The ripples are done and whip-stitched to the african flower hexies to make ---
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Ta-da! 
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I found one of my old purses that fit right into the main part of the crocheted piece and after removing the strap from that old purse --
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I crocheted around a plastic ring & attached that to the main portion of the bag for the strap.
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And yes, I had to nix the zipper idea -- the teeth of the zipper would have frayed (and basically eaten) the rippled edge.
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