About me

For the past 15+ years I have been a graphic designer living and working across Australia. A couple
of years ago I started playing with the abundance of vintage fabrics I had collected over the years - and voila! My business was born.

I live in the beautiful south coast suburb of Helensburgh, south of Sydney, and each bag is either made here or in the Blue Mountains (my last home). Each bag is carefully made using a selection of fabrics and buttons handpicked by myself. I have two other sewing whizzes helping me as my business grows and the birth of my baby in 2009.

Fabric to fabulous

It all started with a piece of gorgeous fabric, begging to be made into something beautiful.

My lucky find went into my trusty yet tired-looking handbag. And that’s when it hit me – I’d make a new
one myself!

From that first bag sprang many more, every one perfect for the girl who wants to stand out from the crowd.

Bags are individually named and come with cool details including pockets, vintage buttons and recycled buckles, with all patterns and designs created by me.

All bags are unique, one-off and all handmade!

My fabrics

All bags are 100% vintage & retro fabric, picked for head-turning appeal. Usually handwashed (unless they are so vintage or have a lovely aged quality about them) and prepared, then transformed into a unique fashion accessory – just for you!

Buttons and buckles (collected with an eye for the odd, delightful and the cute) add a charming touch.

As I create all the bags myself, and there is so many different fabrics, please enquire if you have some specific in mind.

Where do you find the fabrics?

I get this question all the time. I source in Sydney including outer suburbs as well as via a network of fab fabric collectors and 2nd hand specialists.

This takes a lot of time and effort, as even the linings of the bags are recycled fabric.

Recycled, salvaged or vintage?

All of the above! Some of the fabrics are good vintage fabric that was never used by its 1st owner.

Some are scraps of fabric that someone has discarded as there isn't enough to make a bigger item.

Some are true salvaged pieces. Buttons and fabrics from a vintage moth-eaten coat that was destined for the bin... or offcuts that I've rescued that has a new life.

Handmade magic

These bags are designed by me - not someone else's patterns.

Each handbag you see has been carefully put together, choosing vintage and recycled fabrics, interiors and details. It is then either sewn by myself or one of two local ladies here in the Blue Mountains.

What some lovely customers have said...

I received my order (which I placed yesterday) today! I just want to say.....wow!!!

Thank you so very much for the excellent and extremely efficient service. Its is so nice to order something and get it the very next day. I also just wanted to tell you how much I absolutely LOVE, LOVE, LOVE....... your work! It is simply fantastic! My brand new tote and clutch are both simply stunning, and I cant' wait until I go out so I can use them and show-off! I will be sure to let anyone who is interested know who made it and where they can find your work.

Samantha, Mawson Lakes, SA

Stuck for ideas for my sister's chrissy pressie (who is also a Kara) you saved the day when she spotted one of your bags
in the window of Pennylane House of Hair. So I snuck in and bought it the next day, she was very disappointed to find it was gone!    

Anyway, before Christmas she discovered one of your exclusive totes with the fun kids print and couldn't resist, I had actually been eyeing it off too!  So come Christmas day she was pleased to own two of your bags.

I had been looking unsuccessfully for a bag suitable for baby stuff myself so got onto your online store and was very happy to snap up the Charlie 10tote!

Needless to say it attracted lots of attention at my mums and babies group. I love it. Thanks for creating bags with character!

Thanks again,

Natasha, Semaphore, SA

I received the clutches today. They are even better in person.  
I can’t thank you enough for creating these for my girls, and doing it so quickly. I will send you a picture of the girls with their bags after the wedding.

Thank you, thank you, thank you!  

Emily, Houston, Texas, USA

My custom clutch arrived yesterday, and I could not be happier with it. I love the fabric pattern we ended up going with, it's just stunning. Thank you so much for the bag and for the whole process as well. It was so fun picking out materials and knowing that it's a one-of-a-kind bag.

Hykie, Putney, NSW

Just wanted to say again that you are really on the path to a brilliant business. You truly have all aspects of the business sorted. The products are wonderful, the website and marketing is fantastic and the customer service is incredible too. I just want to sing the praises of your business!!!

I will happily tell friends all about you when asked about the bag and I can see myself continuing to purchase in the future because I really do love the product and this experience has just sealed that!

Anyway am probably starting to ramble on now - just really wanting to encourage you as this kind of service is hard to come by and you are really doing a great job.

Kirsten, Auckland, NZ

I am not a whirly-girly type by any means, but I completely adore my new bag. It's the perfect size and shape and has perfectly-sized and shaped straps (a must for the practical types amongst us), plus a gorgeous pattern and color scheme, and the best thing about it is its uniqueness.

Several people at work, both men and women, have remarked on it (and i've sent them the link to your webpage). As soon as she saw it, my five-year-old daughter said, "Oh, that is a beautiful princess bag. I wish i could have a bag like that."  
You may have a new, slightly smaller customer soon...;)

Thanks again, and i wish you every success with your terrific business.

Gigi, Adelaide