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FOXBORO - When it comes to designing handbags, two Foxboro natives have learned it pays to get personal.

Janel Ovrut, whose nickname is Nell, and Kathryn Masci have seen their part-time business — Kathrynell — take off in the past three years as they offer personalized and indiviual bags for women for just about any occasion.

“We have learned so many different aspects of owning and running a business — from promoting ourselves to tailoring our merchandise to meet our customers’ needs,” Ovrut said.

“We know how special it is for women to have a bag personalized for them to match a particular style, outfit or dress for proms, weddings bridal parties, etc.”

Kathrynell has come a long way since its founding in 2004. Friends since elementary school, Ovrut and Masci recognized in high school the love both had for fashion, and started designing pocketbooks as gifts for friends. It was their friends who recommended they start a business — a move they have not regretted. They have won a number of awards since their first year in business, including being named the Readers’ Choice for the best handbag designs in Stylebakery.com for 2006.

Other recognition has come from Women’s Health and Fitness and Boston magazines. More recently, they have added a new line of purses, lunch bags and sunglass cases.

Here, they feature a cross-section of their bags and tell more about the their company and their individualized products. In addition, viewers can sign up for their newsletter.

Many of their bags are named in honor of family and friends.

One of the more popular styles is the Sophie Mary bag, designed with a pink ribbon focus.

Named after an aunt who lost her life to cancer, 15 percent from the sale of each bag goes to the Dana Farber Cancer Institute in Boston.

They have not limited themselves to selling their various lines online. Ovrut and Masci have taken their designs to fashionable Newbury Street in Boston, where they did a “trunk show” — a show where designers display their items at a sale price — at IBoutique.

They also have taken part in Shecky’s Girls Night Out, a two-night fashion event held in Boston each fall and spring.

According to Masci, “about thirty or forty up-and-coming designers from the area sell at this event.”

While they are still working their day jobs — Masci as a graphic designer for Student Advantage and Ovrut as a registered dietitian — they continue to build and expand their business. “We have researched everything from copyrighting our patterns to the best places to buy fabric,” Ovrut explained, “but each day we learn something new that helps us grow and be a better business.”