Obiandoli (say OH bee AN doe lee) is a combination of my parents' surnames. I thought it was a good choice for my shop name, since my parents were directly responsible for my love of fabrics and sewing. They started a remnant shop in 1950 that quickly became the largest fabric store in northern NJ - so I literally grew up with fine, quality fabrics.

My Aunt Mary was a professional seamstress, and my Mom and older sister were both expert sewists - so I learned to sew when I was 9. I've been sewing for more than half a century!

I absolutely love fabric. I moved from sewing clothing to creating fabulous handbags many years ago, and when Etsy came along...well, it was a no-brainer for me. My first Etsy handbag shop, LauraOhDesigns, opened in 2008. I'm honored that one of my original bags, under that label, was featured in Seaside Home, published by Stash Books in 2012. I closed LauraOhDesigns a few years later to tend to family and relocation, and when I returned to making handbags, I just felt a new shop was in order. So...Obiandoli Artisan Bags.

I am in the unique position of having the inventory of a recently closed high-end, to-the-trade-only interior design showroom. I literally have thousands of samples and trims to choose from - so my signature Artisan Patch bags are fashioned from these new showroom samples.

The design of the patched bags includes lots of visible stitching, loose threads, raw edges, a bit of crookedness sometimes. It all comes together in a beautiful way, and it much stronger in the end than a traditionally sewn seam. The look is part of the design, but in no way is quality compromised. The result is a unique, individual work of fabric art that is also functional.

And the best part - all of these fabrics and trims were destined for the dumpster. They now have new life and purpose.

I also use quality canvas and quilting cottons for my totes and other bag designs. All Obiandoli bags are handmade by me alone, right here in the USA. Everything you see in my shop is ready to ship, and you will receive the item pictured. I am a non-smoker, and though I have a small dog, she is not permitted near the fabrics.

Thanks for taking the time to learn about me and my shop.