Hello! Thanks for visiting my website. I have a love of taking items that were not originally intended to be handbags and transform them. Why handbags? Well, who doesn't need an extra bag? :) I have developed several patterns for my handbags. My most popular messenger style works perfectly with vintage seed shipping bags because of the measurements. Much of what I do is pretty challenging, as I am working with vintage fabrics with historical stains but I love the challenge. Also, I use recycled cargo pants and shorts for the lining of the bags. I found that putting fresh new material for a lining of a feed sack that was 50 years old looked weird. Since there has been such a huge response to the cargo pant lining I've started using those in my coffee bean handbags as well.
I'm frequently asked if I make/design all the bags myself. Yes, I do all of the heavy lifting. It took several years to develop some of the patterns that I use. I have to design a bag around the material that I'm working with as well. Many bags (especially tote bag style) are made "on the fly" without a pattern at all. Those are super fun. No boundaries!
I'm frequently asked if I am pursing this as a career. The easy answer to that is HECK NO. I do not wish to starve :) I do very well with my bags but doing it full-time would be a huge undertaking, and that would rob me of the joy of making the bags. This is a secondary income and creative outlet.
Diaper bags, back packs, and zippers? I get asked about these things often. I do not use zippers very often, and I have yet to make a diaper bag or back pack (except for personal use). Why? Well, for zippers this is a personal preference. I like to get in and out of my bag easily and design my bags the same. I am not afraid of zippers :) As far as back packs and diaper bags, these are very involved bags with many layers of work (which could take up to 6 hours a bag). It would be impossible for me to make such and keep the price reasonable at the same time. I am still exploring this, however. :)
It could take anywhere from and 1.5 hours to 2.5 hours to finish a handbag. Most take 1.5 hours. I'm not sure why this interests folks but I do get this question multiple times at any public appearance. I also get asked constantly where I get my products. The coffee bags come from The Scrap Exchange in Durham. The cargo pants and belts come from Goodwill Industries (although folks sometimes donate these to me). The vintage feed and seed bags come from antique stores and Ebay. I try to limit my products that are not recycled, but I do have to purchase new snaps, bar slides and fusible fleece and I purchase those from Hancock Fabrics. Now if you are wondering why I would give you so much information since folks could start doing what I do, I say let them go for it! There are enough customers in the world. Do what makes you feel fulfilled :)
I'm frequently asked if I make/design all the bags myself. Yes, I do all of the heavy lifting. It took several years to develop some of the patterns that I use. I have to design a bag around the material that I'm working with as well. Many bags (especially tote bag style) are made "on the fly" without a pattern at all. Those are super fun. No boundaries!
I'm frequently asked if I am pursing this as a career. The easy answer to that is HECK NO. I do not wish to starve :) I do very well with my bags but doing it full-time would be a huge undertaking, and that would rob me of the joy of making the bags. This is a secondary income and creative outlet.
Diaper bags, back packs, and zippers? I get asked about these things often. I do not use zippers very often, and I have yet to make a diaper bag or back pack (except for personal use). Why? Well, for zippers this is a personal preference. I like to get in and out of my bag easily and design my bags the same. I am not afraid of zippers :) As far as back packs and diaper bags, these are very involved bags with many layers of work (which could take up to 6 hours a bag). It would be impossible for me to make such and keep the price reasonable at the same time. I am still exploring this, however. :)
It could take anywhere from and 1.5 hours to 2.5 hours to finish a handbag. Most take 1.5 hours. I'm not sure why this interests folks but I do get this question multiple times at any public appearance. I also get asked constantly where I get my products. The coffee bags come from The Scrap Exchange in Durham. The cargo pants and belts come from Goodwill Industries (although folks sometimes donate these to me). The vintage feed and seed bags come from antique stores and Ebay. I try to limit my products that are not recycled, but I do have to purchase new snaps, bar slides and fusible fleece and I purchase those from Hancock Fabrics. Now if you are wondering why I would give you so much information since folks could start doing what I do, I say let them go for it! There are enough customers in the world. Do what makes you feel fulfilled :)