For many women, a handbag is a fashion accessory they can't do without. Designing woman, Sheila Griffin, admits to owning "hundreds" of them. "It's a passion that I inherited from my mom, who loved handbags, and always had a handbag that was unique and different."

Griffin has an eye for color, texture, and spatial organization. "I started out in the field of interior designer and interior architecture. That's what I'm trained in ...And, when I was practicing that, I was always sketching. I was always sketching handbags for some reason..."

Four years ago, she found a reason for her many sketches. "I started researching the handbag industry, in general," Griffin said. "I wanted to find out as much as I could about that. And, just did it! I just simply said one day, 'I'm going to do it!'"

Griffin founded Lincoln Val Handbags. The couture line is the signature collection for her Addison, Texas accessories house. "With my designs, I try to keep it simple, elegant, sophisticated and classic."

Her company symbol is a beautiful Swallowtail butterfly that Griffin says exemplifies "individuality" and "free flight." Her high-end handbags are made of ostrich and other exotic leathers. "Because this is a genuine, exotic skin, and a natural resource, the prices are naturally a little bit higher," she explained. "The handbags range anywhere from 500 dollars to 2500 dollars."

"Craftsmanship," Griffin says, is the hallmark of her couture line of clutches, totes, valets and shoulder bags. "There are several things that go into the craftsmanship of a couture bag. Obviously the structure of it. It needs to be constructed well," she said. "All of our bags have more than one PDA pocket, in addition to the zippered lining, for the pouch. And then we take a lot of detail on how the bag is constructed. how things come together..." Griffin continued: "So, things like the stitching. The hardware-- the caliber and the quality. All of those things (are) tied together in making a handbag..."

Lincoln Val Handbags are manufactured in South Africa; and Griffin says her mission is to make a difference, especially in the lives of the South African workers, who make her bags. She described her business philosophy: "...when I started Lincoln Val, it was with the intent to make a difference in someone else's life ...So, with the purchase of every handbag, a percentage of the profits will go back to the continent of Africa, in some way shape or form; either economically, to help the economy there or through identified needs of charities or non-profit organizations."

Sheila Griffin turned a pastime into a thriving enterprise. She encourages others to follow their passion. "...I started out with a dream," she said with a smile. "And I think it's important for women, or anyone, to know that you don't have to have a lot of money to make your dreams come true. All you need is the will. the audacity. And a prayer or two."

Sheila Griffin's Lincoln Val designer bags are available on the internet at www.lincolnval.com