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Consumer guide: handbags

Consumer guide: handbags

Find out about the many handbag styles, which ones best fit certain body types, and how designer labels play a part in selecting your favorite handbag.
  • Women love handbags just as much as they love diamonds. With new styles entering the marketplace every season, how can one decide? Are you a label lover - Chanel, Gucci, Prada or are you a classic - Tod's or YSL? Or is plain Jane luxurious leather more your style? Find out about the many handbag styles, which one would best fit your body type and how status plays the part of selecting your favorite handbag.
  • Every season designers come out with an array of different classic styles from hobo's to totes, to shoulder bags to clutches. As far as status is concerned, you don't need to wear a complete logo handbag to look like your bag cost lots of money. Great leather, good topstitching and quality workmanship play a big role in quality handbags, designer brand or not. But which one works for you, your lifestyle and your body?

    Totes: A tote bag is usually in the shape of a square and is roomy enough for any women to carry everything she needs for the day. It's great for a casual day to get you from work to the gym. Tote bags can come in different sizes. Note: If you are small and petite, go for a smaller sized tote that will look proportionate to your body size.
    Hobo Bags: Hobo's are oversized bags where you can practically carry everything but the kitchen sink. The look is large and slouchy and can look incredibly fashionable and can go with every occasion (except of course the cocktail event). Note: Size does matter. It can look a little odd on an extremely petite body frame, since it is so oversized. Look for a slightly smaller size if you're tiny.
    Classic Handbags: This bag is your basic everyday handbag. The classic shape, smaller size, the long or short shoulder strap in the everyday color ? black, beige or brown is perfect for anyone. It could be a designer logo bag or a basic leather bag, either way you have a win/win situation. Note: Any body type would look great with this type of handbag.
    Clutches: Who doesn't love a classic clutch? Women love to get dressed up and this strapless type of handbag really does the trick. Whether you're looking for a vintage clutch from the 50's or a new designer clutch, looking for one with details is key. Note: If you're curvaceous a tiny clutch may not be for you - go for a medium sized one. If you're tiny a larger clutch may not off set your proportions, a smaller clutch would look great on you.
    Dressy Backpacks: These are great to give your weekend look a dressier vibe. And, if you choose a sleek backpack such as a Louis Vuitton, you take the chic look to a whole new level. The best part is your hands are free, so shopping is not a problem. Note: Backpacks look great on any body type.
    Messenger Bags: Messenger bags are great to take to the office for men or women. They are sleek, chic and swing right over the shoulder. These bags are large enough to carry all of your needs for the day and take you right into evening. Note: These look great on any body type as well.

    Now that you know about all of the fabulous styles of handbags, get shopping.

    Directions for making baskets

    Directions for making baskets

    Here are easy to follow directions for making baskets. Baskets are loved by everyone, and making them once soon turns into a hobby, whether for fun for yourself or for gifts.
    Everyone loves baskets. They can be found in almost any home, either serving a purpose such as holding fruit or magazines, or as a decorative accent hanging from a pot rack. Today they can be easily found in any store and range in cost from very inexpensive to rather pricey. Baskets may be optional in the home now, but at one time they were absolute necessities, and early settlers and pioneers had to make their own.

    With the easy availability of baskets today, we don't need to scavage the countryside for materials to make them, but many people do it anyway. The reasons they make their own baskets range from wanting to be self-sufficient to creating a unique gift for someone to therapeutic stress relief.
    If you would like to try your hand at basket making, for whatever reason, supplies are widely available. Almost any flexible material in nature can be used and craft stores offer a supply of machine made reeds and splints.
    Before we take a look at how to weave baskets, let's take a look at basket making materials. Below is a list of natural materials along with brief instructions on how to prepare them for use.
  • Cattail leaves and/or stalks: Gather fully grown in early fall. On leaves, cut bottom base off and hang to dry. Before use, soak 5 minutes in lukewarm water.
  • Corn husks: Gather the inner leaves of an ear of corn when it is ripe. Hang to dry for one week. Before use, soak 5 minutes in lukewarm water.
  • Honeysuckle vines: Vines need to be at least 1 year old and should be cut between fall and early spring. Boil vine for 4 hours and then remove bark. Before use, soak 20 minutes in lukewarm water.
  • Vines (grape or any pliable vine): Gather vines when they are not producing (late fall to early spring). Hang to dry in a cool, dark place. If bark loosens, peel it off. Before use, soak overnight in lukewarm water. Pine needles (brown): Pick needles (5"-12" long), on any dry day. Wash in warm soapy water and lay out to dry. Take time to make sure they are clean. Before use, soak until pliable in lukewarm water.
  • Daffodil leaves: Gather leaves when they are full grown and green. To keep their green color, spread them out to dry in a dark place. Spray lightly before use.

    After any of the above materials have soaked the prescribed length of time, wrap them in a damp towel as you are working so they don't dry out or over soak. Here we will look at making a basket from vines.
    To make a basket from a vine you will need about 10, 3' long piees and around 15, 4' long pieces of vine. (These amounts are rough guidelines, as the thickness of vines and tightness of weave will affect actual amounts needed.) Choose the thickest pieces (around 1/2" diameter) to make the frame. Lay 3, 3' spokes on top of 3 bottom spokes to form a square cross. Using a piece of the long thin vine, called a weaver, fold it so one end is shorter than the other. Loop it over top spokes and then weave it over and under bottom spokes. (Weave it over 3 spokes, under the next three, over the next three, etc.)
    You should do this at least 3 times. Once you have, you can begin weaving it through the spokes individually. To add a new vine, or weaver, simply insert along the side of a spoke in between a previous weave. As you are adding and weaving, you will start having more space between the spokes. At this point you can cut new spokes and insert them to fill these spaces. Begin weaving them immediately into the pattern.
    When you have made the bottom 6" wide, you should lightly dampen the spokes until they are flexible enough to be turned upward, and continue weaving as you make your sides.
    To finish off the top edge, bend the spokes over and weave them amongst themselves one at a time. For example, take one spoke, bend it to the right and weave it over the one next to it,then under the next one, then over the next, etc. When that spoke has woven itself as far as it can, do this with the next one, and then continue until they have all been secured down. With scissors, snip off any ends that may be unsightly or sticking out.
    These instructions can be adapted to work for almost any of the other materials.
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