Better Life Bags Giveaway!
Today’s sponsor is my oldest Etsy friend. I actually found Rebecca on Etsy and noticed that she and I had a lot in common in business. So I contacted her and we started chatting about various business things and soon turned into friends. She runs the Etsy shop: Better Life Bags.
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| (Mine’s the one in the middle. I love, love, love it!) |
HBL: How did you get started with your craft?
BLB: When I was pregnant with my son, I couldn’t find a diaper bag that I loved. They were either too expensive or too boring. So, I decided to learn how to make a diaper bag using a fabric combination I wanted. I loved the thought of having a one-of-a-kind bag that I had designed myself! Luckily, I had just gotten a great sewing machine for my birthday and had sewn a little in my “younger years”. I had a dear friend help me get through the first one and teach me the essentials of bag making. Now I can’t break away from my sewing machine. It’s my better half.
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| Freitas Ruffle Clutch…I absolutely HEART Amy Butler’s fabric, don’t you? |
HBL: What do you love about your craft?
BLB: I love taking pieces of gorgeous material, cutting it up, and sewing it back together into a fun bag creation! There’s something satisfactory about creating something from nothing. I also love that each bag I make is different and unique. My customers get to design their own by picking out fabric for each part of the bags I create. This makes for many different combinations and versions of the same style. It’s never boring!
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| Lovin’ these checkbook covers: I bet she would even add some slots for credit cards if you asked her! |
HBL: Why did you decide to go into business with it?
BLB: Well, I never planned to open a business with my craft. It sort of happened by accident. Like I mentioned before, I made myself a diaper bag and then posted pictures of it on Facebook. Within a week, I had a request to make one for a pregnant friend and she paid me for it! After posting the picture of that bag, I had another request for a large tote bag. And the Nicole was born. People kept ordering, so I kept sewing!
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| The Carla: Design Your Own! |
HBL: Why did you decide to have it be charitable?
BLB: I’ve always loved ordering from companies that help others with the profits, and I wanted to do that from the very beginning – which is why we named it Better Life Bags (“making lives better one purse at a time”). My brother had just introduced me to www.kiva.org and I thought it would be an awesome idea to donate 10% of the bag transaction to a low-income entrepreneur in developing countries. Each of my customers receive a print out of who their bag went to help and what they are going to do with the money. The cool thing about Kiva is that the money is only loaned out and gets repaid back to me over a few months. I can then reloan the money out to someone else. So it’s like your bag never stops giving back!
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| How awesome is this diaper bag?! You can convert it to have backpack straps too! |
HBL: Tell me about your family.
BLB: I have a wonderful husband who I fell in love with 5 years ago and married 2 1/2 years later. We have an adorable son who turned one at the beginning of this month. And much to our surprise, we have a little girl due in January to make us a family of FOUR!
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| The Maggie Ruffle Purse |
HBL: Describe a typical day for you.
BLB: My son wakes me up at 8am and we snuggle in bed while he drinks his bottle of milk. Sometimes we stay there for an hour – sometimes 10 minutes. Either way, it’s my favorite part of the day. Mornings are usually busy for us and it’s good to wear my son out before his nap, so we run errands, go to Bible Study, play outside, go to library story time, etc… Naps are golden for me as I get some time to myself. Since my husband works part time and goes to school part time, he often has a few hours every day or so to spend with our son while I get caught up on bag orders. I’m very thankful for him and for his support for our small business!
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| The Nicole: Design Your Own! |
HBL: Where do you hope to see your business go in the next 5 years?
BLB: This one makes me excited! We just recently moved to a poor area of Detroit, MI where there are a lot of 1st generation immigrants from Yemen. These Yemeni women rarely leave their homes and can’t get jobs out in public because their families are very conservative Muslims. I hope to be able to hire some of them within the next five years to not only give them something to do at home but to also help them out financially. I’m so inspired by stories I hear of businesses hiring women overseas to make quality products and then providing a market for them to sell to in order to earn income for their families. I’m going to start highlighting some of these companies on my blog in the next few weeks… Christmas gift ideas! I REALLY want to use this business to help others profit like they do.
The Carla slouch bag is the perfect thing! What fun to pick out your own colors, but it still fits on your shoulder to carry all those sippy cups and miscellaneous purse items we all have. Love it!
Oh please pick me. Love the slouch bag in fabric 34!! perfect
poohsden at gmail dot com
I love the slouch bag but I also love the little Freitas Ruffle Clutch~
I am now a follower of Better Life Bags!
I liked Better Life Bags on Facebook!
love the maggie ruffle purse
sonjahnelson@hotmail.com
I am a follower of Better Life Bags
sonjahnelson@hotmail.com
Like on fb
sonjahnelson@hotmail.com
I love the Carla bag, she is just so inspiring!
kittycatsandairplanes@gmail.com
I'm already a follower of her blog. 🙂
kittycatsandairplanes@gmail.com
That Maggie is totally for me!
I LOVE her on Facebook!
I love the brynnda… I love the messenger style bags…
Wow!
Though decision. I really like the Nicole and the Carla bag. And such an awesome cause! Keep up the great work.
Oooo! The Carla and the Ruffle clutch are my favs! What a great shop!
I'm a follower of her blog now!
Everything is gorgeous. I especially love the Frietas Ruffle Clutch
Since I'm pregnant I'd have to go with the Diaper Bag, but I also love the Brynnda.
I follow her blog now.
I like her on FB.
I follow you.
I follow her blog! Great stuff!
I LIKE her on fb :0
And as always I follow your blog and on fb! Look at it daily!
Wow all the purses are so cute!!! I follow you!
I love the Carla slouch bag!!
nicolenilsson06@hotmail.com
I follow better life bags blog
nicolenilsson06@hotmail.com
I "like" better life bags on facebook
nicolenilsson06@hotmail.com
I follow honey bear lane blog
nicolenilsson06@hotmail.com
I love her small totes. What a great way to supplement an income and help others. She sounds like a remarkable woman.
I follow your blog.
I love the Carla slouch bag, and it's so awesome you can pick out what fabrics you want! I am now a follower of her blog.
spunkycrayon at yahoo dot com
I just liked her on FB.
spunkycrayon at yahoo dot com
Wow what gorgeous bags. And such a great cause. I loved the Brynnda, Carla and Maggie. I don't know how I would choose! What a great baby shower gift!
I will always follow honeybear!
spunkycrayon at yahoo dot com
I follow your blog!
I love, love her bags; so cute! I would love a matching slouch bag, ruffle clutch, and check book cover.
paskettc (at) gmail (dot com)
I follow you fun blog through Reader.
paskettc (at) gmail (dot com)
I love the Slouch Bag
I follow your blog
I love the diaper bags!
Heidi,
I didn't know you were the brains behind this blog! I wanted to win one of your quilts for my new little guy!!!
Andrea (Keller) Campbell
I am following your blog!
I follow her blog!
I am a facebook fan!
I love the Convertible Diaper Back, its just what I have been looking for.
pryortara@yahoo.com
Oh, I just love the Maggie Ruffle Purse!
I love the large tote bag and the check book covers!
butler83ataoldotcom
I follow the Better Life blog
butler83ataoldotcom
I follow honeybear lane!
butler83ataoldotcom
following her blog!
ranaebroadhead@gmail.com
like on fb!
ranaebroadhead@gmail.com
following honeybear lane
i love the checkbook cover!
ranaebroadhead@gmail.com
I love the Large Tote Bag (brown and green) and The Maggie Bag. LOVE THEM!
I love the slouch bags! (One in orange and pink would be to-die-for. Or even a neutral. Amazing.)
I follow HBL! 🙂
I follow HBL!
I like Better Life Bags on Facebook!
I follow Better Life Blog!
I love the Nicole bag or the Emily bag. I wish my diaper bag was more fashionable! And it's starting to wear out after heavy duty use for 2 kids…so it's time for a new one!
I absolutely love the Large Tote – Nicole with the bright green fabric and zebra print!! Oh my gosh! It reminds me so much of the Wee Tea Cozy I made for myself!!
I have signed up to follow Better Life Blog! Thanks for the chance!!
I love the Carla bag!!!!!
Its so cute!!!!
Following her blog!
I liked on facebook too!
nicolecet at gmail dot com
I love the Design Your Own Custom Small Tote Bag/Purse – The Cyndi! Really pretty bags!
Follow honeybear lane…
I love the funky green and black styles…in every product they seem to catch my eye
I follow you and LOVE your blog
I am totally in LOVE with that diaper bag/backpack!
I'm a follower and I love your blog!
I "liked" her!
I love carrying big bags and am looking forward to having another baby. For my first child, I always shopped for big purses instead of diaper bags because they are much trendier and I can use them for longer, the Nicole bag is perfect!!
I'm a follower 😉
I "liked" her on FB!
Love the slouch bag!
gigglensqueak@gmail.com
I am also now a follower of her blog
gigglensqueak@gmail.com
i love the maggie bag and the slouch bag the carla.
songyueyu at gmail
i like her on facebook
i follow honeybear lane's blog
I love love LOVE the Carla bag with the fabric you have shown on your blog. So cute!!
I follow her blog!
I just "liked" her on fb!
I follow your blog!
I LOVE the Carla slouch bag.
qt_girl2000 at hotmail dot com
I follow her blog!
I "like" her on FB!
I follow your blog!
I checked out her shop and love the ruffle clutches. Very cute!
~Jamie
jamiepurple(at)hotmail(dot)com
I follow Honeybear Lane.
~Jamie
jamiepurple(at)hotmail(dot)com
I follow both blogs and I "like" Better Life bags on Facebook, too.
I love all the bags, but I think I like the ruffled ones the best right now!
I would want one of the slouch bags in purple and black or in grey and black!!
jacksoncrisman@yahoo.com
I follow her blog
jacksoncrisman@yahoo.com
I follow on facebook
jacksoncrisman@yahoo.com
follower 987,thats me!!YAY!! Very close to 100 followers,thats great!
jacksoncrisman@yahoo.com
I love this idea: Design Your Own Convertible Diaper Back – Messenger to Backpack and More
i follow honey bear! (cyndi_browning@hotmail.com)
I follow Better Life's blog!
my favorite is the slouch bags!!
To hard to choose. You pick for me!
Signed up as a new follower of both your blogs! Also welcome to Twittermoms!
Come check us out when you get a chance!
~ Carol
http://www.intentionalconsciousparenting.com
http://www.creatorscreatures.blogspot.com
Wow. I am so inspired by this woman's drive and vision to not only do something she loves, but improve the lives of others. I love the loan idea and how these bags can give again and again. A beautiful, life lifting thing! Bravo! I love the design your own slouch bags and clutches. These are lovely!
I love all the bags! I think the maggie ruffle purse is probably my fav! I think the most wonderful thing is that she is helping others with the profits!
I visited and am following her blog!
I like on FB
I follow your blog!
What a neat blog. I am now a follower of Better Life.
I liked BLB on FB!
I'm already a follower of Honey
bear Lane. 🙂
love maggie ruffles…
follow on FB.
I already follow honey bear lane…YEAH!
follow blb
the carla is sooo adorable i love love love it!!! 🙂 such a great gift she has! thanks!!
nelly.barney@yahoo.com
i follow honeybear!!
nelly.barney@yahoo.com
i follow her blog!!
nelly.barney@yahoo.com
i like her on FB!!
nelly.barney@yahoo.com
I am a follower love the slouch bag.
Thanks
I love the slouch bag and diaper bag the most… beautiful! Thanks for the great giveaway!
I also follow you. Thanks!
i like the ruffle clutch, the slouch bag and themaggie! so pretty!
i follow honeybear lane!
i like betterlife bags on fb
My birthday is coming up and I have been browsing etsy regularly lately for the perfect thing to spend my b-day money on and Better Life Bags has been at the top of my list, I think I would go with the Nicole although quite possibly the Carla. I would love to win one and then be able to continue on her path or paying it forward by purchasing one for someone else for a gift!
I LOVE the slouch bag. It would be so much fun to pick out exactly which fabric I wanted.
I am a follower of your blog.
I can't decide!!! However, if I had to pick one I would say tthe Ruffle Clutch.
I love her ruffle clutches. So cute!
theresa.dargis@gmail.com
I am a follower of your blog! And its my birthday on the 22nd, so I should win 🙂
theresa.dargis@gmail.com
I love the diaper bag and changing pads (for obvious reasons, haha). Her patterns are so cute!
I also follow Honeybear Lane's blog.
I love the maggie bag, plus my purse fell apart this weekend and my hubby does not want me to buy another one, so this would be great to win
Her stuff is too cute! I like the Freitas Ruffle Clutch
kkfoster35 at msn dot com
I'm following her blog (kkfoster35)kkfoster35 at msn dot com
I like her on FB (Karen Hargis Foster)
kkfoster35 at msn dot com
I'm following this blog too!
(kkfoster35)
kkfoster35 at msn dot com
My favorite is the Carla bag!
I follow HoneyBear Lane!
I love the Slouch bag, too cute 🙂
I love the Slouch bag and the Ruffle Clutch. And I love fabrics 2 and 3!
amberf_03@hotmail.com
I follow HoneyBear Lane.
amberf_03@hotmail.com
I am following Better Life Blog.
amberf_03@hotmail.com
Wow, I love everything in her shop! The burp cloths and slouch bag are my favorite.
ky.jackson@gmail.com
I follow your blog!
ky.jackson@gmail.com
I LIKE BLB on facebook and have since she started!!
I follow BLB on her blog. I love how she does amazing things with donating to Kiva.org. She's inspired me to donate myself as part of her group.
I love the NICOLE bag…mainly because it was named after me! I use mine every day and love how she lets you create your own masterpiece. I'm also in love with my Beverly bags and my Judi. I could go on and on forever!
I want a Cyndi!
I like BLB on FB!
So many great bags to choose from. I think the Carla might be my favorite.
jennifer.r.ingram at gmail dot com
Following the blog
Like on Facebook too!
jennifer.r.ingram at gmail dot com
Great giveaway!! I would love love love the slouch bag!
amy.chinagal@gmail.com
I follow her blog!
amy.chinagal@gmail.com
I liked her on facebook!
amy.chinagal@gmail.com
I'm following your blog too!
amy.chinagal@gmail.com
I follow your blog!
-Paty
angel.baby.paty@gmail.com
I love the Maggie Ruffle. Gorgeous!!
I've liked Better Life Bags on FB.
The Maggie bag is very cute.
I follow Honey Bear Lane blog.
I like Better Life Bags on FB.
I really love them all! The Carla or the Maggie are my favorite! So cute!
I Liked Better Life Bags on Facebook.
I am a follower of Better Life Bags
What an awesome giveaway! I love the carla slouch bag. So so cute!
amy_juhasz[at!]hotmail.com
I follow HoneyBear Lane!
amy_juhasz[at!]hotmail.com
I follow better life bags.
amy_juhasz[at!]hotmail.com
I like better life bags on facebook.
amy_juhasz[at!]hotmail.com
What gorgeous work. I really had a hard time choosing just one because I love them all, but, I think I would choose the Cyndi if I were to win.
I am now a follower of Better Life Bags via email notification. (fyi the email I use to follow blogs is different than the one tied to my comments)
I liked on FB!
I follow her blog. [lovin'life (crystal)]
I follow your blog. [lovin'life (crystal)]
I would love the carla slouch bag!!