Mark and Sharon Diebolt

"Our work focuses on elegant designs, meticulous craftsmanship, and the manipulation of highly figured veneers to create pieces that are lightweight, beautiful, and delightful to wear."

Mark and Sharon Diebolt have been creating beautiful objects from wood for over 35 years. Their love of nature and classic designs of the past inspire their current handbag designs. A husband and wife team, their working relationship is an extension of their personal relationship; they are a constant source of inspiration for one another, truly living up to the quote, "Two bodies, one soul."

The Diebolts create their work with the initial laminating of very thin layers of veneer. The method is called bent lamination, a woodworking technique used most often by furniture makers. Once the initial shell is made, hardwood details are added for strength and structure, and the pieces are sanded and finished. Leather and colorful accents are added, and the handbag is signed in the interior.

Mark first began his woodworking "career" as a young child creating jigsaw puzzles under the tutelage of his grandfather. He received his initial formal training at SUNY Oswego, and then enrolled in the prestigious School for American Craftsmen at Rochester Institute of Technology. Sharon attended SUNY Brockport as an art therapy major; her woodworking training began when she married Mark.