A tisket, a tasket, I found 2 wicker baskets.

OK, not baskets really, but handbags. I found them at the local thrift store. I was digging around, looking for cool stuff to use as collage material, when I stumbled on them- wicker handbags!! They were in a big bins of bags. There were 2 other ones, but I figured that 2 were enough... and for a total of $6, I got 2 cool summer bags, plus a leather bag.

These babies are mint- they probably were never used. I'm thinking that someone died and the house was cleaned out. Maybe this woman had a handbag fetish? They obviously were in a basement, because they have that musty smell. And yet they are clean as a whistle- no rips, dings, smudges or mold. One of the bags I didn't grab had a mass program in it from 1977. From what I can tell, these handbags are from the 1960-70s. The tags inside say HONG KONG. The bags are vinyl wicker, or what I've seen on the internet- covered wicker. I wouldn't go as far as that, because to me that means they are wooden underneath, which these obvoiusly aren't. I was going to try to sell them, but if I can get them to smell better, these are staying with me! Who wouldn't have thought that someday I'd want a wicker bag. My mom would crack up if she knew. But, we all know- what comes around goes around.

Now can someone tell me how to get the mustiness out??????