Bellini Portraits : Fresh, Unique, Contemporary Portraits : Boston, Cape Cod & Beyond!: Mamapreneur : Week 4

Business Name: AbbaDabba Bags

How did you come up with that name: When my daughter Abby was born my son was 2 ½ years old. He started calling her his “Little AbbaDabba”. It stuck and seemed like a fun name for a business.

Do you have a store front/website/etsy? I do have a website: www.AbbaDabbaBags.com . However, it is brand new and right now just links to my Etsy shop: http://AbbaDabbaBags.etsy.com

How long have you been in business? I officially started selling my bags to the public on Etsy in February 2008. I was selling them offline by word of mouth for a year prior to that.

Please explain a little bit about your product and how you developed the concept behind it: I sell handmade, high quality bags. I made my first one when my son was born in 2004. I had four vinyl diaper bags but was not happy with any of them. My mom had taught me how to sew when I was young so I decided to make my own. I bought a pattern at the fabric store and spent a week changing almost everything about the design. When I was done I had a beautiful toile and pink bag that got compliments everywhere it went. My Weekend Bags are the closest descendants of that first bag.

What makes your product/business so unique? I don’t use commercial patterns for my bags. I also don’t try to recreate the new trendy bag shape. I design the bags that I like to carry and I use the fabrics that I like to see. So far this has been a successful plan. I think people like that my Weekend and Day bags are different from a lot of other totes and bags you see on Etsy.

What is the hardest part or have been some of your struggles starting your own business? Balancing family life and a business has been the biggest challenge by far. Figuring out how to advertise and get my shop seen by my target audience is second. I’m constantly working to improve the way I handle both challenges.

How many children do you have. What are their ages? And ages when you started your business? I have two children. My son is 4 and my daughter is 21 months. I started the official business when they were 3 and 12 months old.

What are some of the creative ways you have found to juggle being a woman, a mother, a business owner, and a wife? The first thing that comes to mind is giving up some sleep. I do most of my sewing during naptimes or after the kids go to bed. I like to get up early in the morning before they are awake and do my cutting for the day. It is much easier to get started sewing if everything is cut and ready to go. I do take a couple nights off every week to hang out with my husband of course. That is the best part of having a flexible home-based business.

Who is your biggest inspiration? My mom has always been my biggest inspiration. She is a strong, amazing, hard-working and talented woman.

Now for some fun and easy questions….

Favorite meal? I’d have to say lobster. Steamed, boiled, stuffed, baked, grilled… you name it. I’m also a huge fan of pizza.

Favorite Dessert? This one is easy. Apple pie with a nut-crumb topping. My grandma and mom make it best!

Favorite restaurant (can be anywhere)? The Blue Ginger in Wellesley, MA. If you’ve never been, go! I could sit and eat their food and legendary sauces for hours!

Favorite piece of clothing or accessory? Seven jeans. I dress the lighter ones down and the darker ones up. I can wear them apple picking or out for drinks. You just can’t go wrong with a great pair of jeans.

Favorite vacation spot? West Palm Beach, FL. I am not a huge traveler. I have left the country a few times and I’ve really enjoyed San Francisco and Colorado, but we recently returned to West Palm and I fell in love with it again. I highly recommend The Breakers hotel. It is a vacation destination in itself!

Favorite childhood memory? I grew up in NY but have very fond memories of driving to Falmouth, MA with my mom and sisters when I was young. The four of us would pack up the 2-door Ford Fiesta with bikes on top and head to the Cape for a week’s vacation. It was always great to see the ocean and enjoy the relaxing lifestyle that is summer on the Cape.

On any given day, what makes you smile? My kids. My husband. My husband playing with my kids. What more is there?

When you have free time (ha!) what would your ideal day entail? Reading a book by the pool would be the best! It takes me months to get through a book these days so that is a real luxury. A mani/pedi would be fun too.