New bag - with a French flavour

I bought some gorgeous fabric on the web and wanted to do it justice.  Since it's unanimous that everyone loves this design (not mine) I have made the fabric up to that pattern. However, the handles are 100 percent my own design, so I can take credit for them.  The handles are faux leather and are hand stitched onto the bag using a contrasting red cotton against the black and I'm really pleased how it turned out. 
What do you think?

Handmade handles - close-up

and continuing on with the French theme...

These are my stripey socks I bought in a French supermarket in November 2008 - and they are still going strong!  They are unbelievably hardy, haven't shrunk in the wash and I wear them to death in the colder months. Can anyone else lay claim to such socky longevity?  I'd like to hear from you if you have.

a bientot!