This week, we have been cleaning out our sample room. This is one of the many unglamorous parts of a start-up that they don't write about in magazines. We are always schlepping stuff. Our bags are lightweight, but when you are moving 20 at a time that is a different story! We spent afternoons sifting through our first sewing samples, boxes of rejected hardware and some leftover invitations from our first event (yes, that wonderful launch party hosted by our great friend Benna when we sold 600 bags in 2 hours all while sipping wine and chatting with our friends).
Anyway, during our organization frenzy, we found one of our early creations - a gorgeous floral patterned wide tote with chocolate straps. It was a little dusty, but, it is a MY bag so we just wiped it off! Since we often get a call from a customer looking for one of those vintage bags and we are now excited to give this one to a lucky MY bagista.
Our customers love to share their MY stories with us and some of them are funny, some a little gross, but all of them of value to us as we design MY bags to last a considerably longer than your average bag. So if you have a great story, comment or testimonial about your MY product, post it as a comment to this blog. We will choose a winner from the postings next week and you could win the MY "blast from the past" vintage bag pictured below.
Can't wait to read your stories!
Good luck,
Here's a major statement, "organized handbag, organized life" Okay, you're right, that statement is a little overboard. However, if you take 5 minutes a day to follow the MY handbag rules of organization you will be a much more relaxed and happy lady.
Rule #1 Dump that bag out every night! It may sound extreme, but you will thank us! Hidden in there are several reminders of things you need to do, a cell phone that needs to be recharged, garbage and more stuff that should be garbage. If you do it every evening will not be a chore.
Rule #2 Harness the little things. There shouldn't be hair bands, mints and lipstick rolling around in the bottom of your bag. If the item doesn't have an assigned pocket, it goes in a pouch!
Rule#3 (Here's where the craziness of the MY team gets revealed to the world) Carry a small recloseable plastic bag. Seriously you will be surprised how often it can get you out of a jam. Bagging leftovers, rescuing a broken beaded necklace, or providing a vessel for your kids new rock collection, trust us this is a pearl of wisdom that will be passed down for generations!
Please post a comment if you have a organizing secret you'd like to share?
best,
Greetings from MY oilcloth,
Let's just put it out there. We have actually fallen in love with a piece of technology! The MY Gals took the plunge last Fall and bought iPhones. We wanted one device that would do it all, email, phone, camera, mp3. However, what was initially a crush turned into bona fide hero worship of a tiny glowing screen. It has reigned in our very complicated lives through it's functionality pushing us closer to organizational nirvana. So we asked the question: Why are the cases out there so unbelievably "manly"?
That inspired us to create the MY Tech Pod. It fits a Blackberry (if you must) , a camera, an mp3player, but in our heart of hearts it's an iPhone case. Luckily for us, the press loves it too! Real Simple magazine featured it a few months ago and Gift and Decorative Accessories magazine featured it this month and bloggers are all agog. Because of The Tech Pod's successful launch we now offer it in all 7 MY patterns. It's the lady-like choice.
Let's talk favorite aps:
GroceryIQ for the "mompreneur" which basically means you have to conquer the world while keeping track of your grocery list. Seriously, this will help you.
Amazonkindle for iphone, have your book with you at all times. Check out Yvette's favorite read, "The Help" by Kathryn Stockett.
Scrabble, gotta keep sharp. Michele has a little addiction situation going on here.
AroundMe, if you travel and you need to search what is "around you" i.e. restaurants, coffee shops, or a hardware store to find an extra long drill bit (It's a really long story....).
We're dreaming of an ap that will do dishes and fold laundry. Let us know when you find one. Seriously, share your favorite ap with us!
best,
One of the many great perks of creating MY (besides having a choice of 9 different oilcloth handbags in 7 patterns every morning) is traveling "back home" to New York. As former New Yorkers who have morphed into Bostonians, we drive down the West Side Highway and cannot stop smiling as the Hudson River welcomes us. We trade stories about our old neighborhoods (Michele on the West side / Yvette on the East side), favorite haunts and habits.
Highlights from our last trip to NY - dinner at Uncle Nicks on 9th Avenue and watching the Mad Men season premier on Time Square's mega outdoor screen. The next night even better, dinner with old friends at the Bryant Park Grill and catching a glimpse at Close Encounters of the Third Kind on Bryant Park's mega outdoor screen. Are we seeing a trend here?
Anyhow, part of the reason we love walking around the City is having fabulous women say, "I really like your bag. Where did you get it?" - music to a designer's ear. This trip, we carried our MY Convertible bags in Butterscotch and Pen and Ink - the ultimate urban carry-all. Our hike took us down to the High Line, the new boardwalk like park that sits a top the old elevated train track stretching from the Meat Packing District to Chelsea. Great view, cool vibe, very well done.
We tried to be cool and not squeal like little girls when we saw a few stylin' New York Gals sporting MY oilcloth bags. Are we seeing a trend here?
What's your NY favorite?
