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| I discovered antique purses in 1998. My passion for beading,
knitting and crochet led me to try my hand at knitting a beaded purse
from an antique pattern book that I happened upon at a flea market.
Of course I then needed the perfect frame for my purse, and I was very
disappointed with modern reproductions. I purchased an antique
jeweled frame off of ebay and struck up an email conversation with the
seller, who wanted to know how I was going to use it. Upon
learning that I was making a beaded purse, she asked if I could
restore one. Thus I entered the world of antique purse
collecting as a restorer |
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I developed my own technique for restoring holes in antique beaded
purses. I've always been a perfectionist, and a restoration should be
an effort to restore an antique as close to its original condition as
possible, not a quick fix to hide holes. Too soon I found that many of
the people who wanted to hire me to restore their purses only wanted that
quick fix. Frustrated by this, and also suffering from an injury to my
arm from all of the restoring, I decided to stop restoring commercially.
I now only restore antique purses that I find myself. |
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| In 1999 I developed this website
to share my passion for making, restoring, preserving and
collecting antique (and future antique!) beaded evening bags. For people
who want to make their own beaded purses I carry beaded knitted and
crocheted purse patterns. If you are interested in original
beaded knitted bag patterns that are reminiscent of the vintage purses
carried by the ladies of the 19th and early 20th centuries
check out the patterns by Arhyonel Designs and Barbs Beaded Bags. I
also carry an ever expanding list of reproduction beaded purse
patterns from 1899 - 1930. I sell antique purse frames to give your
creation that heirloom look. For collectors, I sell
antique beaded and mesh purses. To be
sold on my site a purse must be in excellent condition. Any
exceptions are always clearly stated. |
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 I don't think I've
found a craft yet that I haven't fallen in love with. Some of my
earliest memories are of my mother teaching me how to knit. Recently,
I've returned to making jewelry and decided to add that to the site
also. So many of the skills I use to make jewelry are the same
ones used to restore antique purses. Besides restoring, I love
beading, knitting, crochet, kumihimo braiding, working with
metal clay and copper, and combining all of the above!I also lead a
very full life, with three children, a very supportive husband who
built me my studio, two dogs and a thankfully very independent cat.
I enjoy traveling, scuba diving, hiking, reading and watching my
youngest son play water polo. |
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