Handbags

Oh tanith where do you live? I think being 'a target' is something I only think of on holiday in crowded places.

Whenim64 - I agree. I think Gransnetters would do a much better job. I have heard some bunkum spoken by so called professionals too.

I buy a new bag approximately every six weeks and my wardrobes are full to the gunnels. Every so often I take a selection to the WI table sale. I used to have an inner bag which I would move around but then realised that this took away half the fun of filling my bag and throwing away the rubbish I no longer needed.

Movedalot living in London its pretty hard not to be in a crowd most of the time when out and about...

Liz - do you ever buy things that you do not need and never use? I had a friend who would buy a dozen tee-shirts , one in every colour (she was married to a very rich man, and very bored). I was frequently the beneficiary of her spending sprees as we were the same size.

.........maybe I have an odd shape anyway!

I use a handbag because I am a strange enough shape in the pocket area without putting stuff in my pockets.

I have one squashy black leather backpack (easy on the tender arm) and one lovely, Italian, tan leather bigger one for travelling. And quite a lot of small evenings ones in various colours. That's it. But I do like looking at all the beautiful, soft, brightly coloured ones. Have learned to restrain myself..

I use Kipling bags all the time, because they're really lightweight and the ones I get can go across the body. I don't like a bag to be too big, as I fill it too full (hence sore neck/shoulders that I have now). I do need to have a bag, or I'd lose my purse - I just know I would. I'd have to hang my purse round my neck instead !

LIzG which WI table sales do you frequent? I ask because I love handbags but really can't afford to indulge the habit any more and your cast-offs sound ideal..............................

I have cupboards full of handbags and like to change them to suit what I am wearing and where I am going. Luckily I have DH who thinks an ideal birthday present is a new Mulberry bag. My Bayswater bag does not have a lining or pockets, anyone know where I can get a decent size liner ?

gracemum and harrigran thank you, I was beginning to feel alone!

I have loads of handbags, all leather. I must get rid of some! Do they go in the recycling bin or the compost?

Galen no, the charity shops.

Greatnan you have sussed me out. most of the extra things I buy are in the monthly shop - dishwasher tabs, cloths, dettol sprays, rather than clothes and I can never find room to store the things. When we cleared my mother's flat we found hundreds of soaps and toilet rolls 'just in case'. I suppose I must take after her. Mind you they kept us going for months.

All my handbags are much wanted and loved for a time! Then it's on to the next one which I want desperately.

I love a good quality handbag, but then I use it to death. Oddly, it doesn't matter how big, or how small my bag is, I can still never find anything, and spend a lot of time rootling about for keys, etc. I'm currently using a nice tan across-the-body one, on the basis that it goes with everything! I'm incredibly impressed that anyone could face changing bags every day!

I think it is my way of cheering myself up gracesmum. I live in Somerset so my WI is there but I have spotted some temptations in charity shops too.

You'll have to come and look at what I'm throwing out!

I love bags!!!!! I'm forever on the quest for the perfect bag. I've got so many I could open a shop, but do use most of them as I do match them to my outfits! I have summer bags for all different occasions, bags for holiday, bags for the beach, bags for going out, bags for work, bags for going out with little children, bags for going dancing, bags for the winter, bags for the airport, bags for going to London for the day, bags which can hold a kindle, bags which hold an iPad, leather bags, fabric bags, straw bags. I also have several sewing patterns for bags.
I love bags, but hate shoes as I have terrible feet.
Occasionally I sell some on eBay, usually to fund a new bag which I've seen and really really need.
As a disclaimer, I never pay ridiculous amounts for each bag. However if you add together the total cost......

The bag I use for holidays is a slash-proof Pacsafe one from Amazon. It's a synthetic fabric and after a good many trips is looking rather mucky. I have to find a way of making it look clean again.

I do hope it's not Thatbags.

I tipped my handbag out in a pub once so my friend could show some guy what I carried. It was very amusing. When his jaw dropped she said: "She's a scout."

Penknife
sewing kit
toothbrush
spare hanky (does as a towel after cleaning one's teeth in public toilets)
nappy pin

.... you get the idea. Useful stuff.

So there is a lipsil too. And a wallet.

Bottle of water

Two points re bags which I think worth mentioning 1) you dont have to buy a new one when you go up a dress size 2) you don't actually ever need an excuse to buy a new one.
I do rememebr when the DDs were little I always used to carry a spare pair of pants for them in my bag which got very embarrassing during the IRA bombing in Londn in the 70's/80's when one's bag was searched at exhibitions, museums etc. "No" I would squawk" they're for my children" Might be another story today

I adore handbags and have loads of them, and change them daily to suit my mood, outfit, work requirements... DH banned me from buying new unless I chucked out an old, ...so when I buy a new, I visit a charity shop and hide it in the new bag, then chuck it out...

Having said that , i have bought some great bags in charity shops

I also have 3 briefcases....