image, Persnickity Designs

I first told you about Persnickity Designs last year after the Urban Craft Uprising [mb], when I was charmed by Rebecca and James and their adorable bags. But nobody took my very subtle hint and bought one for me, and so recently when the bag that I’ve been carrying all year disintigrated I finally bought myself a Hopper Mini with white squares. After carrying it for a few days and being stopped often by strangers who wanted to compliment me on it, I realized that I had to interview Rebecca Senechal for you. Because I like you. And because she’s super nice.

How and why did you decide to start designing handbags? Do you sew other things as well?

I have been making anything and everything since I was a small child. My mom used to take me to the library to get me reading, and we would get in big fights because all I would check out were craft books. I started Persnickity Designs because I wanted to do something creative with my life that would pay the bills. I took professional sewing lessons from a friend in 2003 since no one would have wanted to buy my work prior to that. Let’s just say the bobbin and I didn’t see eye to eye. I made a couple tote bags to start, and found bags so satisfying to make that is what I decided to focus on. There are so many “bad” bags out there, I like to design bags that function as well as they look.

Yes, I sew other things– clothes and whatnot– though I haven’t recently since I work about 12-16 hours a day at Persnickity Designs. I do lots of other crafts, specifically I love knitting, but I also enjoy jewelry making, silk screening, and just about anything else.

Where do your materials come from?

We source as many materials from american-made manufacturers as possible. Our vinyl is american-made Naugahyde, our fabrics are I believe woven and printed (possibly just printed) in the states, and our webbing is made in the states. Pretty much just our hardware (slide buckles, rings, feet, snaps, etc) are made overseas.

You make everything in Bellingham, right? Do you have bags in any stores in Seattle? Any plans to open one of your own down here?

We make everything in Bellingham, yes. We have a big studio/shop with 4 industrial sewing machines and all of our other equipment and supplies, and two sewers who help us out. We have a few wholesale accounts in Seattle including Click! Design that Fits, and Gifted in Ballard, but no storefront yet. Any plans in the future to open another shop in Seattle? The idea has been tossed around, and if we open another shop it would be in Seattle, but I make no promises!

Do you get a lot of custom requests?

Yes we do get lots of custom requests. I have done everything from breast cancer ribbons, to bats, to drum kits, to vespas, to rockets, to butterflies. We do both custom designs, or our designs in other color combinations.

Do you think you’ll come back for this year’s Urban Craft Uprising?

I don’t think we will be at urban craft uprising this year. The logistics of working a full storefront in 2 places when just my husband and myself are working that side of the business is just a little more than we can handle this year. UCU has been great to us though, we’ve done it the last two years, so we still haven’t decided one way or another.

Can you describe a typical day at Persnickity Design headquarters?

Can I describe a typical day at Persnickity Designs headquarters? Oh my. Where to be begin. Well, generally we get in about 7am, get some coffee, do some e-mailing, production managering, working with customers, taking the puppy outside, sketching a couple ideas in a sketchbook, material ordering, phone calling, packing and shipping orders, cutting vinyl, a little bit of marketing, and then it is about 10pm. But really, no day is “typical” other than it is always changing!

What’s up next for Persnickity Design?

We released a second line of bags the beginning of this summer and we have been getting a great response to them. We are starting to do “Persnickity Purse Parties” both in people’s homes and in our shop. Those are proving to be a blast, and our calendar is filling up fast with them. We are also hiring consultants who do the home purse parties and currently have three (bellingham, seattle, and LA). Beside that? Something that has to do with knitting, and some more rockabilly-ish bags are in the works. But that’s about all I can say about that!

Anything else our readers should know about?
Hmmm. I am trying to think of something witty, and I am coming up blank. I think it is time for more coffee!

Thanks, Rebecca!

If you happen to be in Bellingham, the store is located at 205 E. Chestnut. It’s open from 10 - 6 Monday - Saturday.