I have absolutely no formal design background; my training comes from having a strong sense of classic styling, what I like, and what I don’t. Right now I have 3 bag shapes that I have refined to my liking, and am whittling down my choices for leathers, fabrics and hardware for next season. My bags are sold in several boutique-y shops in CT, and I’ve just brought on 2 sub-contractors to help me with production, as the shops keep selling out! I also sell my bags online. Two style bloggers have taken a liking to Pink Tulips, and every time they feature one of my bags on their blogs, my website goes nutty! It has been very exciting.

I use high end fabrics and leathers, and often incorporate whimsical hardware and embellishments. I DO NOT TOP-STITCH on my bags; I don’t like the look of it, and I prefer to let the bag’s elements take center stage. My goal with each design is to incorporate an element that elicits a smile or a second look into classic, timeless styling. My target audience is women of all ages who seek exceptional quality, understated elegance, and enough self-confidence to appreciate a hint of playfulness.

I am drawn to the beautiful lines of classic simplicity, and have always been dismayed at the lack of bags that met my standards. So about 2 ½ years ago, when my then job as a floral designer ended I pulled out my sewing machine and started sewing bags… and bags… and bags, tweaking the design as I went. Honestly, I have treated it like a job, working 60 – 70 (or more) hours per week – though it never feels like work. I also use fun linings in by bags, so opening the handbag or clutch is like getting a little surprise gift – again, delightful whimsy is the goal.

Well, it was a cloud with a silver lining… I hit the road with my Spring 2012 designs, including a leather clutch with a lovely leather bow. The process I had developed for making the leather bow and attaching it to the bag at that point was extremely cumbersome and time consuming at best. But the bag was eye-catchingly delightful! A lovely shop in Essex, CT (J. Alden Clothiers) purchased some bow bags, and within about 2 weeks, Coastal Living style blogger Sarah Vickers purchased one of the bow bags. When she featured the bag on her blog, I had to very quickly refine the bow-making process because my internet sales of that bag style went through the roof!

I really feel that every step in this process is a great achievement, from ‘scoring’ a gorgeous fabric to seeing someone carrying one of my bags on the street. My greatest achievement, though, is having my bags appeal to those who shop at the high-end shops that Pink Tulips is in so far… more on the way