I have been designing accessories for years , starting with hats but I have always had an interest in accessories generally. I set up a company in 1999 designing and manufacturing interior accessories which is still part of the business. In 2006 I added handbags and delicate necklaces made from leather and glass beads to the range. I trained in fashion so it seemed logical at the time. I am currently working on a selection of frame bags and bags which use beautiful fabrics and leather trim.

I have used leather in my work for years now as it is hard-wearing, versatile and available in every conceivable texture and thickness. I also like the fact that it is a by - product from another industry and biodegradable. My bags all have a very feminine feel. I think one thing that has influenced my work is the time I spent as a milliner designing for my own label and a well known millinery label. This experience enabled me to think in spheres and increased my spatial awareness. Also, a love of painting fruit, vegetables and flowers has probably inspired my use of organic shapes. I also make unique charms which give the bags an additional edge.  I sell my bags to women ( I do not have any men's bags in my range ) but men often encourage their partners to try the handbags and seem to appreciate and understand where I am going with the look. I am not really sure how I got into handbags but things evolved in a way that seemed familiar. I do learn something new every day however. I work with a lot of different people producing my line and the technology which can go into a single fitting or process is awe inspiring.

Each bag comes with a penny in the inside pocket. At the moment I am experimenting with the best ways to get the pennies shiny and debating on whether to use American pennies or English pence, or both since I am an American living in London! I love to imagine the lives and requirements of the people who will buy the bags and this helps me to maintain integrity in what I do. A bag should be an old friend.  My bags are all made in London using the fantastic range of materials available here, but a friend of mine has her designs made abroad and as the business grew , she stopped using air freight and decided to ship her goods. I casually asked her about insuring the goods in transit, which she then did right away with a specialist maritime insurance company. When the ship caught fire and all of her stock was lost, it was a nightmare but at least she was insured. In London, the nightmares tend to be things like relying on someone who then goes away for the holidays and leaves my work sitting in a box. But mistakes are a source of inspiration as I learned in the hat factory where one of my jobs was to trim the hats that had gone slightly wrong. Sometimes the straw would get scorched or damaged in some way which I would incorporate into the design. The finished hats were all unique and the most expensive!

Since then it has been an amazing journey.  I met some friends for a drink recently and they commented on my bag and then suddenly they started putting their bags on the table, which they had all purchased from me at different times. I was happy to find they had worn so well and still looked new. Bags are an essential and I feel honored to be taking part in the process of providing them.