How I Turned My Travels into a Handmade Business That Now Reaches the World

@D_Lee (Sri -Lanka )

There’s a quiet, lasting joy in creating something with your own hands. It could be a painting brushed in soft watercolors. It might be a hand-stitched tote bag that carries a story. For me, that joy turned into a calling. As I traveled, I didn’t just collect memories — I turned them into art. And now, people around the world carry a piece of that journey with them.

What began as a simple hobby — sketching vibrant markets, painting mountain skylines, and crafting keepsakes — evolved into a full-fledged creative business? My handmade tote bags and paintings are inspired by the places I visit, each one telling a story shaped by local color, texture, and culture.

I’ve been lucky to share my work with people across the globe. From Paris to Tokyo, my art now lives in homes and on shoulders as one-of-a-kind pieces. Many of my tote bags are custom-made — designed in collaboration with customers who want a memory, a place, or a feeling captured in fabric and paint. It’s deeply personal work, and each order is a new journey in itself.

Running my own creative venture means everything I make is a reflection of where I’ve been and who I’ve met. Whether it’s a painting inspired by sunrise over the Himalayas or a bag embroidered with motifs from a Mediterranean village, each piece carries its own adventure. And when someone chooses to bring that into their life, it’s the most rewarding kind of connection.

“The satisfaction of seeing your handmade art appreciated — not just as a product, but as a story — is something no factory or office job ever gave me. It’s more than a job; it’s a way of living creatively and meaningfully.”

To anyone dreaming of blending travel with creativity: start where you are. Let your hands create, and let your art find its way across borders. The world is more connected than ever — and your story deserves to be shared.

D-Lee (Sri Lanka)

About the Artist

Dulanjalee Nishshanka, is a self-taught artist, traveler, writer, musician, voice artist, poetess, blogger, and craftswoman whose work bridges cultures and continents. Combining her love for storytelling, painting, and handmade design, she creates one-of-a-kind artworks and hand-painted tote bags inspired by her travels across the globe. Each piece reflects the spirit of a place — whether it’s the intricate patterns of Moroccan tiles, the earthy tones of Indian villages, or the calm blues of coastal Europe.

Her art has reached people around the world, with customized commissions and original pieces now part of everyday life in homes from Sydney to San Francisco. Many of her tote bags are personalized with customer-requested themes, names, or travel memories — making every order a shared creative experience.

Through her work, she hopes to connect people not just to her art, but to the beauty of handmade expression and global inspiration. She believes that the joy of creating something by hand — and the satisfaction of seeing it travel far — is one of the most fulfilling ways to share a part of yourself with the world.