HANDBAGS, PURSES, POCKETBOOKS, OH MY!

Handbags, Purses, Pocketbooks, Oh My!

Whatever you call them, I so enjoy making them.  In fact, I think it is raining purses here at Tea Cottage Pretties.  A couple of weeks ago my sister came for a short visit.  She asked me to make a purse for her friend just like the one I had made for her for Christmas.  I had made her one of my collage purses and she so loved it and so did her friends.  One special friend of hers really loved it.  This is a lady that does not have much and struggles to get by and my sister wanted her to have something nice.  So I told her I would be happy to do that for her.  The collage purses are my most time consuming and costly purses so I am working on it but while working on that one, I started making all the other purses that I have not been able to get to.  

Here is a picture of the purse I made for my sister

 and the one I am making for her friend will be just like this one. It has the "Lord's Prayer" on it and her name.  

And here are the ones I made while working on this special one for my sister's friend. 

As you can see I made a Girly Girl Pink Paris Purse, a Shabby Chic Fabric Purse with Pearls and Lace and a really sweet Navy Blue with White Polka Dot Purse with a Bumble Bee and Flower Buttons.  The navy purse is very special to me.  I made it using my little June Bug's dress from when she was very small.  It was one of my favorite dresses and I wanted to keep it around for many years to come.  By making a purse out of it, I can do just that.  I can't help but smile (REALLY BIG) every time I look at it.  

Here is my beautiful June Bug's Dress Navy Purse

Next is my Girly Girl Paris Purse

Now I did a little something different with the inside pocket of this purse.  I have these really cute zippers and I have been dying to use one.  So this was my chance to use a pretty pink one.  You see what I did there?

And last but not least - Shabby Chic Fabric with Pearls and Lace.  

This purse is soooooo me.

I did something a little different with this one. 

 I added craft plastic inside to give it shape and make it firm.

Although I am happy with how it turned out I kind of like my purses a little floppy.

This next photo was taken in the best light. You can see the color better in this one. 

I added a bow and pearl and rhinestone button to the front of it. 

I think this purse will look great with my lace hat you see in the picture. 

I HEART HATS!!!

I added pretty crochet lace to this one. 

After making all my new purses I was in need of a place to store them all along with all their adornments.  So I cleaned out a vintage suitcase that I got a thrift shops a few years ago and I stored them inside. 

Here is my suitcase. 

Inside are my purses.

Isn't it perfect!   

So not only did I manage to make some pretty purses this week but I also manage to work on our fence.  Our fence was very damaged in a wind storm a couple months ago.  Although the fence is ten years old and was in need of repair anyway.  Luckily only one side needed some TLC.  My son Chris has been working on it with my help and we are slowly getting there.  The problem is we have to dig out the old cement stumps and then get them out of the ground.  Well I say we but he is doing that part all by himself.  It is way to much for me to do but I can help with all the other work.  

Being a reuse, recycle person, I could not see replacing the fence so I decided to replace the post and top and bottom boards plus any other boards that just could not be reused.  Here is a picture of what our fence looked like before. 

Here is a section after it has been given just enough TLC.

And here is a view of our fence showing both a repaired section and one section that has not been repaired.  You can see how the fence is falling down. 

Big difference isn't it?  The best thing is I did not throw away all that wood.  
Love a tree - RECYCLE AND REUSE!!!!!

A special thank you to my son Chris for working so hard on this for me. 
It could not happen without his hard work. 

Okay now back to the Girly stuff.  I found some makeup awhile back that I really love.  So I had something to return to the store today and they gave me a gift card.  You know how it is when you have lost your receipt.  Well that was okay with me.  I headed straight to that makeup I love and I finally got myself a few things.  I got a kit, blush and lipstick.  

"CRUELTY FREE MAKEUP"

My lipstick is called "Marshmallow Bunny"!!! How sweet is that?  The blush is a perfect pink that I have been looking for everywhere and I finally found it.  It is called "Sweet Pink".  Then I got the "Glamour To Go" that has everything a girl needs all in one beautiful case that fits in your purse.  
YAY me, Score!!!!

The best part is that Too Faced does not use any animals to make their products nor do they do testing on animals.  I try very hard to make sure I do not use any makeup that has animal bi-products in it. 

Oh and I found the little canvas bag with a crown on it at Michael's Craft Store. It was only $2.00 and oh so cute.  I think I may stamp my name on it and glam it up a little but what an awesome find!

This past weekend my girls and I went to the Riverwalk in San Antonio.  We are working on our "Bucket List"  of things we want to do or do again before we leave Texas.  I took some photos while we where there and one of them I wanted to share.  It came out so beautiful and I love the small beautiful things in life.  You know, those magnificent things that others may pass by and never give a second thought to.  This photo speaks to me of beauty and grace and all things wonderful. 



This photo has not been edited in any way.
 It came out lovely all on it's on. 
I now know that this is a Trumpet Vine.
Thank you Doni!!!!

And here I am standing next to the River. 
Wearing lace of course....

I am so very thankful that I have been feeling well lately.  I love doing things with my girls and crafting and getting caught up on all the things I get behind on. 

I saw a  commercial the other day and it was about living a "maybe life".  It hit home with me because I often feel that I live a maybe life.  I can not commit to anything that requires that I be somewhere at a certain time, on a certain date.  I never know how I will feel when the time comes.  I have to live a more spontaneous life.  I do things when I can and this week I have been very blessed.  I took my girls out several times and I manage to get out and do some fun things.  I also manage to get some crafting and sewing in and clean my house up.  I even worked in the yard with my son on the fence.  All in all, it has been a great week!  
I am happy and blessed.  

See you soon, 
Beverly

Tea Cottage Pretties