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.

Check it out! THRIFT ME DEADLY, my ebook about a vintage clothes-loving serial killer, is once again available for purchase on Smashwords. Warning: Extreme language and violent situations. Other than that, it’s just swell. Like the part where she kills someone over a vintage purse. I mean, seriously, wouldn’t you? http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/4474

Wicker Fish Purse. 1950s. Maker: Midas of Miami. I thought for sure I’d posted this treasure before, but I did a search of my blog, and found that I hadn’t yet shared her. She’s decorated on one side with green and gold glitter, colored faux gems, black velvet ribbon and tiny shells. Her lips are outlined in pink glitter. I read somewhere that Joanne Woodward carried a fish purse like this in an old film, but I’ve never seen the evidence.

Midas of Miami is my favorite purse manufacturer. I wish I knew more about the company. You’d think the information would be out there, considering the quantity and diverse selection of these gorgeous purses for sale on the Internet and at vintage shows, but I’ve never heard from anyone who glued those shiny gems and sprinkled all that fabulous glitter. If you know a former Midas of Miami employee, please e-mail me at wdager(at)sbcglobal(dot)net. I’d love to get the scoop!

Important note: Thanks to my buddy and fellow vintage aficionado Maxine, who pointed out that are a few Midas fakes floating around. Caveat emptor!

My article about vintage sweaters and photos of sweaters from my personal collection appear in the June issue of Antiques & Collectibles Magazine. Check it out! http://www.acmagazine.com/issues/june2010.php

Special thanks to my beautiful models, Missie Miller, Katey Dager and Rachel Dager Blackard (below, in "Darlene" 1950s vintage sweater).

Pair of Raffia House Purses. Early 1970s. Maker: Gary Gail Dallas, according to the sticker on the bottom of each purse. (Note: This designer was sometimes known as Gary Gails, plural. I don’t know why he used different names on his bags.) One house is green and natural wicker or raffia (there was some argument in my own house about which material it was; thank you, adult daughters who can’t ever let me be right), and the other in red and wicker/raffia (or whatever). They both have fabric windows, doors and chimneys, and are lined in satin with contrasting rickrack. Each also has an oval mirror glued to the inside of the flap. They close with elastic latches over plastic buttons.

I have several house-shaped purses and I love the motif. Definitely a conversation piece. (Just don’t bother to converse about whether or not they are wicker. Or raffia.)

Today I got a really nice e-mail from vintage aficionado Eileen, who told me she likes my blog. That inspired me to get off my behind and go upstairs to shoot some new photos. I appreciate everyone who visits Vintage Purse a Day. I know you're checking it out from all over the world. That's pretty awesome.

These are all 1950s box-style plastic purses made by the Theresa Bag Co. of Lyndhurst, NJ. I’ve seen these etched and/or embellished Theresa purses go for as much as $150 at high-end boutiques and online malls, but I prefer paying ten bucks for them, especially if they come with a bunch of darling vintage hankies, as that pink one up front did. I always carry a hanky with me. I know that’s rather incongruous, given my appearance, but I don’t care. I love hankies. And I love Theresa Bags. They don’t seem as sturdy as your typical Lucite purse. Almost a thinner plastic, toy-like, as if made for a child. Very delicate and sweet.

By the way, they’re sitting on top of an old printers-type box, which was made into a table. And which needs to be dusted. Geesh. Do I have to do everything around here?