Rock purses are a blast from the past

Local News

Related Photos

Susan Bachelle creates purses and tote bags out of old album and CD covers. Jamie Hergott/Flyer photo

March 14, 2008

by Jamie Hergott The Hendricks County Flyer Fri Mar 14, 2008, 04:42 PM EDT

BROWNSBURG — Susan Bachelle carries her Moody Blues around on her shoulders.

But that’s not because she’s feeling down. It’s because she makes purses out of old record albums; and the Moody Blues are her “ultimate favorite.”

Bachelle was surfing on Ebay a year ago when she discovered a way to combine her creative talents and her favorite bands by creating purses out of record, CD, and DVD covers. Since then, Bags by Bachelle has grown to about five orders a week and 400 stockpiled albums in Bachelle’s home.

“Now I’m a collector,” Bachelle said. “I visit garage sales, Goodwill, and thrift stores. The Goodwill in Avon is getting to know me well.”

There are a range of products, including mini purses made of older and recent CDs. The side of the purse even snaps open so the CD itself can be slipped in and out: a unique alternative to the iPod, allowing one to carry their favorite music around with them everywhere they go. She’s also beginning to branch out to use 45s.

Larger purses and tote bags are made with laminated record album covers, ranging from Elvis to Johnny Winter to David Bowie. The Madonna purses especially “just rock,” she says.

These covers can also be made to create clocks. Bachelle laminates the cover, drills a hole in the middle, and attaches a clock device she purchases at a craft store. One of her popular clocks is the cover of John Lennon’s “Imagine” and guitar picks mark the twelfth, third, sixth, and ninth hours.

“You have people pulling out their past,” Bachelle said. “They see me carrying my purse and immediately start a conversation about how they remember that band and this concert. You can put the past on the wall, you can carry it on your arm. It brings back fun memories.”

With Bachelle’s outgoing, bubbly personality, that’s just what she loves. A full-time registered nurse at Hendricks Regional Health, she says she has made many friends all over the state through her craft shows, her website, and even just walking around carrying her own purse.

Business doesn’t stop at bags, though. Bachelle also makes coaster sets out of the centers of the records themselves and the album’s inside sleeves. She also hopes to begin making wine tote bags soon.

Having grown up in Pittsboro, Bachelle has always been somewhat creative and admits she tried many other avenues that didn’t quite work. Just out of college, she and her friends tried macramé, pottery, and designed sweatshirts, but those didn’t quite “float her boat.” But she’s always loved getting her creative juices going; in fact, she repaints the walls in her house at least twice a year.

“When you have that craftiness in you, you just want to create things,” Bachelle said. “To me, it’s somewhat easy. And I love the recycling aspect to it. I’m still kind of small potatoes. But I’d love to do it more often.”

For more information, visit Bachelle’s website at www.bachellebags.com.

jamie.hergott@flyergroup.com

Text Only

Local News

Hoosier Crossroads Tour comes to Hendricks County
Last July Lt. Gov. Becky Skillman was trying to decide what to do with the last year and a half of her term. She chose the opposite of easy.

Skillman is embarking on what she calls the "Hoosier Crossroads Tour."

February 10, 2012
Danville sets new rates for Blanton House rentals
The town council here recently ratified new fees to rent the Blanton House.

February 10, 2012
Police chief warns against scam
Police Chief Keith Gill reported that two citizens here were recent victims of a new scam done by phone and e-mail.

February 10, 2012
Hendricks County officials are pleased with SB impact
The City of Indianapolis wasn't the only community to benefit from Super Bowl XLVI. As host to one of the Super Celebration Sites, Hendricks County met its expectations with full hotel rooms and many restaurants and attractions reporting positive impacts from the big game.

February 10, 2012 1 Photo
Zoo Super Bowl fundraiser results in giant gift
The New York Giants weren't the only big winners in Super Bowl XLVI. Giants more than 8,000 miles from Lucas Oil Stadium were big winners too.

February 10, 2012 1 Photo
Club holds luggage drive for Jordan’s Place
AVON — Members of the Exchange Club of Hendricks County are again be collecting suitcases and bags for Jordan’s Place in Brownsburg.

February 10, 2012 1 Photo
Brownsburg holds inaugural town hall meeting
An estimated crowd of about 30 people attended the first of Brownsburg’s town hall meetings on Tuesday. The meetings were created to give an open forum to citizens who may not be able to attend evening council meetings. Council members Dwayne Sawyer and Rob Kendall said that goal was met.

February 10, 2012
Facebook page nets BPD a catch
Early returns on the Brownsburg Crime Tips Facebook page are positive as one of the suspects featured has already been identified.

February 10, 2012 1 Photo
Police investigate night time murder
Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department officers responded to a report of a person shot at the 3100 block of N. Guilford Ave. just before 10 p.m. Wednesday.

February 9, 2012
Women of Influence conference to target cancer
One of life’s most ruthless opponents will be the focus of the third annual Women of Influence conference set for 7:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. March 1 at Five Star Catering at Primo West in Plainfield.

February 9, 2012 1 Photo
More Local News Headlines

Local News

Search Results

Related Photos

Rock purses are a blast from the past

Has Indianapolis done a good job of hosting the Super Bowl?

Site Map