Janet Fitchtner draws inspiration for her upscale ladies handbags from automotive parts and related garage accoutrements.

Fitchtner is keeping many of her three dozen or so designs under wraps until it's time to roll them out, but car grills inspired one of her initial offerings.

Every day, Fitchtner is surrounded by vehicle components and mechanics tools at the Second Wind Performance diesel shop in Casper, owned by Fitchtner and her husband Louie.

About a year ago, she said the idea of using auto parts in fashion design hit her "like a ton of bricks." And so, jlouise Handbags was born.

Despite the unusual source of inspiration, Fitchtner hopes her handbags have broad appeal. "These bags are so designer and so elegant that you can see almost every type of woman with them," she said. "And they're fun."

Fitchtner said she knows little about the workings of internal combustion engines. "I'm into pink and fluff and leopard skin and bling. That is me, and so my purses represent that," she said.

A New York handbag manufacturer has produced three jlouise handbag designs, which Fitchtner is now trying to place in retail boutiques. She also has contacted a representative with QVC, the home shopping channel, who expressed an interest in her designs.

"Handbags are a very hot item, they are always looking for new handbags," she said.

The jlouise handbags will cost between $150 and $300. Despite the national recession, Fitchtner thinks her handbags will still carve out a niche in the women's accessories marketplace. "I think my handbags will do well," she said.

Business Editor Tom Mast can be reached at tom.mast@trib.com, or call 307-266-0574. Or check out his "Two Bits Worth" blog at tribtown.trib.com/TomMast/blog