Feeding the addiction

I admit it...I am an addict. It's Chris' fault. He is the one who got me started. Now I am going to stand up and say... I am LaTonne and I am a pursaholic. Actually, purses aren't my only addiction. I also have drawers of jewelry.
It all started when Chris gave me a Louis Vitton duffle for Christmas one year. Before that, I had a couple of purses that I liked but they were more for function than fashion. Now I had heard of Louis before. I mean, I worked in a bank in Scottsdale, AZ. Of course you see people with things like that. But actually owning one had never crossed my mind. So when I opened that present, I was like Wow...uh...Thanks? When I went back to work after the holidays proudly carrying my rather large purse, I was impressed with the attention it got. "Okay", I thought, "there might be something to this." And then I found out how much that attention getter cost(because people that are impressed with those kinds of things always know what they cost), I about died. I mean, holy cow, I could have a new roping saddle for what that thing cost. I suddenly become very aware of how much thought Chris had put into getting me this gift. His reasoning was...I was working in an environment that appreciated and expected someone on their way up to have something like this. And because he knew that I would never spend that kind of money on a purse. This is one of the many reasons I love him. But that was just the beginning...
I began to notice purses now. I mean really to look at them. There are so many styles and colors. When I found the light blue, lizard print embossed Prada at GoodWill, I was hooked. From that moment on I was constantly on the lookout for the next great deal. Now the first place I check at a thrift store is the purse section. I have found some great purses and have amassed about 20 or so(I don't count for reason).
Now, my brother is feeding the addiction. He is hand making purses and sending them home. Boxes of them. OMG-It is like Christmas whenever one of his boxes show up. I have died and gone to Heaven.

Here are a couple of purses that my brother has made. They are all hand cut, hand assembled and hand sewn. You would never guess it looking at the stitches. This white one is my favorite. It doesn't show very well in the picture, but they both have a gold sheen to them(If you click on the picture it enlarges and you can see the great detail).

This is one he made for Megan(but I have borrowed it a couple of times because it is so cute). I love the stitching around the edge.

And my dear brother just called and said that we should get another box in a day or so. I can't wait...But I still like plunking that big ol' Louis on the table and telling people - that's my new roping saddle. Chris, honey you are the bomb. XOXO