In 1983 I graduated from the University of Maine at Orono with a degree in Fashion Merchandising and one in Resource Business Management. For my final project I designed and made a little handbag and brought it from production to retail with all the steps in between. That's where my love for handbags began. I've been designing and making them ever since. As many of you know, for 11 years I designed and made a line of children's clothing called RizzoWear. Although RizzoWear was very successful, I found I needed a change and decided I would go back to my first love and design and make bags for a living. 2020 is my 30th year making my living creating and selling my own work. It has been and continues to be very rewarding and fun.

My husband Jim and I live in Southern Maine in the home we built for ourselves in Kennebunkport with our four dogs, Tumpkin, Bella, Mya and Zeus. We moved to this area from a little town in north-eastern Maine called Bangor. We decided to move south to be closer to my sister, who also lives in Kennebunkport. www.SueRiouxDesigns.com. Last year we bought a major fixer upper in a little town in Arizona called Jerome. It's in the Verde Valley about 30 miles from Sedona. We are hoping to spend our winters there working and seeing that part of the country.

My husband Jim is a builder. He has a small construction company called Penco Construction that is doing very well. He works too much. But we are native Mainers which is a trait prevelent in our heritage.

We have a good life. I hope my work puts a smile on your face.