Meet the Maker: Harley B Handmade

Meet the Maker - Harley B Handmade - Andrie-Designs

Little Bird again! I’m back on Lisa’s blog to bring you another Meet the Maker feature. This talented lady not only knocks it out of the park with her bag making skills but has some pretty awesome hidden sewing talents! Give a warm welcome to Kristina from Harley B Handmade!

Tell us a little about yourself.

I live on a 250 acre property with my 2 boys (4 and 5) and Hubby near Port Macquarie NSW and breed and compete dressage horses.  If I’m not sewing I’m riding or working with young horses.

I love quilting and I’m a member of the Modern Quilt Guild, I also love pattern designing but I just don’t have the time at the moment to focus on that. I have such a board range of tastes, from bright moderns to classic florals. In my spare time (what’s that?) I work on my totally hand sewn hexi quilt. It’s been 3 or 4 year now and it’s still not close to being finished.

Rarely a day goes by I don’t sew.

Meet the Maker - Harley B Handmade -Andrie Designs
Photo Courtesy Harley B Handmade

How long have you been making bags and how did you get started?

My mum taught me to sew when I was probably about 6, and all through school I would design and sew my own clothes, I rarely make clothes now, bags are just too much fun. It’s funny because now my mum is always asking me for sewing advice not the other way around.

When I was pregnant with my son (2011) I started sewing hobby horses, which I still do now and I have made over 230 of them. 3 years ago I made my first NCW and I was soon hooked, I opened a 2nd Facebook page and it grew from there. I love making bags and purses.

Meet the Maker - Harley B Handmade -Andrie Designs
Photo Courtesy Harley B Handmade

What are you working on right now?

I have just finished a Summer Lovin Beach tote by Andrie designs that I gave to my mum for Mother’s Day as well as a couple of tester bags, next up is 2 Hippo Hobo bag and Hippo Clutch sets for customers. Pattern by Emkie designs.

Meet the Maker - Harley B Handmade -Andrie Designs
Photo Courtesy Harley B Handmade – Summer Lovin’ Beach Tote

What’s your favourite part of making bags?

The end result, that moment when you finally get it all done and “birth” it, you just look at it and think, that’s pretty awesome.

Meet the Maker - Harley B Handmade -Andrie Designs
Photo Courtesy Harley B Handmade – Good to Go Messenger Bag

And your least favourite…?

Pressing interfacing. It was worse before I got a press, but it’s still my least favourite.

Meet the Maker - Harley B Handmade -Andrie Designs
Photo Courtesy Harley B Handmade

What is one tip you would offer someone new to making bags?

Trust the instructions. Sometimes you might think you know better, but always in the end the designer has given you the best method, so trust them.

What has been your proudest creative make or moment so far?

Its always special when something you’ve made is shared by a pattern designer or fabric designer. I’ve had a few things shared by Tula Pink and also Bari J. It’s just a lovely feeling when you see your own work appreciated.

Meet the Maker - Harley B Handmade -Andrie Designs
Photo Courtesy Harley B Handmade

You can see more from Harley B Handmade here:

Thanks so much Kristina for sharing with us your amazing work and your gorgeous quilt. Is anyone else feeling inspired by her use of colours and patterns? Excuse me while I go play with my fabrics!


If you want to be featured in our Meet the Maker series, head over to the Contact page and let us know you’re interested! We love meeting new bag makers!

<3 Aimee

7 thoughts on “Meet the Maker: Harley B Handmade

  1. Elizabeth Bolton says:

    Thanks for sharing! It’s always so interesting to learn a little bit about the women behind these glorious creations!

  2. Jan says:

    Loved meeting Kristina! Can you give me the name of the fabric line for the purple purse at the top of the article? I’d love to make a bag out of that!

    • Kristina says:

      Hi Jan.
      The purple fabric is a current range from Spotlight (australia) the selvage just says high fashion fabrics.
      Kristina

      • Jan says:

        As I am in the US, I doubt that I will be able to find it, but it sure is gorgeous! I guess I’ll just drool over the picture. 🙂 Thanks, Kristina, for taking the time to reply, I appreciate it!

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