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I do believe that everyone has an artistic side to them...even if it is just an appreciation for it! I came across a cool design concept that allows you to really express your inner designer! Faite Designs is a unique company that allows you to express your artistic side and design your own handbag. Fun, easy and, suprisingly affordable, you simply choose from one of 8 different styles. Then, you pick from over 75 fabric options (in gorgeous prints and solids) for the body, accent colors, and inside lining for a purse that is uniquely your own! Within a few short weeks, your artisitc vision is brought to life and your very own, one of a kind bag, is yours to carry and brag about. So, when people on the street ask where you got your bag you can say, "I designed it myself with Faite Designs." There are so many cool designs and colors to choose from, I challenge anyone to stop at just one! Plus, Faite Designs is making it easy for my readers: Save 20% on all items using the code: bloominglily during checkout!
Pursecution is a fabulous line of leather handbags handcrafted in Minneapolis. Each bag is handmade from supple durable leather and then accented with unusual details like rivets, flowers, and large "O" shaped rings by the straps. One of my favorites is the Sinjin...I absolutely love the juxtaposition of the punky skull with the oh-so-feminine ribbon detailing! Substantial and feminine, the entire collection is filled with sharp and beautifully crafted bags. Prices range from $100 to $200.
Lori Naon is the designer behind Hardware Handbags, a new line of cool eco-friendly handbags. Made from ultra durable nylon in three neutral color choices, the totes are chic, modern and practical. What sets them apart, and gives them an urban look, are the cool flexible stainless steel handles made from recycled steel. Available in two styles, the shopper or the shorty, both of which are fabulous depending on your personal needs. And, right now, they are having a fabulous wintersale where all handbags are 50% off by entering the code HH50 at checkout. 
On the tenth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me: This fabulous Garden Party handbag by designer Melissa Moze. Handcrafted from luxurious aqua silk dupuoni and embellished with beautiful vintage jewelry like rhinestones, pearls, aqua butterflies and a tiny golden frog! I also love the aqua beaded handle enhanced with vintage butterfly beads. Absolutely one of a kind and guaranteed to stand out in a crowd!
I have always been a fan of the menswear look on women. I love wearing full cut trousers and then adding accessories like sparkling jewelry to add that feminine component to it. I also love wearing dresses, and these fabulous handbags from Mandinka are a perfect way to add that masculine element to the look. Each of the handbags in this amazing shop are made from men's suit coats! Each bag is a beautiful work of art -- inside & out -- and is an artful combination of jacket parts including sleeves, collars, pockets and even labels from recycled and reclaimed men's suits! Have an old favorite coat (maybe from your dad or grandpa?), Mandinka will work with you to create a custom bag just for you. See more of one of a kind works HERE.
I have a ton of purses. Really. A ton of them. But, most of them are everyday bags. Nothing that is suitable for evening. The Cosmo cocktail bag by designer Cristie Alfie is exactly what I need on those rare occasions when I actually get to go out with my husband or friends. Charming, sophisticated, and surprisingly affordable at $85, this bag would be the perfect final touch to an outfit!! See more of their collection, including some great commute bags, HERE.
I came across these amazing hand carved wood handbags of Hand Carved Handbags and had to feature them! The designer, Kimberly Chalos, hand carves each and every bag and pays careful attention to detail and how the bag will contour to the body. Using only the finest leather, hidden hinges, and magnetic closures as accents, these handbags have a natural appeal that is still totally funky and chic! Check out more of her designs HERE.
Five Accessories, one of my favorite accessories shops, has added some fabulous new bags to their already amazing inventory! This new collection, handcrafted by local artisans in Guatemala, has beautiful floral prints paired with beautiful wood handles. Prices start at $55, and, as always, $5 from every bag is donated directly back to the local village where the goods are handmade. Read more about their philanthropy HERE.
Jarren Borghero is the designer behind the Australian label Temono, a stylish and fabulous accessories line that makes gorgeous handbags, wallets, belts and jewelry out of leather. Each piece is handmade, from the original sketch, to the sourcing of materials, to the actual construction. The attention to detail is evident in all of the pieces, but my favorite, is the Te Fold bag. Large enough to fit all of your daily needs, without looking like a duffle bag, this is a stylish and edgy way to carry your daily necessities. Hand crafted from supple leather in either brown or dark red, you can choose whether to add a pop of punchy color in your choice of green, blue or aqua. Perfect for a man or woman! See more of his amazing collections HERE.
I recently came across the website of Makool Loves You and just fell in love with the unexpected, low-key, but totally cool clothing made by the owner/designer Anisa Makhoul. I have always been a fan of wrap dresses (super flattering to every shape) and this Queen Anne's Lace is to die for. The gorgeous mint green color is fabulously contrasted by the amazing red trim and the addition of the delicate screen printed flowers is a quirky, but elegant, twist. A bargain at only $98. Add this fun and funky Acrobat Messenger bag by Babbu (I love the fun candy striped handles and sides) and you have a great outfit for a day out! See more unique handcrafted designs HERE.
I tend to use backpacks for everyday wear, but for evenings out, I am all about beautiful elegant handbags. The hand-embroidered and luxurious evening bags and clutches from Papillon are some of the most beautiful I have ever seen. Available in the most luxurious silks, satins, and leather, these bags are perfect for a glamorous night out and easily take any outfit to the next level of chic. The rich colors and intricate embroidery are simply fantastic. Prices start at $225, a splurge for sure, but one of these would be a life long investment piece. Check out more styles HERE.
Being the jewelry lover that I am, I always bring tons of jewelry when I go on vacation. However, I usually just throw everything into a cardboard jewelry box and put a rubber band around it. Functional. Of course. But oh so ugly. These travel jewelry pouches by Vaska are the perfect solution to transport my jewelry. Made of luxe fabrics, like silk dupoini, taffeta, and faux fur velvet, and adorned with special details like embroidered flowers or brown velvet trim, these jewelry pouches are practical yet pretty enough to use as an evening bag!! The interiors of these bags (pictured below) are fantastic...lined in silk dupoini, each jewelry bag has a mesh layer inside to securely hold your earrings, hooks along the bottom to hold your necklaces, and three interior pockets to protect all your valuables!! A clever loop at the top enables you to hang your bag at your destination to display your jewelry. What a wonderful way to travel in style!!
Hands down THE most stylish diaper bag I have ever seen, the soft and slouchy Sophia bag from Alexandra Bee easily fits into even the most sophisticated purse collection. Available in 9 designer fabrics, I especially loved the sumptuous red leather version. Made from the finest and softest Italian leather, the color is so punchy and would look fabulous with any outfit (and not just for toting my kids diapers around!) Luxuriously oversized, the Sophia is treated with a stain and water resistant lining and is designed to accomodate all your daily necessities (and then some) with its many interior and exterior compartments. Practical and pretty? How fabulous!!
Scoutie Girl, a relatively new indie blog that features and promotes the work of independent designers, has featured the Clementine bracelet from my new Etsy shop. Written by the super talented Jan DiCintio, this blog has some really interesting finds like the fitted tank tops by Hannah Kopacz. Jan is also a textile artist and makes the most fabulous handbags, key fobs and headbands from absolutely amazing custom fabrics that she actually makes herself. Available at her online shop Daisy Janie, her prices are really reasonable and, in fact, she is having a fantastic sale right now on all her gorgeous bags!! Check out her collections HERE.
Gorgeous vibrant fabrics with lovely top stitching and hand sewn delightful and charming details such as buttons, rhinestones and pearls, make these one of a kind handbags by Kimberli Werner of AP2 Creative Designs a must have for the Spring wardrobe. I especially loved the color combination and quirky details in the Clotho Bag from her oversized collection. Made from an emerald green taffeta, with a dark green chiffon overlay, I love the contrast red stitching and the floating objects of coins, pearls and beads. Perfect for throwing all my junk (oops, I mean stuff!) into and still looking fashionable. 
Simple shapes in incredibly gorgeous fabrics and textures are the heart of the Spongetta line of handbags. The perfect balance between casual and sophisticated, each bag is uniquely pretty and has a flirty up-town girl quality, with a down-town girl sort of price...bags start at only $28! See more HERE.
Lori Naon is the designer behind Hardware Handbags, a new line of cool eco-friendly handbags. Made from ultra durable nylon in three neutral color choices, the totes are chic, modern and practical. What sets them apart, and gives them an urban look, are the cool flexible stainless steel handles made from recycled steel. Available in two styles, the shopper or the shorty, both of which are fabulous depending on your personal needs. And, right now, they are having a fabulous wintersale where all handbags are 50% off by entering the code HH50 at checkout. 
On the tenth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me: This fabulous Garden Party handbag by designer Melissa Moze. Handcrafted from luxurious aqua silk dupuoni and embellished with beautiful vintage jewelry like rhinestones, pearls, aqua butterflies and a tiny golden frog! I also love the aqua beaded handle enhanced with vintage butterfly beads. Absolutely one of a kind and guaranteed to stand out in a crowd!
I love to accessorize my Fall wardrobe and one of my favorite ways is with handbags. It is an easy and chic way to add an instant burst of color. And, the gorgeous merino wool and mohair handbags of designer Marzena Gabrel are the perfect way to add some amazing color and texture to any outfit! Each of these gorgeous handbags are made with 100% merino wool through a combination of wet and dry felting techniques. I am just in love with the exquisite three dimensional flowers and the glass beads that are embellished on each bag. Prices start at around $220 for a totally unique and one of a kind handbag. See more designs HERE. 
