When I saw these brightly colored, richly patterned bags I had to meet the person behind the magic. Liz Carey shares with us the inspiration behind Bird Handbags.
Hi Liz, can you please tell us a little bit about yourself?
I am Liz Carey mother of Waylon and sometimes of my man Jake. We live in the most gorgeous place called Malibu I am a standup comedian that is currently masquerading as a handbag designer and it appears to be working.
What inspired you to create Bird Handbags?
I was making bags for myself and then for my friends, then my friends were becoming rather demanding, bossy really...this way that way they shouted I had to do something for these poor girls. The ONE NIGHT STAND sort of created itself, it was my first bag that I used to haul all my stuff out to my boyfriends house in Malibu and it looked chic yet you could carry quite alot of stuff!!!
What experiences prepared you to be the designer/owner of Bird Handbags?
I am still so ill prepared to run an actual company it amazes me! I work crazy hours trying to make things happen. I never in a million years would have guessed all the work that goes into something like this, I cant really begin to explain it in one sentence...we'd need to have coffee or wine.
Where do you look or go to for inspiration to create your line?
Well everywhere really. I can see a great old rug and want to cut it up into bag...or a great flowery vintage sundress. I just got back from Mexico and I bought a ton of new fabrics, the bright colors there are so crazy I love them! It's such a basic question but a hard one to answer because really I can get inspired anywhere, it doesnt have to be on some exotic trip...although clearly it helps.
What's Fly about owning a Bird Handbag?
You can get a bag no one else has...I mean seriously not just because its really expensive or on some waiting list but becasue our fabric bags are all one of a kind!
What are you currently working on for Bird Handbags? I am working on a weekend bag...it has a really good name but its a secret.
Name three things you keep in your Bird Handbag?
Hmmm my iPhone, 5 or 6 matchbox cars (my sons) delicious snack called bubmble bar....WHAT!!! its a big bag!! yeah there's some lipglass and all that in there too!!(:
What advice can you give other young women looking to start their own handbag line?
Get ready to lose some sleep...it's a lot of work. But really worth it and it's really fun to see women wearing your bags (especially if you are not related to them).