This week’s featured Australian artisan is Michelle – the boutique bag-maker behind MS Handbags.

If you are an Australian artisan or craftsperson and you would like to be featured – please click here.

I live in Sydney.

After Sydney, my home, I’d have to say New York. My boyfriend and I were lucky enough to get to live in Manhattan for two months last year. Our holiday came after a year of living in different cities and the chance to play house in such a vibrant place was amazing. We were there during the coldest winter I’ve ever experienced and we loved every minute of it. Our days were divided between visiting art galleries, wandering through the streets of Manhattan and seeking out the best lunch specials we could find.

I decided on MS Handbags because it was simple and to the point. My name is Michelle Streimer and I make handbags!

Tell us a little bit more about yourself! Your ‘day job’ or business, family, hobbies…

I’m 25 and the youngest of three sisters. I come from a truly creative home. We have a whole room dedicated to beads, ribbons, fabrics, paints and yarn. My mum is very creative and has been very encouraging of my sewing. Even letting me appropriate her sewing machine!

After finishing a law degree I decided to take a year off to travel and pursue other interests and that’s when I began sewing. I love fabric and spend my days dreaming of sourcing new and interesting textures. I love online shopping and it’s fair to say that I spend way too many hours a day on etsy.

I don’t think I had one thing in mind. I’ve just always wanted to have the freedom to try my hand at lots of different things.

I made my first handbag in May 2008. I found a pattern for a very unique clutch bag and gave it a try. I created one in Navy satin and batik for my sister Jacqui, a red silk clutch as a graduation gift for my friend Marija and a black and white birthday clutch for my friend Lara. These three women are my best friends and their reactions to their bags inspired me to keep sewing!

I make handbags, shoulder bags and clutch bags. I pride myself on making unique items and rarely replicate the same fabric combinations. I love the idea that each bag is unique and that in buying one of my bags you are acquiring something that was meant just for you.

Recently I’ve been able to buy some gorgeous Italian wool and use it in my new range of shoulder bags. It’s fast becoming my favourite fabric to sew with. I think wool has a very luxurious look and feel and it wears really well on bags.

I love anything curvy so I’m always on the look out for lovely shapes I think I can adapt and make into a new design. The bags in my current range are also a reflection of what I look for in a bag. So when I create a new design I consider my bag wish list. I try to make them both stylish and very functional.

Conniption