Madge gets funky with nostalgic purses and lamps

by Katrina Martin

Madge Dietz is a busy bee. By day the Pittsburgh, PA resident designs computer software interfaces. By night she creates purses, lamps, sketch books and even curtains out of record covers and old children's books. It sounds strange at first, but Madge works magic with her creations to make them irresistible.

She began crafting purses about a year ago when she saw the idea on an online craft board.

"I thought it was a good idea and I said, 'I can do it cuter.'"

Dietz scoped out Jerry's Records, a vinyl haven in Pittsburgh. She knew about it because she collects records - she only bought a CD player five years ago. Combining her love for album covers and her passion for do-it-yourself, she stayed up all night and made 10 purses on her first try.

"I have a tendency to go all out," she said.

After the first 10 were made she sought to improve her creations. At the beginning, they were five-piece boxes.

"Then I had a brain wave," she said, "and I came up with the three-piece design. It was a breakthrough."

Each purse takes two to three hours to construct. Dietz thoroughly enjoys the work and always listens to music as she creates. Sometimes it's the record that matches the album cover she's using; other times it's a record she's obsessed with. Currently, that record is Ella Fitzgerald: The Cole Porter Songbook, Vol. 1.

Dietz's work is steeped in nostalgia. Although she'll make purses out of anyone's records, she finds people ask for albums that make them yearn for the old days. Some big names populate her most-requested list.

"People love Madonna," she said. "Especially her first [self-titled] album." Other favorites include Bruce Springsteen, Aretha Franklin and the Beatles.

Dietz is always pleased that her purses make people happy. She remembers one woman who stopped by her booth at a crafts fair. The woman oohed and aahed over the purses, pointing out albums by the Fifth Element and Ray Charles that she recognized from her youth.

"They really brought back fond memories for her," Dietz said. In fact, the woman was so enamored she brought her children the next day so they could reminisce as well.

Although at first Dietz made only purses she's now branched out into lamps, books and curtains. Dietz said her male friends liked the purses but "couldn't wear them out of the house or they'd get beat up," and they wanted male-friendly products. And so the lamps and books were born.

On top of her crafty business, Dietz performs with the band Louie and the Humans. They play original music and covers, and host an open mike night in Pittsburgh. Dietz enjoys singing music that makes her nostalgic, like Neil Diamond and old country tunes. While many audience members find these covers kitschy, Dietz said they come from her heart.

"There's a fine line between nostalgia and kitsch," she said. "I love Neil Diamond. I'm pretty non-ironic about the covers I sing. I'm not trying to be funny."

She recalls singing "Angel of the Morning" to a group of people in their mid- 20s who laughed (in a good, reminiscing way) as she sang it.

"To them it was old school," she said. "But I just love that song. It's funny what a couple years' difference will do."

The band is recording some songs and hopes to eventually put out an album. In the mean time, Dietz is growing her business and trying to make art her full- time job. Currently, her products are available at stores in Pittsburgh, Toronto, Miami, Houston - and at the Liberace museum in Las Vegas.

"The Liberace museum is like the jewel in my crown," she said.

Purses and other items are also for sale on her web site at www.madgeworld.com.