Zen And The Art Of The Purse

People often ask me how and why I shifted gears as an artist and began to focus primarily on creating purses, or what I like to call the “artisan clutch.”

First clutch Beth made in 2009.

First, it’s important to mention that I LOVE utilitarian things. I LOVE beautiful and unique things. Creating lovely handbags for amazing women is like making a peanut butter and jelly sandwich – once you take a bite of this simple recipe, it just makes all the sense in the world.

So . . . Why do we carry a handbag?

It's understood, of course, that purses help us carry our essentials and that this utilitarian object enables us to navigate our daily routines with a bit more ease. That said, bags also have cultural significance, representing everything from social status to personal style.

How do you carry your bag, and what does it say about you?

Behavioral experts have studied women carrying their purses. They determined that if you choose to carry your bag on your elbow, you are likely to pay attention to the finer details. You may have a keen eye for aesthetics and appreciate accessories that complement your overall look with precision. Opting for a shoulder carry suggests a practical and functional approach to accessories.

What does a bag symbolize to a woman?

Again, we certainly use it to carry one's wallet, makeup, or keys, but carrying a bag can provoke different emotions in a person, such as self-confidence, self-esteem, well-being, feelings of power, etc. Also, the bag can be a symbol of a person's identity. I love creating handbags that have pieces that are a family heirloom or belonged to someone's Grandmother. This allows us to take them along on the journey. I love that every time I look down and see my Gram's rotary dial phone on the front of my clutch, I recall standing in her kitchen and talking on her phone.

2012 Purse Beth made out of her grandparents rotary dial from their phone.

Now for the million dollar question . . . How do I approach purse design? 

I am asked some version of this question regularly. It's not magical. It's work. And work requires a strategy. Design is art optimized to meet objectives. 

Bottom line, objective design is about making something work. This means the “product” must be based on facts, data, and how real people learn or use things. It can't just be about “making something look pretty.” When you create a design to be used, you must also make it easy to use and understand.

I love this! Everyone understands a purse. In addition, most women embrace fashion at some level. We make fashion choices every day.

That said, most of my purses are special event purses. They are literally a work of art for which you can place your things. Over the years, I’ve learned to produce lines that can be used more frequently, but after almost 15 years at this, I’m still smitten with creating something unique and hopefully cherished – meaning you're not carrying the bag to the supermarket.

There is so much joy in taking something ordinary, something most women use daily, and building a work of art around that “holding box” is what keeps me interested in the possibilities.