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The Famous Bra Purse©!
Bra Purse photos Bra Purse instructions

Lubbock is the home of the original Bra Purse©, designed by Jeanie Caswell. You are invited to have fun making your own Bra Purse©, but we ask that you NOT make purses for retail sale. This is a copyright protected original design of Jeanie Caswell and  Lubbock Red Hats chapter of the Red Hat Society.

We want to see your Bra Purse creations! E-mail your photos to: FQM Margaret Webb.

The Bra Purse© Story
Turning a Bra into a Silk Purse

"This little purse began its life as a size 36C red, satin and marabou bra...Don't ask me why. Being new to the Red Hat Society, I couldn't leave it to an unknown fate and brought it home to become a purse. It began in a very simple and demure fashion with only one versatile, adjustable strap handle, soon to be bumped up a notch with tassels. The word "challenge" launched it to its present state as a "chandela-bra" which is appropriate for Presidential dinners, Affairs of State, and audiences with the Queen. The heavy addition of jewels facilitated the use of the more reliable hook and eye closure, which can also double as a handle in the event of high winds. The purse remains quite versatile as it is totally reversible and can be carried with either side to the outside, or placed on a table with either side up. Plans for the future may involve a battery pack and light kit."

After Jeanie's first Red Hat function she and her husband were browsing TJ Maxx. Jeanie was on the lookout for a red purse. From several aisles away, Jeanie remarked to her husband, there is something red, thinking to herself, "gee there is a pretty red purse." As they approached, they soon realized that the red pretty was a bra. Jeanie remarked to her husband, "Darn, it's a bra! I thought it was a purse." Her husband said, "It could be, just sew the two cups together." With his suggestion and her imagination, the bra was purchased and away they went. Weeks later at a Christmas party, Jeanie carried her beautiful new red purse. All the Red Hatters were amazed and delighted with the new purse idea!

Jeanie Caswell, designer of the original Bra Purse©, shows off her second creation.

That following April, Founding Queen Mother Margaret was asked to Chicago for the first ever RHS Convention. Wanting to show off Lubbock's RHS ideas and talents, she asked Jeanie if she could take the bra purse. Jeanie agreed and once again all were impressed and amazed at Jeanie's talent. That following July, 4th on Broadway parade, Jeanie lost the red bra purse. All was sad as can be. The following Christmas, all the red hatters brought items for Jeanie to make another purse. Jeanie was delighted and overwhelmed. Very shortly another bra purse was designed (a purple bra purse, this time) and thus started the many bra purses being made. Jeanie gifted this purse to FQM Margaret Webb who cherished the gift and was simply delighted. FQM Margaret took it to a celebration, a expansion of Bernina Sewing Studio, and everyone went nuts over the purse. As conversations started and continued about the purse, FQM Margaret realized what a true treasure she had. She put together a workshop and PJ party and invited all the ladies to make their own bra purse, using their own imagination.

Here are some of the great creations...

This site maintained by Grace Bullard.  All contents ©2006 by Margaret Webb, Founding Queen Mother of "Lubbock Red Hats" Chapter
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