Confessions of a Pursaholic

Yep, I just really love purses! I'm a Pursologist. I know Pursology. Come to me about your "pursonal problems." I would "pursonally" love to hear from you!  Ohhhhh, OK, I'll stop now.  I'm cracking myself up.

The Mary Bag Collection

If you are looking for a larger handbag that offers plenty of organization, Mary is the one for you! Just behind her simplistic exterior design lies three larger compartments, each lined with pockets so as to keep all of your worldly goods in order.  No more digging around inside a large handbag, feeling around in the bottomless pit for keys, mobile, wallet, etc.  Our clever, and well thought out design makes finding what you need in a large bag quick and easy!

Each color comes with black leather handles, accompanied by nickel hardware.  Purse feet for every corner protects the bottom of the bag.

The Chicks Collection

Here at Scarlet Clover Designs we are proud to announce five of our seven newest designs! This seasons inspirations are drawn from seven magnificent women of the Bible including Eve, Sarah, Rahab, Ruth, Naomi, Esther, and Mary (Eve & Esther are not yet featured). As you continue reading further down the page, you can read the symbolism behind each handbag and see more photos of these beautiful pieces that you can accessorize your wardrobe with. Please stay tuned for upcoming photos of Eve & Esther.

The Sarah Backpack "Joseph's Coat" $145 ~ The Chicks Collection

I am quite intrigued by how some words, or passages, in the Bible translate quite differently from one language to another. The story of Joseph's Coat is one of those instances. Genesis 37: 3 reads, "Now Israel loved Joseph more than any other of his children, because he was the son of his old age; and he had made him a long robe with sleeves." The rare Hebrew term modifying robe appears to mean "the palms of the hands" or " the soles of the feet," hence the NRSV's a long robe with sleeves. The traditional translation, "a coat of many colors," is based on the Septuagint (a Greek translation of the Hebrew), which took this unusual Hebrew term to mean "multicolored." There are disputes among theologians about the translation "coat of many colors." It may be a mistranslation, and the actual nature of the garment is subject to dispute. The New Interpreter's Study Bible, New Revised Standard Version With The Apocrypha (USA: Abingdon Press, 2003) Sarah Backpack $145

Playing with the visual images I draw from Joseph's "coat of many colors," I have created the Sarah Backpack which is only available in plaid or houndstooth. Pick your color ladies!! I'll make it for you. The fabric for this particular backpack is made of Scottish wool, bottomweight, black leatherette on the top flap, and 100% leather for the straps and drawstring.

All hardware is brass.

Click on any of the photos for a larger view.

A handsome black, brown and tan check is paired with an espresso brown flap in leatherette, and black 100% leather strapping and drawstring.

The shoulder straps can be adjusted for three different lengths at the bottom of the bag.

As always I find a clever location for my signature cascade of fabrics. The backs of these little darlings do not go left unadorned.

The Rahab Bag "Baskets" $175 ~ The Chicks Collection

Although the theme for this handbag is "Baskets" I would like to share a bit of where the inspiration for the name of the bag comes from. The story of Rahab is one of my favorites in scripture. Found in the second chapter of Joshua, the prostitute Rahab provides protection for the Israelite spies once they were inside the walls of Jericho. "Now then, since I have dealt kindly with you, swear to me by the Lord that you in turn will deal kindly with my family. Give me a sign of good faith......and deliver our lives from death." Josh 2:12-13. In exchange for their protection from the enemy, the Israelites swear to protect Rahab and her family when the city of Jericho is sacked. They tell her to tie a scarlet cord from her window. This will be a sign to the Israelites not to kill those peoples residing within those doors, and show mercy upon them. NRSV. Rahab Bag $145

The red scarf on the Rahab bag is symbolic of the scarlet cord that Rahab tied to her window. It was "by faith that the prostitute did not perish with those who were disobedient, because she had received the spies in peace." Hebrews 11:31.

This handbag is composed of linen, cotton blends, mole skin, suede-like micro-fiber, bottomweight, and a basket-weave leatherette. All hardware is brass.

Please click on any of the photos to get a larger view.

A peek inside shows a handy pocket for your sunglasses or mobile phones, one on each side of the bag. Plenty of pockets inside for stashing your items away, allowing for organization.

Detail of the sunglasses pocket.

The Ruth Bag "Raven" $85 ~ The Chicks Collection

Ruth is a very cool handbag. Sleek and cosmopolitan, she represents everything in the modern woman. This handbag is available in black with the "Raven" theme, or espresso brown with the "Lizard" theme. Ruth Bag $85

The streamlined handle for this bag is quite savvy. Very easy to carry, Ruth will become one of your favorite evening bags.

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Have trouble with handbag placement whilst on your Harley ladies? No problem. Ruth has got you covered.

Ahhhhh, this is where the "Raven" theme comes in. The story of the Raven comes from I Kings 17:1-6 where the prophet Elijah flees from the evil King Ahab to the brook of Cherith. It was here that the ravens fed Elijah "bread and meat in the morning, and bread and meat in the evening", a reminder of God's providence and hope.

I myself can not look at a raven or a large black bird anymore without thinking of this passage from scripture. Icons of pests that cause great agricultural damage, I see in them a silver lining.

Indeed, I always find a location for my signature cascade of fabric, even if it is tucked away tightly in a corner.

The Naomi Clutch "Them Bones" $80 ~ The Chicks Collection

For several years now, I have desperately wanted to pull from the imagery of Ezekiel 37: 1-14 the skulls and bones that the valley is heavily scattered with in this passage and elegantly represent it in a design. As the passage reads: (3) He said to me, "Mortal, can these bones live?" I answered, "O Lord God, you know." Then he said to me, "Prophesy to these bones, and say to them: O dry bones, hear the word of the Lord. Thus says the Lord God to these bones: I will cause breath to enter you, and you shall live. I will lay sinews on you, and will cause flesh to come upon you, and over you with skin, and put breath in you, and you shall live; and you shall know that I am the Lord." The beautiful imagery here fills my mind not of fowl or bizarre things, but of hope, love and life. The citation illustrates the transition from death to life, that of which is empowered by the breath, which is the Spirit of the Lord. Naomi Clutch $70

Two super strong magnets hold this clutch closed. Chocolate Espresso leatherette cover the top front and back, while a subtle milk chocolate micro-fiber with a suede-like finish finish off the bottom front.

The effect here with skulls & crossbones is tasteful, rich and elegant. Just as I imagine God's breath of life quietly breathing into the bones, I construct in my mind a beautiful vision of elegance and dance as the bones softly clatter together and the flesh comes upon them and covers them with skin. The quiet beauty of it all is equally represented in the design.

Please click on any of the photos to get a larger view.

Typically, I like the cascade of fabric to be colorful and vibrant. However, in this case, the hushed flow of espresso taffeta ever so slightly frayed seemed appropriate.

The Naomi Clutch "Animal Instincts" $80 ~ The Chicks Collection

The theme "Animal Instincts" was really drawn from my desire to shed a positive light on the snake. Snakes in the ancient world were a symbol of both death and danger and fertility, life, and healing. The Gospels retain the Jewish association of snakes with wisdom: in the Gospel of Matthew Jesus tells the twelve apostles to be "wise as serpents, and harmless as doves" (Matthew 10:16) Through the use of Moses' Nehushta, the copper serpent on a pole provides healing for the sick. "Then the LORD sent poisonous serpents among the people, and they bit the people, so that many Israelites died. The people came to Moses and said, "We have sinned by speaking against the LORD and against you; pray to the LORD to take away the serpents from us." So Moses prayed for the people. And the LORD said to Moses, "Make a poisonous serpent, and set it on a pole; and everyone who is bitten shall look at it and live." So Moses made a serpent of bronze, and put it upon a pole; and whenever a serpent bit someone, that person would look at the serpent of bronze and live." Numbers 21: 6-9. It's interesting to note that the symbol for the American Medical Association is drawn from this reference. Naomi Clutch $70

This sexy clutch is composed of black leatherette that covers the top front and back, and python print mole skin makes up the bottom front. Super strong magnets keep this beauty closed.






Peek-a-boo! Isn't that pretty. Naturally, I always find a place to show off my signature cascade of fabrics.

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This little item just keeps getting better. Staying true to form, the interior of my handbags are just as pretty as they are outside.....in this case, quite sexy!





Flash that purse around girls! Under your arm or across the knee, it's always gorgeous.

The Naomi Clutch "Baskets" $80 ~ The Chicks Collection

"Baskets" is the theme for this delightful handbag. I wanted to bring attention to the importance of basket making in the lives of biblical peoples. The use of baskets is mentioned numerous times in the Bible. Some examples include when Moses was floated down the river in a basket made of bulrushes and when Jesus performed the miracle of feeding the masses with a few loaves of bread and several fish, which were found in a young boy’s basket. It is noted that 7 baskets filled with leftovers were gathered after everyone had eaten their fill. What we take for granted as "just a basket" was so much more to the people of their time. Basket making was a vital way of life for many, and a major component to how goods were stored and traded. Naomi Clutch $70

Hidden magnets keep the clutch closed. A basketweave leatherette in chocolate covers the top front and back, while men's suiting in cornflower blue plaid covers the bottom front.







Staying true to form, my signature cascade of fabrics is always strategically placed.





A 7" zipper is quietly tucked away in this handsome clutch. The neutral interior plays to the favor of "Baskets" gentleman-like touch.

Please click on any of the photos to get a larger view.

How The Chick's Collection came to be.

As as designer, my ideas and inspirations come and go like the tide. There are many times I yearn to produce something new and fresh, and often more than not I am left sadly like a dried up well.....nothing there, no visions, no pulling together of ideas, no nada. I hate it when that happens. But when I get the teeniest spark of light out of the darkness, the inspirations and visions come like a flood. I practically can't get the drawings out fast enough. What a rush it is when that happens.

That is precisely what happened with our newest addition, The Chicks Collection. I think it was Rahab that started it all. I love that story in the Bible. It represents so much hope for those that are lost. It is a fine example of God's grace and mercy. She was a brave woman, Rahab, and for that I wanted to share her story. After that, I decided on Esther. Then it was the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law pair Naomi and Ruth - WOW! What a story. It just brings tears to my eyes. Eve was a must.....good ol' Eve! Sarah's faith in the Lord to guide she and Abraham into the unknown, and then to provide her with a son after all of those years, well, she was a shoe in as well. That leaves us with the last, but most certainly not the least, Mary, mother of Christ. She is the only woman I choose from the New Testament, as she towers over and above all others. Voila! I had new names for new designs, and the inspirations for shapes and textures began to flow. From here The Chicks Collection was born.

My need to not only create, but to solidify my work with meaning, meaning that comes from scripture, is an ultimate high for me. I love reading the Bible and pulling images from beautifully painted verses. Running through the files in my mind of how I can apply the bold use of color and texture along with keys words or phrases such as "crimson cord" or "valley of dry bones" is a challenge that I embrace with great gusto and delight. This said, the pieces I create are more than just a handbag to me, they are a symphony. They sing to me. I see stories with them. I feel them, just as I feel joy and love and compassion as I read God's word. It is because of all of these things that I know that the Lord is behind all of these designs. I am simply the vessel. To create for Him and to spread His word though these designs, to glorify Him.....well, it's quite hard to put into words how it makes me feel, but to say "wonderful" is a good start.

Your Sister In Christ, Heidi