alissahall's happy place

[alissahall]

I'm pretty new to purse obsession... if you can believe it, until this summer I have been the kind of person who could walk into Target and find a $7.99 jobber off the rack that could replace my purse du jour when they inevitably fell apart. Not that there's anything wrong with Target's cheaper selections... it's just that I could never see myself investing Real Money in an item as indulgent as a purse. I am a stay at home mom, after all. And we have a new addition to the family, that makes for 2 boys (3 if you count hubby).

And then....

This summer, I was bitten and became *smitten* with purses. You understand, dahlings. I like to say it's my year of post partum insanity playing out. Estrogen induced, of course. With my firstborn I took portpartum out on my hair and went through 5 cuts and 6 colors in less than a year.

I think buying purses is a better alternative this time around, personally.

My first love was Balenciaga. They called, with siren songs, to me in the wee hours of the morning to come and see them online. Again. And again. I loved all the Dix Motorcycle styles, but the City seemed the most practical - I am a big bag kinda girl. And, as a professional writer, there was only one color I could not live without... the Ink.

Go figure.

But I'm not just a mom, and not just a writer, I'm a henna artist also. I first began playing with henna body art in 1997, and went professional in 2001 when transitioning with my firstborn's arrival. It is supplementary, not primary, income at best and very seasonal work as well. But I do love my henna biz.

So! I began to save money as I could. A little here, all of this henna appointment there... and after a while I bought this. My holy grail. Right off the top, voila, and voici!

(Note to self, make time to add more pictures.... I will eventually, I promise).

[alissahall]

Was I happy with just one lovely purse? The "purse to end all purses" by my own standards?

Oh nooooooooooo. Balenciaga was only where it *began*.

Next came Mr. Jimmy Choo and a petal pink girl who needed a home. She had a broken ring, but she only needed 5 minutes of focused attention, and she could be brand new. I am a sucker for a stray.

And I bought this one, without knowing anything about it but that I liked it. The very kind ladies who regularly inhabit the Jimmy Choo subforum have educated me with their shared knowledge, for which I am grateful.

This is the Jimmy Choo Tulita line Flap Hobo purse.

And boy what an avalanche she started when showed up in my life.

[alissahall]

Like I said, that pretty pink lovely started an avalanche inside me. I became, as I lovingly admit, obsessed with Choos Tulita line.

It was a very different style for me, as I usually fancy hobo styles with lots of slouch. A structured purse like this was new in my world, and exotic. Womanly. A sign of the person I have become, and the girl I left behind. I still love slouchy purses, but the Tulita became the Queen of my Heart.

And I wanted more. MORE! One in every color of the rainbow!! And lo and behold, a hobby... a collection... began to grow. I saved henna money, true.

But one day I decided, after seeing a Purse Forum thread on bag charms, to buy me a bag charm. And when it arrived, I said to myself, as I often do... "I could have made this. I could have made this BETTER!"

And I became a purse charm maker. I dove into jewelry making with the thirst I hadn't known since henna came into my life a decade ago. I bought lots of supplies, and I began to make charms. Charms for me, and then charms for the world. Some of the sales helped replenish what I invested in supplies, and some of it... I saved. Oh yes, I horded!

And I waited for the next target to appear on my radar for my new Tulita quest. This was the next one I found... she too was a stray needing a good home. A few scuffs, and needing a good bath. Being white, I was worried. Could I do it? Could I bring her up to speed and make it worthwhile to buy in the first place?

Purse therapy started here... when I first started playing with restoring purses. The pink Tulita's broken ring was the door opening, but the leather care came with this one, the white Choo Tulita line bucket flap hobo.

[alissahall]

Being that I bought these both in the fall of 08, I haven't worn them out much yet. I am so excited for spring to arrive and give me an excuse to wear the matching pink Mary Jane heels I found for the pink Tulita!

But nay, they have not been out much yet.

And that's when this one showed up, with perfect timing, right as I had some birthday money to spend. Ahhhhh don't you love it when serendipity shows up in your life?

This one, called the Torqay or Torquay (?) was in perfect shape. There was not a moment of worry or care she has caused me. And being in this season's hottest color, a lovely shade of plum? Well... how could I refuse?

And here in the last shot are the three girls sitting together nicely on the couch. The threadbare couch, which has been given to the 7 year old to demolish and grow out of before we invest in something new (you parents out there all know this routine).

[My interior shots keep coming out dark on my camera, so you'll notice I had to brighten them. I need a new camera, but you think I want to spend my money on that when there's a new purse that could be had instead?? ]

[scarcici]

Loveee your Balenciaga !

[alissahall]

But alas and alack, I rarely have carried the plum Torquay because I am a big purse girl and try as I might, I can't fit all my junk in a small purse. Especially being a mommy. There is no end to the random things that could end up in my purse, from my son's Spiderman web spinners, my baby's wetwipes and ziploc of snacks, or my Tarot cards. I need ROOM!

And the next to appear on my Tulita radar? This one, which was truly in deplorable shape. Originally, she was a salmon color that you can see on the turned flap photo. Yeah, not feeling it on the color. Add to that the fact that her exterior was sun faded, scuffed in places and manky dirty in others. Of course she was cheap, she had been abused and neglected. If ever there was a Tulita stray who needed me, desperately, it was this one.

I didn't take any pictures of her in this state. I cleaned her twice, and then dreamed of something in red. Brilliant ruby red. Again, I read on a Purse Forum thread of the brand Tarrago leather dye, and I shopped for a box of #12 that would give this poor abused salmon girl a makeover in fire engine red. A whole new look, a new lease on life.

But, said the voice of doubt within, this is a DESIGNER PURSE you're talking about. Even if it looks terrible as it is, would you DARE to DYE a Jimmy Freakin Choo??

Yes, I calmly told the voice. And one night, after the boy and the baby and the hubby were all tucked in their beds, I began the first layer of dye on my salmon girl. I reasoned that I would only do the exterior at first to see how I liked the finished result before tackling the intricacies of the interior.

I asked myself, why not? If it didn't work? Well, c'est la vie. But if it did....

After a week long spa treatment of cleaning, restoring, dyeing, drying and re-dyeing... I had something quite special. And I had put hours of love into the project, and in turn, I received hours of quality time that kept me happy and sane for another day. Purse therapy, I tell everyone. It works for me, big time!

She was swaying in the breeze as I took these first two pictures, in dappled sunlight. The 3rd one shows the interior flap (in an area that wasn't sun faded nor dirty, mind you). And if you look very close at the full flash pic that's last, you might see the salmon interior. At this stage, it had 2 coats of dye, and was tomato red in full sunlight, or full flash, but a deeper ruby indoors.

[alissahall]

And after using the entire bottle of dye, and detailing the interior leather as well, I decided I still wasn't done playing with her. I bought another bottle and did another full coat of dye, inside and out. That's three coats over about 3 weeks.

This picture was taken after the final coat and with the flash acting up, it still does not do it justice. It is such a luscious, jaw dropping red. I can't wait til my new matching shoes get in!

I made her a special purse charm, although it's too small to see clearly. But it's a leopard print inspired charm, with a leopard print gem and beaded dangles made in "leopard" colors of snowflake obisidian and natural stone. I can't wait til my leopard shoes get here too!

And... although my story will continue, it will not continue for now because my infant son has decided I have had entirely too long of a break from my work.

More to come!

[alissahall]

Originally Posted by scarcici

Loveee your Balenciaga !

Thank you!! High fives, right back at 'cha!

[alissahall]

And as I was in the process of giving Ms. Salmon her Ruby Red makeover, her twin popped up on my radar. Ohhhh, now HERE is the perfect winter purse, I reasoned. And I knew I loved this size, as I had played with the Salmon already.

I lost sleep over it. Yes, I did. I would lay awake at night and scheme up new ways to pull in enough business to pay for this one to become mine. Make it work, says Tim Gunn. I freakin Made It Work, and at last she landed in my hands.

Our lovely and talented TPFer Ilson has kindly educated me that this style of Tulita is called the JC18. I have often said, only half jokingly, that Ilson has a photographic memory when it comes to Jimmy Choos. This forum is such a resource of so many kind people, I am so grateful for it!

This one was also pristine. The leather is soooo soft along the pleated folds of the bottom that I could just pet it all day long. I love her so much that I made her a very special personalized purse charm with jade chip accents.

This style is the perfect mix of everything, for me. It is slouchy, but structured. It is small enough to wear on your arm, but can be thrown over the shoulder in a pinch when you need your hands free (to pick up the baby carrier, if you're me). I think it transitions from day to evening beautifully (not that I have too many evening outings, but when I do? I'm good to go!)

And it's black, how classic and timeless is black? J'adore le sac!

[alissahall]

And for now, here is a shot of the Tulita family with the twins included. I still want more, so I know this too will not be the last we see of them.

And in the final shot, the Ink Balenciaga as well.

(Grumbles, "Stupid camera, keeps taking dark pictures, don't have time to keep resizing and brightening, best I could do with baby fussing too, grr frustrating... hopefully everyone kinda gets the idea.")

[alissahall]

And this one too, it begs to be showcased as well.

This... ok. Not a Choo. Not a Tulita, but it is similar in some ways. And this was the impulse ebay buy that takes the cake. I bought this at 6:23 a.m. when I was still sipping my first cup of coffee one morning.

Until this one, I never really liked anything I saw by Dooney and Bourke. They just didn't grab me.

But this is the medium lock satchel in Annalisa leather. It had just the right amount of hardware (I do like me some buckles and such), and was a generous size.

And the leather was (almost) named after me!

And it was closing for HOW MUCH? I threw my hat in, and won her. She is a wonderful alternative to the black Tulita, a bit more casual and yet stylish as all get-out. She now has a special Swarvoski crystal and antique silver lock charm I made for her just last night (but I don't yet have a picture of her wearing it).

Ain't she sweet? And she has a matching D&B coin purse in pebbled black leather inside!

(Notice our new puppy edging into the shot, how could ya miss it eh? Camera hog, we love him!)

[bluefish]

What a pretty, pretty family! Loved the stories to go with each acquisition. Thanks for sharing.

[alissahall]

Originally Posted by leema183

What a pretty, pretty family! Loved the stories to go with each acquisition. Thanks for sharing.

Thank you for stopping by to share stories with me! I guess it's just the writer in me, I see tales everywhere. And something I'm so passionate about, like these bags, are each a tale that lives within me.

I have this half baked brainstorm that was Tom Robbins' spoon-induced (Skinny Legs and All) of finally writing a 4 part novel that follows the lives for 4 different objects as they move about, carried by people, in their various lives. I think once I know what all four are, I will write it. This year I discovered one item simply MUST be a purse.

[Sewon]

Nice!

[asl_bebes]

Beautiful collection ... I love your lil' stories on each bag, I can't wait to see what you'll get next!