Homemade handbags make an excellent addition to your wardrobe

By Mandy Walton

Wednesday, Dec. 10, 2008 | 12:44 p.m.

Purses and handbags are all the rage among women of all ages. Just like shoes, you can have a different one for every outfit, mood, or day of the week. And while designer bags can cost from hundreds to thousands of dollars, many of each design are pumped out of factories. It’s not uncommon to see another woman walking around with the same bag you just bought.

But not if your bag was designed by Natalie Kephart.

Henderson native and resident, Natalie Kephart designs and creates handbags, purses, shoulder bags, and the like.

After selling her creations for only a year Natalie says, “I’m as busy as I want to be."

Word of mouth is about the only advertising Natalie needs. She once sold on consignment in the Terry’s Timber Craft store, which was located in the Albertson’s shopping center on Lake Mead and Boulder Highway. The store then moved to Water Street but closed.

“It's too bad because a craft store like that is needed in Henderson,” Kephart said about the store.

Kephart began making bags after seeing some made out of placemats. She says she’s always loved fabric, ribbons, and sewing. When she started crafting her own bags the requests poured in.

“I try to make useful bags and every one is different,” she says. “If you buy a handbag (from me), no one will have the same one.”

Kephart has participated in craft fairs hosted by Terry’s Timber Crafts, the Black Mountain Recreation Center, and a Behind the Picket Fence boutique fair in Las Vegas. She has done well at these fairs.

After seeing her handbags blog you may just be itching to get one these exclusive bags as the perfect gift for yourself, or someone else.

Kephart says, “I do have a few custom orders I need to work on before Christmas. I would welcome any custom orders.”

Matchless and unique gifts are great for the holidays. Special and one-of-a-kind, these bags are great for gift-giving.

“I think I've found something unique,” Kephart says. “Sure other people make purses, but I haven't seen any like mine.”