The Egg-Bag (part 1)

I haven't done any felting for ages! And it was hard to decide what to make to break the felting fast. How about an egg?
I have been wanting to try a one piece handbag with an integrated handle, so here goes.

I used 3 layers of merino wool around an egg shaped resist with a slightly flattened bottom.
To make the felt very strong, I incorporated a layer of cotton scrim between the top 2 layers of wool. I'm not sure if this has made very much difference, but I had some purple dyed scrim.
I carefully felted and fulled the piece using a bamboo blind and cool water with savon de marseille.  In this picture it is lying on the resist, so you can see how much it has shrunk.
I also added small pieces of silk in a random way as surface decoration, but they have all but disappeared into the felt.

It is still damp, and I have cut a curved line to remove the resist and form the handle and flap.

And the same on the other side.

Here it is stuffed with plastic bags and drying. I am feeling very pleased with the shape. 

I am planning to put some thick cord into the handle, and stitch the edges together, so that it holds its shape even with some weight in the bag. 

How should I decorate it to finish it off? - any ideas welcome!