Vintage Style Beaded Purses

Welcome to one of my current passions.  I am not and have never been a frou-frou person, but I absolutely love old beaded purses.  The more beads, the better.

The purses I craft are based upon an antique 7-point star purse pattern which had no instructions for a top, finishing or attachment of handles/drawstring.  They are crocheted in a continuous spiral. That means the beads have to be strung before beginning the purse, and if it uses multiple colors, I have to string them according to the pattern, but from the top down, backwards order.  This technique is much more rigorous and less versatile in modification than loom weaving, peyote or similar methods.

Tan & Black Iris

SOLD

Simple star point & diamond pattern finished with a ruffle of beads. The tassels are twisted; single drawstring.

Burgundy & Crystal

SOLD

Vintage star pattern modified to 8 sections.  Has the same ruffle as Tan & Black Iris Bag. I added a pattern of alternating beads for a background. The tassels are untwisted and feel delicious in your hand; double drawstring.

Dusty Blue & Black Iris

$175.00

Eight (8) point star pattern but no beads on the star this time. I wanted to branch out with something different. I found an antique beaded crochet doily pattern and adapted the design into the [almost] freeform decoration. I made the sections larger and the top is a scalloped edge without beading. I added a line of beaded fringe right below the cording holes. This purse turned out much rounder than all the others as I made the body shorter. Tassels are twisted; double drawstring.

Sunflower & Royal

SOLD

Eight (8) point star pattern, but I wanted an original design (which I would modify if I had to do it again).  I've found that experience is an excellent teacher, but still merely one of the methods God uses.  The top is undulating, like an old wooden rollercoaster. I began thinking about wear from the cording to the purse fabric, so I created a sheath to help with fraying.  I didn't double handle the cording, but looped it 1-1/2 times to give it some traction and balance out how it hangs. Twisted tassels; single drawstring.

Pink & Aqua

$335.00

Eight(8) point star pattern with a design inspired by a vintage purse I received for my anniversary in 2004. It took me about thirty-five (35) hours to complete this one. I added zig-zag fringe below the drawstring sheath. The top is undulating, but less so than the Sunflower & Royal Purse. Tassels are untwisted. I used 5 hanks of beads on this one, which is over 16,000 beads!

I was pleased to have this purse win Judges' Choice and Grand Champion at our local county fair in 2006.

In 2007, it won 2nd place at the Wyoming State Fair.

Blooming Flower

$425.00

Current project is based on the 8-point star pattern.  Decoration is based on one of my original designs, as you can see in the sketch in the photo above left. I moved from monochrome to 6 colors with this one and it took over a month to get it charted out. Just had to get it straight in my head first.  I thought I would have trouble finding a way to assure I put them on in the right order so I didn't have to go back and rework the stringing. I can always break off extra beads with a pair of pliers, but I can't add beads without taking off those behind it - all of them. Stringing the pattern went well and I only had to remove one extra bead.  I originally planned the design using the rose colored beads in the middle, but they didn't fit the color scheme in the final design.

I added a design to the drawstring sheath at the top and am pleased with the results.  Needless to say, this one has 50+ hours into design and production.

I was pleased to have this purse win and Crochet Grand Champion at the Weston County, WY fair in 2007.

If you have ideas, suggestions, comments, constructive criticism, or would like to inquire about a custom, one-of-a-kind purse, feel free to email me.

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