About the Artist

Welcome to BeautifulBagsEtc. I invite you to read about me and why I personally make these handbags right here in my residential workshop in Aurora, IL and offer them for sale.  If you have any questions at all, please feel free to contact me via email by clicking the Contact Me button at the bottom of the page. I'm almost always available during normal business hours in the USA.

My creativity began as a child sitting beside my Grandmother while she skillfully operated her treadle powered sewing machine.  It was absolutely fascinating to me as I watched and listened to her song of needle, thread and fabric.  I must admit that I made it a little difficult for her to answer so many questions from me while she tried to sew at the same time. Such began my journey of sewing and tailoring classes, which continued all through my school years, eventually leading me to independently owning and operating a residential furniture re-upholstering business. 

Throughout my 35 years in this business, I also enjoyed creating leather and tapestry handbags for family and friends and now design and create them on a full time basis since retiring from upholstery work.

Everything you see in my online store is hand crafted by me personally in my residential workshop from the initial inspiration through completion. All of my handbags are sewn on various industrial machines and a commercial embroidery machine. My main focus is creating unique and quality handbags for women of eclectic and discerning taste who value American made products.

I use only full grain, aniline dyed leathers, first grade tapestries and durable fabrics all produced in the USA because ​I want you to experience the real difference of handmade craftsmanship over mass produced, imported and over-priced, functionally inferior handbags.  All of my customers have already experienced this pleasure.

My hope is that you will find a handbag here at BeautifulBagsEtc that you fall in love with not only the way it looks but also the way it works.

Best regards and pleasant shopping!!

If you would like to find out more about me and how I make my handbags, follow me at https://www.tiktok.com/@beeutfulbagsetc