Friday, June 10, 2011

The Holy Grail :: Hand-tooled Leather

I had to take an unplanned trip home to Michigan this week, which unfortunately disrupted my craft fair prep schedule. But on the bright side, I got to visit my favorite Antique Mall - right off 94 in Coloma, MI. 

And I found my holy grail:

the perfect hand-tooled clutch

I love hand-tooled leather purses and always look for them when thrifting, but have never found one in usable condition. I was hoping to find a shoulder bag, but this clutch was in such pristine condition, with a lovely $20 price tag, I could not pass it up. It will be perfect for all the summer weddings - it's big enough to hold camera, phone, keys, lip products, etc. 

a slew of vintage buttons

I also picked up a few vintage buttons. I love using these in my sewing projects. 

A word about Antique Malls - I usually find that they are overpriced, and not for the faint of heart. They can be huge and overwhelming, but if you're willing to sift through the piles, you can find something great!

2 comments :

  1. I love tooled leather bags too, I have a few that I actually found at thrift stores-- vintage shops tend to have them but prices can be high.

    Antique malls are definitely intimidating, especially if there are ROWS of glass cases. I went to one in Ohio that had security people roaming each aisle so it made it awkward to browse. :(

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  2. I SO agree with the hand tooled leather!!! Always keeping my eyes open! :D

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