The opinion of one who worked with Evelyn Haertig restoring purses Kathie Weston, purse restorer: Working for many years with Evelyn Haertig helping her restore her collection of antique beaded purses was an education in the history of these great purses and gave me a great appreciation of their workmanship. Evelyn's passion for the beautiful purses and restoring them led me to be forever grateful that I had the opportunity to work with her.
Her last book, Restoring and Collecting Antique Beaded Purses, is a final gift to anyone, a beginner or seasoned collector will appreciate the knowledge she passes on to us in this 3rd book. She begins with the evolution of the beaded purse, if read carefully you will appreciate the little pieces of knowledge she shares. The colored photos enable the readers to picture the meaning behind her text. Her love of beads was obvious when I worked with her to find the perfect size, and color to fit into a missing spot to complete a repair which finished the purse with great satisfaction. Her information shared on the threads to use and the construction of the body of the purses is a great benefit to anyone attempting this feat. The information she shares in the mastering of a perfect fringe will enable anyone to do an excellent finish, so important for the completing of a purse restoration.
Her chapter on frames and linings speaks for itself in the self evidence of a respect for the manufacturing of the frames and the artful expertise in fitting them with the beaded purse. The choice of lining was always a most important step in the finishing touches.
The final chapter, certainly not the least, leaves the reader satisfaction in a wonderful display of some of the most exquisite scenic and figurine beaded purses with her explicative of each beautiful purse for any reader to enjoy. Adding this book to your library will effectuate your informative books collection.
Submitted with the permission of Kathie Weston.
Excellent Book for Purse Collectors and Restorationists If you own a beaded purse collection or even have just one antique beaded bag that is less than perfect, you MUST have this book. Well known authority on antique beaded purses, Evelyn Haertig has authored the most information packed book on restoration techniques I have ever seen. While the book is very detailed, it is still easy to read and a feast for the eyes. After reading this book I was able to do my own repairs. Restoration techniques are discussed in depth all the way from the necessary tools to the frames and lining. Speaking of frames, this book has the most glorious frames pictured. Even if it is not your desire to repair your own purses, this book will help you to understand how your purses were constructed by women so long ago and how much time and effort were put in to this lost art. It will also help you to understand what your restorationist does and what a reasonable price for restoration is. I highly recommend this book for anyone with a purse collection or a passion for antique purses.
Some good advice, but overall disappointing.... This book does contain some valuable tidbits of information, but it is more than a little disappointing. Having created and restored purses of my own, I was expecting this book to provide definitive information about the restoration process. But alas, the author's instructions are vague in most cases - she offers "tips" rather than true instruction. In her historic overview, one also questions whether or not she has ever made a purse herself - she doesn't seem to understand the process of knitting in the round.
This volume does contain some beautiful pictures and is very nicely put together. Slightly overpriced, it is still an interesting book for purse collectors and those interested in restoration, but don't look to it for the answers to all of your beading questions.
Disappointing With so very few books written about beaded purse collecting, it is not difficult to encounter this book if you are looking to learn more about the history and construction of these works of art. Unfortunately, the text is written in an ostentatious style and really gives little serious historical information. The section on restoration actually shows very little real restoration for a book titled "Restoring and Collecting...". The price on this book is a bit steep too. There's a picture of a tile stove in the middle of the book -- with no explanation or continuity in the text. A tile stove? In a book about purses? The purses that appear in the book seem to be mostly from the author's collection, who apparently has found a great way to write off her collection and trips overseas with a book on collecting.
Just my Opinion I was a little disappointed with some of the content, the information to repair should be a little bit more detailed but thats just my opinion.
Anything Goes Trivia
Trevor
Megaton Man
