Banjoflannel began 14 years ago when I decided to make my own purse based on one I found online that I could not afford as a graduate student. So, using the photograph as a guide I designed my own purse and found that pattern design and sewing came easily to me. This first purse was named “Variations on a Purple Theme”. My plan was to make a series of purses in purple with similar designs. But I quickly lost interest imagining all the other things I could be making and the plan never materialized. I opened my Etsy shop after a co-worker spotted my purse and wanted one for herself. I figured if she wanted one, maybe others would also!

Soon after I was surprised to learn from my mother that my grandmother had been a seamstress, sewing for her family and community in Taiwan. My mother is also a very talented artist working in clay, textiles and needlepoint. I am very proud to carry on the tradition of my mother and grandmother.