SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT! This is pretty cool. There are two upcoming purse-related charity auctions that I'm very pleased to tell you about. The first is This Old Bag: The Power of the Purse, and it takes place October 19, 2012 in San Francisco. The event raises money for the Breast Cancer Emergency Fund.

Also in October is the Women's Legacy Fund: Power of the Purse auction in Ventura. I don't have all the details yet, but if you want to donate a purse, please e-mail Lindsay Smith at lsmith@vccf.org. I'll post more info as I receive it.

I'm donating these great 1960s do-it-yourself kit bags. The Four Seasons purse will go to San Francisco, and the sparkly roses purse will go to Ventura. Each winning bidder will also get a signed copy of my novel I MURDERED THE PTA.

Felt Tote Purse with Mama Poodle and Puppies. 1960s. Maker: Garay. Wonderful navy blue felt (possibly wool) tote-style bag with appliqued turquoise mother poodle carting her pink poodle puppies in a mustard-yellow wagon, via a rope pull. The appliques are held on by tiny gold studs. Lined in blue felt with two interior pockets, one with zipper.

These are the purses I crave. So whimsical and clever and unusual! I’ve only seen a few Garay bags with poodles, so I feel very lucky to have found this one.

Pair of Floral Needlepoint Purses. 1960s. Maker: JR Florida. Two similar purses, one black, one brown, both with floral needlepoint detail by famous maker JR (Julius Resnick) Florida. They are woven fabric handbags with needlepoint fronts trimmed in matching edging. The brown one has an interesting snap-handle closure and the black one has a more traditional goldtone clasp. Both have interior zip pockets.

I have quite a few JR bags, with needlework and appliques, in traditional form, tote and box-style. What amazes me is how much work that went into each of these. Considering the mass-producing of today's purses, this style is truly a lost art.

Have you checked out our sister site, The Vintage Purse Gallery? We've got photos galore, and a link to our Facebook page, where vintage handbag lovers just like you are sharing advice, comments and a passion for purses!

Under the Sea Kit Purse. 1960s. Maker: Unknown. Possibly a General Crafts, JewelTone kit purse (although there were other kit makers), this tote style bag has a textured background and features an under-the-sea motif of real shells, faux coins, felt fish, seaweed and a treasure chest full of all kinds of kitschy gems and odds-and-ends.

This is my newest acquisition—and the latest addition to my massive collection of kit bags—and, nope, I didn’t already have one like it!

Mixed Media Strawberries Handbag. 1960s. Maker: Unknown. Mustard-yellow textured fabric bag with velveteen leaves, floral needlepoint patches and three-dimensional velveteen strawberries with leaves. Some of the faux pearl “seeds” are missing. Two interior pockets; one with zipper. Snaps shut. Matching cloth handle.

I’m kind of surprised this one doesn’t have a maker tag as it’s reminiscent of so many famous manufacturers of the era. Could be that an industrious lady added the fancy bits to a plain yellow bag.

Got Facebook? Our Vintage Purse Gallery page has been getting some likes from some like-minded purse persons.