This week's featured artisan is Monica of AbbaDabba Bags. I'm a huge fan of Monica's bags and the proud owner of two of her wristlets. Not only does she have an amazing eye for gorgeous prints and unique color schemes, her construction is flawless and her bags are virtually indestructible.
Leave a comment here and be entered to win a Deluxe Clutch in Amy Butler Coriander Pine! The winner will be notified by June 1st. Good luck!
Tell me a little bit about you and what you do.
My name is Monica and I am a mom, a wife and a bag maker. I made my first diaper bag in 2004 when I couldn't find anything stylish to carry. I was soon making them for friends and selling them by word of mouth. I now sell a whole line of bags online and have hundreds of satisfied customers across the country and around the world. I have been sewing since I was a pre-teen and officially started AbbaDabba Bags in 2007.
What 3 words best describe your work?
Bags, Fabric, Quality
What inspires you?
Fabric and colors inspire me. Sometimes I see a new fabric and instantly know which style bag will make it shine. Other times I find a fabric and design a new style to show it off. Getting a shipment of new fabric in the mail always makes me excited to sew!
What drives you to create what you do?
I have a love of purses and bags. I enjoy shopping for them, buying them and of course making them. I really love the creative process of designing new styles. It is good to have an outlet for your creative juices.
What makes your work unique?
I design my own patterns and try to be creative. I don't try to follow the latest shape or size of other sellers but instead focus on what I like. So far my customers like them too so it seems to be a good strategy. I also like to combine fabrics in new ways. It is not unusual for me to have stacks of fabric on my design table trying to find a new combination. The bigger my fabric collection grows the more fun I have with this process.
What role does your work play in your life? What role would you like it to play?
AbbaDabba Bags gives me the opportunity to do something non-mom related. As a stay-at-home mom I give most of my time and energy to my kids. I think it is also important to have something that is separate from all that. An online business gives me the perfect flexibility to work around my family responsibilities. As my kids get older and enter school I would like to expand the business and the role it plays in my life.
How do you see your work and/or your business evolving in the next five years?
In the next 5 years I would like to broaden my own website and offer my bags directly to my customers. I'd also like to have my bags in a few local boutiques.
Where can we find you on the web?
My Website: www.AbbaDabbaBags.com
My Etsy Shop: http://AbbaDabbaBags.Etsy.com
My Artfire Shop: http://AbbaDabbaBags.Artfire.com
Are you an artist or craftsperson? Would you like to be featured here? I would love to hear from you. Leave a comment here with a link to your shop, and I'll be in touch about future opportunities.
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32 comments:
Love the bags... and I should have one. My fall bag needs to be retired for a spring/summer option - and I love bright bags and shoes to offset the entirely neutral clothes I tend to wear...
Great featured giveaway!
Just gorgeous! I love that Amy Butler print!
I'd also love to be featured in the future - http://Epheriell.Etsy.com - and my blog at http://www.EpheriellDesigns.com
Thanks,
Jess :)
Howdy!
There is a blog award for you at http://mandibeads.blogspot.com/2009/05/blog-award.html
I just love these bags! The style and colors of that first one is so me :)
Beautiful bags! Love her designs and fabric combinations.
I love her work and have one! All I can sew is over my finger.
I've bought two as gifts and they are fabulous bags!
Love your style, Monica. Hurray for non-mom time - it helps keep us sane! All the best for your business!
She certainly has an eye for fabric and style of bags. Thanks for featuring various artists - in the sea of etsy and other sites, it's hard to find them all and appreciate you showcasing them here! Thanks for the opp to win one of her bags - as a stay at home mom, I need a little makeover to my non-existent wardrobe - this would do just the trick!
-catherine s.
What a lovely interview.. i really like the fabric! Count me in! :D
I love Monicas Bags...the fabrics are beautiful. So nice of you to have featured AbbaDabba Bags on your blog as for giving us a chance to win won of her lovely bags. It was a really nice interview too!!!!
Thanks :)
What a wonderful contest for a wonderful gal (and her products)! I follow AbbaDabbaBags on twitter and I love all her stuff...Great interview!!
Monica has been a customer of mine. :-) But I don't have any of her bags, yet. Her fabric choices are beautiful!
I love these bags; especially the orange one.
www.sassyglassjewelry.etsy.com
Beautiful bags.
Love her bags and we follow each other on Twitter, I'm craftersguru and my blog is http://craftersguru.blogspot.com where there is a new craft or video demonstration daily! My email is anoriginalbymary(at)pacbell(dot)net Thanks for this great freebie offer :)
I love your bags! they are sooo cute! I love the Amy Butler Fresh Start so much! It'll be great to carry one out in summer! =D
http://www.cutiestuffs.etsy.com
they really are unique!!! just perfect:)
So cute! Great work. I love the fabric choices.
What an amazing shop!! I love bags, and her's are amazing!!
Oh, I love that orange flowered bag! Fabulous designs and definitely a great eye for cool fabrics. :o)
Wow, those clutches are so classic! Like something Katherine Hepburn would carry. I want one, and I almost never want a clutch!
carapacenator(at)gmail.com
Wow your bags and clutches are simply beautiful. Great colors and fantastic designs.
I would love to be a winner.
Jenai - www.jcollins16.etsy.com
Designs by Jenai
designsbyjenai@gmail.com
These bags are awesome...and they're definitely a great price (I'm a sucker for purses...and shoes:) Would love to win this!
www.edub.etsy.com
edubgraphicart@gmail.com
I would also love to be featured in your blog (maybe a free logo design give-away?) Let me know!
Erin
what an awesome clutch. it will match my amy butler tote perfectly!
xoxo,
sp
Love Monica's bags! I need to rid myself of my old bag and get a new one just like that. Turn me from Mom who forgets about herself to mom that is in style...
Great giveaway!
Jen F
Great giveaway! I need a new purse, and just love Amy Butler! I made her laptop bag a few months ago! It's on my blog:
http://handmade3D.blogspot.com
Oooo, I've been looking at those bags -- so gorgeous!
These are some beautiful designs. Loving the orange flower bag!
What a great giveaway! What girl doesn't need a new bag?! I love how she makes a little kick pleat (for lack of a better word) in the front her clutchs. Its such a great detail. I think I really need one! Fingers crossed.
Ooh! Gorgeous bags! Love this discovery!
Fantastic bag! I would love to carry that! Thanks!
I love her bags. They are definitely unique which is what I like about them. Great giveaway!
www.twitter.com/mslovelyann
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