Handmade Handbags from Hawaii

Sometimes I think I'd enjoy being a girl. Then, it would be perfectly rational to crave beautiful, handmade in Hawaii handbags like those now being sold online by Ruth Shiroma Foster.

I've known Ruth since my first days on the news desk at Ka Leo, the once-great daily student newspaper at UH Manoa. She's a talented writer, a brilliant musician, and now, a fantastic craftswoman who has turned her not unusual obsession with pretty purses into a very unique and accessible expression of island style.

"Most of my handbags are made from reclaimed clothing hand-picked at local thrift shops or given to me by family and friends who've held onto these special fabrics for decades," she explains. "I seek out fabrics for their unique qualities and their variety."

Her new online store offers colorful clutches in three general styles: The Truffle, the The Girlfriend, and the Pops Series. The latter set of handbags, featuring elegant Hawaiian prints, are made from fabric donated by members of the Honolulu Symphony, and all profits from the sale of those bags will go to their Live Music Awareness fund.

Ruth's handbags cost $60, and in many cases, are one of a kind. Shipping is free within the U.S. And if you order by June 30, you can get a $10 discount on "Truffle" and "Girlfriend" handbags with the coupon code "EGBDF." Considering what some professional purse shoppers pay for even mass-produced accessories, I say they're a great deal.

So get shopping. And congratulations to Ruth, on a great first foray into online commerce!