding tassels at the side. I want to add that you might want to tell Marco to make the tassels longer (going past the bag height), assuming that the burgundy bag you posted is the look that you’re going for.
Can’t wait to see the end result!
I’m leaning toward the tassel idea, and I do like the idea of an extra long tassel that goes past the bag. I’m also seriously considering having Marco just surprise me though because I seem incapable of making and committing to a decision!
I just asked for a quote for a Calista in acciaio suede, granite grey tuscania and taupe merinos, all with yellow lining. This bag in grey... can't get it out of my head.