If I Play My Cards Right Purse. 1960s. Maker: JR Florida. Tweedy red purse with needlepoint front that says “If I play my (cards) right,” featuring four playing cards and heart, spade, diamond and club detail. Outlined in matching red trim. Cute little built-in change purse. Woven handle. I bought this at the Vintage Expo in Santa Monica and I’ve never seen another like it. Which isn’t to say there’s not one out there somewhere. Which would mean that we’re both lucky—if not in cards—then in purses!

Black Purse with Fish Motif. 1960s. Maker: Jolles Junior. Fabulous black cloth bag with a three-dimensional fish—looks like a marlin, but I’m no ichthyologist—made of hundreds of colorful seed beads and blue faux gems. Also has a black glass eye and gold trim accents. The purse's fabric is textured and shiny (I LOVE SHINY!) and it has a goldtone chain handle.

Jolles made a lot of these creatively-themed purses. I’ve seen poodles and flowerpots and pineapples. This is my first marlin. Or whatever the heck it is.

Plastic-Covered Linen “Antiquities” Purse. Early 1960s. Maker: Soure Bag New York. Linen or linen-like fabric bag covered in plastic (just like grandma's couch!) and featuring an antique store scene, with grandfather clock, bust, candelabra, dresser, mirror and armchair. Special touches have been added, like the fleur-de-lis on the bottom of the “Antiquities” shop, and a brass bead as the door handle. Some of the beads and faux gems have come loose and are floating around inside the bag, as if scattered on the sidewalk outside the store.

Soure is one of my favorite designers and, right now, I’m pretty irked with myself for passing up another store scene Soure I saw online. Eh, well. I’ll get you my pretty… and your little pleather handle, too!

Just for fun, I’ve included a pic of Faith the Mannequin holding the purse and wearing a ‘50s dress made out of a cotton fabric that looks like grandma's kitchen curtains.