I’m originally from Wilmington, Delaware. I then lived in Vancouver B.C. before settling in San Diego, CA. I’ve been sewing and designing ever since my early teens. I trained and became a professional ballroom dance instructor and designed ballroom dance costumes alone with teaching dance for several years. The challenges I had to overcome designing and constructing glamorous and elaborate costumes taught me valuable lessons in the art of combining style, quality, durability, beauty, form and function that has translated into the kind of handbags I design today.

All of my handbags are constructed with the highest quality genuine Italian leathers I can get me hands on and also like to combine them with rich luxurious fabrics or high quality micro fibers imported from all over the world. I’m inspired by classic glamour and sophistication personified by such glamorous and timeless greats from Rita Hayworth to Audrey Hepburn. What makes my handbags so unique is that I very detail driven and I try to create a balance between beauty and function. All of my designs are made to last and to be user friendly while exuding glamour and elegance. For example I don’t cut corners and I only use high quality durable micro-fiber liners inside every handbag I create with just right amount of pockets. I also use high quality hardware on the inside as well as on the outside. The end result and a durable and well “finished” creation that women will want to use over and over again for years to come.

One of my most popular designs “The Shirley” has become kind of the cornerstone of my style.  It was one of the first handbags I designed back when I started over two years ago and was extremely popular then and still my most popular bag to date. I’ve just launched the 5th.version of this great bag called the “Spicy Shirley Collection” November 1st. and there’s already a waiting list forming for it. These colors are so rich and the leathers used on them are just amazing. There are like butter!

My biggest nightmare story would have to be the development process of the Raquel handbag.  It took almost an entire year to perfect the structure and the shaping. I lost many nights of sleep with it. When it just perfect I think I slept for a week.

Starting my own line of handbags for me was quite simply the next step in my life to express my vision and to share my experience with women who were craving for another option. By listening to what they really want and hopefully I feel that I can make many women happy one handbag at a time. I think the greatest achievement for me on this wonderful journey is the amazing and talented people I have met and to be walking down the street and to see someone carrying one of my handbags and they bought it a year ago. It’s very humbling and satisfying at the same time for me. It lets me know that I am doing a good job and in some small way making someone’s life a little better.