I've got problems. It started out in 2nd grade when I was supposed to be reading The Adventures of Frog and Toad but instead I was cutting up scraps of paper and designing the first collection of b.shigley designs bags. So what if the handles were glued together with Elmers Edible glue? And so what if the polkadots sometimes rubbed off onto your clothes? I had a place to put my fake license and my fake lipstick and my real box of raisins.
Now, I am an addict. And I need help soon or any day my closet is going to blow up with the 5 kazillion bags that I can't stop buying and can't stop making. It all started Spring of 1999 when I received a beautiful sewing machine as a gift. Not only could I attempt to hem my pants and make curtains, I could even make my very own bags. I could make bags to match my plaid high waters, one to match my "I'll only wear this once" dress, and even my silly little dog costume that I made for Halloween. After weeks of teaching myself how to sew, I finally had a rather large collection of bags strewn throughout my house. After getting tired of figuring out where to put these bags, I finally decided to try and sell them. And what better way to sell them than at Amy P.'s annual pool party. I neatly strung them throughout her house and within a couple of hours, I had sold all of them. I even had people requesting custom designed bags. I thought to myself, "Hark! I might be onto something!"
My very good friend Matt H. (internet and computer junky) recommended that I build a website to sell my handicrafts on. I couldn't really afford to pay somebody to build me one and besides, they probably wouldn't have a "funzone", so with the help of some internet savvy boys, 3 weeks, and countless hours trying to learn about photoshop and HTML, I created www.bshigley.com. October 17th, 1999, a business was born.
Since I've started my business, I've cut my hair 18 times, traveled to Europe, and even learned how to do my quarterly taxes. b. shigley designs bags are being sold in boutiques in Denver, Chicago, San Diego, New York, and London. I've been very fortunate and grateful to be featured in publications such as the Rocky Mountain News, Denver Post, 5280 Magazine, Mile High Weddings Magazine, The Wb2 Morning Show, Fox 31 News at 9, Channel 7 News, been given the title "Top Up and Comer" by 5280 Magazine, moved to San Diego and am starting all over again. See the press page for all the details if you’d like…
Every day is a new adventure and the ride is a learning experience. So come on in....get cozy and jump into my world of handbags!