A Veiled Deception Read online

  With her Vintage Magic gown, Sherry wore embroidered satin shoes by Philippe Model and carried red roses.

  Paces ahead, I still heard Deborah’s gasp as Sherry walked by.

  As I approached the gazebo, alive with roses of every color, I saw . . . a vision . . . that raced my heart.

  My mother stood beside the minister. Young, beautiful, and alive, if only for a minute, her heavenly blue chiffon gown and cinnamon hair flowing in the breeze off the water.

  A quick glance toward Aunt Fiona, smiling through her tears, confirmed it.

  Wanting Mom to get the full view of Sherry, her baby, as a bride, I turned to the side of the gazebo a bit sooner than I’d planned and gave my sister center stage.

  Mom smiled wide, nodded in approval, blew each of her loved ones a kiss, and then she was gone.

  A Tip for the Vintage Handbag Lover

  THREE BAGS FOR THE PRICE OF ONE

  Look for this vintage find at yard sales, antique stores, thrift shops, or at a secondhand shop like the Cottage in Amesbury, Massachusetts—which is where my daughter found hers.

  It’s described in a book called Handbags, by Judith Miller, as “A three-way convertible bag with detachable black cover from the fifties.”

  The outside is a high-quality brown simulated crocodile, which is reversible to black velvet, an outer layer whose rings slip off the magnetized knobs at the top sides. Beneath that, you’ll find a high-quality black fine-corded satin-covered bag.

  We’ve found it without the outer layer, as well, so hold out for the full package.

  It’s shaped like a large clasp purse, has a gilt metal frame, and a Lucite handle.

  The bottom is square and curves slightly to the top. It’s 9 inches wide, 7¼ inches tall, and 2½ inches deep.

  The label is on the inside pocket. Ours is faded. We can only make out the word “Paris.” At least we think it says Paris. Happy hunting!

  To see pictures of Annette’s purses, go to www.annetteblair.com.

  Make Your Own Evening Clutch

  A FOLD-OVER PURSE

  Instructions for a fold-over purse:

  Draw a rectangle about a foot long and about nine inches wide on paper, to use as a pattern. Choose a heavy stiff or quilted fabric for the body, or add interfacing to give the fabric body. Follow the directions on the interfacing package if you choose to face it. Using your paper pattern, cut two pieces of outside fabric, right sides together/face-to-face.

  Using the same pattern, cut out two pieces of lining fabric right sides together.

  Pin a piece of outside fabric to the liner fabric right sides together along the nine-inch straight edge. Sew only that edge together, using the standard five-eighths setting on your sewing machine.

  Open the two pieces of fabric and iron the seams open—in a butterfly effect, one wing of lining, one of outside fabric.

  Repeat the procedure for the second side.

  Now match the lining fabric together and the outside fabric together.

  Pin.

  Starting about four inches down from the straight-edge seam on the liner fabric side, sew all the way around using the standard five-eighths setting on your sewing machine. Be sure to stop sewing about two inches before you started so there is an opening to turn the fabric right side out.

  Trim the corners but leave the long edge of the seam to help give form to the purse.

  Turn the entire thing right side out and slip stitch closed the opening in the lining. Now push the lining fabric inside the outside fabric to form the inside of the purse. It makes a long pocket with a finished straight opening at the top.

  Fold the pocket about one-third of the way down to create a self-flap. Iron the crease once you have it where you want it. This will give you a fold-over clutch purse.

  Embellish it however you want. Our sample piece is black with an acrylic rosette painted to the left of the flap. Possibilities are beads, ribbon rosettes, sequins, or fringe.

  You can also get creative with the shape of the bottom and top to vary the design. Enjoy!

  To see pictures of Annette’s purses, go to www.annetteblair.com.

  Magic or destiny, Annette Blair’s bewitching romantic comedies became her first national bestsellers. Now she’s entered a world of bewitching mysteries and designer vintage, a journey sure to be Vintage Magic. You can contact her through her website at www.annetteblair.com.

  Berkley Prime Crime titles by Annette Blair

  A VEILED DECEPTION

  Berkley Sensation titles by Annette Blair

  THE KITCHEN WITCH

  MY FAVORITE WITCH

  THE SCOT, THE WITCH AND THE WARDROBE

  SEX AND THE PSYCHIC WITCH

  GONE WITH THE WITCH