Private View at Goldsmiths College

Contrasting Betty's Revenge contemporary bags and purses with beautiful purses from the Goldsmiths Textile Collection archive, the ensemble is exhibiting at the Special Collections Gallery at Goldsmiths College until Easter. Curated by myself and Lizzie Cannon.

Bags inspiring poetry

The exhibition 'Bags: The Craft of the Carrying Companion' has now ended but the display was superb. Some local writers were inspired to write a couple of poems, the first one refers to my large purse and the second one is solely about the large purse which asks questions that several passers by ask me on the street!

Bags 

Big bags and small bags.

Short bags and tall bags.

Bags of every size and shape.

Made of fabric softly draped.

Some of leather, new and old.

Shiny, polished, good to hold.

Bags to carry on bus or train.

Bags built to carry extra strains.

Cases for clothes and underwear.

Cases for picnics we love to share.

Some open out flat as a sheet.

Some fold down, nice and neat.

A giant purse takes centre stage

Try your hand at decoupage,

Or leather strips for you to weave

Items here you won’t believe

Giant purse

What do you put in a giant purse?

Some pennies to pay for a journey home,

Or a lovely dinner for when you get back?

Make up to enhance a lovely face?

A lacy hanky to stop a sneeze?

A comb and brush to tidy hair?

There’s lots and lots of room in there.

These beautiful suitcases at the same exhibition really stood out for me.

Recycled selection

A couple of platefuls of a few new printed and recycled purses...

Ranbu - Japan

Purses in Ranbu

I'm delighted to be stocking in Ranbu again in Osaka, Japan. I really like their style, and how I wish I had the fare to go and visit myself! They also have a blog.