Blue Embossed Leather Tote Bag — Handmade in California

This large blue Bay Area–made handbag is designed for someone always on the go. Crafted from beautifully embossed blue leather, the tote delivers timeless style with everyday functionality.

To add a subtle touch of shimmer, the tote features a solid brass spring-closure hardware element surrounded by precision-cut clear crystals. Stainless-steel purse feet protect the base of the bag.

This timeless tote comes with a cotton dust bag and is handmade by artist Lisa Ramos in Clayton, California.

The Handmade Handbag Process

This classic tote bag is handcrafted personally by artist Lisa Ramos in her Clayton, California studio . Lisa’s design philosophy centers on creating high-quality handbags meant to be worn and enjoyed for years.

What makes a MONOLISA tote bag unique is its one-of-a-kind construction. Each handbag is formed from a single piece of leather, creating a seamless and sophisticated silhouette. Every bag involves an extensive process of sourcing materials, developing a custom handbag pattern, hand cutting leather, working with adhesives, double sewing the interior, creating the closure element, and finishing a storage dust bag.

MONOLISA handbags are not mass produced and are never sold in retail stores. Pieces are available exclusively through this website or at select juried fine art shows, including the San Francisco American Craft Show.

Blue Leather Tote Bag — Details

Leather: Embossed blue leather tanned in the United States. Natural leather grain variations and characteristics are visible with each handmade piece. Waste reduction is a priority at MONOLISA, and the full leather hide is used when creating this collection.

Size: 14" base | 9.5" height (not including handles)
Handle Drop: 6.5"
Side Width: 5.25"
Interior: Natural raw edge with a handmade double-sided leather bottom base to maintain structure and prevent sagging.

My Design Process

“My mission is to design beautifully handmade limited-edition pieces that add a touch of elegance to any personal style. Each design is an extension of who I am. I fell in love with the creative process because of the unlimited possibilities. My inspiration comes from exploring new ways to improve my designs and creating pieces that require new skills — during that process, inspiration is born.”

Learn more in my Artist Life Blog .