Linda Krasner, Partner, Vogue and Vintage

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Linda Krasner lives with her husband Michael Krasner in Jamaica Estates, New York. It seems to be a fitting location for her in a vintage community in N.Y.C., living in a 19th century house. Her collecting days began in household and jewelry items, not purchasing her first antique purse until the 1970s.

Linda's interest in owning antique bags stems from her habit of wearing vintage clothing for special occasions. Today, she feels that fabulous vintage bags are the finishing touch for a night out in Manhattan wearing just a black sweater and pants.

Linda's love of beaded bags started when she was only seven years old. At her sister's wedding she noticed the hand-beading on the 1950s dresses and companion purses. "At this time, I began dreaming of owning wonderful items like these and wearing them in the style of that era." She is still amazed when she sees a precious antique bag and imagines the hours spent on its creation.

Linda is a partner in 30-year-old Vogue & Vintage located in Great Neck, New York. Although the store (originally called Grandma's Attic Ltd.) began as a haven for bric-a-brac lovers, one of its greatest assets is as a hospital for sick purses and vintage jewelry. One dealer refers to Linda as her "miracle worker".

After years of bag repair and beadwork, she met and studied with a master beader, Christa, from Chatham, N.Y. The beading discipline Christa taught was Peyote, prevalent in Native American beaded pieces. "Using this stitch allows me to create pieces using only the beads and thread without any fabric or looming." The pieces do not require fabric, because each bead is joined to the ones before with just thread. "I always feel as if I am setting glass into mid air," Linda says.

One of her most recent creations is her "dancing women" on a copper colored antique frame replete with the original rose quartz clasp. Her most ambitious beaded piece to date is an antique style "story quilt". In this photo you can see 900 square inches, entirely made of glass beads done in Peyote. There are 36 individual squares which are joined to make the beaded piece. Linda said that she was combining two vintage crafts: the beauty of antique beaded purses combined with the detailing she always loved in American family quilts. "The wonderful concept, realized in fine antique beaded purses, which resembles tapestries served as my idea for this piece.

This piece will be part of a future installation in the American Folk Art Museum. The curator's idea is to include it in a showing of ancient crafts done in the modern era.

Some of the bags she has enjoyed most are owned by other dealers and collectors. She loves the amazing carved celluloid frames. "I get to transplant new bodies, linings and even make handles for these 'lovely ladies' (as one dealer calls them). I get to temporarily adopt them, enjoy the process and then return them to their owners."

"One of the most beautiful antique purses I have ever seen was a large framed velvet masterpiece. A number of years ago, a woman from the mid west sent it to us for stone replacement. Although I have always done stone replacement in jewelry, this was the first purse frame we had ever received with genuine sapphires, emeralds and rubies. I was thrilled to see it returned to its original condition, once we replaced the six missing gemstones. Now that was one I would have loved to make my own."

Usually, Linda says that the last purse she has saved is her favorite, but her own favorite is a deco bag, which is paved in fabulous pearls replete with diamante centers. "I collect pearl necklaces and adore this piece because I get to wear pearls as something other than jewelry."

Linda is never bothered by the bags she should not have purchased. "The one that got away still haunts me. I still dream of the fabulous figural bag I saw on the internet about a year ago. I grew up in a home where we all played cards. This bag had two gambling scenes on it with the finest detailing from period costumes to gaming tables. This bag will always call to me and remain the one that got away."

Linda's husband is her greatest fan and a person who is also a collector of antiques. She feels there is much more joy in both restoring antique purses and collecting them when one lives with a person who appreciates and values them as well. They have been married for almost 43 years and have two wonderful children: a daughter and son-in-law and two adorable little grandsons.

She grew up in a house with antique furnishings and decorations. Her grandparents, who shared a two family house with them, were both wonderful craftspeople. Her mother, now 93 years old, always taught her about the beauty found in such pieces, while her father (the handiest man who could fix anything) showed her that anything can be saved. This dynamic duo shaped her and helped her become who she is, what she does, and what she enjoys.

As a final thought Linda says she will always collect antique purses and continue to restore vintage pieces, but her mind is also filled with ideas for pieces yet to come; the antiques of the future.