Have you heard of the saying, "Going to Heaven in a Handbag?" I had not, but when my co-workers' creative minds started to design a miniature garden greenhouse display that put a twist on this saying, I was intrigued. They were talking about an umbrella suspended from the ceiling with almost invisible, fishing lines that dangled tiny Lipstick Purses from its wire ribs. To the joy of the fairies, the purses falling like "showers that water the earth" could not be stopped by the fabric of the umbrella and the colorful assortment of designs that came raining down from the sky.
Glittery Lipstick Purses, falling from the umbrella, caught the beams of sun shining through the clear walls of the greenhouse. Suddenly the metallic stars, accenting the dazzling fabric, twinkled.Tiny purses could be seen in other areas of the greenhouse. In an array of colors and designs, the purses were also lined up on a tower of rocks and surrounded by flowers that decorated the background. The surprising treats were the miniature succulents tucked inside the open purses. With names of Crassula, Portulaca, and Sedum, the plants sat stately inside the purses almost as if they understood the saying about Heaven and handbags. Then there was this plant titled, Othonna capensis, which had a funny common name of 'Little Pickles.' The greenery brought fun and enjoyment to the silver, gold, pink, green, and blue glittery purses.
Not all the Lipstick Purses were sparkly. The stately, and forever common, little black purse joined the group of "rain upon the land" bags. With its textured vinyl exterior and silver clasp, the black purse became a container for a collection of miniature succulents. Another familiar design was a black and white houndstooth pattern. Then there were the florals with flowers reminiscent of the 60's that brought back the words, "Flower Power." What an appropriate title for a Lipstick Purse in the fairy garden.
Thinking of the purses brings me back to the garden and dreaming up ideas for their use. How can the miniature gardener display the purses? One idea is to create an eye-catching presentation by grouping a purse, planted with an array of succulents, on a bistro table alongside statues and pots. Another idea is to set the little black handbag on a rock in the miniature garden, so visitors may wonder if a fairy left the purse behind. My favorite place to display a glittery purse is near a waterfall in the garden, since it would be an unexpected and mysterious sight. Over time watering the purses will create a shabby chic, rusted look that adds to the charm of the little containers. If you are looking for a more traditional purpose for the purses, there are many ways to use them.
Of course, there is the practical use of the purse, which is as a handy storage for a favorite tube of lipstick or gloss. The purses make excellent gifts for the little ones to place their trinkets inside. Our customers have been creative in using the purses. An assortment of mini purses were purchased as bridesmaid gifts for an upcoming wedding and another person was giving the pink purses to friends and family to announce, "It's a girl."Another idea is to begin a collection of Lipstick Purses and line them up on shelf for everyone to see.
Whether your mini garden is raining little handbags or you want to use them for your personal pleasure, the Lipstick Purses would make any fairy flutter with delight, because adventures that include a purse are worthwhile.
