Well, those are pretty, but I've never paid that much for a purse. I about choked when I paid $32 for my latest purse, a Steve Madden black purse on clearance at Marshall's. I think it's the most expensive purse I've ever purchased.

I didn't have to give up trying to be fashionable, I never WAS fashionable, LOL.

Annie

Annie - LOL! "I never WAS fashionable." Truth be told, neither was I.
Clare

Confession: I'm a bit of a handbag addict. They make me happy, and so few things make me happy these days, that I indulge occasionally.

I have 1 anuschka bag that I bought from Zappos about 3 years ago. I didn't see my bag on that link, it's got flowers and butterflies and reminds me of being a kid in the 70's. I'm such a bag addict that I change bags frequently and have probably only used it for a total of 4-6 weeks over the past 3 years. It's a very Fall-like bag for me, so I only use it around that time. I feel sort of goofy even admitting that, but well, it's the sad truth...

Anyway, it's held up fine, and I always get compliments on it when I use it, eventhough I only use it infreqently.

If it will make you happy, and you can spare the $$, I say go for it.

AM

Hey Arabella, waving hi!

Have I got a website for you: Bag, Borrow or Steal, link below. 'Rent' hand bags, switch them out whenever your want.

I have been using a DannyK purse forever, the dang thing wears like iron. They are distinctive enough that DannyK owners recognize each others purses and smile, LOL.

Here is a link that might be useful: Bag Borrow or Steal

arabellamiller - Maybe that is it. Does remind me of my teenage hippie days back in the 60's. I use to make a lot of my own handbags out of tie dyed jeans and tapestry material with beads and fringe. They were one of kind and really funky, different but cool. I wish I could justify the price because I do like them. Glad that you have one and like it. I am also a handbag addict, have boxes of them and switch often. DH keeps asking me when I am going to cut back and get rid of some of them. LOL
Clare

I think the prices look very reasonable for something that is hand painted. Kevin used to paint pet portraits for people on various items, including handbags and T-shirts. I like the leather satchel handbag, but it would not go with most of my outfits. I remember buying hand painted silk scarves in a boutique in Sonoma in the early 90s for my mother and sister, and I believe they were $80 each and were only scarves, although they were quite large and rectangular. I used to make tapestry purses for my mother in the 1970s, and I made a leather bag for myself. I never made anything out of tie dyed jeans, but I used to make a lot of clothes from old Levis that I would get at teh thrift store in the mid 70s. Back then I could get the jeans for 35 cents each, and so it was cheaper than buying fabric. I took all the seams out of the jeans, washed them, and then pressed open all the areas that used to be seamed, giving it a somewhat tie dyed effect. I used to make vests using the back portion in the front so that the hip pockets would be usable. I also used the pocket watch pocket on the upper chest.

I say go ahead and buy one!

Lars

jessyf - I like those DannyK handbags. Beautiful patterned material. My Mom loved her Vera Bradley handbags and wouldn't use any others. Maybe I should check out that Bag Borrow or Steal site too.

Lars - I use to make a lot of things out of recycled clothes back in the 1960's and 70's before it became popular. I am currently making large reusable grocery totes out of old jeans. No more plastic bags and they will start charging for paper bags here. The bags should hold up well. You guys were suppose to talk me out of buying one, not tempt me. LOL

Clare

Great site Jessy - thanks!! The "Choo" I just bought rents for $78/week. Wow. Much cheaper than buying, and since I usually only use them a few weeks at a time anyway.....

AM

I wonder if their "complimentary damage insurance" would cover being chewed on by a horse, or slammed in the tailgate of a pickup, or having Bud drop a half eaten chocolate bar into it in August, all things that have happened to my last purse. (grin)

Actually, I had to buy one, the last one I had I bought at Kohl's for $18 and it's five years old. I finally had to staple the handle together with the staple gun, so it was time.

I'm an anomaly, though. My Mother loves Kate Spade, Ashley currently is carrying a huge bag by Jessica Simpson and Amanda has not one, but two, purses by Betseyville.

My problem is that if I know what they cost, I don't want to use them! Elery bought me a Prada purse last year on eBay and I know what he paid for it. It was new with the tags, so I also know what it was in the store originally, and I could make a couple of house payments with it. I've never used it, I'm afraid I'll get it dirty or worse, lose it. It's also why I never wear jewelry.

Yeah, I know, I'm weird.

Annie

Annie, I put my current shoulder bag back together with locking chain links that I got at the hardware store. I need a new one myself, but I have a hard time finding one that is exactly what I want, and I do not have time to make one like that. I bought mine at the Army Navy Surplus Store - you may have noticed that I used one of their shopping bags when packing your box!

I do have a leather shoulder bag that I can possibly alter to make it exactly what I want - that would involve making a new strap for it, and I do have a few leftover zebra tails I could use.

Lars

Lars, my dear, I have to tell you that you are the only person in the world that I know who would have a "few leftover zebra tails".

I did notice that the fruit was in a Surplus Store bag and I thought perhaps it was canteens or hiking stuff that you were shopping for there, I never thought of your shoulder bag.

That's the other issue with getting a handbag on-line. I want to put it on my shoulder and see how big it is and how much of my stuff it will hold and how long the straps are. They have to be functional.

And Ashley just asked me if I'd ever had a purse that wasn't black or brown. I don't think I ever have had one any other color, although those Anuschka bags are lovely colors.

Annie

I love bags too. If you like it, go for it. My mom was always Beige, Brown, Black - and I started out that way too. But later when handbags began to be more fashion items on their own, I started buying colorful ones. I tend to wear neutral colored clothes for convenience, so the handbag, the scarf, and other accessories add the spots of color for me. I'm due for a Spring bag! Colorful is in for Spring. Colored jeans are everywhere, but I am not tempted to wear orange jeans! I was tempted to sell some used bags to Bag Borrow or Steal, but it's kind of a bother.

I was colorful in my teens and twenties, then in my thirties I started a career and got SERIOUS. It was all brown, black or navy everything. I even wore suits! For the last 10 years I have started to loosen up and have fun again. I am looking at maybe buying one of those handbags or a hot pink or electric orange one. The last one was green and before that purple. Anything as long as it isn't neutral!
LOL
Clare

I was at a lecture tonight....lady across the aisle had a DannyK bag, she bought it in Erie, PA LOL.

For all of you bag addicts, this is a local designer who does bags, and I really like some of her stuff. Some isn't my flavor, but that's okay too.....

Alexa

Here is a link that might be useful: scarlet clover bags

arabellamiller - Since you own a Anuschka, I have a question. Is the leather stiff and hard or supple and soft? I have never seen one and no store around here sells them.
Thanks.
Clare

Clare - It's an inbetween leather. It's not nearly as soft as a couture bag, doesn't smell the same either. But it's a fine medium quality. The bag I have is fairly structured, so it's not going to have the give that a hobo style bag does. The leather has different tones to it, which I think adds to the overall effect. I was most concerned about the handpainted design wearing off, but that hasn't been a problem, although as I said before, I use the bag infrequently.

Overall, I'd say it's about the right quality for the price.

I hope that helps.
AM

arabellamiller - Thanks. I have a really thick, heavy, stiff hand tooled leather one from Mexico and had wondered if it was like that. Then I have one that is a super soft buttery lamb skin one that has no form at all. I like something in between. Interesting how leather can be so different.
Clare

Apologies. I deleted a post that was mistaken--I had misread something.

I never bought one. I just couldn't justify spending that much on a handbag. Not on my budget. I am not saying they are not worth the price, just not in the cards for me. And my tastes have changed.

My sister has one and loves it - tho she uses it infrequently. She's one who changes bags a lot! She also has a good collection of them. She often gives them to me when she's tired of them if she thinks it's one I'd like and use. I've looked at the Anuschka purses on a shopping channel and like a few of them but can't bring myself to spend the $s on one. I think the most I've spent on a purse is around $50.00. one of those I recently gave to her because it's just too big for me. It's a beautiful green that I bought on a shopping channel a few yrs back. I wanted something different and green was a color I'd never had in a purse. I pulled it out recently and realized that it is just too big for me to use now with my back and hand problems, so I gave it to my sister.

I have 2 clutch type purses I spent 40-50 $s on back in the 70s. one is a brown and the other is black. they're great for a small purse for a wedding or funeral but not every day use. I think my purses have always been a tan, brown or black until about a decade ago when I decided I could not stomach another tan, brown or black purse, so I bought a purple one that was on sale at Kohl's for about $20.00. About 3 yrs ago my sister gave me a smaller purple purse and I'm still using that one. I usually use the same purse for several years before I change it.

DD started collecting vintage Coach bags a couple years ago. She tells me about all the variations - pre-creed, New York, Bonnie Cashin, different hardware, etc. She buys them at garage sales and thrift shops, then reconditions them in the bathtub and sells them on Poshmark. Or doesn't, because she has a closetful now.

After I stopped carrying briefcases, I used to be on the lookout for the perfect "murse". But messenger bags and backpacks have filled that need.

Reconditions in a bathtub? How? I have a favorite Coach that is getting quite tatty but I would love to "recondition "it!

I don't know the details. It involves washing with some sort of leather soap, then soaking in water overnight, reshaping, then drying in some way that avoids water spots. She's able to make tatty lumpy bags look almost new.