Lynda Sakraida has been creating Hadji Baba bags for five years, up in her isolated perch on Tantalus. She taught herself to sew because she fell in love with a little pink fabric handbag she saw in a fabric store. "Since they wouldn't sell it to me, I was determined to make it myself," she said. Then she made another bag. And another.

Each bag holds a little mystery: Sakraida says the fabric creates the bag and she just goes along for the ride. When she starts cutting and sewing, she often does not know where the fabrics will take her. She embellishes with beads, buttons and anything else that catches her fancy. The result is a whimsical, imaginative creation.

Sakraida sells her Hadji Baba bags at the Honolulu Academy of Arts gift shop. Hadji Baba is the name of her bird, whom she discovered in Mexico and brought home to Hawai'i. He is her constant companion while she sews. She also makes a special collection of bags appropriate for weddings, sold at SpaHalekulani.

In connection with the Textile Symposium of America, Sakraida is holding a trunk show at the Gallery at Ward Centre tomorrow through Sept. 25. The opening reception is 3 to 5 p.m. Sunday.

HAWAI'I WOMAN EXPO

The Hawai'i Woman Expo is themed "Spirit, Wellness & Style" this year; it features fashion shows by 2 Couture as well as a "Celebrities and their Pets" fashion show. The runway will get red hot each day as students of the UH Apparel Product Design and Merchandising Department strut their stuff; $6 adults, $4 seniors, students and military with ID. For a schedule and listings of event times, go to www.hawaiiwomanexpo.com.

BLISS SPA OFFERS FREE FACIALS

New York's eponymous Bliss Spa, which has spawned a line of popular skincare products, is offering free facials at Sephora Ala Moana for two days only: from 2 to 7 p.m. Sept. 12 and noon to 6 p.m., Sept. 13. It's the traveling version of the Bliss "youth as we know it anti-aging facial," featuring the Clarisonic facial cleansing brush. Appointments necessary: 944-9797.

FALL FASHION AT NEIMAN MARCUS

It's head-to-toe style during the upcoming week as Neiman Marcus continues to roll out its fall fashion collections. A trunk show of Armani Collezioni clothing will be on view Sept. 5 and 6, with informal modeling from noon to 2 p.m. And console your inner Carrie Bradshaw with a special collection of shoes by coveted designer Manolo Blahnik at a trunk show during store hours Sept. 4 to 7. The collection includes boots, booties and eel skin styles, as well as the Sedarby (d'Orsay open-toe pump) and Hangisi (blue pump with ornament) seen in the movie "Sex and the City."