How Did I Get Into This?

Well, to make a long story long story short (medium) it happened like this.

I did not grow up with the typical grandmother who sat in a rocker a knitted. My Nana was an amazing women who would try anything! Visits to her house might include a pottery class, shotgun shell welding art, sewing on a treadle sewing machine and a ride on the tractor! She saw something she wanted to try and did it! I think I am built the same way!

While in high school at Holton-Arms, I played every sport open to me, from ice hockey and diving to field hockey and lacrosse. I thrived on being busy! I played Division I field hockey and lacrosse at Lafayette College and went straight to law school at the University of Richmond where I met my husband.

I got married, started my law career had my first baby followed by my second baby. So the staying busy part was covered! I took a break from the law to be home with my girls. Days were full in the early baby, and toddler years and let’s be honest, all the school years!

As my girls got older I went back into law and did not love it! I started working for a good friend who helps folks downsize and move. While in the attic of a client, we found two Louis Vuitton bags that had belonged to our client’s mother. They were in sad shape and were headed to the bin. I asked the client if I could try and restore them for her and that is how it began!

Most every bag I find is vintage. But a good designer bag does not go out of style and vintage designer bags are almost trendier than new ones. So with the help of a very kind friend, I made a website so I could reach more people and help keep these bags out of the landfill!

I love a designer bag, of course, but the joy for me is as much in the highly focused cleaning, taking apart then putting back together aspect of this job. I love taking something that was unusable and making it beautiful and functional again. The amount of time it takes to refurbish a bag is so upside down that I try very hard not to count the hours! But they are total immersion hours and the end result gives me an enormous sense of satisfaction.

I live in Richmond, Virginia and my studio is in my basement, at my kitchen table, outdoors on beautiful days and it is an incredible way to spend my days.

My goal is to keep my bags affordable but also to have them go out the door so I can keep lovingly restoring the ones who need me.

Happy Shopping! XOXO Sallie

Email me if you have any questions!