My goal is to make handmade items that don't look handmade. Straight seams, professional topstitching, using quality fabrics, sturdy linings and interfacing where necessary (and a lot of practice!) ensure you are purchasing a well made item.

Please visit my blog at www.keykalou.com for various comments about crafting, etsy and whatever else is on my mind.

Purse Q & A....

What made you want to make purses?

They are both practical and
pretty and I've always loved accessories in general. Accessories always fit--even
when you've gained five pounds. From a design standpoint there are tons of options for styles, etc. And you don't need sophisticated pattern making skills to make some that looks great and is functional.

Why fabric purses?

Partly out of necessity and partly because there are so many fabulous fabrics. A few years back I worked with a handbag designer and sewed leather for the first time. It's difficult to work with and you need a heavy duty machine to sew it on a regular basis. From the standpoint of craftsmanship I have a lot of respect for people who can work with something so hard to manipulate. For simplicities sake--and my sewing
machine's health--I stick to fabric.

Where do you find your material?

I order my fabric from Japan or
Korea. Most of my current collection comes from a very sweet lady in Japan.
The basic supplies I buy down the street at the local fabric store and
sometimes I find vintage fabric at local thrift shops.

What kind of machine do you use?

Unbelievably I use one of the cheapest sewing machines available. It's a long story but I had an old Singer that was my mom's machine 30+ years ago and an ex-boyfriend sent it to Goodwill after we broke up! So about 5 years ago my mom--who has always sewn and done ulphostery--was mortified that I didn't have a sewing machine.
She took me down to Sears and bought me a very basic, but functional
Kenmore. Some days I wonder when it will give up. I do use it a lot.

How many purses do you have?

I have lots of purses for sale, but for myself I try to keep it to a minimum and give away several every year to make room for new ones. On a daily basis I carry a very practical black Coach leather bag. Then I have a few smaller bags for going out and
quick trips to the store.

Do you find it hard to carry a clutch?

I used to think it would be hard to keep track of, but have gotten more comfortable with it over time. The realization that I take my glasses off whenever I sit down and they
always make it home with me helped me get over the feeling that I'd lose a
small purse.

Your purses like pretty little surprises. What is your philosophy?

Clutches and small bags in general remind me that I really don't need to carry so much with me. Most of the stuff I pack around day to day could easily be left at home. Why not lighten my load and just carry one small bag?