Hurrah for Holly-days

It was a beautiful day for a party; the sun was shining, the air was warm, people were still out in shirt sleeves and an occasional pair of shorts. It could be May or October, but it was November 4th. Wasn't it too early for a holiday open house? Of course not. The family owned design gallery that has provided many ideas and items to make this house a home was the host of the open house, and I'm always ready to be a guest. The store had been closed for two days as multiple Christmas trees with stunning ornaments, vases filled with boughs, holly, and feathers, and silver, crystal, pottery and stunning textiles were perfectly placed to promote a holiday buying frenzy. The smells of the season greeted visitors entering the store and after a mere hour of shopping, I left with a few items, most of them for me, which is always the case when one goes Christmas shopping early and without the list of desired item.

The perfect black bag now lives in my purse closet, on call for the next event that requires a chic embellishment. It is a beautifully made black silk bag, from the 2004 Designer of the Year, Mary Frances. "Since 1990, Mary Frances, a San Francisco Bay area designer, has been creating “works of art” with her unique blend of elegance and whimsy." And one will soon rest on my left shoulder.

It is probably the most beautiful bag I have seen recently. It is a "statement piece," and it will begin gathering compliments the first time I use it. Each side of the bag is unique, one side embellished with stones and fur, and the other a tad plainer, yet still beautiful. It will go with anything from the purple suit with black mink trim I bought a few weeks ago, to a tailored suit or even jeans. It can best be described as "gold faceted cabochon set on golden silk embellished with black, gold and bronze beadwork, textured black trimmings, mesh pearl drop beads with golden finials, golden rosette and barrel beads. Black leather side and corner panels." It has a woven shoulder strap of black silk and a magnetic flap closure. Now you know exactly what it looks like.

It is large enough for a phone, cash, credit cards, a camera, check book and pen, and the cosmetics no one should leave home without. Watch for it soon. You'll absolutely love it.