Friday, January 30, 2015

A PURSE - THE BANE OF MY EXISTENCE

I hate a purse.  I dislike even more having to carry one.
  I'm sure any psychologist would tell you that I can blame that one on my grandmother.  She loved her purse (she called it her 'pocketbook') -- she kept her secrets and her whole life in her 'pocketbook'.  And, under no uncertain terms, she said that no one was to go near it or touch it.  If there had been a fire or a tornado (she lived in SE Kansas), her first priority would have been to grab that purse, I'm sure!
 Later on, she was one of those little old ladies in the nursing home that had to carry her purse EVERYWHERE.

I'm beyond where I need to carry an extra diaper, Cheerios, a pacifier, Legos, etc. in my purse; so something small will work. 
 This ugly thing has carried all of my stuff for a lot of years -- it is just a little bigger than a passport, and worked great traveling all over Europe a couple of times plus in my daily local travels.
But now---- a larger smart phone has entered my life.  It fits (barely) in my pocket, but it sure isn't comfortable.  So, I decided that because of the decaying condition and the ugliness of the old purse, and the need to carry the phone somewhere outside my pocket; I would shop for a new cross-body purse.  I have spent the last three months looking -- I don't want a fashion statement; I want function in black leather at the perfect size and preferably under $100. So far, no luck.

In the interim until I find the PERFECT purse, I have decided to make one to test out just what I need for size and function.   As usual, I have more time than money; so my goal is to keep the project cheap.
For fabric, I'm using a 100% wool gray skirt from the thrift store that I'm deconstructing and felting in hot water and a hot dryer.  And, then maybe for just a little hidden fashion statement, I'm lining it with some red plaid.  In a day or two, I should have it finished and will post on how this experiment turns out.

There have been some good posts on purses recently -- check out this one on Margo's Junkin Journal.  She covers a lot of thoughts I have about the use of a purse.

Do you have purse issues, or am I the only one ruined by a grandmother's purse attachment?????

6 comments:

Kim said...

I am not a purse fan either!! I have to carry certain items, so it is a necessity, but you will never catch me with a big or expensive bag. I can't wait to see your project purse....

Sue said...

Oh My....I am just the opposite I'm afraid..purses...I must have 30 or more...heck with this passing xmas the Louis Vuitton count is now at 12...the Boss bought me not one but two this year for Christmas..he has a thing for their purses...then there are the Vera Bradleys...the Coach...the Kate Spades and the ever popular Dooney and Bourke.... but something tells me that your boiled gray wool purse is going to be more beautiful then all of mine combined...can't wait to see it....

Susie Q said...

MY Grace is in LOVE with purses! All she wanted for Christmas were purses! I however am on your team. I wish I did;t have to carry one at all. On trips Bill wears a back pack so I put my necessities in that. I am so lazy that I usually carry the same bag until it falls apart. I HAVE bags in red, black, Navy, yellow, green and pink but seldom change depending on what I wear! I keep schlepping the same brown bag! When it finally bites he dust I will probably get a new brown purse to schlep! I know the one you will create will be wonderful!

Picket said...

hey girl...I love purses....I think it is so neat with all there little compartments and pockets...but then I have alot of grands so I have to be prepared for anything...lol Thanks for coming by..hope you are having a fantastic day sweet friend...Picket

Tea in the Library said...

How funny. I have never thought about my 'purse anxiety' until I read this post! I have some of your grandmothers purse issues. Many many years ago when I had to leave my marital home it was with my daughter and the clothes on our backs. For several months we slept on relative's couches and everything essential was in my purse from evidence for a restraining order to our toothbrushes. Privacy and safety issues I guess. Although we regrouped and lead happy lives today, we both feel a little more comfortable when our purses are at hand. Now that I've examined it maybe I'll be able to switch to a smaller purse and give up some of my stranger 'essentials'!

SmilingSally said...

I used to LOVE purses--much like your Grandma, but now find them cumbersome.