I'd love to see your leather one - and hear how it was to sew. I have the same, and would love to turn it into a purse. We also have a local leather shop where we can buy remnants for next to nothing...but I've often felt too afraid to try it on my sewing machine.
Please let us know when this new one is complete. And I love that the lining matches. Makes it interesting :) I sure need to make myself one of these!