Learn the art of creating elegant accessories from genuine leather with this inspiring guide! 28 simple strategies to enhance any wardrobe with high-end luxuries without the high-end price tag - Step-by-step diagrams and easy-to-follow instructions - Beautiful color photographs to inspire your creativity - Elegant, upscale leather bags include purses, shoulder bags, satchels, hobos, messenger bags, & totes - High-end accessories include phone & gadget holders, business card cases, coasters, & key ring tabs Handmade Leather Bags & Accessories shows you how to make classic handbags and accessories with a decidedly modern flair! It includes 28 simple strategies for enhancing any wardrobe with fashion-forward, high-end luxuries at a fraction of what you'd pay in fine stores. Even novice leatherworkers will be surprised at how much fun it is to make durable and sophisticated bags using these basic techniques. Gorgeous photographs, step-by-step diagrams, and easy-to-follow instructions make it easy! You can create a chic purse or shoulder bag to go with every outfit, and you'll find fresh and fabulous ideas for satchels, hobos, messenger bags and totes. Talented fashion designer Elean "Birdy Teacher" Ho also shows you how to make chic and urbane accessories for every taste, including iPad holders, business card cases, coasters, key ring tabs and much more. Simply Beautiful... and Simple to Create Learn the art of creating elegant accessories from genuine leather with this inspiring guide. Handmade Leather Bags & Accessories shows you how to make classic handbags and accessories with a decidedly modern flair. Gifted fashion designer Elean "Birdy Teacher" Ho shares 28 simple strategies for enhancing your wardrobe with fashion-forward luxuries at a fraction of what you'd pay in fine stores. Even if you've never tried leatherworking before, you'll be surprised at how much fun it is to make durable and sophisticated bags using these basic techniques. Gorgeous photographs and step-by-step instructions make it easy! Create a chic purse or shoulder bag to go with every outfit. Find fresh and fabulous ideas for satchels, hobos, messenger bags, and totes. Learn to make chic and urbane accessories for every taste, including gadget holders, business card cases, coasters, key ring tabs, and much more. Inside Handmade Leather Bags & Accessories you'll find: How to Make Elegant, Upscale Leather Bags - High-End Accessories Without the High-End Price Tag - Purses, Shoulder Bags, Satchels, Hobos, Messenger Bags, and Totes - Gadget Holders, Business Card Cases, Coasters, and Key Ring Tabs - Step-by-Step Diagrams and Easy-to-Follow Instructions - Gorgeous, Inspiring Color Photographs Early on in Elean "Birdy Teacher" Ho's education, she learned about metalworking, woodworking, and ceramics, and she was convinced that handcrafting was bound to be an important part of her life. When she decided to study at Bunka Fashion College in Japan, leaving her native Taiwan, she paid her way by hosting craft classes in fast food restaurants, teaching wool and felt crafts out of a small suitcase. She chose to study leatherworking at Bunka because leather adds an interesting texture to projects and works for both rough styles as well as for elegant styles. In her first year at Bunka, she took courses in making shoes, hats, and bags. When the time came to decide on a major, it was difficult for her to choose between shoes and bags. But, considering that shoes require sizing, she finally decided to major in bag design, which allowed her more creative freedom. For Birdy, creativity is very important—she wants every bag to be unique, and that's why her bag projects are always astonishing and beautiful Birdy's bags and other leather creations mix whimsicality and practicality not only in their design, construction, materials, and decoration, but also in the interesting, personal stories she has to tell behind each and every piece. If you read through the gallery of her work, you won't just be inspired to make amazing leather creations yourself—you'll feel connected to Birdy through her stories. Through her three years of professional study in leather design in both Taiwan and Japan, Birdy transformed from a wool and felt craftswoman into a talented leather design teacher who now has her very own design studio called Spring Pig Studios. Now that she is well known and has many fans, her teaching schedule is always full, and she continues to craft creative and inspiring bags and leather items every day. Check out Birdy's blogs to see more of her work: harui-harui.blogspot.com and yilun-ho-bird1234.blogspot.com Exhibitions and Awards: Taiwan Designers' Week 2011, 3X3 Design Show - 3rd place in the 6th Portable Bag design contest - The Taipei International Arts Village, free art exhibition - Tokyo, Japan, "The third floor in the afternoon" solo exhibition Experiences: Fu-Hsin Trade and Arts School, Department of Advertisement Design - National T