A quirky Target find...

on my post-New Year shopping excursion!  Isn't it sort of cute?  It's a metallic blue with acid green piping.  It has black & white polka dot lining with several convenient pockets inside.  And it was half price!  So I got one for Ariela, too.  I think these bags were a part of Target's holiday designer sales blitz - but it didn't look like much of the designer stuff sold because when I was there after January 1, that section of the store was still packed and everything was half price.  They also had these beige canvas Oscar de la Renta bags - but even at fifty percent off, they were still ugly - like those beachy, tourist summer purses you can find here at the souvenir stands.  They are all right in their place, but then, what isn't?  I don't think anyone wants to pay ten times as much for a bag just because Oscar has been paid to slap his name on it.  On the other hand, I was thrilled with my fourteen dollar find.  It's got this funky vibe and it made me smile.  That's a good thing.

Another amazing bargain...

Yes, I do love a bargain - especially when it's a handbag.  And a Mary Engelbreit handbag, at that.  Every once in a while I peruse the potential bargains on eBay - one of my recurring search terms is "Nordic House" because I love those purses and they are increasingly hard to find - especially in decent condition for a reasonable price.  Imagine my surprise when I ran across an unused ME Nordic House bag for only $20!  Years ago, I snagged the original coated cotton ME bag and a couple of years later, I was lucky enough to find the ME Santa bag in perfect condition - both without breaking the bank.  And now I am the exceedingly happy owner of a Mary Engelbreit tapestry Love, Home, Family, Friends bag for a mere twenty-six dollars, including shipping.  It is in perfect condition and I am enjoying it!
Yes, I know, only purse collectors understand me...

A while back...

I guess it's a long while now - I discovered Cath Kidston.  I love the retro vibe of her fabrics and designs.  And yes, I gave in to all that cute advertising and ordered one of her day bags.  I cannot for the life of me remember the name of the pattern now, but isn't it cute?  The bag is made of oilcloth, as is the matching wallet, and it's very roomy.  Plus - it's great for a rainy day - no water spots!  If you get a chance, check out her website.  The only downside is the cost of shipping - but the bags are adorable!  Psst - they're having a sale...

I adore a bargain...

especially when it's a designer handbag.  Isn't this the cutest little Kate Spade bag you have ever seen?  Well, maybe not, but it's the cutest one I've found.  And for twenty bucks, I snapped it up.  I almost passed it by because I thought it was an animal print - not one of my favorite looks - but I realized the design is a large flower.  I was not a fan of her original black Sam bags - too plain and sort of cheap looking - but her later work is cuter - especially the leather stuff, which sadly I cannot afford here at the Villa of Reduced Circumstances.  I will also admit that I never stop at yard sales - they're not the same in Florida as they are up North; in Florida it's mostly the junk that's left after the people who moved down here sold the good stuff in Ohio or Michigan.  Tim loved yard sales and I gradually disposed of the useless or tacky finds over the years.  But on this particular day, the day of the Big Bargain Find, I was driving down the street and saw a pile of handbags on a table at a yard sale in front of a rather upscale home.  I actually turned around and went back - for twenty well-spent dollars I brought home this cute purse that just needed vacuuming out and a little Febreze.  Maybe I'll pay more attention to yard sales from now on...

Okay, okay...

I know I have a penchant for purses with funky designs.  Don't you just love this lady in the red hat?  It's hard to tell in the photograph, but she has beaded accents which gives the bag some glitz.  I suppose it's a spring handbag, but I loved the red hat - having realized that I am now old enough to join the Red Hat Society.  And I have always loved the combination of red and purple...

Halloween cuteness alert...

I admit it - I have a love of all things holiday-related - including handbags.  Isn't this handmade bag the cutest thing?  I got it on eBay and it is absolutely lovely.

This is the back of the bag - I don't know who the fabric designer is, but it looks vaguely Mary Engelbreit to me.  Or it's just wishful thinking...

And this is the inside of the bag - with this adorable applique.  I love it!

So do you think I like...

baskets or something?  I think this bag is just the cutest thing.  It's small, but I don't carry that much stuff around anyway.  It was an eBay find; the brand Roxy is embossed on the tab closure and handles.  Never heard of it - but if a bag catches my eye, I don't really care what the brand may be.  I've had this love affair with basket purses since I was a kid.  I had this Nantucket style purse that I carried for years - until I graduated to a wooden box purse that started out life a dull white.  I painted it lime green and added embroidered ribbon to it as trimming.  Very cute - I wish I still had the thing!

Innovative or tacky?

The Miche Bag with the quick change magnetic cover - is it cute or just a cheap fad of the moment?  I like the overall style of the bag - but the purse base is not leather - and none of the shells are either.  It's quite expensive for what you get - but still, I am drawn to the possibilities of covers for every holiday or season.  No, I'm not buying one, but I've been sorely tempted.  Then my tackiness meter kicks in and I am saved from myself once again.  What do you think of this bag?

Hi-ho, cherries - oh!

I have no idea who Isabella Fiore is, really, but I got this bag on eBay for a mere $34 and I am told that it was an amazing bargain.  I liked it because of the cherries, but then that's just me.  I have a fondness for purses with a little glitz and a vintage style.  This one really fit both requirements for me.  It's a nice size and I've had a lot of compliments on it.  I like a handbag that's a conversation starter.

Vintage Vera...

I can't remember what year they stopped making the Red Leaf pattern or the bag design,

but I love this vintage Vera Bradley handbag.

It's simple, understated and washable.

Who could ask for more?

Besides, it's red!

You paid how much...

for a straw purse?" shrieked my husband when I bought this bag several years ago.  And so began my ongoing love affair with Brighton Bags.  Not that I've bought one in a good long while.  It is interesting to note, however, that not long after I got this bag, my husband bought me a staggeringly expensive black Brighton number which I will feature in a later post.  I just said thank you, though - I didn't shriek about the price.

Christmas in July...

And there I am with a hideous black clutch bag.

I am certainly glad that my taste has improved over the years...  Of course, you can't see my shoes, but I am certain I was wearing penny loafers with white ankle socks.  Such a fashionista!

Hope Garden...

is my favorite Vera Bradley color.  I bought this bag (and the wallet and the eyeglass case and the... you get the picture) last year after tax season as my annual reward for a job well done.  It's become my favorite summer bag - I change to something else and then about a day later I change back.  There's just something about that print that's happy - and it makes me smile.  I didn't really like any of the last batch of new colors and I got an email the other day letting me know that the newest colors are coming out in July.  Maybe I'll like one of the new colors enough to buy a new bag.  I hope not - I save money if I don't like anything!  I have a hard time resisting temptation...

Orange you glad...

when you find a really great bargain?  Especially when it was something you were looking for, anyway?  I have no idea why, but last summer I got in my head that I wanted an orange handbag.  I had this great pair of orange Keds that I wore all the time and I just knew that somewhere out there an orange purse had my name on it.  But do you think I could find one?  No - but partly because I wasn't willing to spend a lot of money on such an odd color bag.  I mean, orange is not necessarily one of my favorite shades and I was in cheap mode.  Finally, one day when I was perusing eBay for nothing in particular, I happened to type in Talbots as a search criteria.  I had suddenly remembered how much I loved a pair of shoes I had once bought there and I wondered if there was any Talbot's anything on eBay.  I was rewarded when this lovely woven basket bag with orange leather trim popped up!  It was just the thing - and only $9.00 plus the cost of priority shipping.  When it arrived, it was in perfect, like new condition - well worth the search, the wait and the price.

Too cute!

And if I had any extra money right now, I'd be buying this new Vera Bradley bag from the Frill Collection.  This color is called Simply Violet.  It's really me!

I'm just saying.

How it all began...

I'd found a reasonably perfect handbag to complement my Easter ensemble.

And hat.  Can't forget the hat!

Isn't every woman looking for...

the perfect purse? I'll bet you thought I was going to say "the perfect man." No such thing. There is, however, somewhere out there, the ultimate handbag. I'm still looking for it. How about you? I have to admit - this one comes pretty close. It's roomy, but not too big. It has great bamboo handles and a little bling on the kitschy shopping girls. I like it - it's just funky enough.