From Vietnam

I sometimes find the most amazing things in Life Line - and other charity stores.  However, I found this lovely little beauty in my local Life Line Store and was absolutely blown away by its colour and originality.  When I looked at the tag on the inside to see how to clean it (as it looked a little grubby on the bottom from use), I found it was made in Vietnam!  What a find!

The sides and bottom of this bag are stiff as are the handles; so they didn't really need to stuff it with paper and bags, because it could stand up on its own.  And when I got it home, I still loved the way it looked.  I can't wait to use it!  Isn't it amazing what people don't want when their items come from other countries?  And just look at how well-made it is!

Pretty In Pink

The other week, I was at Life Line and couldn't find a single coin purse.  But I wasn't discouraged.  I kept digging to the bottom of the box and found a lovely pink vinyl wallet instead (actually, I found a few wallets there).  And as I inspected it, I found its design really spoke to me.  It's very lovely and retro and usable.

However, the only small problem that was wrong with it was that the main clip that did up the whole thing - and thus

kept it all together - was very much warn and the vinyl was cracked.  The previous owner had loved this lovely pink wallet very much and had upgraded to a better - most probably a bigger - model.  This one has enough space for credit cards and I.D, money and a little bit of coinage (but not a large amount).  However, seeing I've used it, the

coin area isn't all that reliable in the way of opening properly.  Yes, it will do up nicely, but on opening, it's difficult and - if I'm not careful - it will spill my money everywhere.  This is most probably why the wallet was donated to Life Line.

However, I bought it because of its beauty and what decade it came from; not because of its badly designed coin ompartment.  Otherwise, it was a great find.

Mary-Kate and Ashley

I had a good shopping day last week.  At first, though, I thought there wasn't anything worthwhile in the boxes at Life Line, until I went back and had a better rummage through.

At the bottom of the box, hiding amongst some of the grubbier bags was a little handbag by Mary-Kate and Ashley.  The label was still on the inside of the zipper!  Now, how good was that for a find?  I had a good look around in it and found nothing wrong with it.  Now, it's a part of my collection.

Athens Is The Place

I was amazed to find this next little darling of a coin purse at the same shop as I found the bag below.  It's a lovely little coin purse that was a souvenir from Athens.  I just love anything Greek.  Years ago, I went through a big phase where I ate Greek food at authentic Greek restaurants for my birthday... and my family loved it!  It was such a changed from our ordinary food.  But my love for this country started

way back in high school when I learnt about it in my senior year (year 11) and I did Ancient History.  The love of that place never has really left me.

And so when I found this little purse, I smiled and thought it would be so lovely to travel there some day and venture through the ruins that have been there thousands of years.  However, all I have right now is this little coin purse that nobody wanted but me.

Elephants in the Bag

I love it when I find two of the same bags in the same condition and would love the bring them both home... but I can't afford to.  And this is what happened to me today.  I found a lovely little bag for my Aunty Helen (who loves elephants) at my local Life Line store and it came in two colours - tan and gold, and black and gold.  And so when I put the two next to each other, I found that there was no competition:  it was the black and gold one that won out!
  
And just look at it!  Isn't it lovely?  I'm sure I made the right choice for her.  Also, it'll fit the lovely little souvenir I purchased for her from Mooloolaba of a little jeweled elephant with his trunk up!  I can't wait to give them to her.  What a find! 

A Delightful Little Black Number

Today, while I was out shopping, I found there were no coin purses to be found at Life Line.  So, I was absolutely delighted when another customer pointed me in the direction of the glass cabinets and said that there was a glo-mesh coin purse/evening bag that was sitting there waiting to be picked up by somebody like me.  And isn't it just the most gorgeous little thing?

I checked it out and just love it!  I can't wait to find a wedding to go to with this little number on my arm.  What a lovely silver clip and chain it has too!  I'll keep you all posted about how it goes with it once I do get it out on the town.

Surf's Up!

I have found that this coin purse was one that appeared too big; yet I couldn't leave it where it was.  The flowers on it and the white corners were something that kept it in my hands.  

It reminded me of times at the beach and of when the hot surfies were cool with their waxed boards, bronzed tans and bleached hair.  Yep, the surf was very cool, and I enjoyed watching them tackle the waves.  This was the purse that surfie-chicks carried in the late 1980's.  Such a pity I didn't own one then.

It's A Classic!

Coca-Cola never goes out of style; and seeing it has been around for so long, I don't think there's a generation that doesn't know of its existence today.  What astounded me was how wonderful it was when I came across this Velcro Coca-Cola wallet in very good condition.  It has been used; but the stitching hasn't gone on it.

I do look forward to adding it to my small - but growing - Coca-Cola collection.  However, first, I'd like to use it and see how it goes in a day of money-handling.  I'll keep you posted on how much money it can hold and whether it bulges too much or if the velcro comes apart too soon.

Pink Vogue Handbag

I found this lovely Vogue handbag at a Life Line store and just couldn't pass it up a few years ago.  It's been used a few times and I've had a few people comment on it as it's that kind of handbag that you don't see around very much.  I do love seeing these kinds of bags as they are very retro and have very clean lines to them.

The great thing about this one is that it has a phone holder on the inside.  So, it's from the 1990's when mobiles were introduced.  I haven't used it recently though.  

Old-Fashioned Brown Beauty

Last Wednesday, I found this lovely brown handbag in the local Life Line.  The first thing that caught my eye was the lovely stitching.  I love the way the flowers are so well done and the beautiful colours stand out.  

Then, on Friday, I decided to take it out to Garden City and see how it went for the day.  It has an area for a mobile phone and an inside zipper; however, the handles were a little too short to constantly pull it off and on my shoulder as it didn't get past my elbow all that easily.  I do love the texture of it as it's made from a kind of suede and I will definitely use it again as it does hold everything I want it to without looking like it's bunching up too much.