$170

Hand painted Coach handbag by Bill Heineken Revisiting the art of painting shoes and handbags after three decades feels like rekindling a long-lost connection with myself. In my childhood, new shoes were a luxury we couldn’t afford. Yet, my mother, in her own unique way, turned this scarcity into an opportunity for creativity and safety. I remember those days vividly, sitting alone with a pair of old shoes and a set of paints. My mother would tell me stories of resilience and hope, weaving them into the strokes of my brush. She’d whisper that she had a little bird watching over me, a comforting presence in times of uncertainty. Now, as I delve back into painting, those memories serve as a guiding light. Each stroke of color carries with it the warmth of my mother’s tales, a reminder that even in the darkest times, there is beauty to be found. The birds I paint aren’t just decorative; they’re my safety net, a symbol of watchfulness, just as my mother’s words once were. With each piece I create, I find solace in the familiar rhythm of the brush against leather, knowing that I carry within me the stories that shaped my childhood. And as I breathe new life into each pair of shoes and handbag, I realize that, in a way, I am painting my own path to resilience and hope, just as my mother did all those years ago.