MONOLISA Vendor Details

Artist Statement

My journey into design began in 2013 while exploring handbag patterns and product development. What started as curiosity quickly became a deep interest in industrial sewing, leatherwork, and sculptural metal techniques. After more than 20 years working in the digital world, I made a career change and launched MONOLISA in 2017.

Today, the collection includes handcrafted premium leather handbags, accessories, and sculpted jewelry accented with crystals, gemstones, and select titanium elements. Each piece is created in small batches with a focus on artistic design, elegant form, and thoughtful craftsmanship.

What Is Lisa’s Medium and Subject Matter?

Lisa creates limited-edition, meticulously handcrafted leather handbags and sculpted jewelry. Her work is defined by ultra-lightweight construction, refined structure, and an understated sense of elegance. The MONOLISA handbag collection includes classic tote silhouettes and lightweight crossbody bags designed for everyday wear.

The jewelry collection features one-of-a-kind designs, including gemstone rings, earring jackets, chandelier drops, versatile crystal earrings, bracelets, and necklaces. Select pieces incorporate faceted gemstones, titanium, and the world’s finest precision-cut crystals, adding subtle sparkle while maintaining a timeless aesthetic. Each design balances functionality, wearability, and sculptural detail.

What Tools Does Lisa Use in Her Process?

Lisa uses a combination of industrial machines, precision equipment, and traditional hand tools to create each leather bag, accessory, and jewelry piece from start to finish. Her studio equipment includes a Juki industrial sewing machine, Techsew 2750 PRO cylinder-arm walking foot machine, Bernina serger, professional hand press, flex shaft, micro motors, hot stamp iron, rotary tumbler, pulse arc welding machine with microscope, bell skiving machine, and a solid-state micro anodizer used to create a full spectrum of anodized color on titanium.

Hand tools used in production include leather punches, rotary cutters, skivers, burnishers, mandrels, slickers, mallets, hammers, knives, files, rulers, digital calipers, ring stretchers, dapper sets, soldering tools, saws, pliers, a Smith torch, GRS MicroBlock, and a Leica microscope.

Lisa designs and creates all patterns for the MONOLISA collection. Every leather bag and jewelry piece is individually hand cut and constructed in her studio. Jewelry casting and leather dies are not used. Each piece is produced through hands-on fabrication, allowing for careful control over detail, weight, and finish.

Resume / CV

Education & Training

• Self-taught leather artisan and metalsmith specializing in premium handbag construction, metal forming, soldering, anodizing, and gemstone setting
• Developed technical proficiency in industrial sewing, hand-sculpted metal design, and fine jewelry fabrication through independent research and hands-on practice
• Bachelor of Arts in Sociology, California State University, East Bay

Professional Experience

• Founder and designer of MONOLISA (launched 2017), a handcrafted collection of premium leather handbags and sculpted jewelry made one piece at a time
• Over 20 years of experience in the digital industry prior to transitioning into a full-time artistic career
• Creator of 300+ one-of-a-kind handbags and numerous sculpted jewelry pieces using Argentium® silver, 14k gold, gemstones, crystals, titanium, and Italian leathers

Exhibitions & Shows

• Exhibited at 200+ juried art shows and festivals throughout California, including Palo Alto Festival of the Arts, Los Altos Arts & Wine Festival, American Craft Council shows, Sacramento Crocker Holiday Artisan Market, and others

Publications & Media

• Writer of the Artist Life blog series exploring artistic development, craftsmanship, creative process, and personal inspiration
• Featured in regional art and event publications highlighting California makers and artisans
• Creator of educational gemstone and jewelry-care guides for customers and collectors

Press Features

• CBS News
• Jewellers Academy Podcast
• Dyslexia Explored Podcast
• Dyslexic Advantage
• EM/POWEREDbyWMN

Active Memberships

Argentium Silver Guild, Art Association Napa Valley, BayAreaMade, MJSA, Ganoksin, SNAG, and NAIA

Business Links

Promoting Events

Each event is promoted through a mix of marketing efforts designed to reach both established customers and new audiences interested in fine art shows and handmade work. Promotion includes a monthly email newsletter sent to Lisa’s customer list of 1,400+ subscribers, many of whom follow MONOLISA specifically for show announcements and new collections. Based on tracked data over the past 8 years, approximately 38% of customers at shows are returning clients who attend as a direct result of email outreach. Additional promotion may include Facebook Events, Instagram posts and stories, the MONOLISA Show Schedule,, and printed event collateral provided by event planners.

Booth Curation

MONOLISA booth displays are carefully curated for each event with an emphasis on elegance, warmth, and clarity. White table coverings, cream display blocks, and natural decorative elements help create an inviting presentation. Handcrafted leather bags and sculpted jewelry are displayed so visitors can easily explore the work up close.

A comment Lisa often hears from visitors is, “Your booth is so pretty and elegant.”