I have always been a creative ever since I can remember, and if it had anything having to do with using my hands, I was almost always in it! I started designing the large bamboo handbag with beaded handles really only as a hobby as I am currently working in retail and as a freelance wardrobe/fashion stylist. People started buying them so I continued to take orders. Once the summer came, I reduced the size of the large bag to a simple clutch which of the two is most popular.  The hard part was figuring out the the particulars such as what thread weight to use, brocade weights, stitching techniques, and pattern design.

I've had so many different people buy the purses from many different walks of life. As a matter of fact, I've sold more purses to men who buy them for their wives, mothers or sisters. I use the silk Asian brocades because they have great body and come in such a myriad of colors that it is almost impossible not to find something to match it.  I have so much pride in the handwork it takes to make sure no two look exactly alike. Every imperfection is perfectly unique; people love knowing that they are the only ones who will have that bag because it was made just for them.  Something interesting to know is that I don't use any paper patterns when designing the lining for the bags. Everything is done by eye and hand (or not) coordination! I have the process written down step by step in my head.

The line was started just as a hobby. A friend and I were walking in a shoe store that had some bamboo purses on a shelf, but the design looked unreliable at best. I thought to myself "I wonder how I could improve upon that design" I went around to some local stores trying to find something similar in design yet more durable and sturdy as a base from which to practice. Asian brocade seemed like the best choice of material at the time; the silk has a great luster and it holds up good against the weight of the bamboo. Other materials proved either too weak or too strong.

Regarding nightmares, the most recent one actually happened this past Christmas when I had put it out there that I would be taking orders early. At the last minute my dad asked me to come home for the holidays (Tyler Texas is 3 hours from Houston). I had a previous customer of mine tell me 2 months in advance he wanted to buy 3 purses from me. I require a 50% deposit on all orders before and work is done. Long story short, he waited until the day before I had to go home to give me his deposit (all previous attempts to secure his deposit had fallen through) AND someone else wanted to order one from me-at the last minute. Needless to say all attempts to avoid last minute orders were foiled of course, so I spent 2 days night and day straight making 4 purses (two of which I threw in the towel and he got them after Christmas!) BEFORE driving 3 hours to East Texas in the rain. Then once I got back, I spent 3 months trying to collect the rest of my money from one of the customers!

I would have to say being nominated is my greatest achievement when I really wasn't expecting it has been the greatest for me. It's great to know that even though I may feel quite modest about my product, other people really like it. You have to consider yourself very lucky to be able to be compensated for something you like to do and where you have 100% input and control.