Etsy Shop for Pennamite

George Sand purse

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 19:02:02 -0500

$40.00
This is an upcycled handbag. The original thrifted purse was maroon faux leather, about 10 inches wide, and about 8 inches high (plus the strap), 3 inches deep at the base, turn-latch closure, three interior compartments with one additional zippered pocket, clean dark cloth interior, gold-tone hardware in good condition. Strap is very long and adjustable (perfect for cross-body carry).

I restyled the purse with paint, collage, sharpies, charcoal pencil, ink, and modpodge. The image is of the French novelist George Sand (1804-1876) the famous portrait by Nadar, as found in the Flickr Commons uploads from the George Eastman House; the Sand quote is: "As one grows older, one climbs with surprising strides."

The old iPod and sunglasses in photo #4 are for size comparison only, and do not come with the purse. (You don't want them anyway, believe me.)

This bag has been sprayed with Krylon Crystal Clear for weather protection, but like any one-of-a-kind item, it should be handled with reasonable care in extreme conditions.

Hands Purse

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 23:25:06 -0500

$45.00
This is an upcycled handbag. The original thrifted Tods purse was black leather(?), about 13 inches wide and about 10 inches high (plus the strap), about 3 inches deep at the base, zipper closure, one interior compartments with one additional zippered pocket, clean black cloth interior in very good condition. Straps are each about 20 inches long, very comfortable for shoulder carry (too short for cross-body carry).

I restyled the purse with paint, sharpies, and modpodge. The hand is traced from my own hand--so you can't get much more hand-made than that, right? ;)

This bag has been sprayed with Krylon Crystal Clear for weather protection, but like any one-of-a-kind item, it should be handled with reasonable care in extreme conditions.

Smile Purse

Sun, 25 Oct 2009 18:07:27 -0400

$40.00
This is an upcycled handbag. The original thrifted purse was black vinyl (PVC), about 12 inches wide, and about 8 inches high (plus the strap), <2 inches deep at the base, snap closure, one interior compartment. Strap is about 18 inches long, comfortable for shoulder carry. Hardware is silver-tone and in good condition. Interior is clean dark cloth.

I restyled the purse with paint, collage, sharpies, silk cording, and modpodge. The image is two Australian women hikers in 1932, uploaded to the Flickr Commons by the Powerhouse Museum (no known copyright restriction). Same image both sides.

The old iPod in the last photo is for size comparison only, and does not come with the purse. (You don't want it anyway, believe me.)

This bag has been sprayed with Krylon Crystal Clear for weather protection, but like any one-of-a-kind item, it should be handled with reasonable care in extreme conditions.

Janet Scudder purse

Mon, 05 Oct 2009 10:44:01 -0400

$40.00
This is an upcycled handbag. The original thrifted XOXO purse was maroon vinyl, about 11 inches wide at base, and about 12.25 inches high (plus the strap), 1.5 inches deep at the base, zipper closure, one interior compartment with one additional zippered pocket and a cellphone pouch, clean dark cloth interior, silver-tone hardware in good condition. Straps are about 20 inches long (perfect for shoulder carry).

I restyled the purse with paint, collage, sharpies, ink, and modpodge. The image is of the American sculptor Janet Scudder (1873-1940) from the Smithsonian's Flickr Commons uploads; the quote, "Why not be interested in doing a beautiful thing just because it is beautiful?" is from a 1912 newspaper interview with Scudder.

This bag has been sprayed with Krylon Crystal Clear for weather protection, but like any one-of-a-kind item, it should be handled with reasonable care in extreme conditions.

Jazz Age purse

Mon, 14 Sep 2009 19:05:26 -0400

$40.00
This is an upcycled handbag. The original thrifted purse was maroon leather, about 10.5 inches wide and about 5 inches high (plus the strap), 2.5 inches deep at the base, magnetic snap closure, one interior compartments with one additional zippered pocket, clean striped cloth interior, silver-tone hardware in very good condition. Strap is about 18 inches long (not long enough for cross-body wear).

I restyled the purse with paint, collage, sharpies, rubberstamping, ink, and modpodge. The image is of the American all-female jazz band "The Ingenues," taken by Sam Hood in Sydney in the late 1920s, it's from the collection of the State Library of New South Wales.

This bag has been sprayed with Krylon Crystal Clear for weather protection, but like any one-of-a-kind item, it should be handled with reasonable care in extreme conditions.

Saharet Purse

Fri, 21 Aug 2009 12:39:38 -0400

$40.00
This is an upcycled handbag. The original thrifted purse was black faux leather, about 9 inches wide, and about 10 inches high (plus the strap), 2 inches deep at the base, magnetic snap closure, one interior compartment with one additional zippered pocket, plus the exterior flat pocket. Wide, non-adjustable strap is about 22 inches long (too short for cross-body carry).

I restyled the purse with paint, collage, sharpies, silk cording, and modpodge. The image is of the Australian-born vaudeville dancer Saharet (born Clarissa Rose) as found in the Flickr Commons uploads from Library of Congress.

The old iPod in photo #4 is for size comparison only, and does not come with the purse. (You don't want it anyway, believe me.)

This bag has been sprayed with Krylon Crystal Clear for weather protection, but like any one-of-a-kind item, it should be handled with reasonable care in extreme conditions.

Ultraviolet Ursula crocheted hat

Thu, 20 Aug 2009 13:28:55 -0400

$15.00
I crocheted this hat with very intense violet synthetic yarn, trimmed with green eyelash and royal blue. It's big enough to fit an adult, but it's really good for a kid who doesn't like hats that are close-fitting. The open stitch makes it very flexible and not sweaty or itchy to wear.

Nancy Bird Purse

Thu, 20 Aug 2009 13:28:19 -0400

$40.00
This is an upcycled handbag. The original purse was black leather, built like a binoculars case but without that kind of interior, about 8 inches wide and about 8 inches high (minus the strap), base is 4 inches deep, magnetic snap closure, one interior compartment with a zippered pocket, clean dark cloth interior, gold-tone hardware in very good condition. Adjustable strap can be worn cross-body very comfortably.

I restyled the purse with paint, collage, sharpies, and modpodge. The image of Nancy Bird Walton (1915-2009), Australian aviator, and it's from the collection of the State Library of New South Wales. The word "fly" is on the closure.

This bag has been sprayed with Krylon Crystal Clear for weather protection, but like any one-of-a-kind item, it should be handled with reasonable care in extreme conditions.

This could be a fun gift for the steampunk friend who has a thing for goggles.... ;)

Poetic in Purple crocheted beret

Thu, 20 Aug 2009 13:28:19 -0400

$15.00
Child's size, but generous (9yo model has a big head). Purple acrylic yarn. Fun for the dress-up box, historical costumes, or stash it away now for a holiday stocking stuffer!

Elizabeth Eastlake Purse

Mon, 03 Aug 2009 11:23:43 -0400

$40.00
This is an upcycled handbag. The original thrifted Marithe + Francois Girbaud purse was black faux leather, about 7 inches wide, and about 8 inches high (plus the strap), 2 inches deep at the base, magnetic snap closure, one interior compartment with one additional zippered pocket and a small no-zip pocket, plus the exterior flat pocket. Removable strap is very long and buckle-adjustable (perfect for a cross-body carry).

I restyled the purse with paint, collage, sharpies, silk cording, and modpodge. The image is of the British writer and art critic Lady Elizabeth Rigby Eastlake (1809-1893), as found in the Flickr Commons uploads from the National Galleries of Scotland; the 1885 Eastlake quote is: "I have no doubt that women will have votes before long...it is simply a matter of sense and consistency."

The old iPod in photo #4 is for size comparison only, and does not come with the purse. (You don't want it anyway, believe me.)

This bag has been sprayed with Krylon Crystal Clear for weather protection, but like any one-of-a-kind item, it should be handled with reasonable care in extreme conditions.