Becky O'Neil makes her living designing custom handbags for women around the globe. She uses incredible textile designs by Anna Maria Horner, Lori Jessi Jung, and Ink & Spindle among others, and started her business six years ago from the comfort of her New Hampshire home.
She and her family reside in a 1,300 square foot Bungalow, circa 1931, in Manchester's North End where she has creatively re-arranged the main living area to accommodate a sewing studio, office, and client viewing gallery. Working in the main living area allows her the luxury of being with and accessible to her three young boys.
In this cozy 12'x12' studio space, which is the home's original dining room, she lined the walls with shelves to maximize storage. She organizes her thousand yard inventory of fabric by material, separating cottons from silks from felts, in order to easily accommodate client requests. There are patches of buttons everywhere, spools of beautiful thread, and a hanging rod that conveniently showcases many of her luxurious ribbons. Contrary to how I imagined a sewer working at their machine, Becky sews standing up! I asked her how she was able to sew in such a tiny area and she reminded me that her handbags are small in size and it's all the room she needs.
The small sun porch, or client viewing gallery, measuring 7.5' x13' is painted in gorgeous tangerine and is outfitted with a day bed on the far right wall and potted plants and doubles as a guest bedroom. Her bags are displayed on free standing wooden screens she found at Target and they travel with her to arts markets when she needs them.
Visit Becky Oh's site to see more of her creations.
Images: Tanya Lacourse
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Adorable!
Thanks for showing a studio that looks like someone actually works there -- it's organized visually attractive, yes, but nothing minimalist about it, and I think it really helps to realize that a working studio needs to be a home to a whole lot of materials and supplies. I find it much more inspirational than any perfectly de-cluttered worktable under a single set of tastefully wallpapered storage bins.
i love becky's inspirational sewing studio .... lovely fabric, ribbons, etc .... wonderful, colorful, artful bags!
I'd love to know where she found the white shag carpet featured in the photos! It's exactly what I'm looking for! Is it a possible to get a brand and price?
It looks a lot like the Celeste Natural shag rug from Crate and Barrel, which is high on my list of possibilities for white shag, but some other options (and possibly a little more frugal) would be great!
Thanks for the compliments. It really is a hard working studio. It is better for me to keep everything out in the open so I don't loose sight of anything.. out of sight, out of mind.
MissS, the rug was a complete stumble-upon. It was picked up at a sample sale at Home Depot two years ago for $10. It warms up the floor in the winter and fits that spaces perfectly. Our dog loves it too : )
Becky, how beautiful! (I don't know if you'd remember, but I met you at SOWA to pick up my bag from the Bright Side Project) --- I love the vibrancy of the colors. They're just...wonderful.
Of course I remember! Thanks so much for the compliment.
If you are still in Boston the SOWA market opens for the season on May 15th & 16th ....