I love accessories. I believe them to be the most versatile part of any woman’s wardrobe. I like a simplistic approach to fashion:

o If you love it, you will wear it.
o If you love it, you will look great.
o Your personal style is a reflection of who YOU are so it can only be defined by YOU.
o Looking great should not cost a mint.
o Buy the best wardrobe staples your budget can afford and then accessorize.

Third Floor Designs was born out of the belief that accessories are the key to a fabulous wardrobe. A woman’s handbag says so much about her. I believe that handbag should reflect her voice and no one else’s.

I started sewing when I was ten years old. My father gave my very non-domesticated mother a sewing machine. Needless to say, she never used the machine so it became mine. I sewed clothes for myself, many of which were my first disasters! I am self-taught, reading and experimenting and learning all I could. I moved from clothing to home décor. Here is where I started designing and creating my own patterns.

My handbag patterns themselves are clean and simple. I want the color and texture of the fabrics to speak for themselves. My fabrics come from all over the world, with many being vintage and/or one-of-a-kind. I especially love working with vintage kimono silks. Often times, this makes my bags truly one-of-a-kind. I work with many different types of fabrics, depending on the style of bag. My evening bags are usually in silks and linens. Other everyday style bags are usually in decorator weight cottons and blends. I am currently designing a line for the commuting woman created from soil and weather resistant fabrics. I love to put interesting fabrics together in one bag, or line a simple bag with a bright flash of color. Sometimes a specific fabric will fit one of my existing patterns perfectly. Other times, it is the fabric that creates my designs.

My inspiration comes from all around me. I continue to be inspired by fabrics. Sometimes a bag design comes to me in a dream. Sometimes the shape of a building inspires me or a vintage button that I find. The world is full of amazing colors, textures and shapes. I just happen to like putting them into a handbag.

All of my bags are designed and fully made by me. Though I am looking to expand in the future and will not be able to make each one, I hope every handbag under the Third Floor Design label is always a source of pride for me. I love what I do and I feel great when someone else loves what I do, too!

My greatest achievement is in unlocking my creativity and having the courage to show it to the world.