One of my favorite things to do is to collect odds n’ ends such as these vintage coin purses. I love well-worn things, especially the kind that also serves a purpose.
In the current issue of Somerset Studio (May/June) you’ll find my techniques for altering these little purses.
This project is very special to me because it gave me a chance to collaborate with my close friend, Cheryl Perreault. Cheryl provided the poetry while I contributed the visual story. For this article we chose to highlight uplifting messages of hope and used these words: emerge, reach, courage and flight. Cheryl wrote a few inspirational poems – one to tuck inside of each little purse. I like the idea of carrying these portable prayers around as a reminder to myself to live life to the fullest. They’re also meant to be shared – passing along encouragement to others.
Here’s another example of how I used a few odds n’ ends to create a mixed-media doll. This piece is featured as the “odd doll” in the current issue of Art Doll Quarterly (May/June/July.) This project was inspired by an antique door knob that I spotted at a local flea market. When I saw it I immediately envisioned it as a doll head. And the rest sort of just fell into place while I was going through my things in the studio. Don’t you love it when things happen spontaneously like this?
11 Comments, Comment or Ping
These are lovely Becky. Can’t wait to see the article. I love how delicate and beautiful your work is.
April 29th, 2010
when i see one of these little purses at a store, i will never look at them the same again. these are stunning.
April 29th, 2010
Love it, love it, love it! I am off to my GoodWill to see if they have some “stuff” to create with. You have once again inspired me!! And I can’t wait to get the magazine. It’s always so hard to wait patiently. I keep going to our Barnes and Noble looking for the new issue and when it’s not there yet I get so bummed.
April 29th, 2010
Lisa, have you tried looking for the magazines at craft stores – I often get lucky there. Or you can browse some of the featured articles in the publication section of Stampington.com
Enjoy your GoodWill hunting!
April 29th, 2010
These are really a wonderful gesture, love the birds on them. Birds
to me, always inspire hope, rebirth of spring, nesting and one’s soul.
The freedom to fly away if needed, to soar towards your dreams….these
are simply lovely!
Lisa I want to go Good Will Hunting; Instead sorting stuff to donate, books to take back to recycled reader and baking. My kids went and picked more
strawberries. Back to the task at hand~
I look forward to this issue!
April 29th, 2010
special projects created with special friends are the absolute best!!! your little purses are exquisite, becky! and your doll is absolutely fabulous…..i could only hope for such wonderful sponteneity in my studio!!! xo
April 30th, 2010
It was such a true, true honor and delight to collaborate with you on the portable prayer purses Becky! When I (humbled yet celebratory ) tell people about this project …they all want to know where they can get such a tiny bird-inspired purse with little prayer of hope to carry close to them and to their hearts.
Thank you again for inviting me to join you on this!
Cheryl
May 1st, 2010
Oh Becky! I can’t tell you how much I love your little coin purses, so precious! (That reminds me that for many years I had a little one, maybe about an inch and a half that my grandmother gave me when I was little but I don’t think it made the last move with me??? SOB.) I will look forward to seeing your article for your wonderful coin purses and for Cheryl’s poems/prayers/affirmations – I’ll all about the words when it comes to projects. The words are what seem to ignite me.
And I love your mixed media doll! Is that a condiment cup for a hat? 🙂 So fun!
Happy weekend to you!
Sally
May 1st, 2010
becky….your coin purses are so wonderful. i , like sally, had several of those when i was young…i think my girls even have them around here somewhere…hmmmmm????
you are so creative.
i love goodwill shopping….i am going to post a fun “goodwill or flea market” craft on my blog later in the week.
keep sharing.
i love your inspiration.
loves,
c
May 4th, 2010
Your coin purses are to die for, and your ‘odd doll’ is so wonderfully creative!
May 4th, 2010
becky…
it.s chrissy again…
i failed to recognize that your tutorial on these precious little purses is ALSO in the issue that i posted about on my blog with my dear friend “mindy”.s work on the cover.
sorry for the overlook.
i went back and read EVERY SINGLE WORD.
you are amazingly talented miss becky.
thank you for sharing your talents with us!
chrissy
May 6th, 2010
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