behind the scenes
do you make your bags?
i resounding yes! i am a one-woman team! all bags are completely hand-crafted by me, from the cutting, to the sewing, to the painting...my hands do it all.
do make handbags full-time?
yes, besides being a home-schooling, stay at home mom, artist, and aspiring writer this is my "purposeful work."
how long does it take you to make a bag?
this answer can be deceiving, if my schedule is absolutely clear...a few days. if i'm swamped with life and work and school...double that. to make it easier for me and you i ask that you give me 7-10 days...but i honestly tend to work much faster than that.
how long have you been leather crafting?
i started leather crafting sometime during 2006, but before than i was sewing together handbags and things of that sort from about 2004/2005. sewing handbags out of fabric gave me background i believe to be able to design in leather.
do you take custom orders?
yes...and sometimes no. depends on what you consider custom. if your looking to change the color and strap length of a bag...yes. if you'd like me to design i bag you've been dreaming of for xyz years...that's a maybe. i sometimes take on custom bags if a) i think i can do a good job, b) i have the time and c) i think the newly designed bag would be a great addition to my collection.
do you sell wholesale/consignment:
yes...and sometimes no. i like to take this on a case by case basis to make sure that it is a perfect fit for all parties involved...that means me, the shop and of course the customer. send an email with your proposition and i'll have my accountant (who happens to be my husband...a real life accountant) help me look at it.
what inspires you?
ooh...love, life, colors, gardening, words, strong women, necessity, vintage classic design, outer space, flowers, line, nature, blue skies and clouds..
i find inspiration in so many beautiful and ordinary things...the key is keeping your eyes and heart open!
what else do you create/do?
besides leather crafting i sew and quilt, paint, garden, bake...dabble in photography, write all the poems that come to me (often at inconvenient times), and day dream.
do you show your art?
i do show my fine art work locally, my gallery home is division 9 gallery, located in riverside, ca.
purchasing, shipping, etc.
where can i purchase your handbags?
my handbags can be purchased online. i have my own storefront here, and also an etsy shop here.
does it matter where i purchase from?
not really, i have both shops as some customers are more comfortable with etsy, while others have never been there (i know shocking). if your not familiar with etsy, my storefront may suite you better, however if you are well versed in etsylandia...you'll probably prefer your etsy home.
what forms of payment do you accept?
i accept visa, mastercard, american express, discover and standard bank account payments all through payapl.
do i have to have a paypal account to use paypal and purchase from you online?
nope, you do not have to have a paypal account to purchase from me, and use paypal.
how secure is shopping through you online?
extremely secure, that is why i use paypal and alternative storefronts (big cartel and etsy) to recieve payment. those guys have all the know-how and technology to secure your payment.
your payments are automatically encrypted, your confidential information is secured through ssl and the highest level of encryption commercially available. so shop assured.
can you ship my bag cheaply?
unfortunately i learned my lesson the hard way (shipped a bag cheaply (regular mail, no insurance to save cost) and customer says she never got the bag and wanted a full return). sadly for me i lost the bag, the hours spent working on it, and never got compensated for my work, materials and time.
to protect myself and you the buyer...all bags are shipped u.s. priority mail with insurance...that way neither one of us looses.
do you give discounts, sales, etc.?
as much as i'd love to, unfortunately i have to put a adequate price on my time, work and products. i am a micro small business and am unable to regularly have sales, give discounts, etc. like the big shops.
with that said, from time to time i do ...and i love to give ample discounts, etc. to my loyal customers.
do you gift wrap?
i try and wrap each bag like a gift whether you ask me or not...the joy of opening a beautifully packaged item is not to be underrated.
if you'd like something special...let me know and i'm sure i can work something out.
feel free to email me your questions at:
(kiandra):(at):(quejimenez):(dot):(com)
