That vintage look keeps grabbin' me!

Well today was a productive day for me. I finished up two of my purses from my unofficial "vintage" collection.

Exhibit No. 1: The Singing Nun.

Okay, I just couldn't help myself on this one. Hopefully someone else out there thinks this cover is as comical and entertaining as I do. ;-) I mean that cute turquoise-colored moped and the rosary beads flying off her shoulder as she zips down the street- Love it! This record album purse is made from the actual "The Singing Nun" soundtrack album, released in 1966! One side features the cover and the other side the vinyl album -- with a great MGM center graphic. And since I don't like to waste good stuff, one side (the record) side is "lined" with the back of the album cover, in this case a scene from the movie -- young kids being given a talking to of some sort from Debbie Reynold's nun character. I WANT that moped . It goes perfectly with my blue vw bug. Ha-ha. The Singing Nun was rescued from the Goodwill. What a find.

Exhibit No. 2: Gaite Parisienne Ballet 1956 a/k/a the fab can-can girl from paris

How great is this can-can girl! This record album purse is from an album released in 1956 that is a classical music recording featuring the Philadelphia Orchestra. When I saw the cover, I knew I had to have it and make a purse out of it. So I bid on Ebay and she was mine. She should be flaunted around, don't ya think? And the little cartoon graphics surrounding it are priceless. One side features the cover and the other side the vinyl album -- with a striking black white and red center Columbia graphic. And since I don't like to waste good stuff, one side (the record) side is "lined" with the back of the album cover. This has information about the orchestra, the composers and conductor.

People ask where I find my albums. A lot of people assume the albums fall into my lap (so to speak) at the Thrift Store, etc. But I spend a lot of time looking for just the right cover or graphic center. Sometimes I do get lucky at the Thrift Store, but there are times when I spend a lot of time looking thru bin after bin at different shops only to leave empty handed. (Note to the ARC thrift store, could you please raise your shelves just a tad higher. That level is murder on the back! ;-)).

My best source is Ebay. That also involves a lot of sifting thru page after page of pictures, then the bidding and the crossing of fingers with hope that the album looks as good in person as it does in the picture. When it finally arrives in the mailbox, and if it's just as I pictured, the fun can begin. With the can-can girl, I'd say I got pretty lucky. And, you know, the Singing Nun, that could have been divine intervention (considering).

Jeremiah was a bullfrog...

So the other day, as I stood freezing in my cold garage cutting wood for more purses, I wondered how I must really like what I’m doing to freeze out here like this. What is it that keeps me going back into that cold garage (hurry up, spring and summer!)? I know it’s all the things that go into creating the craft that keep the passion going. I’m sure all the other great artisans like the ones on etsy and 1000 Markets feel the same drive to create. For my particular craft, I know it’s all about the music.

Ah, the memories that seeing certain albums jogs in my brain. If only I had pictures of my cousins and I, doing hula-hoop routines to The Monkees on my grandma’s back porch. We dragged my little portable, plastic turntable outside and plugged it into grandma’s outdoor outlet and stayed out there for hours. Loudly singing along to, “Mary, Mary” and “Last Train to Clarksville.” Then we’d hop on the swingset and sing at the top of our voices Three Dog Night’s “Joy to the World.” We just couldn’t get enough of spewing out “Jeremiah was a bullfrog, was a good friend of mine.”

Sometimes I am totally drawn to the artwork on a cover. I might not have ever heard the music, but love the cover, or the inside sleeve graphics and sometimes it’s just the center graphic on the vinyl. Oh, and that shiny, black vinyl! The ridges and valleys that form the songs — I love the way it looks and feels. Top it off with some nickel rivets - fabulous. But everything contrasts just perfectly with black, shiny vinyl, doesn’t it. Think about it.

So the hunt goes on. I search for more cool records to spotlight — they’ll get another way to be seen and admired. And, hopefully, for my customers, they can relive some great memories also.