working it out

man, it is muggy today! i need to dip into a pool before my body dissolves out of heated frustration.
so, I made a beach tote, as seen in the second image. I have never attempted anything like this before, but I felt the need to try it and i think it turned out pretty well for a first-timer with no pattern. I just figured it out as I went along, and I am pleased enough with the result. Next time i would make it slightly smaller and perhaps more stiff, so that it stands up rather than being so floppy. I would also sew the handles on to the panels first, since saving them for the end makes for some awkward maneuvering at the sewing machine.
i also have been experimenting with embroidery. Again, i went at this all willy-nilly and freehand, so it looks a bit sloppy, but I hope that it comes across as purposeful and endearing. I could see myself doing an entire pillow front like this, filling it with floral patterns. However, I would then not allow anyone to actually use the pillow, and i am not really for having pillows around that are not for sleeping on. While this looks nothing like and is not even comparable to the embroidery work that comes out of South America, I did fantasize about heading there to learn from true masters as an apprentice....dreaming.....