I have a confession to make.
I have developed an addiction.
An addiction to vintage handbags.
It’s always been there, but it’s grown to the point where I am seriously considering putting a ban on myself from logging into eBay ever again.
Then again, whatever makes you happy, right? It’s more fun and useful than collecting souvenir teaspoons.
I thought I’d show you my winning bids from the last couple of weeks. Who doesn’t like to look at pretty things?
This rather jolly looking 70’s number is a great size, in excellet condition and arrived on my doorstep from the UK this week. Needs to lose a certain musty odour, but at least that lets you know it’s not a fake.
Unlike this one:
…which I also now have in my possession and is NOT vintage, as advertised. Farkinell. You can’t bloody well trust anyone these days. The only reason I’m not going to kick up a fuss, is that despite the false advertsing, it is a lovely bag with very dense beading. I’ll definitely get some use out of it and I didn’t pay much.
Another 70’s vision, which also arrived this week. My mum had handbags like this when I was a kid. It’s leather, of course and very roomy. I took it out with me when I went out for lunch this week and I couldn’t be happier. Especially considering it only cost me AU$15.
So, not only do I have a fetish for vintage handbags in general, but also a fetish for pretty much anything made by Enid Collins in the 1960’s. This box bag is one of her creations. It arrived in the mail today and it is just about the cutest thing I’ve ever seen, much nicer than in the photo. Yay!
It’s also cute when you open it up….
And whilst we’re on an automotive tangent….
This is another Enid Collins (Collins of Texas) bag I managed to get my grubby little paws on. Woohoo!
This tooled leather 70’s bag was apparently once used in a movie. Which movie that was, nobody seems to be quite sure…. I’ll er… keep an eye out.
This one I adore. It’s so pretty and unusual. I’m already scoping out places to put it on display… Hmm. Maybe it will make a nice jewellery box…
Other perspectives:
And finally….
Another Enid Collins creation from the 60’s. So pretty…. [sigh]
So, you see why I need help? This infatuation is starting to get out of control. I wonder if there is a treatment centre for handbag addiction. I think I need some aversion therapy.
Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to log into eBay…. to leave some feedback. Yeah, that’s it…….
Song of the Day – The Rezillos – Somebody’s Going To Get Their Head Kicked In Tonight
Vanessa is... 
julian said,
August 24, 2007 at 3:35 pm
wOw….these iz kewwwl….awesome collection.
oh yeah, btw, a friend of mine makes some kewwl bas, here:
herzeleidknits
http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=67093
take care & drive-by sometime ~julian
modobs said,
August 24, 2007 at 3:36 pm
Haha! At least, your husband seems really understanding with your infatuation for vintage handbags. Mine would immediately forces me to sell everything on ebay, because it takes too much space (that’s his opinion).
A treatment to handbag addiction? Well, most of my female friends would join you then. It’s not your fault. It’s the fault of these handbags: why do they exist?
Vanessa said,
August 24, 2007 at 3:43 pm
Julian – Hey there mister! Haven’t seen you around for a while… I’ll be over to catch up on your ramblings in a wee while.. yay.
Your friend’s bags are really cute… That reminds me, I haven’t picked up my knitting for yonks… better get onto that and then maybe I can make some gorjus baggies meself….. 😀
modobs – Do you think I told him?? Hah! Oh, what’s that package on the doorstep? Heheee…….
I’m going to start selling some stuff on eBay. It seems quite daunting, but I’ll stop procrastinating one of these days….
Handbags exist purely for our pleasure… Oh, and um, for practical purposes – but who cares about practical? 😛
auroragg said,
August 24, 2007 at 5:24 pm
That’s one heck of a beautiful collection!
Vanessa said,
August 24, 2007 at 5:48 pm
Why thank you. I’m pretty damn pleased with it myself! 😀
Thanks for dropping by.
rannaland said,
August 26, 2007 at 12:42 am
VANESSA!!! DO NOT OPEN ANY EMAILS FROM ME!! IF IT SAYS RANNA1119@yahoo do not open it. Just trust me on this one girl
Vanessa said,
August 26, 2007 at 12:45 am
I gotcha hon…
Hey! Nice to see ya! Where the hell have you been??
D. Peace said,
August 26, 2007 at 10:29 am
I didn’t know handbags were that elaborate. I can imagine you’d get carried away if you let yourself. My advice: insert a mousetrap (of very small beartrap) into the handbag so that you subconsciously draw a negative association. This way, the mere thought of getting new ones in the mail will horrify you. 😉
My mother collects souvenir teaspoons and teacups, by the way. She is lovingly laughed at by my brother and myself, however.
Vanessa said,
August 26, 2007 at 1:53 pm
Ah, you’ve led a sheltered existence in terms of handbag exposure, obviously. 😉 They really can be like works of art… I’m thinking you’re onto something with the trap idea. Maybe I could have somebody spray them with some kind of scent akin to skunk spray, or something of the like… Then again, I’m not sure even that would work. Pain and violence seem to be the safest options…
That’s cute that your mother collects teaspoons. I would take the piss if she were my mother, as well. Lovingly, of course… 😉
(nice pun, btw :p)
rannaland said,
August 26, 2007 at 4:49 pm
Hey girly! i have been so busy with school and work and about to move and email hijackers! OMG!! Its been nuts!! you should have gotten an email from me this morning giving you my new email. Good Lord girl!! You just have no idea how panicked i was yesterday when those emails went out. HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!! I swear to god if it can happen, it will happen to me!! Love ya girl!!
Vanessa said,
August 27, 2007 at 3:55 am
Good grief, how did they get your email? You did a fine job of warning us of the email, thanks for that… That would be a right pain the arse to be hijacked. It happened to me briefly on Yahoo once…
Anyway, I’m glad to hear you’ve been busy and haven’t fallen off a cliff or died of a broken heart or anything of the sort… You have been missed!! Smooches from Oz for you!
Liz said,
August 27, 2007 at 8:40 am
Hello, Vanessa. I found your blog at modobs.
These bags are beautiful! I also have a hangbag addiction and I must say you have great taste in bags. Those Enid Collins bags are so whimsical and that flowery one (with the musty odor – I heard baking soda helps absorb the smell) is so adorable. My favorite one, though, is the red leather bag.
A possible cure for addiction is when I tidy up my closet and clean all my bags. It’s hard work and makes me rethink buying another one. 🙂 Of course, this feeling lasts only until I step into a store. 😛
rannaland said,
August 27, 2007 at 5:00 pm
I wish i knew how they got my email!! The little wankers!! I am probably going to post a new blog this afternoon about my current adventures. Its been a long time since i’ve written and i need to get back to it. I do miss you guys. And Tommy T went and fell in love. I’m STUNNED!! But so happy for him.
Vanessa said,
August 28, 2007 at 2:47 am
Hey Liz, thanks for dropping by. 🙂
I’m so glad you appreciate my taste in bags. Of course, I think I have great taste, but beauty being in the eye of the beholder and all that… I love the red leather bag, too. I’ve taken it out twice in the last week. Of course, it’s all about matching occasions and outfits, so I’m still waiting for a chance to use the flowery one. The rest haven’t arrived yet, except for the box bag…
Thanks for the baking soda tip! I will definitely give that a try.
Hehe, I think I’d be about as successful as you in curbing my addiction if I tried to use cleaning them as a deterrent… 😉
Vanessa said,
August 28, 2007 at 2:59 am
Ooh, yay Ranna. I look forward to catching up on all your stuff. 😀
They probably got your email from you clicking on a link you thought was perfectly innocent. That’s what happened to me….and then it spreads itself around to your contacts.
That is pretty crazy about Tommy, huh? He is missed very dear and I fear he won’t reappear, Sam I am. 😦 😉
Jules said,
September 3, 2007 at 3:01 am
I feel an attack of the green-eyed monster coming on…..
Love the bags, and I’m glad they all arrived safely. Pity about the one not being vintage. It’s still pretty though, and the others are just fabulous anyway so it’s not the end of the world. I love the Enid Collins ones. They are delightful! 🙂
Vanessa said,
September 3, 2007 at 3:37 am
Ahh, Enid is my hero now…. I just can’t get enough of her and her gloriously whimsical designs and sparkling jewels…
They’ve all arrived now except the last one. Oh, that little hexagonal box with the decoupage is the most delightful thing I’ve ever laid eyes on… They all look better in real life. Yay!
I was a bit shitty about the non-vintage ruse, but seeing as it came from the UK, I can’t really be bothered doing anything about it. I’ll still use it… it is pretty… I did email the seller asking exactly what vintage was and they didn’t answer me. I thought it was just an oversight, but now I see why… heh… More fool me..
Jules said,
September 3, 2007 at 3:54 am
Yeah, the distance makes it hardly worth the effort in complaining. If they already didn’t answer your email before you had the bag they are certainly not going to bother now….
I bet they do look much better in real life! I can’t make out much of the decoupage on the hexagonal one, but it looks like there is a lot of intricate detail on there.
Vanessa said,
September 4, 2007 at 2:16 am
Decoupage and all folky crafts usually make my face twitch, but there was a time when they did it beautifully and didn’t cover everything in fucking teddybears. I have two early 20th century decoupage items (another, a box inherited from my grandmother), and they are two of my favourite things.
scandalouscandice said,
September 14, 2007 at 2:22 pm
Some of those are like ahhh WTF? But I like the Enid Collins Box Bag. I am not much of a hang bag girl myself. I am a shoe whore.
Barb said,
April 6, 2008 at 3:38 am
I linked you on my purse blog–I hope that’s okay
http://iwannanewbag.blogspot.com/2008/04/designer-spotlight-enid-collins.html
daria said,
August 18, 2009 at 6:04 pm
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Ed said,
September 29, 2009 at 3:05 pm
Forgive me if you can, but I will always love you, even if you are not the person who was in Biology lab, summer 2009. Tell Zac to forgive me also because anyone who is your boyfriend and dose not make the commitment needs to think hard about what I said. And sorry if it bothers you that I try and contact you, but at least it shows me that you are getting my messages. And If Zac does not want to marry you, I would like to…. Well, I would like to whether he does or not. And I always wondered why you wore a hooded coat in Florida, And I’m sorry it came out wrong when I asked about the lip rings, because I really wanted to asy if I could kiss those beautiful lips, but I tripped over my words, seems I cannot speak plainly to the girls I care most about and I guess that is all proof that it is LOVE!!!!!!!
And again forgive me because I would never want to hurt you or make you feel uneasy. I really do miss you, I cannot seem to do anything since you have gone. You are always on my mind. Yes you are that Butterfly, from the meaning of the word Venessa except they have it wrong in that you are the most Beautiful of all of GOD’s creations. You must really be an angel because you birng with you a spirit of total peace and oneness with all that surrounds you. Enjoy Vancouver, And May GOD always Bless You and Watch over you, my prayers will always be with you….
Ed said,
October 1, 2009 at 2:47 pm
You don’t have to say you love me
You don’t have to say you care
But if ever you are thinking of me
Know that my love for you will always be there
Vanessa said,
October 1, 2009 at 5:07 pm
Mate, I think you’re barking up the wrong tree here. I’m Australian and probably close to 20 years older than you.
Sorry to disappoint! I hope you find who you’re looking for…
Ed said,
October 2, 2009 at 3:14 am
Say what, I never been to the south pacifif but I undrestant that those Assies as I have heard they are called are sweet folks with lots of love. And perhaps you are right but this one got away and thatworst part is that GOD told me to follow after her, but have you ever heard GOD speak to you while you are driving/ I shocked me because I had never heard GOD’ voice so clear before so I froze up and she got away. Perhaps GOD will let me find her again because it hurts when you love someone and they are nolonger around. Guess I must leave no stone un turned in my search for her, so If you are not the Vanessa I am looking for then I figure I have only 6,799,999,999 more people to check, or divide that in half because when GOD made this Girl, He really did it right.
I pray that GOD will bless you in all you do, and if you see her first, would you tell her that Ed is looking for her back in South Florida?
Thanks
With Love From Florida
Ed
See Ya
Ed said,
October 2, 2009 at 3:30 am
Hey, I forgot to add, I love playing chess, If you are interested in a long distance game? P-K4 or do you want the first move?
Ed said,
October 3, 2009 at 8:39 pm
Woof, Woof, just barking up the wrong tree again, and to age is not a matter because, the way I see it, If the universe has been here 13 billion years, then my entire life is only a puff of smoke, here today ang gon tomarrow.
Was that you in those photos? cause I am in love with a girl who was not born when I got out of high school and she is of legal age too. I am not a pervert, just someone who enjoys the company of friendly people, if you were not so very far away, it might be grand meeting you. But my truck will not get too close if I tried to drive where you are so maybe we better just say that it might have been fun. And excuse me for being me, but I am on the hunt for the most beautiful girl GOD ever created, and I found her, and now I must do things as to please everyong who is concerned, though, if you ever want to play am E-Mail game of chess, you have the address