Dedra Purses: A Labor of Love by Jeff Smith Searching for the perfect accessory can be frustrating, seeming at times that uniqueness is lost amidst the department store racks. Dedra hand beaded purses offer artistic accessories for those desiring beauty and individuality. Embodied with elegance, these exclusive bags are distinctive works of art as each is handmade bead by bead. Adorning the social elite, Dedra purses accentuate any attire with pure class. Emphasizing high quality and individuality in design, each Dedra purse requires up to 40 hours of meticulous construction. Each design is drawn using original and traditional patterns and brought to vivid reality as every bead is individually strung together on a loom and completed with a hand sewn satin lining. Many purses are composed of more than 10,000 beads. The quality and artistry of Dedra purses sets them apart from others. Dedra bags remain true to tradition and refrain from mechanical production (with the exception of the metal purse frames). These handbags are not mass-produced, but rather intended for an exclusive group of people. Designer Dedra Weiss expresses personality in her creations through the care and energy the she puts into the design and construction of each purse. Weiss first tapped into her creative side when she was young and her mother gave her a sack of beads saved from a tattered vintage purse. Dedra took those beads and created a small handbag without the use of a pattern or any means of instruction. She continued beading and eventually developed her own specialized method of beaded purse construction that yields products of immense quality and character. Often, Dedra designs her purses based on paintings and other works of art she has created. Her work as a beadwork and fine artist intertwine, unveiling truly original creations. Angela Martinez of HGTV’s Crafters Coast to Coast describes Dedra as, “A crafter who has a lot of passion, a lot of focus,” whose purses, “require such patience, such attention to detail, but the payoff is an elegant one-of-a-kind purse. In addition to her creative abilities, Dedra has an extensive academic background as she graduated Summa Cum Laude from Mercer University with a Bachelor of Arts degree and four Associate degrees. In response to the overwhelming attention she received while wearing her handmade accessories in public, Dedra transformed her hobby into a business. Initially designing in Atlanta, interest and demand prompted Dedra to personally design for the high profile in Manhattan, New York and later Austin, Texas. She later went on to maintain a national presence by showcasing her designs online at www.dedra.net. The inspiration for Dedra purses comes from the beauty and romance associated with dress purses throughout history. As symbols of elegance, handbags were a functional completion to a glamorous evening gown. "I incorporate modern designs on many of my pieces, while using vintage purse frames on others," says the designer. "I aspire to capture the glamour of the past while designing for a more contemporary audience." Dedra purses are suitable for any fashion preference, reflecting creativity and an unsurpassed uniqueness. Dedra purses, ranging in price from $75 to $1800, offer a stunning bridge, merging the traditional art of purse making with modern fashion styles. The four Dedra lines currently available are the Glass, Frame, Wrist and Jewelry Collections. From the vintage frame to the engagement ring miniature bags, each style offers a diverse appeal in design. Custom orders and additional patterns are available with pricing subject to complexity of design, materials and purse dimensions. All Dedra purses with the exception of the jewelry bags arrive tucked in a matching protective satin bag with a signed certificate of authenticity indicating the purse number and year created. Customers even have the option of having their purse design retired, ensuring that they possess the only Dedra purse of its kind. These glamorous bags are original treasures coveted by celebrities and the high profile. The Dedra bags have been written about on FashionDaily.com, worn by model Cindy Crawford and featured on the aforementioned HGTV’s Crafters Coast to Coast. In addition to accessorizing elite clientele, Dedra has strong convictions about supporting the community. She helped raise money for Atlanta underprivileged youth and private education by donating purses to Create Your Dreams and the Paideia School auctions. A Dedra purse was also featured in New York City's Get Organized New York celebrity silent auction that benefited The Fund for Public Schools. Dedra purses are beautiful works of art that capture attention dangling from the hands of their owners. The intense handmade process adds a personal touch of unsurpassed quality that makes each bag distinctive. Cheryl Bishop of Austin, Texas’ Fashionably 8 writes, “If you’re one of the lucky ones to own one of her bags, you’re pretty special.” To view the stylish collections of Dedra purses, visit the gallery at www.dedra.net. For more information about Dedra purses, wholesale purchasing or gift certificates, contact Dedra Weiss at (512) 473-2422 or dedra@dedra.net.
			Above: Designer Dedra Weiss and her beautifully hand made and sought after handbags.