I still remember the excitement of creating my very first bag. It wasn’t perfect — in fact, it looked pretty amateurish — but it sparked something I couldn’t ignore. Over time, that hobby grew into my career as a bag designer and maker. Today, it’s my honor to share the techniques I’ve learned with you.

When I first started, my biggest fear was wasting money on tools I’d never use or choosing the wrong materials (and the wrong leather can be a pretty expensive mistake). I went through many missteps and turnarounds while honing my skills, but each mistake taught me something important. Now it’s my joy to help you avoid those costly detours and instead focus on the fun of creating.

The best part? You don’t need fancy or expensive equipment to begin. Every project is designed to work with a simple home sewing machine and tools you most likely already have at home. Everything here is built to help you start without fear of making the wrong investments — just the joy of creating something beautiful and lasting with your own hands.

What my students say 🥰

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A bit about me

Ksenia Khelman

I run the show :D

Hi there, my name is Ksenia Khelman, and I'm a handbag designer and maker. I'm self-taught and crafted my first bag in 2008 by accident: my favorite bag fell apart, and since it wasn't available on the market anymore, I decided to remake it myself. For a few years, it was a hobby and a side hustle, as I balanced it with my regular job. However, in 2017, I made the decision to pursue crafting full-time. I quit my job and embarked on my journey as a full-time artist. Since then, I've been making a living by creating custom handmade leather bags from scratch. My small business is thriving, with clients from all over the world. The Khelman bag studio is located in San Francisco, CA, and currently, over 1500 happy customers own and enjoy their Khelman bags.

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