My Handbag Journey… Beyond The Average Toter

The truth be told…I was not always a lover of handbags until I began creating them with art paintings on fabric. For me, it was always a matter of function- total and complete necessity. Bags were a necessary toter for the multiplicity of snacks and gadgets my kids needed; a kitchen sink of sorts; to put it mildly.

These faithful carriers, though vaguely stylish with the odd gold hardware and the trendy straps served their purpose for all of the six months they managed to live on my shoulder. Every dollar spent on these purses was extracted to the penny as they lay lifeless in my closet, worn to a frazzle with the promise of someday fixing that broken zipper or torn handle. Sadly, that day never came.

Your Purse is Just as Important as Your Jewelry

So much has changed in that department over the years. Now I can easily say that the perfect handbag is just as important to a lady’s attire as those gorgeous earrings, the silk blouse or the must-have shoes. It’s beyond just looking good but also feeling good too.

I’m not so sure when the purse bug bit me but I do know that it was by far the hardest fashion sting I’ve experienced. Not only did I drop the ever so plain black or brown plynal (plastic and vinyl blend) purse, but I also went whole hog into making a purse with hand-painted fabrics.

My infatuation with these gorgeous purses blossomed into an all-out love-affair with the custom handbag. What made it worse was the enormous attention gotten when sporting a custom art bag. Heads turned, jaws dropped, hands touched and some even dared to offer a trade with their lovely name brand mass-produced carrier. To be honest, I have also been offered a brown paper bag to toss my purse contents into so that the new owner could enjoy the handbag right away.

You see, you must understand, I’m not a flashy person by nature, nor do I seek to be the focus of attention…but attention is simply a pill you must learn to swallow when you carry an original custom-made art handbag. Art bags seem to have an invisible magnet that draws the eyes of the unsuspecting passerby.

Delivered From the Mass Produced Handbag

Today you would probably not see me with a mass produced bag as I love the idea of a purse specifically created to reflect my style and personality. That style may change from day to day and outfit to outfit; but as long as it’s tasteful, I figure it’s a women’s prerogative to reflect her personal style on a daily basis.

I’ve also come to realize that when I look good, more often than not, I feel pretty good too. So, I’ve decided that I’ll always have a functional bag (or more) that’s also beautiful and coordinates with my wardrobe.

So ladies, what are you waiting for? Dust off that old sewing machine and get to work creating your one-of-a-kind jaw dropping, show stopping purse. And why stop there…when you can add a bit of flair with a tad bit of paint to top of your new “wow” look. Who knows your new found love may take a turn from creating for fun to designing awesome creations for profit.

Listen when you do, drop us a line- we’d like to smile from ear to ear and celebrate with you.