Handmade Bags & Purses in Canada | Craxy Designs
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Handmade in Ontario, Canada Ships across Canada Rated 5.0 on Etsy
Craxy Designs
Shop the collection

Est. 2022 · Ontario, Canada

wearable art,
one of a kind
made in ontario

Handmade bags built from playful fabrics, colourful details and carefully chosen materials — waxed canvas, natural cork, designer prints. No two are ever exactly alike.

Shop the collection See how it's made

13 reviews on Etsy, every one five stars

5.0Average rating
91Orders shipped
34Pieces in shop
The Trailblazer convertible travel backpack by Craxy Designs — a handmade waterproof backpack purse with a padded luggage sleeve, made in Ontario, Canada

Markets, shows & studio visits

where to find me

Come and see the bags in person — pick them up, look inside, and find the one that is yours. Here is where I will be next, and you are always welcome to arrange a quiet visit to the studio instead.

The collections

browse by silhouette

Seven families of bags, each built around how it is meant to be carried. There is only ever one of each piece.

Handmade waxed canvas totes and carryalls by Craxy Designs

Totes & Carryalls

Waxed canvas overnighters, open-top market totes and everyday carryalls — the largest part of the range.

13 pieces →
Handmade backpacks and convertible backpack purses by Craxy Designs

Backpacks & Convertibles

7 →
Handmade bucket bags by Craxy Designs — a botanical print bucket crossbody

Bucket Bags

3 →
Handmade belt bags and sling bags by Craxy Designs

Belt Bags & Slings

3 →
Handmade small bags by Craxy Designs — a colourful cotton canvas mini handheld tote

Small Bags

3 →
Handmade zip pouches and cosmetic bags by Craxy Designs — a navy, pink and rose gold floral pouch

Pouches

4 →
Handmade travel and toiletry bags by Craxy Designs — a designer print cosmetic pouch

Travel & Toiletries

1 →

How it's made

one bag, from start to finish

Every bag goes through the same four stages, and one person does all of them. Here is that process, followed on a single bag — the Mini Cork Backpack.

Video coming soon
The finished Mini Cork Backpack by Craxy Designs, showing the natural cork body, printed contrast pocket, rivetted hardware and stitched maker's tag
The finished bag. Natural cork, printed contrast pocket, rivetted hardware, and a maker's tag stitched into the front panel.
01

The fabrics and the notions are chosen together

It starts with the fabric — and specifically with deciding which fabrics belong together. Once that pairing is settled, everything else has to be chosen to match: the zipper colours, the webbing, and the hardware finish, whether that's gold, rose gold, silver nickel, gunmetal or bronze.

All of it gets laid out together before a single piece is cut. That is the whole creative decision, made up front.

Why it matters — fabric is bought in short lengths, only ever enough for one or two bags. Once a length is used up that exact bag can't be made again, and the notions chosen alongside it were picked for that fabric only.
02

Cut by hand, then given its structure

The pattern is cut out piece by piece, which takes longer than most people expect. Then every panel is backed — interfacing, foam, fleece or a heavier stabiliser, depending on what that bag needs — and pressed or basted on before any sewing starts.

Why it matters — this is the part you can feel but can't see. Without it a bag simply flops and never holds a shape. Waxed canvas and vinyl hold themselves up, but a cotton interior still gets interfaced so the finished bag stands up empty as well as full.
03

Stitched, riveted and set

Then the bag gets sewn together. It isn't one continuous run at the machine — the sewing stops partway so rivets can go on with the rivet press, and grommets are hammered in by hand, which is genuinely hard work. Zippers are set so the tape runs straight.

Why it matters — hardware set through reinforced layers with a press is what stops a strap tearing out of the body. It's the difference you feel picking the bag up.
04

Finished inside as carefully as out

The bag is turned right side out and finished: water-resistant lining, interior slip and zip pockets, bound edges on the inside seams, adjustable straps, and the Craxy Designs maker's tag stitched in. Then it's checked over until it looks right.

Worth knowing — don't only look at the outside of a handmade bag. The inside is where the detail lives — and in some Craxy bags, that's where you'll find a secret message.

Ordering your own? These are the choices

If Deb is making a bag for you, this is what you get to pick from. Tell her as much or as little as you like — she will fill in the rest.

  • Waxed canvas
  • Natural cork
  • Faux leather
  • Waterproof canvas
  • Designer prints
  • Gold hardware
  • Rose gold hardware
  • Silver nickel hardware
  • Gunmetal hardware
  • Bronze hardware
  • Your zipper colour
  • Crossbody, shoulder or hand-carry strap
  • Inside pockets, slip or zip

Available now

one of each — then it's gone

Prices in Canadian dollars. Availability changes as pieces sell — Etsy is always current.

View all 34 pieces
Deb of Craxy Designs in her Ontario studio

The maker

meet Deb

“One-of-a-kind wearable art with a whimsical twist.”

I started sewing when I was about ten — first a patchwork quilt, then stuffed dinosaurs my dad was convinced I could sell. (I didn't. 😂) I moved on to making clothes, and years later, when retirement gave me time to start creating again, I discovered bag making.

Sew… what am I doing in retirement? Making bags, of course!

What I love most is the creating — playing with colour, mixing fabrics and textures, choosing just the right hardware and adding those unexpected little details that make each bag different. No two bags are ever the same. There's simply too much colourful magic left to try!

Every Craxy bag is cut, sewn and finished by me, one at a time, in my Ontario studio. Each piece is designed to bring a little joy, creativity and personality to everyday life.

Because a bag can be practical. But there's absolutely no reason it can't make you smile, too.

Request a bag See works in progress
Deb · Founder & Maker · Craxy Designs

Why Craxy?

long before there were bags,
there was Craxy

Craxy — rhymes with maxi, or taxi

Years ago, when I was teaching, instead of saying “That's crazy!” I'd say “That's Craxy!” Before long the kids were saying it too — and somehow, it just stuck.

So years later, when I needed a name for my colourful, creative and slightly whimsical designs… well, what else could it possibly be?

Craxy Designs, of course!

5.0 from 13 reviews on Etsy

in their words

“Completely blown away, the colours are beautiful and the quality is excellent. Shipping was incredibly fast and packaged perfectly.”
Tara
May 2026 · Waxed canvas bottle holder
“I absolutely love this purse, it is perfect. I use to only buy name brand purses. Not anymore.”
Bonnie
November 2024 · Cambridge crossbody
“Very well made bag with really fun fabric. Beautiful, very well made, unique tote — packaged with a lovely note.”
Jill
January 2025 · Paris waxed canvas tote
“Good durable material. Very well stitched. Quality craftsmanship that was put into this tote bag is well done.”
Tara
April 2023 · Redwood tote

Waxed canvas care

it's meant to age

Waxed canvas is a water-repellent fabric with rugged charm. It will show creases and crinkle marks, and it will pick up more character the longer you carry it. Over time it forms a patina that makes the bag yours.

Looking after it

  • Spot clean with a damp cloth.
  • Prefer a smoother look? Run a hair dryer on warm over the area for about 30 seconds. That gently re-melts the wax, softening crinkles and restoring the colour to an even finish.
  • Let creases happen. They're part of the fabric, not a fault.

Please don't

  • Put it in the washing machine.
  • Put it in the dryer.
  • Iron it. Heat from an iron will damage the wax finish — use the hair dryer method above instead.

Not sure whether your bag is waxed canvas? Check the listing, or message Deb and she'll tell you exactly what it's made from and how to look after it.

Custom orders

commission something that exists once

Have a fabric in mind, or a bag you have been looking for and cannot find? Tell Deb the size, the fabric, the strap and the pockets you are picturing, and she will tell you what is possible.

Request a bag Message Deb on Etsy

Questions

good to know

Are Craxy Designs bags really one of a kind?
Yes. Fabric is bought in short lengths — usually only enough for one or two bags — so once a cut is used up, that bag cannot be made again. Even when the same pattern is used, the fabric, hardware and contrast panels are different every time.
How do I care for a waxed canvas bag?
Spot clean with a damp cloth. Creases and crinkles are normal and build character with use. To smooth them out, run a hair dryer on warm over the area for about 30 seconds to re-melt the wax. Never machine wash, tumble dry or iron it.
Where are the bags made?
Every bag is made by Deb in her studio in Ontario, Canada. Nothing is outsourced and nothing is mass produced.
Do you ship to the United States?
Shipping to the United States is currently paused because of tariffs. Craxy Designs ships across Canada, with all orders sent from Ontario.
What materials do you use?
Waxed canvas, natural cork fabric, faux leather, waterproof canvas and designer prints — finished with water-resistant linings, quality zippers, rivetted hardware and adjustable straps.
Can I order a custom bag?
Yes. Use the request form on this page, or message Deb through the Etsy shop, with the size, fabric, strap and pocket configuration you have in mind.
How much do the bags cost?
Zip pouches and small accessories start around CA$35. Totes and crossbody bags generally run CA$45 to CA$309. Backpacks and convertible travel bags run CA$109 to CA$289. All prices are in Canadian dollars.
Where can I buy Craxy Designs bags?
Every piece is sold through the Craxy Designs shop on Etsy, which holds a 5.0 star rating from 13 reviews and has shipped 91 orders since 2022.