My name is Dorothy Francina Miller AKA "Dot", I am known throughout The Bahamas for my unique, classy and beautiful authentic handmade straw bags all tailor made to perfection. I am considered on of the finest treasurers of the Bahamas, I am also known as a self-taught Bahamian artist, I was born on the beautiful island of Eleuthera Bahamas and resides on the island of Long Island Bahamas, I try to produce everything 100% guaranteed authentic. I am creative and loves hand stitching and working with the sewing machine, my sewing career involved into a successful business gaining the respect and trust of countless clients eager to purchase my classy and unique work.

My straw bags are handmade from palm fronds or straw as known to us to design my bags, straw is a part of me its Bahamian and its a part of our culture and it's a time consuming process. The straw is cut during the new moon for best results. This straw is then called pond top or silver top, this top is cut, dried, cured then striped for plaiting. It is hand woven or plait as we call it in several design patterns and these patterns are named. I am always searching and thinking of new ideas to enhance my straw work, I also design wallets, portfolios, plate mats, belts, lamps etc.

I started in 2008 after viewing bags made by other artist, I though I could bring straw to the top. make straw a line on of a kind. presentation was always my key as well for my love for straw and I produce straw bags fit for a queen. My bags are one of a kind, they are unique in their own way and what is so interesting in my bags is that I add a facelift to them. I decided to use the Bahamian Goat Skin, Coconut Leather Bark (from the coconut tree) and our very own Bahamian Handmade Androsia fabric manufacture in the island of Andros, Bahamas. I strive for perfection and I do my best in everything I undertake. Straw work is truly Bahamian.

I have not had any design nightmare story as such but I had a challenge when I attempted to take on a difficult hand bag that I saw in a department store and I decided to design it out of straw. That worked me so hard and when I had complete it, I promised not to put it on display of any kind fearing that a client might place a order for it. I dreamt for two weeks of solutions how to complete this bag, but at the end it came out beautiful and indeed it was a challenge for me.

My business thrived through word of mouth. My greatest achievement in this process was the finish product and I see myself (if not) the top one of the top craft artist in the Bahamas. I have won many prizes in trade shows here in the Bahamas. My greatest accomplishment is teaching myself how to design and sew straw product. I have worked hard to develop myself academically, socially and spiritually and I promise myself to be an asset to my chosen profession and to The Bahamas.