Red Pouch Lady

Hmmm. That's not a very attractive name for such a vibrant Lady of the Evening! She's so pretty and sparkly. She deserves better.

This flat-bottomed gal is completely beaded, front and back. She stands on a satin-covered oval. Her drawstring is hidden between the outer beaded layer and the inner satin lining, about 1-1/2 inches from the lip. The ends of the drawstrings are encased in these 1/2 inch beaded circles. As you can see, the covering and beading on the circles are imperfect (as is my camera's focus on this detail!)

The braided seed bead handle is short -- about 14 inches long. It's attached inside the top of the bag. However, it's attached with white thread at the seams, not into the seam lining.

The outside of the bag is beaded with a very interesting pattern. It starts with a diagonal grid of small iridescent red seed beads. At the intersections are a star shape of bugle beads with a medium red pearl bead. Layered over that grid, attached in the center of each square, is a clear sequins. The the dropped dangles start at that sequins. They are composed of seed beads with a large red pearl bead at the bottom of the dangle. The double layer of beading gives this lady a lot of movement and sparkle.

This lady is practically new. The inside is pristine. It's a newer import, made in China. It does have several flaws and loose threads which I might fix.

But I'm not complaining. Like her little sister the Blue Clutch Girl, she was bought at a thrift store for only $3.99! 

One of my goals for next year is to install some acrylic shelves on the walls of my Studio where I can display these lasses. For now, all my pretty Ladies of the Evening are in storage. They deserve a place in the spotlight again.

Blue Clutch Girl

I'm stumped.

What shall I call a "lady of the evening" when she's intended for a little girl?

I found this beaded beauty at a thrift store. Adorable!

It's fully beaded on both sides of the bag with lots of seed beads in addition to a garden of flower beads. Overhead flies a kaleidoscope of butterfly beads.

The bottom of the bag is covered with iridescent blue sequins and outlined in a double row of blue seed beads.

It can be used as a clutch, as shown above. Or it can be converted to a handbag with this short silver chain handle. The handle tucks neatly inside when not in use.

It's pristine on the inside. No stains or marred surfaces at all.

The cost at a thrift store? $3.99!!!!!

It is small though. Only 4-1/2 inches across the bottom and 3 inches tall. It's not even big enough to carry a phone. If I can bear to give it up, I can gift it to my granddaughter Annie who loves to play dress-up.

Thrift Haul

My friend Karen and I spent a couple hours together at a thrift store yesterday. I had two things in mind that I was keeping my eyes open for, but those were not to be found. I did, however, score some nice objects -- nothing that I NEEDED, but some nice finds none-the-less. Check out this haul!

When I go thrifting, I can't resist all the pretty glassware. Most of the time I don't allow myself to purchase any because I have plenty. But this vase is special. This detailed tulip relief pattern is on both the front and back of this octagonal vase. The overall size is approx 8.5" wide x 5" tall x 4.5" deep. It's a gorgeous shape that should work well on our rectangular coffee table. The sticker on the bottom says that it's 24% lead crystal from the Czech Republic. And yes, it does ring when I plink it with my finger. Gorgeous. It was something like $5 or $7.50. Incredible.

Next, I found a "lady of the evening." It's been a while since I've increased the inventory of my beaded handbags. This one is in decent shape on the outside, but quite stained (with crayons ... and rust) on the inside. It's also missing it's chain handle. However, it's fully beaded on both the front and the back with rows of vertical bugle beads alternating with spirals of seed beads. On the bottom, strings of seed beads are woven in a delicate pattern. This handbag was made in Hong Kong and priced at $8.99, but I got an additional 30% percent off.

Then I found some fabric. The blue-with-white-stars appears to be about a fat quarter of cotton quilting fabric. It has nice body. The purple fabrics were bundled together in a plastic bag. When I unpacked them, I learned they are taffeta. I was assuming they were a cotton/poly blend. Now I'll have to be creative in how I use them. I love the purple combination of solids and prints.  (Ooo! Summer of "P" purple fabrics!)

Then some hearts found me! The stamp is a good size, about 3.5" across at the widest part. I'm pretty sure I have an identical stamp that is stained red. This one has never been used and was about 35 cents.

Then I found three rolls of ribbon. The "It's a Girl" ribbon is 3/8" wide. The spool is partially used. The Other two rolls are unopened. They're both 5/8" wide and 3 yards. If new, they'd be $2 a pop. I purchased them for about 35 cents each.

Then I found a jackpot of heart-shaped buttons! All of these were squished into a 2" x 2" baggie. There are also 4 thimbles. The two little ones look like they could have been pieces from a Monopoly game. The large thimbles each have a unique design. Seems like I've accidentally gathered quite a collections of old thimbles.

The last thing I picked up was an unopened package of college-ruled notebook paper for 45 cents. Always useful.

My entire haul cost less than $30. On ebay, that same vase is listed at $60!

Gosh, it had been years since I got to rummage around a thrift store like that. Karen got a great haul, too, including her favorite finds - books! Now that I have another thrifting buddy, we can do more exploring together in Eugene's many thrift shops. Whoo-hoo!

July Goal Update

I made a bit more progress in July. Let's take a look.

---

Goal #14: Paint and Add Privacy Fencing to the Dog Kennel
Our contractor was here last week and fixed the roof of the dog kennel. It looks so spiffy now. Dale and I are completely pleased with that project.

We also got the soffits repaired on the back of the house, and some siding replaced where rainwater had caused damage.

---

Goal 17: Blog at least 25 weeks of #throwbackthursday posts of my 1997 - 2007 projects

Done! As of July 31, I blogged 26 weeks. Now I'm just an overachiever ... like I've never been called that before! I actually prefer the term high achiever. ''

---

Goal 18: Blog at least 10 of my Ladies of the Evening collection

Though I completed this goal already, I blogged about a couple more of my Ladies. I'm now up to 14. It wouldn't be that hard to up my annual goal to 20. Hmmm. Yes. High Achiever.

---

Goal 19. Finish one course

I'm half way through The Creative License. This is a slog to read. I'm not drawing much at all.

---

Alt Fun Goal: 50 movies from my Netflix DVD and streaming queues

I watched 7 more bringing my total to 43. I love documentaries and oddball movies that I can't get via streaming.

---

Whittle a Little
This has slowed down, but this month I found new homes for some DVDs, a craft paper trimmer, and a coffee maker.

2019 Totals as of July 30:
11 goals finished
5 goals in progress
3 alternate goals finished
5 alternate goals in progress

This is so encouraging. Only 5 more goals to complete my 19 for the year.

More Christmas in July

My Ladies of the Evening series continues today with a beaded bag I call Christmas Lass. This charming bag is just the right size for a little girl. She's 8 inches across at the base; 6-1/2 inches across at the opening; and about 3 inches tall. The front is completely beaded and spangled.



The back is plain satin. Her satin handles are about 8 inches long, giving them 3-1/2 inches to hold onto.



She's all wrapped up like a Christmas gift with a base of red, green, and gold seed beads in a random pattern. Her bow and ribbon are made from 3/8 inch red sequins, outlined in gold seed beads.



The "wrapping" is edged in more of the gold seed beads. But this little lady's seams are uncovered.



She's very clean. Her entire inside is lined with more of the red satin. She closes with a simple center snap.



The only blemish on Christmas Lass is this small slightly sticky spot just above the snap at the edge of the evening bag.

I'm fairly sure this was another thrift store find, but I didn't hold onto the receipt this time. I think she's adorable and look forward to giving Christmas Lass to my granddaughter Melody when she is a little bit older.

Peace Flag Bag

My Ladies of the Evening series continues with this little lass. The Flag Bag is more suited to a girl than a woman. She's small - only 3" x 5". She could easily be used as a coin purse. She has only 32 "star" beads, so is not accurate as a modern day American flag.



The red and white beads that form the stripes are secured with a thread that runs horizontally through the beads. The field of blue beads is secured with a thread that runs vertically through the beads. The white "star" beads are sewn in fairly haphazardly. The bottom row of the blue field is secured horizontally like the stripes. All of this detail helps to add texture to a solid side of beading.



Here's the surprise. This little lady is fully beaded on the other side -- depicting the Canadian flag! This is why I call her the Peace Flag Bag. I've seen similar souvenirs in gift shops at the US / Canadian border where peace between our two nations reigns supreme.



On this side, all the beads in the red and white fields are secured with a thread running vertically through the beads. The beads that fill the maple leaf follow the contours of the outline. On both sides of this beaded bag, the red beads are sparkly clear glass beads. The white beads are opaque. This, too, adds to the detail and texture of the finished bag.



The seams of the bag are completely beaded with red beads. The top is zippered. There is no inner pocket. The bag originally had a 10 inch handle made of a satin cord. As you can see, it was pulled out of one side seam, which has sustained some damage. That shouldn't be too hard to repair.

I rescued this little lass at a Goodwill thrift store in Portland, Oregon in October 2016. She cost only $1.99.

June Goal Update

I worked on a few little things, and completed a couple big things. Let's take a look.


Goal #8: Go on a Celebrate Your Life retreat.

I'm on the retreat right now! Hope to have things to share when I get home.


Goal #14: Paint and Add Privacy Fencing to the Dog Kennel

Done! And it looks so good. What a huge transformation.

Goal #6: Use Up My Tea Stash

All the oddball tea flavors are used up. I now have black tea, and my two favorite flavored teas left.



Goal #17: Blog at Least 25 Weeks of #throwbackthursday

I've done three more posts, bringing my total to 22. Three more to go to meet my goal.

Goal #18: Blog at least 10 of my Ladies of the Evening collection (mend as needed)

This goal of ten is met, but I went ahead and blogged about two more Ladies in June, bringing my total to twelve.

Goal #19: Finish at least one course:

I read to page 100 of The Creative License. That's the half-way point.

Alt Fun Goal: 50 movies from my Netflix DVD and streaming queues

I watched two more bringing my total to 36.

Whittle a Little

I'm still doing this. Notable this month:

• I found new homes for some clothes.
• I unsubscribed from 12 YouTube channels where I was wasting time.
• I rearranged the paper and cardboard in my Studio and got rid of some I didn't need. That was a bigger job than you'd think it would be.

2019 Totals as of June 30:
9 goals finished
5 goals in progress
3 alternate goals finished
5 alternate goals in progress

Poinsettia Coin Lady

Today's Lady of the Evening is a small round coin purse. She's only 3-1/4 inches in diameter. I don't know that this is actually a poinsettia, but that's what the flower reminds me of.

The outline of the flower is made of matte white beads. The petals are filled with clear glass beads. The flower is surrounded with gold glass seed beads.



The design is only on one side. The back of the coin purse is filled with concentric circles of the gold seed beads.

I don't recall how this little lady came into my life. But she is a little worse for wear. Though most of the beading is intact (note that one little strand of thread by the left hinge), the clasp doesn't work at all. The frame must have gotten a little bent. Though the two knobs of the clasp come close, they don't snap into place. Any coins held in this lady's grasp would soon be spilled on the floor.



Also, she's a dirty little girl on the inside. There are quite a number of stains and a small hole.



But sitting on the shelf among my other gold Ladies, this little lass holds her own in beauty and sparkle.

Swag Lady

Though I've met my 19 in 2019 goal by sharing ten of my Ladies of the Evening, I've decided to continue photographing and writing about some of other beaded bags in my collection.

May I present ... Swag Lady

I named this lovely lady for the swags of pearl beads that drip over a layer of opalescent sequins. This evening bag is completely beaded on both sides. The final row of swags from a fringe at the bottom of the bag.



She is constructed completely of fabric. The "D" shaped metal handles are simply sewn into the hemmed upper edge. Because of the way the metal is stamped, it adds facets that catch the light.



Swag Lady measures 4-1/4 inches wide at the opening, 6-1/2 inches wide at the bottom, and is about 5 inches tall. The "D" shaped metal handles add another 3 inches to the length. She's a nice size for an evening bag, but too small for a smartphone.  (Who needs one of those when you're out for a fancy evening, anyway?)

She closes at the top with a simple snap. While the snap is secure, small item can still easily escape if she gets tipped upside down. Inside is a fairly spacious pocket, considering the moderate size of this purse.



Unfortunately, she does show signs of wear. Though there are no lost or loose beads, there is discoloration along the opening, and some cosmetic stains on the inside.



But that is quite easy to overlook because all the sequins and beading are simply delightful.



I have no recollection of how I acquired this little miss. She may have been a gift from one of my daughters ... or I may have found her on eBay.