Designer Inspired Handbags

Reviews

Too many pockets, I prefer more simple, sometime we couldn't find the thing we are looking for.

We are pro photographers, and needed something that looked nice, held alot, and would stay closed under pressure. This did it, and for a nice price too. We ordered two to start with, we use them in about every typed of situation you can think of. The winner was a event with about 4000 people. We needed to keep fresh change of batteries, soft box for flash, and cards. These held all that an more, and they still looked good. I've used and abused mine for a year now, and it's starting to show wear. However, because it's now so much apart of our uniforms, and packs I only retired it to personal use like a favorite pair of tennis shoes or jeans. I ordered 4 more for our new camera packs, and I will continue to order these as we need them in the future. Now I have trouble with one arm and have to unzip fast, change out what I need and get to moving. When we 1st got them, this was a little hard to do, but the more you zip and unzip the new wears off the zippers to a smooth action, but stays shut when closed. I know we have even over filled them, and they still keep going. Includes overfilled, phone, an two way radio.....they still keep going. If you fasten from the back and have the pack facing front, just be careful you get it fully lached, or it can and will come unlached on you. This is howevera user issue, not product issue. I have also given a review in the private photography arena on this product.

the fanny pack is made well and looks nice. the only problem is that it is a bit too small.

I was expecting 5 zipper areas in addition to the two small side zipper areas and the fanny pack had only 4 zipper areas accounting for my disappointment.

I love this bag. I had one like it a few years earlier and couldn't find a replacement. Lo and behold, checked out Amazon-dot-com and here it was! I really like the patch work and of course the price can't be beat. It is roomy for a fanny pack. No problem with the zippers either. I really like this one.

Reviews

I bought this purse because I was sick of having one that was to small and could not hold everything. This one is great! It is big enough to hold everything you need, but not to big that things get lost in it. It has a pocket inside for your cell phone and a zip pocket as well. It was a great find!

This purse is absolutely gorgeous. I myself have a thing for the patchwork look. Accompanying the patchwork detail is the metal detail which in itself gives the Gigi Chantal it's own flavor. The purse can go with just about anything you have in your closet. You don't have to worry about switching bags girls because this purse is versatile like that! This purse can be a "gotta go to work" bag or it can be a "fashionista" weekend bag, whatever day it is, this Gigi patchwork purse can make the statement. This purse is not only eye catching, but there is plenty of room to put your stuff in. I love this !

Reviews

The picture of this item looks great, exactly what I wanted. It came completely flat and folded up in plastic, with fold creases in the leather. The zipper does not work correctly, it comes unzipped in the middle of the zipper. Overall, just not the quality I was hoping for.

I also was a bit leary about this bag from some of its reviews regarding its quality. But I have to say I was more than pleasantly surprised. It is JUST exactly the size and style of what I was looking for and the one I received, was made well, nice quality leather, well designed in every way. My ONLY complaint is, the strap is WAYYYYYYY to short, for anyone but a child. When I put this bag on, as the sling it was intended, the bag itself falls under my armpit. Granted Im on the tall side, but Im not 6 feet tall, and its still way too short. Luckily for me, I had an older black leather bag that had a detachable shoulder strap with the same clip hooks as this bag. So for me, adding the extra strap, makes the bag fall just above my hip , which is where a sling bag should fall. I wont use the zip backpack option, but it did zip ok, if I ever did. Overall, decent value/quality, but the strap is too short.

Like another reviewer, I too was struck by how flimsy this bag looks and feels in person. It indeed looks quite sturdy in the photo. The back vertical pocket is basically useless. I'm still using my old beat-up backpack purse because it's better than this one. I do, however, take credit for making a bad purchase. I thought maybe there was more to the purse than was said. Nope. Like Mama told ya, "You better shop around!"

This backpack purse arrived with a zipper that wouldn't zip. So after paying the $7 in shipping to get an unusable product, I had to pay another $9 to ship it back to get my original backpack cost of $15 back. All in all, I'm out $16 for something I no longer have. It seems like you shouldn't have to pay for shipping on a defective product.

Great bag to carry around. Just right size for essential items. A front pocket with a main zipper compartment and a side zipper pocket.

Reviews

This item sounds great and I got it thinking it would give me easy access to essential items and not look large or bulky. It expands as the advertisement says. . . towards the bottom. But at the top where the zipper is it's pretty inflexible. So you can put items in there and it's harder to actually get to them because of the top. There are compartments. . .if you will, but they are mesh so my rings and bracelets get snagged pulling things out or putting them back in. It's just not what I thought it would be. Works great for my 15 year old daughter. She seems to like it I suppose. I just couldn't find it functional. I would not recommend this item for purchase to friend or foe.

I would like to warn others about the defects with this bag. The most annoying problem I have had is with the zippers. Just like other reviewers of this product, I experienced problems with the zipper pulls getting stuck and / or coming completely off. I have had to force them back into place and sew the ends so that I could use the pockets again, but they continue to get off track so that I either can't close the zippers or can't unzip them. I have thought about sewing velcro closures in place of the zippers, but I'm not sure that this would even work with the mesh pockets, and besides, the bag should have been made well enough that I shouldn't have even had to consider this in the first place. I also am nervous about items falling out of two of the compartments that are open and do not have zippers at all. The outer flap with the snap allows gaps on the side that are big enough that smaller items could slip out. Although the bag looks nice, I'm sure that there must be products that look just as nice, but are of much better quality. Spare yourself the aggravation and find a different bag.

This product is not worth your time or money. I have tried three times to use this bag and refuse to do it. It doesn't hold much. Does not close properly. Bag does not hang well. A total waste of money. I will not even donate it to charity!!

This bag does not hold all the stuff that they claim it can hold. The material is cheap. The magnetic snap on the outside flap tore while I was on my trip. Please do yourself a favor and do not buy this bag!

The idea behind the purse is fantastic and I love the cell phone access BUT my cell phone doesn't quite fit. The shoulder straps adjust whether you want them to or not and become a tangled mess, also the nylon mesh pockets are another great idea but if you put something that isn't perfectly flat and wafer thin in one the purse either won't close or pops open easily. Things slide out of the pockets so I'm afraid to put my credit cards in them and items get lost down in the bottom. In general this was a great concept but the actual product doesn't live up to the promise. Pass this one by, sadly it's not worth the price.

Reviews

Beautiful bag. The inside is very soft and padded. Great for protecting your laptop and other belongings with a stylish exterior.

I am so in love with my beautiful new laptopbag, so lady like and so practical... maybe the best thing is that it is a very easy way to support the breastcancer foundation just by looking that good...

I purchased a used product, which was advertised as such; however the condition the item in was poor and this was not advertised. I am disappointed that the item is not usable. I had to return it and was granted a full refund, but what a waste of time, effort, and resource.

This bag looks SO MUCH better online that it did when it arrived. Faux croc ix exactly what you get. The pink color faded with little time. I was so disappointed. I did, however, greatly appreciate the suede lining which was very lush and included a removable pouch. This made up for the exterior to some degree.

I like this bag a lot. The compartment for the computer has little foam bumpers in the bottom which are on top of a layer of foam, which is the safest design I've seen for the bottom of a bag or backpack and most do not have that. I like the little pockets, but there shoule be more of those. They have about 4 on one side of the bag, but they need some on the other side. The only complaint I have is that it should be just a little thicker as it is hard to get your stuff in and out. The zippers unzipping farther would probably help also. All in all a good bag though, and this was by far the least expensive website I could find.

Reviews

I loved the look of the bag, but since it was not clearly stated on the website the size of laptop it holds I took the risk according to the dimensions. My 16 inch laptop did NOT fit. It would hold a 15.4 nicely. Was a little disappointed that it didn't have as much padding protection that I like. The exterior is really sharp!!! I returned it for a refund and the process went smoothly! Once they received the the bag I was issued a credit through Amazon.com on my credit card.

Reviews

this is a terrific cover, although a bit expensive. it feels great to hold, sleek and soft and lovely. It was a little hard to instal on the Kindle, but once in it's really sturdy.

I first tried the new standard Amazon case for the Kindle 2 and could not live with the synthetic leather and strong smell. After much consideration I ended up ordering this case which does seem overpriced. The quality however is nothing short of outstanding. Cole Haan did use their best materials here and it trully exceeded my expectations. You do get what you pay for and sometimes a little more than that.

I am the mom of 3 kids. My youngest being a 2yr old monster named Michael. Ordinarily I keep my Kindle safely stowed away from my little monster. Yesterday was the first day since I got my Kindle that I totally forgot to take it off of the nightstand in the morning. It doesn't shock me that my little one found the Kindle on the nightstand. It also doesn't shock me that he decided to pour the glass of water that was next to my Kindle all over the cover. What does shock me is that both the Kindle and the Cole Haan cover survived the attack. The water never soaked through the cover enough to get to the Kindle. The cover itself was soaked. The Kindle bone dry. I removed the cover from the Kindle and laid it out flat to dry on my counter. It dried within hours and is not water stained at all! This cover is phenomenal. I bought it this cover solely based on its appearance. Obviously I should have based my decision on durability. This cover is pricey but so worth it. It is not just beautiful to look at, it is a great protector also.

I originally ordered Amazon's own cover with my Kindle, but was disappointed in it. Sure it worked well, the hinge mechanism is great and it does cover the Kindle, you get what you pay for and this just didn't smell of leather. The Cole Haan cover is thing of beauty. It is luxuriously made, in soft leather with a wonderful suede lining. It has the hinge mechanism, which securely attaches it to the Kindle. The cover is comfortable to hold and easily folds back so it can be held in one hand. Best of all is has a delicious leather smell, which I love...gorgeous! It is well worth the money paid for it, it is smart, elegant and will I'm sure last.

I have had this cover for my Kindle 2 for 7 months. I love the soft leather smooth outside and suede feel of the inside. The stitching is precise and spine hooking into the Kindle is totally secure. It is durable, though there are a few scuffs acquired over the months of heavy use - I think it adds character. The cover folds back nicely which I like to do while reading and there are no creases in the leather from doing that. I prefer this softer cover to the stiffer one my daughter has for her Kindle - to me, it's been well worth the price.

Reviews

This is absolutely beautiful. The suede on the inside is buttery soft. The stitching is perfect, not one stitch out of place or one hanging thread. The black leather is cut perfectly. The leather is the top of the line. This feels like it will last forever. Just as many people have commented on the cover as they have on the Kindle. 100% satisfied with this product.

Gave this to my wife as a Christmas present...she absolutely loves the feel and quality of this item. Highly recommend spending the extra $50 or so to get this. You will not be disappointed.

I struggled a little paying $100 for a cover. But after I read the reviews for the other covers I wanted to give this cover a try. I am more than pleased. I think the cover added a lot to the Kindle, made it feel like a book. Definitely a good investment.

This product is exactly as described. I had the following requirements in a cover: - Thin - High quailty - Good looks - Hinge - Folds back on itself for easy reading This fits all of those criteria. Definitely worth the money.

This case is really worth the money and really protects my kindle. I know that it seems a lot but it is expertly crafted and is Cole Haan quality. This did not crack my kindle as the Amazon brand case has reports of. I also like the fact that my kindle is secure inside there with the clip in hinge. It feels good in my hands and really looks good and really complements my kindle. I would recommend this to anyone.

Reviews

This cover is just beautiful - BUT: I have to agree with many other reviewers - the hinges are not good. The bottom one aligned correctly and slipped right in, but the top didn't come close to matching up with the Kindle 2 top hinge slot. So I had a dilemma. Return it or attempt to fix it? I elected to bend the hinge slightly up (with a hemostat, all I had handy) and it worked. Luckily for me, I guess. The top then did slip right in and it now seems very secure. But one shouldn't have to fix something this expensive at ALL! The other thing I "fixed" after another reviewer mentioned it (thank you!!) was I applied two small pieces of double-sided tape to the back of the Kindle to affix it to the back cover. Now I can't accidentally open it the wrong way, and my Kindle doesn't flop about inside the cover. It stays put, yet I can remove the tape without damage to the cover or the Kindle. The cover itself is absolutely gorgeous. Beautiful, creamy suede inside - it feels so nice to hold. I'm sure it will get dirty, and the soft outer leather will get scratched, but I decided I could live with it aging gracefully. The only thing about the outer leather being so smooth is that it slips in my hands almost as much as a naked Kindle! I imagine as the leather wears, however, that too will become a non-issue. I bought this cover as a splurge - and it really is a thing of beauty. It is padded very well front and back and seems like it will protect my Kindle. Pay attention to the hinges, though. I don't really recommend trying to fix it yourself - I just got lucky on that!

This cover is gorgeous -- smooth, soft, unblemished leather -- and I thought it would be perfect. But the cover simply did not fit the Kindle correctly. I tried two of them before I gave up, and they both had the same problem (though to Amazon's credit, the exchange and the subsequent return processes were smooth and easy). When I inserted the Kindle in the hinge system, the Kindle did not rest flat against the back cover; the right edge of the Kindle stuck up in the air about 1/3 inch, cantilevered out from the hinges. If I pressed down on the Kindle, it might have laid flat against the back cover temporarily, but after reading of other Kindle owners' problems with their cases cracking (using other covers, not this one), I was not interested in subjecting my Kindle to any more stress than necessary at the hinge connector points. So I've returned it. It's too bad, because I really wanted to love this cover!

I bought one of these to go with a Kindle I bought my husband for Christmas. It looks and feels beautiful and he really prefers this smooth grain over the regular Kindle cover. That being said, think about how you would use this before you decide to put up the extra money. The leather is soft and smooth more like a fine wallet, not rugged like a briefcase. If you aren't careful with it, it will scratch. Personally, I don't think the small scratches on my husband's case detract from the beauty of the leather. It also protects the Kindle well and keeps it firmly in place, while providing the extra bonus of creating a more book-like feel. The cover can be folded back like a real book and even the texture on the inside flap is very nice. We are very happy to have splurged a little on this and would certainly buy it again.

This is a very beautiful cover but I feel it's too delicate for everyday use, as it scratches very easily. So I reverted to the plain grainy leather cover which works very well.

I decided to purchase this rather extravagent "Kindle cover" by Cole Haan because I wanted something more than just "the basic" cover. I am very pleased with my decision. The Cole Haan leather cover is beautiful; the leather is as soft as butter and the interior is a fine suede. My Kindle is a fantastic investment and I wanted a cover that was as fantastic. True, it's a bit pricey, but hey, I wanted the best for my Kindle (which I think is the best, too!!). No regrets.

Reviews

Purchased item as described: Makeup Bag. Did not notice in online picture that bags are a patchwork of leather pieces. Workmanship quality is fine. The dark leather up close may seem better suited for more masculine use. The most daunting feature is the odor. If you are a fan of the smell of leather these are the products for you. It took 2 months of airing, many topical leather conditioners and deodorizers before the intensity of the smell was less than overpowering.

As above, Great Product, unbelievable price and fast shipping. I kept the large one and gave two away for presents!

The product is excellent as was the price. The three piece kit fits in my glove compartment and my desk drawer. I was very impressed.

To my mother it liked much. Very good and by a very good price. I thought that they were small and they are quite great, fits to them of everything.

At just under three bucks for the three bags, this is a good deal. They're a bit larger than I'd expected, but that's a good thing. I use the large "makeup" bag for traveling with several AC adapters; the medium for digital voice recorder, GPSr and PDA; and the small one for mics, earphones and batteries. (Lipstick I can keep in my pocket.) Surprising good quality, but the bags have a strange smell. Part leather, part...spores. They smell of mildew. I searched the house for a pile of old wet books before realizing the three leather bags were giving off the odor. Excellent price for the bags (I bought two sets to make the cost of shipping worthwhile), but that smell knocks off a star.

Reviews

I have been looking for exactly this type of bag for two years and couldn't come across it in any store I looked in. I was shopping around on Amazon and couldn't believe it when I saw it! I ordered it and when it arrived I couldn't wait to use it. The bag was crinkled and folded in a plastic bag. The creases haven't come out and the leather is cracked on the strap and along one of the creases. The bag also has an odor coming from it....sorta like a mildew smell. I used it for 2-3 days and was so embarassed when someone pointed out that the odd odor we smelled in the room was coming from my bag! I was actually at a pocketbook dem and ended up buying a new black bag there for 4x what I paid for this bag. I guess what they say is true....you get what you pay for. I am currently very happy with the bag I purchased but it wasn't what I really wanted.

Reviews

You can actually change the shape of the bag to a more square look. Looks great and classy. Has a good finishing. I recommend.

I ordered this bag, because it looked good online and because many reviews were favorable. I received it last week and what a huge disappointment. The bag's interior is flimsy, cheap and has threads hanging. The interior material will not hold up well at all. The zipper is a joke. Why would you put a 12" zipper into a bag and then only sew a six inch center portion into athe bag itself? Who does that? Cheap bag manufacturers, that's who. I already sent it back and will spend a little more to get a quality bag. Save your money and the shipping fees and get something more substantial.

The purse looks great, stylish and all, bottom line is my wife loved it. After a few hours of use one of the straps came off, I noticed that the hole where the rivet goes was made right on the edge, so it was actually just half a hole, nothing that can't be fixed but this shouldn't have happened on a brand new bag.

I bought this purse a few months ago, and came back for more! I ordered the zebra purse! I cannot believe the price for the quality of this purse! I saw a Dooney and Burke at thier boutique and I had mine with me at the time and this one went toe to toe with it. I've been buying Marc Jacobs, Liz Clairborne, xoxox, house of derion, etc for years!!~ I'm checking here for now one when a new trend comes out.. I still have my elite collection but for every day.. these are AWESOME! .. They are Large, you can transform them into a couple of styles, the interior is of quality, the exterior has held up.. No fading, no cracking, etc.. I always get compliments. I also bought the wallet to match.. Sandy

I bought this purse as a gift for myself and i fell in love with it. it is nice style and design. the only thing i do not like is the half zipper in the middle. it is confusing and very in convenient. other than that i would recomend it to anyone.

Reviews

I have to admit straight away that I am a handbag loony. I love good bags, I never get rid of them and I am a fanatic about taking good care of leather bags, so they last forever. This bag is similar in design to a number of my other bags but I wanted a size that would hold more, not weigh a ton empty and have access to my cell phone without having to search through the entire bag, or have a dangly thing hanging off it. It did all that. If a bag has too many zippers and pockets it is a fact of life that you will search all of them until you come to what you are looking for, usually in the last possible place. This is not a problem with this bag, it has the perfect number of pockets and flaps and even a little secret one that can hold whatever you'd like and not be bulky. The strap is adjustable without requiring you unbuckle anything which is a plus for me. You can carry it across your body with the pretty side out as there is a back zippered pocket that will hold the longest wallet (trust me on this one) against your body, where no thief has any right to go. It also leaves the front pockets available for that cell phone if you like as they have velcro closures, and are a good size. It is sturdy and will last a very long time, if it is cared for-the leather is a good quality. I always treat my bags twice a year with leather conditioner which takes very little time and repays you well in the extra life it gives your good bags and things. The one that this one sent back to the closet for a rest has been in my possession for the last 30 years and with the help of a shoemaker to repair a broken strap, and good care will no doubt be back in the rotation around the spring. I think this bag was a good buy and I am very pleased with it.

This is not a bad purse but ... I have looked and looked for a shoulder bag that carries what I need without smaller than an overnight bag. They use to make such things but apparently the fashion industry has dictated that today's purses be otherwise. So here is what I'd like: I want a shoulder bag. I want both of my hands free and I want the strap long enough (I'm tall) to swing at my waste where I can grab the bag when negotiating high density foot traffic. 1 outer flap pocket capable of holding a book or a notebook in a vertical position (10* wide please) 1 sealable outer pocket for a PDA, cell phone 1 sealable outer pocket for small snacks the size of a couple of candy bars a large inner pocket capable of holding a day runner w/ : 1 inner pocket for small makeup items (lipstick, nail file, etc) 1 small inner pocket for tissues, handkerchief This approximates some of these features but despite the claimed outer measurements the pocket's measurements are approximately an inch and a half smaller. In order to use it for my day runner or my notebook/journal I have to spend several minutes stuffing/ unstuffing. If fashion dictates that purses should be small and impractical, OK but can't someone design one for active women?

Reviews

I bought this purse because I love Giraffes. I mean I even have one tattooed up my side. But when I bought this and got it I was surprised I could almost fit my two year old in there. ha ha. It is big. I fit my coat his coat his diapers and wipes and food along with all my other needs in my giraffe purse. I go everywhere with it. I am sad to see it go into storage soon. I am having another baby and my husband wants a new diaper bag. One he can carry around HA HA.

The bag is really nice and looks great. I am using it quite a bit; but, the thread is coming out only after using it for about two weeks.

Purse arrived in less than 3 days after I ordered. Excellent service and price is very reasonable! Purse is good quality and I've received many compliments. Only down side is that it's more of a brownish-black rather than black as stated in the title. If it were black I would have rated it 5 stars! Still enjoy using the purse - lots of great compartments and a special place for your cell.

I got this bag today and I absolutely love it...it's spacious and looks very chic...a must-have and at a good price too...

This is a very nice bag for the price, was well worth it. There was some odor when I first took it out of the box however it was gone within a hour. I also ordered the black giraffe wallet and it was a perfect match to the bag.

Reviews

This bag is the best. It looks just like Bella's bag from the movie, I love it and use it everyday. What a great bag.

This is great bag. The quality is exactly as it should be. We use the JanSport products all the time.

I'm a high school student so my typical backpack load ranges from 30 lbs to 50 lbs. Before this bag I had the Wasabi version, which I was very happy with until it started ripping after three years of using it. When I was deciding on a bag, I thought this would be pretty cool because it looks great and on the Jansport website it says the size is about the same as my old one. When I recieved it though it seemed smaller than my old one and even pictures of it on the site. If you want your bag to carry a ton for you, this might be too small. Bottom line: it's a great bag - but it's not big enough.

Reviews

I'm a pursue freak with more handbags in my closet than shoes. My sister bought this for me for Christmas and I love it. Had no idea the price was so low too. It looks great on me and in my closet!

I love this purse. I received it a couple days ago and it is a great purse and I am very picky. I like the style and looks of it and I kinda thought it was korny to have your name on it but it is actually cute and interchangeable. mine came to me through fedex and arrived quickly. I highly recommend this purse I am a very satisfied customer.

Bought this purse for my daughter. She likes that it comes with lettera and you can write different expression on the bar at the bottom of the purse. This purse is cute functional and fun.

I am so in love with this purse! I bought it and it arrived very nicely packaged with all the metal pieces wrapped and all zip pulls and handles covered. It felt like Christmas when I was opening it. The design and style are out of this world. I actually have women ask me where I got this purse because it is so great looking. I honestly cant believe that I am the only one to leave feedback. The "croco trim" is very nice looking. I have ordered other purses online with the trim only to be disappointed by gaudy high gloss plastic crap so I was very happy to see this nice trim. The outside zipper that you cant see in the picture is big enough to fit about 3 cell phones in (vertically). The handles have a nice size and fit comfortably over my shoulder. The chains are super sexy and they dont pinch your arm like some other ones do. The buckle has a magnetic back on it that slips easily into place. More convenient than most buckles. The letters for the name plate come inside the purse in a little plastic bag. The purse does not say Sarah. You just pull the end of the name plate up over the nub and slide the letters (up to 5) on. They are good quality, and they fit snugly on the plate so they dont move around a lot. You get TWO of the following letters: A, B, C, E, L, N, R, S, T And ONE of each of these : D, F, G, H, I, J, K, M, O, P, U, V, W, Y, Z Overall this purse gets an A+ and the price is unbeatable. I hope this review helped you!

Reviews

This book has a lot of cool ideas. The best part is that they give an excellent discription and pictures of all the tools you will use! This has been helpful not only for the handbag styles they show you how to make but in making my own ideas come alive!

Loved this book. It explained things so clearly and the pictures are very helpful. The patterns included were also helpful as well. I would recommend this book to anyone serious about purse making.

What a snoozefest of a book! the designs were boring and everything looked so amateur.

I was a student of Nicole Malone and this book helps me to further my handbag making skills. The hobo bag is certainly a great one to learn from this book. But you must know simple sewing skills in order to follow what this book instructs or you may lose the directions. Great book though!

This was a great book with wonderful ideas, Beautiful pictures, Great Patterns, and Easy to follow instructions.

Reviews

Accessories, even more than complete costumes, rarely get scholarly attention. This book is one of the few to address the subject in a systematic, historical way. Much needed.

This book has helped me immensely to make smarter additions to my own purse collection because there are so many clear examples of each genre. As a reference book, this is the go-to volume when you need to be SURE of a time period, the correct name for a style, etc... Yet it is such a beautiful book, my mother purchased one for her bookshelf and she has no interest in purses!

What a wonderful accomplishment for Paula and Lori! The information pertaining to early purses such as misers, pockets, chatelaines, textiles and needlework purses! I especially enjoyed the chapter on purse restoration. The photos of the figural & scenic purses are absolutely amazing. The celluloid and compact purse examples were also a delight. For everyone who knows these two lovely ladies, they know that they truly have a passion for purses. Many times I have heard of Paula donating her time to deliver public presentations, printing and passing out breakthrough information on early purses and donating them to interested parties, as well as contributing to other books including mine. If anyone deserves a pat on the back for this groundbreaking book, it is these two ladies, Paula Higgins and Lori Blaser. Congratulations ladies! Well done!

What a beautiful book; filled with glorious bags of the past, historical information and current values. There are hundreds of bags, created using techniqes such as beading, embroidery, tapestry, netting, crochet, knitting, tambour, loom, petit point and various stitchery. Gorgeous bags are displayed - eye-smacking delicious- that I have not seen in other collectible publications; a real plus for collectors. There is a chapter dedicated to restoration of vintage bags, with instructions for repair and cleaning, plus photos; tips when purchasing bags; and choosing the right purse frames. At the back of the book, page 256, I was delighted to see the two contemporary bags by Katerina Musetti, an artist and established opera singler; the bags are exquisite. It is obvious this book is a culmination of Paula and Lori's purse obsession, historical studies and labor. I highly recommend this inspiring book for collectors, as well as, bag enthusiasts; a book not to be missed. Review by Lydia F. Borin, The Beadwrangler

'Passion for Purses' is a beautiful, quality reference book for all purse lovers & collectors; from novice to the serious collector. The book has special emphasis on very early antique purses by one of the most knowledgeable persons around today. Contains previously unseen purses from private collections that have never before been published. Hundreds of pictures on quality paper, excellent information on the many catagories of purses that are included. I highly recommend this book to anyone who has a passion for purses. Great book for study or pleasure.A Passion for Purses, 1600-2005

Reviews

This book has really great projects even for those of us who haven't done a lot of leather crafting before. There are some really unique looks that I know would look great with my wardrobe.

This book is beautifully done, but suffers from the problems I've seen in other books on leather bags. The actual leather bag patterns are too small to be practical for use. Many of the bags as shown appeal only to young girls playing dress up. This is not to say that they couldn't be made tasteful, if still undersized. A few of the projects, surprisingly, are only accented by leather and are otherwise store bought bags. There are some good ideas in this book, but not enought to justify the price for the already accomplished leatherworker. I don't recommend it, and would have returned it if the shipping both ways would not have exceeded the cost of the book.

Can't wait to try some of the project. This book give leather craft a new look.