New Year's Eve Purses Patiently Wait

Two purses patiently wait for their owners who are lunching.  BFF girl friends for well over 2 decades, the owners are enjoying a happy lunch talking about the year behind and hopes ahead. So, Michael Kors and Bruce Makowsky have to wait.  Next to the table, in the window they provide eye candy for the leisurely strolling passersby.

Just look at the beautiful burgundy colored vinyl Michael Kors with the glittering gold hardware. It's an amazing large size yet sits, and hangs, so comfortably.  Almost weightless, it has a lustrous shoulder strap as well as a shorter strap for either hand held or over the arm carry.  Don't we love having options!  And besides the handy, big outside zippered pocket, he keeps you well organized on the inside with extra slip pockets and another zippered pocket.  The signature, light colored lining makes finding what you need so effortless.

I love the leather and the color of the Bruce Makowsky.  In this case it's the silver hardware that is glittering - after all, we know all that glitters is not gold.  This east/west style turns a small purse into a roomy interior. And I just love that animal print lining.  No pockets on your outfit?  No problem!  Bruce gives you FOUR outside, stylish, purse pockets big enough for cell phone or keys or glasses etc.

 

Jingle Bags

Versace at the marina where all the boats are decorated. My Versace is a nice, big bag for carrying so many things of the season while shopping, running errands, attending the Nutcracker with friends, and then dinner out afterwards.  Yes, all that in one day and my Versace decked all the halls. So roomy, I'm using it as a tote today, but the sides can also pull in for a more north/south silhouette.  Lots of pockets on the inside, and one zip pocket on the back.

Have yourself a merry little Christmas!

It's Christmas time at the marina

Last night was a funny play at the Seattle Center - A Holiday of Errors.  Seattle Center was built for the 1962 World's Fair.  A night filled with laughs at the play, and people watching on the Center floor by the Christmas tree. In the foreground is my handy Coach.  If you use your imagination, the intricate stitching at this time of year looks like strung tiny Christmas lights.

This Coach is wonderful to carry.  It opens so wide.  It carries more than you'd ever think to put in your purse, so easily.  Nice slip pockets and a zipper pocket on the inside.  Huge zipper pocket on the front, hidden, it's the width of the whole purse.  Talk about handy!

You can see a backpack purse carrier in the distance in this photo.  Saw lots of those and lots of cross bodies at the Seattle Center.  And it's shocking to note!  Saw a lot of younger women with no purse at all - truly hands free.
 

Oh Christmas Tree!

Beyonce Style with Dereon




In the spirit of music, and in honor of her top selling, new Beyonce cd, I carried my Dereon purse to the local high school Holiday Symphony Music Concert.  Dereon is Beyonce's purse line with her mother.

Just look at the gorgeous leather and deep color on this beautiful bag.  Love the easy pull, decorative tassle on the zipper. Check out the shiny bling bracelets on one of the shoulder straps, and the dangling fleur-de-lis.  This is such a fun bag to carry!



Just look at how wide this lovely bag opens up so you can easily find and grab whatever you need inside.  Here you see the Holiday program resting under the signature Dereon name plate.  On one side a zippered pocket, and on the other two slip pockets.  This bag is so charming, I can even forgive that there are no outside pockets because I can so easily grab my cell from the inside in a hurry.

And check out the bling bracelets and fleur-de-lis close up from this angle on one of the straps.

A lighter moment among the high school wind symphony musicians, as they enjoy their performance night

The high school wind symphony in action.

May your days be filled with the sound of music.

Can a Collection Be Complete?

Sally has added the penultimate Anuschka purse to her extensive, unique ,and beautiful collection.  This artistic, hand painted purse of rich and supple leather was discovered on Shop HQ, and collected.  Just look at that full tassle, complementing the horse theme as if a tail.  Now that these beautiful mustangs have arrived, a surprising declaration followed.  Yes - words I never thought I'd ever hear, "This is the purse that really fits me.  I'm done collecting.  I have found the perfect purse for me."

Look at the beauty of these horses, and the surrounding nature painting.  For a horse lover, it is especially irresistable.  According to Anuschka, "Anuschka™ bags are a feast for the eyes with their vibrant colors and elegant design elements. The wide range of abstracts and natural scenes depicted in all shades and hues transforms each handbag into an object of timeless art."

And I can attest to the luxurious feel of the leather, and the comfortable way it naturally hugs to your body as you carry it.

Would this beauty be the grand finale for your collection?

Flip up the flap and unzip and you see the roomy inside, that belies the middle-size look you're carrying.  So much fits in the body, and on the one side a zip and wide slip pocket, on the other side two handy slip pockets.  Another zip pocket on the outside.

Unique, complete flare and functionality.  Done.
We'll see.

You Are Van Zeeland Worthy

I was strolling with my Kathy Van Zeeland around the Saint Edward State Park and discovered the Grotto, which is a beautiful little hideaway.  The engraved board seems like a fitting greeting especially for a Kathy Van Zeeland girl.  I find that her elegant, functional bags are such great value for a very reasonable price. I'm so excited to find out that Kathy's collection is now on Shop HQ. 

I adore the teal color on this bag, combined with the browns.  Those brown panels are, by the way, great side pockets for stuffing keys, or phones, or receipts, etc.  The front zips have attached bling for the pulls.  I always expect some bling from Kathy.  These front pockets are so handy, I use one for my cell because its so secure, but gives me such quick access.  The straps are padded, so are very comfortable on the shoulder, but the length is not too long for carrying on the arm or by hand comfortably.

And here's the inside story.  Look at how easy it is to see whatever is in your purse with this light colored lining.  On the one side a large zip pocket, and on the other 3 slip pockets.  It opens so nice and wide, you can quickly reach whatever you need.

See what a pretty spot this Grotto is.  Kathy Van Zeeland is a nice complement to little hideaways, or to a celebration out on the town.

It's No Brees Being A Saints Fan in Seattle

Some people might think it's a Brees to be a Saints fan living in Seattle, but not on this Monday Night Football! I'm a BIG Seahawks fan, of course, EXCEPT when they meet the Saints. Go Saints! But guests at the Seattle party still managed to find something in common - purses! Of course, I carried my NFL Saints crossbody, but one of my friends carried a beautiful, hand crafted, and leather tooled bag she bought in New Orleans!  Look at the gorgeous large size (if you're a big bag girl you like that), and that nice, big pocket on the front. Looks like they really know purses in New Orleans!

A closer look at the tooling on my friend's leather Sereno.

Looks as if DangeRuss Wilson is pausing in the action to double check the New Orleans stylin' at our party. I'm not seeing any look of concern from him though.

And the action continues, and the purses have to be moved because positioning by the big screen is drawing foul remarks from others at the MNF party. That's okay, there's always next week.

Colors of the Season!

Happy Thanksgiving Tig!  Carrying my pretty Tiganello with the beautiful harvest colors.  The pleated front pocket is not just pretty, it's so handy.  It's very secure and I use it to hold my cell. On the back there is a nice size zipper pocket.  The double straps can be carried on the arm or by hand, or just pull on one to make it a nice, long shoulder strap.  Thank You for visiting my blog, and enjoy your day.

Even more color on the inside helps to make finding what I need so easy.  You can see the zipper pocket, on the other side are two slide pockets.  The zipper pull slides so very easily to open and close one handed.

Trans-Siberian Orchestra and Carlos

Of course my Carlos Santana purse is the only choice for the Trans-Siberian Orchestra concert at Key Arena in Seattle.  True talent attracts true talent.  I love this black magic bag!  Carlos knows what he's doing to design a rockin' bag. The colorful leather of all patterns and great texture blend perfectly. The chain and leather straps are so comfortable but really look hot.  They make it easy to carry any way you want it / just the way you want it - shoulder carry, arm carry, or straps in your hand.  Inside, you can clip the two wide sides together to get this tighter shape.  And the inside is a beautiful complementary red material, making it so easy to find everything you're carrying inside.



When you undo the easy clip inside, the bag opens up wide into a full tote, still secure with a snap top.  You can carry so much in this bag!  And inside there's also a zipper pocket and two side pockets plenty big enough for your cell.  And no breaking the bank to buy Carlos' line.  You can find it at lots of distributors, including at the priced right T J Maxx.

Don't you just love the electric Carlos Santana insignia with the guitar!

The phenomenol, incomparable, Trans-Siberian Orchestra!

The Lost Christmas concert. The whole sold-out audience was captivated.  Highly recommended!

They make beautiful music together.

Seattle's loving it!  True talent and creativity in living color.

Thank You, Trans-Siberian Orchestra!

Are Purses Works of Art?

Anuschka™ purses are a unique creation that blends art and functionality with élan.  Founded by Swapan Basu and his wife, Roma, Anuschka™ continues to be the only family owned, designed, manufactured and distributed one-of-a-kind hand painted collection. Their son, Bhaskar joined the family business over a decade ago and continues to bring the same passion and commitment to the family tradition. With all of its global expansion, Anuschka™ has remained true to its core values and is dedicated to employing craftsmen and artisans who would otherwise struggle with unemployment and economic hardship.

Anuschka™ bags are a feast for the eyes with their vibrant colors and elegant design elements. The wide range of abstracts and natural scenes depicted in all shades and hues transforms each handbag into an object of timeless art.

My new bag seems right at home at The American Art Company Gallery in Tacoma, Wa.  It is next to Iron Horse Park Lake oil painting by Emiliya Lane of Seattle, Wa.  This is part of the Plein Air Washington Artists' celebration of  the Washington State Parks Centennial.

Here my hobo shaped shoulder bag Anuschka is set in front of Spring Awakens Saltwater State Park oil painting by Sylvia Carlton of Bainbridge Island, Wa.  Doesn't my purse almost look part of the painting scene.

See the diagonal across the middle of the front of my purse?  It's a cleverly hidden zipper that opens to a large front pocket.  Very handy!

And here you can see the beautiful back of my anuschka with the functional cell holder and zip pocket.  Inside the purse is so roomy, with additional small pockets, and an inside side zip.  Watch for these purses to be on sale for a wonderful treat.  A natural Christmas present.

For more information about this artistic, tasteful gallery go to www.americanartco.com

For more information about this wonderful Centennial State Parks show, see http://hikeinthepark.blogspot.com/or at
plein air washington

Skagit Wine and Beer Fest with Lori G. and Kathy V.

We attended the gala Skagit Wine and Beer Festival in Mount Vernon at the Convention Center at the Best Western.  What a fun event!  With so many wineries and breweries represented, we had a wonderful time tasting.  And there were also so many catering businesses and restaurants with delicious recipes to savor.  A culinary experience!  And a variety of purses that were a feast for the eyes.

This Lori Greiner tote is a perfect match with the ensemble!  When complimenting the lady, she noted that on a rainy night out on the town, this tote is ideal for carrying all she needs including her matching umbrella and the wine she intends to purchase.

Lots of totes were of note at this event.  This lady was enjoying the wine and the music, and she liked being able to fill her tote with all the brochures and other information as she investigated all the tables.  Her tote helped her to be hands free for wine and food tasting.  Here you can see the live guitar duet we were treated to.  They sounded just great and worked so hard all evening, hardly taking a break at all

Speaking of hands free, this young lady was planning ahead with her backpack leather purse.  She enjoyed her wine in one hand and a plate of hors d'oeuvres in the other, with the occasional hand holding with her boyfriend in between plates.

Tonite I chose my Kathy Van Zeeland.  So many great pockets for stuffing and for quick access.  I love the snake skin shine and the lovely hearts accessory for my date night with my boyfriend.  This purse is Kathy's second generation of what she invented - the "swagger" style.  I love the swagger!  Swaggers have deep purse insides on either side of the middle/main purse inside.  The first generation, the swagger sides were a little too open/shallow, feeling a little insecure.  But this generation the swagger sides are deep with secure sides and a snap at the top - super easy, secure access.  And a big pocket you can see on the front where I put my cell and tickets to the event.  And still a zip pocket on the back.  Who could ask for anything more!



A great event!  And souvenir glasses.  Jeff's favorite beer was the dark from the Anacortes Brewery www.anacortesrockfish.com My favorite was actually the delectable caramel candies by Jessie's Berries Confections www.JessicaBerries.com .  Jeff liked the COA Mexican Eatery tacos Facebook.com/COAmv.  And my favorite red wine was by Coyote Canyon Winery, the Grenache with all the fabulous spices!  www.coyotecanyonwinery.com
 

Much Ado With Kate Spade

Seen at the Seattle Shakespeare Company's production of Much Ado About Nothing, a classic, old-time Kate Spade. This play is a wonderful celebration of wit, love, friendship, silliness, forgiveness and despite the drama we're all secure in the knowledge that all will end well.  After all, it is Much Ado About NOTHING.

What 's better than a cheery, colorful Kate Spade for a play like this?  Kate Spade's design philosophy is to, "Create products that combine great personal style with long lasting utility."  Shakespeare's characters each exude a very personal, forever style!  My classic KS is great.  I love the colors, and it's handles are the perfect fit for over the shoulder carries.  Beautiful tan interior, nothing fancy but a flap on the inside with a small pocket, and lots of room in the middle.

Much Ado is a love story for Beatrice and Benedick, as well as for Hero and Claudio.  At Kate Spade, in addition to a business success story, Kate's tale is also a love story. Along the way to handbag fame, Kate met and married Andy Spade. And the company name is symbolic of their union.

So, to take liberty with a Shakespeare quote from Much Ado -  "But for which of my good parts did you first suffer love for me?"
― William Shakespeare, Much Ado About Nothing

Oh Kate, I love all the good parts of my classic bag.

By the way, BRAVO to Seattle Shakespeare Company and its talented cast and director - what an incredible story you weave, we enjoyed every minute!


 

With Dale Chihuly and my D&G

I'm honored to meet Dale Chihuly at the reception celebrating the release of his newly published 3-book collection Chihuly on Paper.  The reception was at the Chihuly Glass Museum next to the Space Needle in Seattle.

I'm lovin' the lavendar of my D&G that I carried on my arm.  The color is so pretty.  It carries and looks like a nice medium size bag, but when you open the zipper across the top it opens wide and stores like a huge tote.  It includes handy inside pockets and a side zipper pouch.  Beautiful!  And on the outside, just enough bling to reflect all the gorgeous Chihuly glass exhibits.

My coveted purchase of the Chihuly book set.  Notice the artist's signature on the front.  A wonderful reception and event.

One page inside Chihuly on Paper Charcoal.  The other books are Acrylic and Graphite

 

Needing My Annual Italian

Thank you Judith Works for this wonderful purse story - (see more about Judith at the end of the blog)

Needing my annual Italian "fix" my husband and I planned a two-week trip in September. Not wanting to be left out, our daughter and son-in-law decided to join us. We flew into Milan for four days of fun with friends from Spain and Hungary who shared our fashion envy (Fashion Week was about to start), then another four days in a country hotel - actually an old castle and lovely new cottages set in an olive grove.

 

But, as always, my real destination was Rome, my heart's home. We always stay in a small hotel on the Aventine Hill, one of Rome's famous seven, near an area called Testaccio. Again, we met friends, some by plan and even some by chance. Near the end of our stay, we decided to walk to the new Testaccio Market. The old one, taking up a full block, was always full of shoppers buying fresh seafood, meat, cheese, veggies, fruit, and since it is Italy, shoes and handbags. All in all it was the perfect shopping experience with food for body and soul.

 

A couple of years ago the authorities in their wisdom decided to move the colorful market to a new and more sanitary location, one with underground parking - not common in  Rome because every time you stick a shovel in the ground you hit antiquities. The new market was about ten blocks from our hotel and not far from the famous Monte Testaccio, a 165-foot high, half-mile around pile of potshards, broken amphorae from the ancient Roman port. The amphorae were used to transport grain and oils from the Empire, and when they were emptied they were tossed in this gigantic heap for us to marvel at.

 

The market itself was also a marvel - the first thing we saw was a sushi bar - the last thing we would have expected in a traditional market. Nothing else about the design was very traditional either. Light, airy, stalls spread out - it looked sterile. Some stalls were even glassed in, making them into shops. But, oh joy - there were shoes, handbags, and clothing waiting for me. It didn't take long to succumb to a pair of loafers and a leather jacket. We needed to hurry along but I straggled behind looking for something else to remember the trip by. And there they were: a show window filled with handbags you couldn't find anywhere else. I walked in to check out the selection - all handbags with 1950s Italian magazines encased in a plastic cover - irresistible. Nothing like the wonderful leather creations, the symbol of Italian craftsmanship, but something fun, something truly original to remember the trip.

 

 

The shop is called "I Bottega I" The owner told us he made the bags all by hand and scoured flea markets to find suitable magazines. Mine shows women modeling Dior's "The New Look" from the late 1940s early1950s along with ads for Cutex nail polish, a remedy for children's stomach disorders and wood floor polish.   

 

 

 

 

 

As I was digging out my credit card my husband remarked to the owner that the market was overly cleaned up, he responded, “Oh, don’t worry – it will just take a couple of years and we will look just like the old market. This is Italy.”

 

Judith Works, a graduate of Lewis & Clark Law School, is retired from the United Nations, Rome, Italy. She is the author of a memoir about Rome, Coins in the Fountain, available as an e-book, writes travel articles for on-line publications as well as blogging her adventures. She is currently President of the Friends of the Edmonds Library, on the steering committee for Write on the Sound, and on the board for Edmonds Center for the Arts and EPIC Group Writers.

https://www.amazon.com/author/coinsinthefountain