Old Coin Purses

This past weekend we were poking around in our favorite antique/junk place lookng for old buttons, when we came across a framed collection of old coin purses.  Down on the floor in a dark corner, I spied a large frame, about 2 inches thick, in which a dozen little purses and bags were pressed between the glass and an ancient sheet of foam rubber.  The coin purses ranged from a very fancy silky bag with embroidery on it to a rough little sack that looked like it would have been used to carry marbles to--my favorite-- a premium coin purse from the First Farmers' Bank.  Some of the purses were no more than 1 1/2 inches wide and high;  several had very clever triple clasps so that the purse could snap open on two sides.  I didn't have enough money to buy the collection, but I did have my sketchbook.  Pictured here are a few of the purses.  I plan on going back this weekend and drawing the rest!

Three Little Black Bags Go to the City!

Well, two of them are black, but the third one is just as sophisticated because it's made out of an Urban Outfitter's shopping bag and has a genuine dogtag chain for a strap!  The black bags are made from an onion bag (on the left) and a Kettle bag (on the right).  We designed these for Laura Oltman, who lives in Brooklyn, and manages a small clothing shop in Park Slope.  She wanted a small shoulder bag, in black with abstract designs, to wear with summer dresses.

Even though we're currently deep in the frozen belly of winter, it's nice to think of Laura walking down 7th Avenue wearing her black bag with a breezy summery dress.  We love these bags so much, and we think it's amazing how sophisticated and big city our humble materials look!  You can order your own on the Small Shoulder Bags page.  Specify black and either Kettle or onion bag material.  (Black onion bags are getting extremely rare, but we'll do our best.)