A good handbag is one of life’s small blessings. Find one that suits your style, holds all of your essentials and is made well, and you’re set for life. If supporting a local designer is also part of your agenda, Fremont-based Alice Noon (alicenoon.com) is the line for you.

Handmade by self-taught designer and creative spirit Tiffany Eley, Alice Noon bags are constructed from oil tanned and Cheyenne pebbled leather (commonly used for motorcycle chaps) and suede, and range in price and size from $150 for a clutch to more than $1,000 for a duffel. Our pick is the wear-everywhere, go-with-everything bucket bag ($285) for its slightly retro styling and versatility (hang it over your shoulder or strap it to your back). Eley, who named the line after her “fearless, intelligent and self-made” great-grandmother, is a true original. “I like to be innovative and look beyond the market,” she says. “My designs come from the heart, and I’m evolving and challenging myself all the time.” Available at Les Amis (Fremont, 3420 Evanston Ave. N; 206.632.2877;)