Babbi Baker started her work after finding that no handbag on the market suited her needs. Since then, she has become an artist in her own right, designing unique pieces that are unlike any other in form and function.
A Cozy Fireside and a Defective Purse Sprout a New Idea
It all started before dawn one January morning during a snow storm. I was drinking a cup of coffee and enjoying the Pinon fire I had just built to take the edge off the chilly air in our 100-year-old ranch house. I glanced at the broken strap on a fairly expensive purse I had purchased to take with me on a trip to northern France. There in the glow of the fire's flames sat the defective bag, almost mocking me. I considered the possibility of never again carrying a purse, but that idea was dashed as I recalled the time I lost my cell phone after a similar proclamation. Yes, I needed a handbag to keep all of my essentials with me and organized, but I was tired of poor quality and mediocre designs. Would I ever find a purse that served me as well as my well-worn saddle bags had? Could I just unfasten those bags from my saddle, sling them over my shoulder and take them to town? That thought fled when I considered the basic principles of fashion faux pas!
Then I looked down at a Bible cover I had made out of saddle leather. I realized that what I needed was a handbag just exactly the size and shape of that Bible, and what a bonus it would be to also have the feel of the saddle leather. As soon as I fed and watered the cows that morning, I ventured out into our workshop and began the design process. After about three months of designing, building and using each handbag, I came up with a basic design that started receiving compliments every time I took it to town. My children encouraged me to open a shop on Etsy, and the rest is, as they say, history. I have so enjoyed the comments from ladies who have purchased my handbags. I guess there are a lot of us who just want a durable, functional, and pretty handbag that we can depend on.
A Note from the Designer
Simplicity carries with it a certain wonderful ability to be organized and streamlined. Carrying handbags that serve well and have inherent boundaries that define simplicity has enabled me to focus on more important things. I am blessed beyond measure to offer these pieces. It's been a BLAST creating them!