about me

I was born in Syracuse, NY in 1978. When I was 9 my Dad's job transfered us to Marietta, GA where I did most of my growing up. Then after graduating high school, I left to attend The University of Tennessee where I graduated with a BFA in Studio Art/Painting. The experience of learning about painting and contemporary art left me thirsting for a taste of people who live an breathe art everyday. In the Fall of 2003, my dream of bigger things came true when I was accepted into the Apprenticeship Program at The Fabric Museum of Art in the center of Philadelphia, PA. There I spent 3 months learning how to hand print and design my own fabric. This process of re-thinking layers of ideas with physical layers of design on fabric started a whole re-direction of creating for me. Long story short- being around and designing fabric became a different kind of paint.....now my handbags are my canvases.

Currently I live in The Art Museum neighborhood in Philadelphia and work in my studio when time allows making handbags and quilts! If you have any other questions or would like to contact me please email thebaghager@gmail.com.