Introducing Boonlell Bags, where every artisan bag is hand crafted with love and attention. From her home in the scenic Sapphire Coast, NSW, Catherine crafts incredible handmade bags from phone slings, wallets to clutches, crossbody to totes. Each item is meticulously hand cut and stitched in her home studio sanctuary.
Find out why Catherine started making bags and why she is so passionate about the value of handmade.
Tell us about your creations and your handmade process.
My creations are for everyday women who love handbags and colour! Especially bright coloured nature based fabrics. I love mixing these with genuine leather and canvas. I create my products on my industrial sewing machines in my home studio. I have two of these - one is a little more heavy duty mainly for leather and thicker seams.
There’s lots of materials that go into creating my bags. Apart from the outside fabrics there is the cotton lining inside and also interfacing between the inner fabric and outer. This helps to give the bag structure. Then there is the bag hardware such as O rings, zippers, zipper pulls, strap adjusters, rivets, magnetic snaps etc. So I have a lot of hardware on hand as well as rolls of canvas and leather hides.
Tell us a bit about your journey to becoming a handmade artist.
One day, about 12 years ago now, I was on the internet and came across a simple handbag sewing pattern. I downloaded it and quickly became addicted to bag making and buying PDF sewing patterns! I have three big folders of patterns now and have grown and evolved so much as a handmade artist.
What is your inspiration or where do you find inspiration?
Nature is a big inspiration for me. Especially Australian native flora and fauna. We are so fortunate to have so many native plants and animals here in Australia.
Where did you learn your craft?
I’m a very creative person and love all things home made and crafty. So I did sewing all through high school. Even making a wedding dress later on. So I’ve always been a sewer. Mum made our clothes when we were little so I was exposed to sewing from an early age!
Why is handmade artistry so important to you?
Handmade artistry provides so many with a creative outlet. In this world of disposable mass production, it’s so important to keep handmade alive. People love buying handmade items knowing they’ve been created with love and not by a robot in a factory.
Catherine is a much loved member of the Madeit Collective, posting regularly in our Facebook Group ~ The Home of Australian Handmade ~ and sharing her new creations as they are released. If you haven't connected with Catherine already, make sure you join our FB Group and say hi!
