3rdlife

Armed with a trusty old Singer, a passion for repurposing and a perpetual love for the zigzag stitch, I opened for business in 2008. With a focus on function and sustainability, All my designs hatch from carefully selected vintage and reclaimed fabrics. Thanks to the nature of salvaged fabrics every 3rd Life purse is one of a kind and will never be duplicated. Other items are produced in limited edition as materials allow.

Sewing fulfills my need to be creative and provides a perfect excuse for my addiction to collecting vintage textiles. I am always hunting for interesting fabrics I can use in my designs, finding worthy materials is half the fun! My favorite fabrics to work with are tweed and leather jackets, wool remnants, plaid shirts and lace. I’ve also been known to lust after your Grandma’s table cloth, linens and curtains.

I lovingly and carefully handcraft every 3rd Life item in my little home studio in Carleton Place, Ontario. I am naturally meticulous, a trait which was heightened by my experience working as a custom framer for 10 years; there aren't many things that make me happier than cutting in a straight line. To insure the best quality in my work, notions such as zippers and snaps are new. Interfacing is used to add structure and stability to purses, and stress points are double stitched for extra durability. Don't even get me started on how many knots I use to sew on a button.

Shapes and elements found in nature have a big influence on my work, but I am also inspired by ordinary objects. I admire everything from woodland, foliage and feathers, to teacups, toasters and tents. I always take cues from the fabrics, often the size and shape of the materials I work with dictate the final product, allowing me to create something unique and useful. It brings me so much joy to give new life to the warmth of a tweed jacket, to focus on the character of worn leather, or to celebrate the delicate nature and charm of vintage lace and doilies <3