jilsy designs started as a happy accident much like my career in visual merchandising.  Yes, sadly, I still have a day job.  I’ve been a painter for years; an artist for what feels like forever.  Wanting to try something different I purchased a sewing machine.  Not just any old machine- a mint green Hello Kitty sewing machine.  Seriously.  I sewed on it for the first year and a half. Now I sew on a 1960s machine that a friend gave me.  Kitty still stands by and steps in occasionally.
OK, now that you know the how let’s talk about the what.  I make bags.  One of a kind, 100% cotton bags.  Small and big bags.  All named after artists and people I admire.  Except Franklin.  I have no idea who that is.  I told you this was all an accident.  After Franklin I got serious. Recently I have been expanding my line.   I am now making yoga bags and sunglass and eyeglass cases.  Still making the coasters.  What makes my bags unique is that I mix several fabrics.  I try to have at least 3 prints on the outside of my bags and-oh yes- you need to look inside because that’s cute too.  I can do up to 5 prints on the inside sometimes.  Picking the fabric combinations is my favorite part of the process.  And then when my bags are adopted and I see a happy face, well that’s hard to beat.
