Flyin Solo at Mission San Juan Capistrano

Happy Monday Friends...

This past week has been a busy one for me, with LOTS of driving up

& down the mountain, taking care of family & celebrating with friends...

but I did manage a small solo trip, just for me at one of my favorite

places in all the world, Mission San Juan Capistrano. The
mission was founded in 1776 by Father Junipero Serra.

It was unplanned, a spur of the moment, impulsive trip...

the very best kind if you ask me!

I was already at my Daddy's house in Laguna Hills & San Juan Capistrano

is just down the road from him. I woke up early & thought I would

beat the heat & leave immediately...what a stellar idea!!

I was one of the first visitors there & I pretty much had the

entire place to myself & I LOVED it!!

I have lots of little, odd quirks as many of you know & one of them

is I don't like to have random people in my photographs.

I KNOW, totally quirky & peculiar right..I told you.

So this morning was particularly magical...

bright sunshine, blue sky, a 250 year old mission & me & my camera!

My new little tiny pocket camera...a Samsung ST66.

Doesn't it take lovely photographs!!

I still love my BIG camera, but I needed a little 'sumthin' to throw

in my purse JUST for occasions like this & no..

I don't own an iphone. I know...loser, right! lol

So, I hope you enjoy the tour of Mission San Juan Capistrano.

Our California missions are some of the oldest & most historical

sites in Cali. There are 21 of them up the coast, starting in

San Diego & ending above San Francisco.

Yes, I'm a mission FREAK, so I've seen all of them but 2 & those are

both on my Bucket List, along with Paris.  ;)

The Great Stone Church...

The 'Miracle of the Swallows' takes place every year in March

as these loyal little birds wing their way back home, from a winter

spent in Argentina. 

Do you think this grape vine might be really old???

Clusters of grapes hanging everywhere...

Ancient Cactus...

The water lily's were magnificent!!

It was such a lovely day, but I was hot & tired after walking through

the mission & across the street was the perfect place for me to cool

down & have a refreshing drink...

Oh, how I LOVE STARBUCKS!!!!

XOXO

vintagesusie

Still Going On About Vintage Purses...

1910~15 French Callot Soers Evening Bag or Pouch

Linen & Silk

18th Century European Bag

Silk

circa 1805 French Evening Bag

Taffeta, Silk, Silk Ribbon & Gauche Paper Printing

Vintage Purse

Velvet, Lace, French Ribbon & Beads

Chatelaine Date Unknown

1925 French house of Lanvin Evening Bag

Silk, Metal Silk & Metallic

1926 Evening Bag

Metal

1910~15 French Callot Soers Evening Bag or Pouch

Linen & Silk

1915 French Evening bag

Silk, Metal & Metallic

circa 1900 American Chatelaine

Leather & Metal

1890 American Purse

Silk & Metallic

1690~1710 French Gaming Purse

Linen & Silk

18th Century European Pouch

Silk & Metallic Thread

19th Century European Chatelaine

Silk, Silver & Leather

1910 French Bag

Silk & Metallic Thread

1909 American Coin Purse

Metal & Silk

1795 British Pouch

Silk

My Questions....

Who wore these lovely little purses???

What did they wear on the occassions that they carrying them??

What grand journey's have these little jewels been taken on??

If only I could go back & see each one of them being used...

it would be such splendid MAGIC!!!

Just a little Eye Candy from The Metropolitan Museum of Art...

I DO ADORE their Collection of

Vintage Bags!!!

XOXO

vintagesusie



Vintage Coin Purse Necklace...A Tutorial!

Hi Sweeties...

Have y'all been LOVIN your summer as much as I have??

I know some of you are in very HOT places, which makes it not as fun...

but I live in a place that is so often COLD,

the Warmth of Summer is a welcome change!

I have a true love affair with little, vintage leather coin purses!

I could NEVER have TOO many of them, there are so many endless

ideas of  charming things to do with these adorable Victorian gems.

I've made necklaces out of them, which I adore, but recently I was thinking

about the purses women wore attached to their waist with a decorative

belt clip or chatelaine. They are so Simple & Sweet, I just

wanted to make one, so I did!

This is a really EASY DIY piece, that requires very little technique or supplies.

Prior to doing anything else, I added a small tintype & cast, repo metal frame

with some E6000 adhesive & let dry completely over night. I have added this

on to the leather of a vintage coin purse & the metal lid, both work perfectly.

With the lid open, you can see a space right next to where the hinge connects

the lid to the leather, that's wear you will attach either a large jump ring or

hand wire a double ended connector. {which is what I did} You can then

open the end of any length of chain you desire & attach it to both of your

jump rings or connectors. Tie a bit of sari silk through one of the jump

rings & VIOLA...you have a great little vintage necklace or waist coin

purse. Now depending on how much knowledge you have in jewelry

making, you can just open up your chain in a few different places

& add some beads & bobbles as you please!

Easy Peasey!!!

Here's one I made into a long necklace. The main difference with this one is that I

only used 1 connection on the corner of the coin purse, so it would hang

at an angle. LOVE THESE!!!

Before women actually carried purses, they wore a chatelaine...

a decorative belt hook or clasp worn at the waist with a series of chains

suspended from it with accessories, like a watch or thimble or scissors.

I would definitely hurt myself with something like this around my waist! ;)

So, I'm now looking for a cool vintage belt hook like the ones above, to

hold my coin purse at my waist. Won't it be soooo cute with my

Magnolia Pearl top & rolled up jeans??

No matter what or when, you can't separate a woman from her purse...

without it, where would we put all of our crap??

Hope you enjoyed this tutorial & give it a try, I bet you'll love them

just as much as I do!!!

XOXO

vintagesusie