I have carried a love for design and construction since I was a little girl. My passion for sewing came from the early skills taught by my grandmother as I sat beside her making doll dresses. That for design came with the desire for "switching things up" to make them more suitable for me. I abandoned my dream after a short stint in the industry following college. It was in the "real" world of design that I painfully learned that it was not always glitz and glam, but oftentimes, just plain old hard work and perseverance. Still driven by my passion, I decided to try something on a smaller scale. I thought, "handbags are hot! They are always in style and an accessory that most women cannot live without." My first line called Alphabet Street included a group of corduroy bags with shoulder straps made of antique silver or gold alphabet beads. I debuted them at a purse party that I hosted at my home. It was definitely a way of getting the word out and showing family and friends of friends that I had re-entered the world of fashion.

Today, Accessory Niche is all about classic designs with a little twist. This allows me to maintain my focus on women who appreciate classic styling while mixing it up with a current trend or two. With a design background in women's apparel, I enjoy incorporating the fine details of dressmaking into the construction of my bags. Every fashion trend (old and new) continues to be my inspiration, whether I see it on the runway or on the corners of city streets.

One of my worst nightmares was burning a custom order with an iron after 7 hours of construction trying to obtain that garment-like finish. Luckily, all of my bags are made of upholstery fabrics, so the canvas of that custom-made tote turned out to be water and stain resistant. (Whew!) I prefer using upholstery fabrics because of their weight and durability. They help to guarantee the longevity of my product while still offering a very soft finish.

My greatest achievement, I must say, is simply pursuing a dream that I once abandoned so long ago. It's that of design which I have learned, often starts in a makeshift studio or in the insistent creativity that will not leave our minds.