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.