Handcrafted Beaded Leather Purses, Wallets, Coin Purses, Belts, and Pillows

I transform exotic leathers into hand made original works of art. From the stitching to the beading, each item is a one-of-a-kind work of art. Browse through the pictures of these wearable art creations, and find the one that best expresses your individual style. At My Etsy Shop you will find listings and pictures of my most current offerings. I work in all natural leathers; I use antique brooches, buttons and metal and glass beads for my closures and accents. I hand cut, stitch, and bead each of my creations, to produce a purse or pillow that is truly one of a kind.

Artist's Statement I have been an artist my whole life, working in every medium from film to hot glass, but my first love has always been creating with leather. I used to make leather handbags when I was a teenager, and kept those leather tools I used when I was in high school. About fifteen years ago I rediscovered those tools, bought some decorative leather, and began cutting, lacing and beading once again... and I have been doing it ever since. Its very satisfying to see people using the creations I make. Functional art, and wearable art in particular, in a sense, allows the artist and the wearer to collaborate. To create a piece of art that is enjoyed around the world on a daily basis.

My Creative Process

I prefer to work with leather that has great natural edges, interesting markings, or beautiful grain patterns. I hand cut all of the lacing used in the construction of each purse. Every piece is one-of-a-kind, made entirely by hand, and always leather lined. Once I have laced the piece together, I turn my focus to the embellishing. I use glass beads, antique beads, artifacts, vintage buttons, and any other interesting elements I can find for the closures which are the focal point of many of my purses. I use fused and lamp worked glass beads as well. I often use several vintage and antique buttons in combinations to create closures that are very individual. What makes a purse interesting is the complement of materials and textures. My style trademarks include multiple pockets, natural shapes, and unique closures. You won’t find handbags like these anywhere else. My designs are versatile, and lend themselves to both casual and evening use, and are shipped to customers all over the world.