Thursday 25 February 2010

Handbags and Gladrags


I have been given a challenge by the gorgeous and delightful Exmoor Jane, the maker of the best scones in the West Country!

She has tagged me to reveal the contents of my handbag (purse to those across the pond) Oh my, if I do this you will see how very mad I am. Handbags according to Jane show a snapshot of who we are as people. Oh dear....

Years ago my sister and her fist husband would tease me and make them show me what was in my bag. They couldn't believe how I kept it.

So hey I'm grown up I can take it......

Here goes.

First off the bag itself is a wonderful dark purply/pink soft Mulberry bag with a flap that just flings over the front. The underside of this flap is the same deep colour only suede. In the middle of the flap is a big brass disc with the Mulberry trademark on it. Yes it is a designer bag, and yes I'm bonkers for spending that sort of money. Blame the pay out I got on my pension and David's death as they were the two things that made me feel I needed and could afford a pressie.

The bag has one small pocket at the back, this contains a red leather old fashioned cigarette case that holds my Angel cards. A small red leather photo frame containing three pics, my sons and my first dog. A tourmaline stone and an Oxfam carrier bag neatly rolled up ready for use when I get any shopping. Finally in this pocket is a small silver card case with my business cards in.

The main body of the bag holds a gold leather make up bag, containing my powder compact and four lipsticks, very small handcream and a lip salve. There is also a brown leather make up bag same as the gold one, this contains, indigestion things, wintergreen sweets, a pen, my tiny ipod, and any other really useful stuff I need.
A Liberty handkerchief, of which I have a collection of about 10 bought by my sister over the years, so that gets changed frequently, plus a packet of tissues as I don't like using my precious hankies!! My Olympus camera, always ready to take that shot! A small black leather change purse, made by the same company as the makeup bags and the photo frame,all by Penhaligons. Two glasses cases, one with my prescription sunglasses, I can't drive with any sort of glare going on, and my reading glasses without which I can't see. My new and lovely purse/wallet bought last weekend with my niece in Liverpool. It's snakeskin with loads of pockets for useful things and feels lovely.

Then finally in the phone pocket is my mobile, unless I'm at home when it is usually sitting by the laptop.

All these things are placed just so, neatly and tidily, they all have a place. So when I go abroad I never take any other hand luggage, as all I have to do is add a book to read and my passport, which needless to say is in it's own bright red passport and document case.

I know, I'm obsessed, it has been pointed out before.

And I have a passion for leather things. This is for two reasons. The town I came from, Walsall, was the centre of the saddlery industry world wide, so I was brought up amid wonderful leather things, and I adore the smell of it. Plus my mother had a red leather writing case that I also adored as a child, I loved the colour and the feel of it. It now lives in the top drawer of my desk and holds precious documents. And still when I get it out to locate something I love the feel of it, although now the colour is a bit faded, well it is as old as me!

So there you have it, extremely tidy,obsessed with good quality things, adores filing, does not tolerate rubbish or stray things infiltrating my life, has a passion for order. And we won't even think about the number of cashmere jumpers I own.....
Suffice to say I am my Grandmothers grandaughter as she always knew the value of good quality and style. And I am my Father's daughter as he had everything just so, in his desk or office or briefcase or wardrobe.

So I suppose if I analyse my bag it is a constant source of my past, my present and my future, all of which are important to me.

This is a tag BTW, but I don't like handing out tags, so if the mood takes you to reveal this inner sanctum of your life, go for it!

Oh yes and I nearly forgot, my purply/pink gloves the same colour as the bag.... oh I need a lie down now after all this confessing!

20 comments:

Exmoorjane said...

Love it. And love your bag SOOO much. If I had a designer bag it would probably be a Mulberry...

I also think your bag shows you are imaginative and creative and just a little bit (lot) wild!

Mel said...

OMG......no freaking way. *laughing*

Ya'll would know how many pens I steal and how many toys I tote along!!

Pass.

*laughing*
But I did enjoy your neatly organized inventory.
k...

MAYBE after I clean it out? LOLOL
G'head and tell me that's cheating.....LOL

Paula said...

I love Mulberry! However the content of my bag I never going to reveal. Lets say it is exact the opposite ;-)

Zan said...

Oh my you're a neat freak!! LOL
You'd stare in horror if I showed you my closet.. with my clothes thrown in everywhere without any order what so ever!
I love this post and I was going to go ahead and do this but then I realised... hang on...
I have 30 + handbags... I take the contents out, sort out the stuff that's there and transfer my purse and my mobile phone to whatever handbag I decide on for the day.
So sadly.. that's all that is in my handbag.. my phone, my purse and my keyes.
Yet I absolutely adore handbags will all sorts of compartments to put stuff in.. yet I never do!

xx

angela recada said...

Your bag sounds lovely! I'm imagining the color and texture right now. Yummy! It sounds like you are ready for anything. I'm very impressed by your love of quality and order.
:0)
Hugs,
xo
Angela

Rosaria Williams said...

Lovely! And revealing! Just the way I had pictured you, Mandy!

Fire Byrd said...

Uuum enjoying the idea of having a wild side. Not sure about how people pictured me. Don't know whether that is a good thing or not!

Lia said...

Not a problem for me to reveal the inner workings of my handbag......
I don't carry one, there for I must be empty headed, yeah right.

If absolutely force to I will carry one, but it will only have my car keys, credit card and a little money in it and mobile phone.
I'm the girl who can get on a plane without any need for hand luggage and carries no more than a smile and a book on board.

I don't get the whole must carry my life around in a handbag kinda thing.

I have never ever felt a need to carry one and at 46 I ain't gonna start now.

Much love
Lia
xx

Walker said...

If it makes you happier than the money you just buy it them.
You like everything neat and organized

Elizabeth Musgrave said...

Hi, came via jane and loved your blog. I could never be this organised but I do aspire to it. I would look at your bag and ooh and aah and then go back to my Accessorize one with a dozen biros in it!

Manchester Lass, Now and Then said...

Oh it sounds just perfect, nothing like my bag I'm afraid:(

Von said...

Oh delicious!!!!! Every last piece of it! Good for you for treating yourself and using nice things, so important for us to care for ourselves.
Well alright then...I have a number of bags for different occassions.The carpet bag I bought in Bristol before my Daughter was born, a lovely black silk with red roses she gave me, a peacock feather beaded one she brought me from London.I could go on but have to confess I mostly use a brown straw basket my cousin gave me.In it goes my camera,Lewis's Paw-Paw Lip salve and ,oh unfashionable me, a black leather bum-bag.This contains keys,cards, black and red leather wallet.If I'm at a Market or out taking photos I whip the bum-bag out of the basket, sling it over my shoulder or round my middle for ease and convenience.It began when I had a very large Greyhound and I needed both hands free.What a dag!

Anonymous said...

I don't own a mobile phone, so 99% of the time I just carry my purse containing money, the usual cards, and a tube of lipstick in it... glasses carried via top of my head,keys in my pocket... and cough lozenge or two if I'm going to the theatre. If I take a handbag-(one of four I own )camera,purse,keys comb,one lipstick, glasses,one pen, maybe a paperback... a neat,patient (ie. one can always read a novel while waiting) person who is happy with the basics of life,is observant (camera) -considerate of others and own comfort and plans ahead (hence the lozenge and pen?) - is that what it says about me Byrd? I guess judging my the contents of my handbag I'd be described as "not all there and hardly rivetting!" Thanks for divulging, ,confessing, revealing all those fun things! xx

Beatnheart said...

It all sounds lovely...I luv the good stuff too..Liberty!! Just the name..Mulberry..divine..and purple!! what could be better...Cynthia

Sorrow said...

I have had a series of unfortunate events with my bags,
sad really,
so now if it doesn't fit in the pocket, well it ain't coming with...
laughing...

cheshire wife said...

I am amazed that you manage to keep all those bits and pieces tidy. My handbag starts tidy but soon gets untidy.

Beatnheart said...

Thank you so much for your comment...Yes, I am spending time with "the camera" and you know what..I'm Loving IT...figured it out a little bit more , took loads of pictures, deleted an equal amount, and got some good ones too...Yes I took pics of the garden..still did not know how to get the photos from my comp. to the blog..went to Apple class and he help ed me...So here I go....

Lori ann said...

This was so much fun to read, I love your bag and all it's contents. I used to love leather, I still do, but it's so heavy, and that's even before adding all the contents. I've been using LeSportsac bags and even ones i've made my self that i'm really liking. For years i carried a backpack/diaper bag, so it's fun now to be a grown up with all my things!

Beatnheart said...

Thanks for helping me pull my finger out and get on with it..Cheers...any info on how to get the text near the posts...??

Miss Robyn said...

so you carry your angel cards with you? what a brilliant idea.. which ones do you use?

I don't have a handbag.. I hardly ever carry one. if I go out, dutch husband takes my hanky & lipstick in his pocket.. otherwise I carry a basket with lots of odds n ends in it.