Ice Cream Handbag

I love handbags and purses! I collect them, use them and of course make them. I have over 200 in my collection mostly antique and vintage althought I do have the odd Lulu Gunniness and Versace. Sometimes I use my old ones for a special occassion and I am inspired by them to create them for myself and to sell. I always wonder when looking at my antique purses , who owned them ? what kind of woman was she ? what kind of life did she lead? was she happy with her lot and was it her favorite bag?
I have made purse framed bags and soft floopy ones and lots of tote bags. I have even made paper suitcases.

This week I wanted to make a bag from plastic containers so had a go using an old Carte D'or Ice cream carton - lid and all. Covering it with a fou fou of silk and chiffon I free machined stitched and quilted to my hearts content to create this very over the top purse.







Its across between a wonderous ice cream confection and a piece of Capi De Monti porcelain !

As to who would have owned this bag - Oh I think Marie Antoinette would have been very happy keeping her make up in this, don't you ?

18th Century Inspired dolls

May I introduce the first of my 18th Century inspired Ladies.
I have had such pleasure creating these girls. Paper clay head, arms and legs and cloth bodies. Then dressing them in lovely old fabrics.


You may recognise the fabric here from my old mirror frame. The more I worked with this the more convinced I am that the embroidered silk is from the early to mid 18th century. But it was in tatters and rather than just keep it in a draw I decided to use it on her dress. I have backed it with new silk just to give it some body.

I will post some more pics later. And tell you how her skirt got sooooo burnt !!!