Monday, June 8, 2009

Hall of Fame {The Vintage Bag}

Happy Monday, everyone! This interview is sure to bring a smile to your face, and get your week off to a great start.

Meet Amanda, the radiant woman behind The Vintage Bag and Funkyshique. I met Amanda a couple weeks ago, through Etsy of course, and we have been chatting ever since. It wasn't until last week, as I checked out of her shop, that she saw my address and discovered we live in the very same town! How neat is that?! You can imagine our surprise. It is a small world after all!

I had the pleasure of meeting Amanda in person and sitting down to chat over her favorite, a java chip frappuccino. I have a feeling our local Starbucks will be seeing a lot more of us.

What inspires you?
Vintage fabrics, doilies, linens, lace, old photographs! I look at an old linen and try to make it the center piece! I would rather have my vintage linens worn and displayed rather than hidden away in a drawer! I really love carrying a handmade bag! It not only looks 'vintage-chic', but feels so good too. I have a never ending stash of vintage linens and doilies and I love each and every one!
Where do you call home?
In my heart, where ever my husband and son are, that's home. But physically, I haven't found 'home' yet. When I find my dream house (an old refurbished farmhouse) out in the suburbs of a small quaint town, I will know 'I'm home'!

What's on your playlist this week?
Well, if you mean music, I love soft classical and some opera. There's just something so inspiring and 'rich feeling' about soft classical music playing in the background. But the other side of me loves 70's funk music! Every so often I get up from my sewing table and 'bust a move'! (I laugh at myself quite often!)
Share an interesting fact about yourself.
Other than being 'fabulous' (hehehehe!), I'm a self taught sewer!

What made you decide to make vintage bags?
My mom says I was born with a sewing needle in my hand! When I was in about 5th grade, I would cut up my clothes and makes purses, and proudly carry them to school. My mom wasn't so happy about it because she would buy me a new shirt, and before she could turn around, I had already cut it up! I have always had the desire to carry a 'handmade' bag!
Name your favorite thing about selling handmade.
There's just something so special about using something that someone put their skills and heart into. I love the fact that I take some scraps of this fabric, and scraps of that fabric, add some doilies and lace, and turn it into something pretty! I hope that when someone buys one of my bags, they use it, feel good about their purchase, and love it.
Do you have a day job?
I wish I could say that I have a beautiful little shop in the heart of down town (what we call the 'art district' round here) full of beautiful handmades, antiques, shabby chic furniture, linens and gifts (that would be the life, wouldn't it girls?) But in reality, my husband and I own a small used car lot in town, that I run most of the time. But I will keep dreaming about my store!
Share with us a favorite Etsy purchase or shop.
My newest favorite is the woman, Lory, who was gracious enough to do this interview and include me in her wonderful blog, The Sunshine Studio! I was fortunate enough to meet Lory because she happens to live in the same town as me! YAY! She was sweet enough to give me one of her handmade rings, and I truly love the ring just as much as I love her! And I plan on buying many more of her jewelry pieces!

My other favorites are:
My Turtle Baby
Estate Sell Treasures
Rustiqua
My So Called Junky Life

Honestly, I could list all day. I truly love Etsy and admire the craftsmanship! It amazes me how many artists there are out there in the world! I'm proud to be a part of that!
Name one place you must visit in your lifetime.
I would love to get in a sail boat and stop at each and every island in the Bahamas. I would also like to visit 'Ground Zero' in New York, just to say a prayer.
List ten of your most favorite things.
(In no particular order!)
1. white slip covered furniture
2. gifts from the sea, such as seashells, starfish, conch, etc.
3. a Java-chip frappuccino from Starbucks. If I die, someone please throw one in the casket with me!
4. pale pink roses
5. antiques - usually anything chippy, rusty, worn, tattered and well-loved.
6. love stories
7. handmade vintage style bags
8. Ice cream on Sundays with my hubby and son (Coldstone Creamery!)
9. sail boats
10. everything white


Giveaway Time!
Amanda, has generously offered to let the winner pick out an awesome bag of their choice from her shop The Vintage Bag! Sweet!

Let us know us know a favorite vintage item or family heirloom that you, personally, treasure with your entry!

To enter, leave a comment on this post with your name, answer, and email address or Etsy username.
For extra entries you can:
Tweet this giveaway: 2 additional entries
Follow my blog: 5 additional entries
Blog about this interview/contest: 7 additional entries
Purchase from The Vintage Bag or Funkyshique: 10 additional entries
(Please include this info, if applicable, with your comment for additional entries. You do not need to leave separate comments for additional entries.)

Contest ends Sunday, June 14th at 11:59 pm EST. Winner will be chosen by traditional drawing and will be announced Monday, June 15th.

99 comments:

CarolynW said...

You are right. Such beautiful things. My family heirloom is large. It's the padded rocking chair in my living room that has been in the family for over 100 years.

carolynw imedge net (you can add in the @ and .)

CarolynW said...

I'll tweet about the promotion every day until the 14th - I hope you get many more entries.

GOOD LUCK!!

(@ContestQueen)

throuthehaze said...

my favorite heirloom is my grandmothers little teacup withe flowers. I have admired it since I was little

i am a follower

throuthehaze at gmail dot com

momofleinarts said...

My favorite family heirloom is a garnet hatpin that belonged to my great grandmother. I am so lucky to have it in my possession.

Melissa Leinart
mom_of_leinarts@yahoo.com

I am also tweeting about this promotion. :)

EJ said...

My favorite heirloom is a rag doll my aunt made for me that was given to me when I was born. She's stuffed with panty-hose At 34, I still have "Pink Lady" on my bed. I'm thinking about asking my aunt to give her a make-over (she's had only 2 in 34 years.) I love the vintage bag!!

EJ said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
EJ said...

I am also tweeting this contest. :) BTW, my email address is: erosejohn@gmail.com

Becky said...

I love my cedar chest that was pass down to me from my grandmother. Sadly, it doesn't fit too well in my current apartment so my parents are using it.

Great giveaway, love the bags!

lensimpressions AT gmail DOT com

Danielle said...

My name is Danielle and my favorite heirloom is a serving platter that was my Great Great Grandmother's and was given to me by my Grandmother. It sits in my china cabinet and occasionally I pull it out and just think about how many meals were served on it as the family sat around the table and talked and laughed. It's neat for me to know that even though I never met my Great Great Grandmother, I can hold something that she once held and lovingly served meals to her family on.

danielle78@comcast.net

Danielle said...

I now follow your blog!

danielle78@comcast.net

Sherry Go Sharing said...

I like this sale vintage backpack http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=23233690

sherrygo at hotmail dot com

Sherry Go Sharing said...

blogged http://iluvcontest.blogspot.com/2009/06/vintage-bag-giveaway.html

sherrygo at hotmail dot com

Sherry Go Sharing said...

follow your blog

sherrygo at hotmail dot com

Celeste said...

I LOVE her shop!! The one family heirloom that I really cherish is an old cellarette that my grandpa's father bought along the New Jersey boardwalk when my grandpa was just a boy (he is 83 now). The cellarette has carvings of the Mayflower ship - and there are carved pilgrims in each corner of the table acting as the support. It's really such a cool piece of furniture! We now use it to hold the sheet music books, instead of putting them in the piano bench.

***And, I follow your blog!

contact me at:
celeste@mail4me.com

Jen (Mama's Magic Studio) said...

What a lovely interview -- and beautiful shop to explore! The first family heirloom that comes to mind is my grandmother's cameo jewelry. I treasure it deeply.

I'm mamasmagicstudio on etsy. And I'm now a follower of your blog!

Thanks!
Jen

kat-heel-well said...

My fave is the Swanky Burlap Chandelier Tote. My heirloom item I would not part with is my (now-deceased) grandmother's set of confetti-colored melamine nesting mixing bows. Reminds me of family dinners.
kathemc(at)gmail(dot)com

Beth said...

and I follow... :o)

secret cake said...

I've got my great-Aunt's ring-- a beautiful opal that I vow to wear instead of keep tucked away.

I'm so glad to see someone else who drags all the vintage goodness from the closets and back into mainstream!

Thanks for the opportunity : )

secretcake (at) yahoo (dot) com

sarasophia said...

One of my most treasure possessions is a ceramic rabbit that used to sit in on my great grandfathers end table. He passed away when I was fourteen and will always be one of my dearest friends. I now keep that little brown bunny beside my bed to remind me of his kind kind heart.
I still miss him so.

Thank you for this meaningful giveaway.

<3 sarasophia

tout_est_des_roses@yahoo.com

sarasophia said...

I tweeted here:

https://twitter.com/sarasophia/status/2086346005
<3 sarasophia

tout_est_des_roses@yahoo.com

Anonymous said...

hard to pick my favorite heirloom, since we have many vintage things in our home:) my grandmother gave me a pretty golden ring, it was her mothers ring once, so that is probably my favorite!

Anonymous said...

I follow you too:)

Abie said...

I'm a follower. ^_^

Abie said...

My favorite heirloom in my family is my wonderful set of Barbie clothes that were knitted by my Nan (father's mother). they are so gorgeous. I wish I had treated them better as a child, but I didn't know better. My favorite is a red and white sheath dress, quite simple, but totally elegant.

<3
abigail.lee{AT}gmail.com

Lana Manis said...

My favorite heirlooms are the journals my grandma and mom kept. My grandma passed away before I was born, and my mom passed away a couple of years ago, so these handwritten pages are very dear to me.

I'll tweet about this (I'm honeysucklelane) and I'll go follow your blog... now....

Thanks for such a generous giveaway!

Cathy ~ Tadpoles and Teacups said...

My favorite treasure is a child-sized quilt my grandmother made. It's blue and white gingham with appliqued puppies in the squares. Such tiny stitches!
What a fun giveaway--please enter my name.
:)
Cathy

Marie said...

I have a vintage bee pin that was my Gramma Bea's. She collected all things "bees" because of her name. This piece is very special to me.

Blessings,
Marie
http://emmacallsmemama.com

Marie said...

I am now following your fabulous blog!

Blessings,
Marie
http://emmacallsmemama.com
marie@waltercom.com

Marie said...

I Tweeted about the chic Vintage Bag giveaway!

Blessings,
Marie
http://emmacallsmemama.com
marie@waltercom.com

Stephanie said...

I treasure the quilts that my great-grandmother made.

lesjoujou AT gmail DOT Com

Anonymous said...

I have my mom's wedding ring. It's nothing special, just gold with a modest diamond and some small emeralds, but she was special, so I cherish it.
erin_melissa at juno dot com

Unknown said...

A brooch.
Love your Vintage Stuff.
Carmel Fox
delta4789@yahoo.ca

Nichola said...

I have a quilt that my great grandmother and grandmother made from 1937. It is one of my all time favorite things.

nicholakleyle at hotmail dot com

Tickleworm said...

What a great shop!
I have a pearl and silver necklace that was my grandmother's...I love it. It make me feel glamorous when I where it. There are about 6 pearls each resting on a silver leaf. So sweet.

Rachel
rachelherzog@bellsouth.net
www.rachelherzog.etsy.com

Taylor said...

When my grandma died a few years ago my dad gave me the necklace that he gave to her. The chain is so delicate that I don't wear it but I do cherish it very much.

Unknown said...

I have a really unique, beautiful tea kettle that I received when my grandpa died. I LOVE it!!

sarsosariATgmailDOTcom

Dessert Diva said...

I forget the actual term for it, but it's like a cabinet... One long tall, multi-shelved panel, and a lower section of wood shelves with a table and mirror on top. It's a good thing I'm not an artist or writer - no one has any idea what I'm trying to describe, I'm sure. But it has the original curved glass parts, and is filled with my grandmother's collectibles.

danunepthys(at)hotmail(dot)com

Lory said...

Thanks to everyone for the wonderful response so far! I'm enjoying reading about your unique treasures!

=)

Tammy said...

I have a necklace passed down to me from my grandma that has an elephant made from some type of blue stone. I've only seen it like twice since my mom thinks it too precious

tmmylm at gmail

Tammy said...

I follow 1x

tmmylm at gmail

Tammy said...

I follow 2x

tmmylm at gmail

Tammy said...

I follow 3x

tmmylm at gmail

Tammy said...

I follow 4x

tmmylm at gmail

Tammy said...

I follow 5x

tmmylm at gmail

Cherry Blossoms said...

My favorite heirloom is my husbands great grandmothers engagement ring {to her first fiancee, she didn't end up marrying him but kept the ring!} I love it because it is so unique and has a beautiful amethyst in it! I cherish it!

Etsy name:CherryBlossomsDesign

CherryBlossomsDesign at hotmail

Cherry Blossoms said...

I tweeted here:
http://twitter.com/CherryBlossBaby/status/2096572830

entry 1

cherryblossomsdesign at hotmail

Cherry Blossoms said...

I tweeted here:
http://twitter.com/CherryBlossBaby/status/2096572830

entry 2

cherryblossomsdesign at hotmail

Cherry Blossoms said...

I follow your blog

Entry 1


CherryBlossomsDesign at hotmail dot com

Cherry Blossoms said...

I follow your blog

Entry 2


CherryBlossomsDesign at hotmail dot com

Cherry Blossoms said...

I follow your blog

Entry 3


CherryBlossomsDesign at hotmail dot com

Cherry Blossoms said...

I follow your blog

Entry 4


CherryBlossomsDesign at hotmail dot com

Cherry Blossoms said...

I follow your blog

Entry 5


CherryBlossomsDesign at hotmail dot com

Cherry Blossoms said...

I blogged here:
http://peonieblossoms.blogspot.com/2009/06/sunshine-studio-vintage-bag.html

Entry 1

CherryBlossomsDesign at hotmail

Cherry Blossoms said...

I blogged here:
http://peonieblossoms.blogspot.com/2009/06/sunshine-studio-vintage-bag.html

Entry 2

CherryBlossomsDesign at hotmail

Cherry Blossoms said...

I blogged here:
http://peonieblossoms.blogspot.com/2009/06/sunshine-studio-vintage-bag.html

Entry 3

CherryBlossomsDesign at hotmail

Cherry Blossoms said...

I blogged here:
http://peonieblossoms.blogspot.com/2009/06/sunshine-studio-vintage-bag.html

Entry 4

CherryBlossomsDesign at hotmail

Cherry Blossoms said...

I blogged here:
http://peonieblossoms.blogspot.com/2009/06/sunshine-studio-vintage-bag.html

Entry 5

CherryBlossomsDesign at hotmail

Cherry Blossoms said...

I blogged here:
http://peonieblossoms.blogspot.com/2009/06/sunshine-studio-vintage-bag.html

Entry 6

CherryBlossomsDesign at hotmail

Cherry Blossoms said...

I blogged here:
http://peonieblossoms.blogspot.com/2009/06/sunshine-studio-vintage-bag.html

Entry 7

CherryBlossomsDesign at hotmail

__ said...

My favorite family heirloom is a sapphire ring that my grandpa bought my grandma when he was stationed in the Phillipines.

(My email is connected to my blogger account link.)

__ said...

I follow!

entry #1

__ said...

I follow

entry #2

__ said...

I follow

entry #3

__ said...

I follow

entry #4

__ said...

I follow

entry #5

janil said...

so funny and pretty: Fat Girls Rule.....!!!!

thanks!

cal_rubies at yahoo dot es

Aik said...

I have a Ching-dynasty coin.

aikychien AT yahoo DOT com

Aik said...

http://twitter.com/aikychien/status/2103817104

#1

aikychien AT yahoo DOT com

Aik said...

http://twitter.com/aikychien/status/2103817104

#2

aikychien AT yahoo DOT com

Aik said...

Follower.

#1

aikychien AT yahoo DOT com

Aik said...

Follower.

#2

aikychien AT yahoo DOT com

Aik said...

Follower.

#3

aikychien AT yahoo DOT com

Aik said...

Follower.

#4

aikychien AT yahoo DOT com

Aik said...

Follower.

#2

aikychien AT yahoo DOT com

balanced. said...

Such a sweet, sweet shop. I love her bags all equally.

My treasured family heirloom is a small white beaded sequin coin purse. My mother gave it to me for my wedding as something old and I carried it with me on my wedding day. She got it from her mother.

Anonymous said...

A glorious treasure that I have is a wonderful table lamp with a hand-painted lampshade of a scene from the Netherlands of a windmill at dusk. It was my mother's lamp that was forgotten for many years, but then it found me!!

Heirlooms are such blessings!

pumpkinlady430@yahoo.com

Carapace said...

I really love the burlap and lace tote:
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=25259863
I wish I could name a good heirloom in my family...but we've never had any! Maybe that's why I have such a lust for other people's nifty vintage-- no history of my own, so I have to borrow some?

carapacenator(at)gmail.com

Melissa said...

My favorite vintage item is a locket that was my grandmothers. It has a picture of her and my grandfather on the inside <3

I love these bags!


thisyearsgirl.etsy.com

Melissa said...

following :)

Melissa said...

1 tweet: http://twitter.com/JanuaryWish/status/2111810322

Melissa said...

2 tweet: http://twitter.com/JanuaryWish/status/2111810322

Chelsey said...

My Great Grandma was in her 90s when she gave me an ornament of a girl (that was from the 60s). She had so many grandchildren and great grandchildren that this was the only thing she ever gave me so it's very special. Thanks for the giveaway. mybabyappleseed(at)yahoo(dot)ca

Ladytink_534 said...

What a gorgeous bag! Oh I think I love everything in this shop! My treasured family heirloom is a china cabinet that my great-grandfather made (he worked at a furniture manufacturer and used to bring home things he had made sometimes) and that my mom now displays her crystal collection in.

Ladytink_534(at)yahoo(dot)com

Ladytink_534 said...

Now a blog follower!

Ladytink_534(at)yahoo(dot)com

Melanie @ Whimsical Creations said...

My favorite vintage thing are my pearls that my grandmother gave me to wear on my wedding day. The reason they are so special is because she wore them when she married my grandfather. My grandfather died when my mom was 3yrs old. I am hoping someday to pass them onto my daughter. =D

Melanie @ Whimsical Creations said...

#1 follow your blog. =D

Melanie @ Whimsical Creations said...

#2 follow your blog. =D

Melanie @ Whimsical Creations said...

#3 follow your blog. =D

Melanie @ Whimsical Creations said...

#4 follow your blog. =D

Melanie @ Whimsical Creations said...

#5 follow your blog. =D

SavingDiva said...

I actually don't have any family heirlooms in my posession. I would love to have my grandmother's ruby ring. We share the same birthstone and it's so beautiful.

savingforhome at gmail dot com

Unknown said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Unknown said...

My grandfather made me an adirondack chair when I was a child. I just had the pleasure of seeing the chair passed on to my little granddaughter. It's been well-cared for over the years -- no staying outside all summer long -- and I think little Green Bean's children may also get some use out of it.

Unknown said...

Tweeted, http://twitter.com/sito50/status/2138351055

Unknown said...

I'm following your blog, sito50

Pearl Bhasin said...

I'm in! Amanda's bags are GORGEOUS!! So inspiring and heartwarming... absolutely lovely!! :)

Janice said...

ahhh I've got mine picked out already, haha, Thanks for the giveaway!

Anyway, my most treasured vintage item, is my dad's old old old film camera that he gave to me. It still works and takes grainy vintagey photos and I really love it.

my email is janicec at live dot com.

Anonymous said...

No family heirlooms have been passed on yet, but I am hoping to start one with my childhood teddy 'honeybear' who after 25 years is still going strong and has just been given to my daughter and I hope she will be able to pass it on to her own children one day.

I follow your blog :)

spongent at hotmail dot com

FunkyJunkJewellery said...

I love your bags!! My favourite item is a rug my Auntie sent me from Canada - it's handmade basic patchwork and so cute! He's a turtle! :D

Lindsay (FunkyJunk Jewellery) x