Amazing Purse Makeovers

Click on "AFTER" thumbnails to enlarge

Before After


Décolletage

Discovered in an antique store, this leather handbag had such a curvy shape, it reminded me of a woman's chest. First I painted it with lavender-gray Pearl Ex powder mixed into a clear leather-paint base. Then I created the "décolletage" elements, using pink-and-black torn-fabric fringe to simulate the neckline of a dress. I fastened a rolled fabric rose at the center, then added black piping, two styles of beaded chain, and a gorgeous onyx/marcasite earring.


Pirate Girl

My colleague Destiny Carter transformed this faux-leather bustier-style purse into pirate gear using several clever techniques. First she removed the original straps and trim. Then she prepped the surface and painted the purse black. Next she carefully cut and glued down red stretch lace over the cups and velveteen rickrack over the front seams. The skull motif came with hot-fix crystals on transfer paper, and was first ironed onto black fabric (since hot-fix crystals are not permanent on natural or manmade leather). Next the motif was outlined with Fray-Check, then cut out and glued to the purse. Final touches? A couple strands of skull beads dangling at the side, an old silver belt buckle in the shape of a skull, and a dog's extra-large choke-chain collar from the pet store to serve as a new strap.


Mixed-Up Media
Artist's Hold-All

My fellow artist Erin Perry found this old patchwork-leather purse at a thrift store and wanted to recreate it as a bag for carrying her painting and collage materials. Since she works in mixed media, that's what she wanted to embellish the bag with. First I covered the torn leather patches by gluing down new ones. Then we removed the old handles and cannibalized another thrift-store purse for a new shoulder strap. Erin painted it gold and sponge-painted the bag and its new strap. I stitched on two kinds of copper chain along the top side of the strap. Next we figured out how to attach a wild mix of things from Erin's art-supply stash, including beaded appliqué, yarn, ribbon, tassels, beads, keys, a Mahjong tile, even pencils and old paint brushes.

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