Designed Exclusively for Beadventure/Creative Castle Workshop
May 14-26, 2009
Beadventure Info

This evening bag is the first in a series of evening bags inspired by perfume bottles and amphora found in antiquity.  An ancient perfume bottle discovered in Pompeii was the inspiration for the above bag.  The original was made of glass and had the most magnificent gold piece to hold the bottle (another project for another trip!)  Ancient perfume bottles were made of alabaster, gold and glass.  Small bone or metal spatulas were used to apply oils and creams.

The more I study antiquity, the more I realize that men and women have not changed.  We all love beautiful things and to pamper ourselves.  The Campania region was lush with vegetation and flowers that were used to make perfumes.  Olive oil was processed and used as a base for the perfume as olive trees were abundant throughout the Vesuvius region.  Many types of flowers and herbs were used such as roses, jasmine, myrrh, fennel, lilies, and basil.  Remains of perfume factories were found in the region and the perfumes made there were popular among the Roman culture.  Perfume was also used frequently as people did not bathe often. 

The purse is made using various sizes of beads (size 10 Delicas, cylinder beads, and size 15 seed beads) using a combination of various styles of peyote and brick stitch.  It is a lovely evening bag reminiscent of days gone by – perfect for that special occasion to hold lipstick, money for that glass of pinot noir at intermission, and a few other personal items.

This workshop is for participants of Beadventure/Creative Castle workshop in May 2009.