I was recently at a outdoor antiques market when I saw this dazzling purse and couldn’t keep my eyes off of it. The purse is made of wood and has a whimsical bird pattern bejeweled with gold and brown translucent stones and gold coins. I could tell that the design was from either the 1960s or 70s. Flat 2-D bird images have been popular and I wondered if this is where it began. The lady who sold it to me asked if I knew Enid Collins. No, I’d never heard of her.

Once I got home, I started to research Enid Collins and what I found was an interesting lady. Enid and her husband, sculptor Fred Collins, moved to Medina, TX to ranch. After struggling at making a go of ranching, they had to turn to their talents. She had graduated with a fashion design degree, so it was only natural that she would design purses. Enid made unique, stylish purses using paint, charms, sequins, rhinestones, sculpted brass ornaments and leather trim. Collins of Texas was born in 1959 and at first sold her bags locally in gift shops and dude ranches. But then Neiman Marcus placed an order and Enid’s totes and box bag purses became the ‘must-have’ accessory. I find her story inspirational because she followed her bliss. It seems that a lot of us get caught in the money trap of having to rely on a day job when only we’d be so lucky to lose our jobs and then have to rely on our passions. I know it seems a little scary, but the payoff is huge, not only money but what you have the potential to create.

After poking around the internet, I’ve learned that the purse that I’ve acquired was made in the 1960s. This purse is in excellent shape, but for missing three small sequins – hardly noticeable. It has a mirror on the inside flap to allow for powdering one’s nose at any moment. The purse design is called “Money Tree”, so you’ll be rich if you carry this bag around. Well, you’ll look rich anyway. It’s like carrying a portable piece of studio folk art. I’ll be posting this one for sale soon . . . if it can be wrestled out of my hands. What a find! If you’d like to see more designs, check out Enid Collins Collection.

When I shop, I’m on the lookout for artistic, unique jewelry that is quality. You won’t find me at a mall store looking through repetitious stacks of a jewelry fad – although I have been known to hunt for the perfect gold hoop. But at any art show, you can find me mulling over pieces and checking my wallet to see how much I can buy. I don’t necessarily look for the trendiest jewelry and buy a piece just because the ‘hot movie actress of the moment’ happened to show up in a magazine wearing some bling-blang. I shop for pieces that will remain in my collection for years. And as my clothing styles change, my jewelry still looks good and accents my outfit. Of course I’ve been through my jewelry stages from gold to silver, thin to clunky but when I look at my stuff, I find that I have a well-rounded lot.

A funny thing happened when my sister and I decided to buy and sell vintage jewelry last summer – all of a sudden I saw it everywhere! In fashion magazines, store catalogues (reproductions, of course) and even first lady was matching vintage jewelry to her outfits (well, her style advisor probably was). Vintage is the current trend! I’m sure it has something to do with the state of the economy. In tough times, people historically look back. And that’s where we’re at right now . . . looking back to when life was easier and people didn’t live in fear of losing their job.

Whether or not vintage is ‘in’, I still have a deep appreciation for it. I got into this biz because I love to treasure hunt. When someone asks me, “Where did you get that?” I have to tell them that it’s a unique jewelry piece (either vintage or from an art show) that you won’t find at the local chain store. In our shop, I try to sell a mix of simple to elaborate so that I can post jewelry pieces that are in a range of prices. It’s fun to mix and match jewelry, even if they are not from the same era . . .it lends to a unique, personal style.