Sylvie Farrington lives on the island of Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts, and has been creating handbags and pillows from mid-century fabrics since 1996. Born and raised near Bremen, Germany, she came to the U.S. for the first time in the summer of 1986 as an Au-pair. After returning to Germany she enrolled in a three year apprenticeship for fine sewing . Back for a visit in 1990, Sylvie never left the island that she had fallen in love with that first summer. After working for numerous talented fiber artists on Martha's Vineyard, most notably Michele Ratte', she started "Sylvia Kadzik Unlimited Design" in 1996. The business- name was changed to "SylvieBags" in 2003. The inspiration for her line of handmade one-of-a-kind accessories stems from Sylvie's enthusiasm for the floral prints on textiles from the 1930's and 40's. She says about her work: "There is something about those fabrics that really speaks to me. They are very rich in colors and textures, and the designs have always inspired me. I spend a lot of time scouring Antique markets looking for this fabric in good condition, because it is very limited now. Especially hard to find are floral prints on a black background- everyone loves them. I get very excited when I discover some of this material, and sometimes the vision for a bag appears right there and then. But trying to find the fabric is only one of many aspects of my work. I tremendously enjoy designing shapes that complement this wonderful material. I get inspired from many different places-noticing a woman on the beach with an interesting bag made from straw, or seeing a shapely antique vase at a flea market. I translate these images into a handbag later on. It is exciting and fun for me to design different and new shapes each year. At this time my line of bags includes shoulder bags in different shapes, a tote bag, a messenger bag, a backpack and a small beaded evening bag. I work from a large and ever-changing stock of one-of- kind vintage fabrics. I have selected all of these by hand for their quality, design and intricate textures. I produce every bag individually. Oftentimes the finish includes a Vintage button and different trim details. Each bag features a zipper closure and an inside zipper pocket. I always strive to create a bag that stands out for its functionality, style and detail work." Sylvie’s strong commitment to quality craftsmanship is visible in every one of her pieces. She mixes colors and textures easily and gracefully and finishes each item with perfect attention to detail. All bags are warranted against any wear and tear for 18 months and dry-cleanable. Her line of accessories includes bags in several different shapes, and soft pillows in many sizes and variations. For more information, please call Sylvie at 508-693-0561 or e-mail at sylvie@vineyard.net