Have you heard of the process of "birthing a bag". It is a technique used by Barbara Randal (go to her web site).
You make the bag including placing the handles then make your lining and sew together leaving a space on one side of the lining. Drop the purse down into the lining including the handles. You will be looking at the wrong side of the lining. (Lining and purse are right sides together) Sew around the top to secure the lining to the purse.....them pull the purse through the space in the lining. The tote falls in place and you can machine or hand stitch the space. This works great. It sounds crazy but if you ever do it once you may me hooked like me!