It’s HAP’s first giveaway week and with that, I would like to present to you: Gubsi Bags by talented Haute Homemaker, Amy Neumann!
I have known Amy for years and her customizable tote bag creations have become a widespread craze throughout my hometown. Amy hand sews these adorable totes, not only putting her own personal touch on her products, but her customer’s touch as well.
She offers a variety of options and a variety of fabrics to pick and choose from, or you can purchase a pre-made bag. A teacher by trade, her creations inspire us all to do what we love and share it with the world!
I’ve asked Amy a few questions about her line of Gubsi Bags:
What products do you sell? I sell tote bag style purses, toiletry bags, make-up bags, diaper bag sets and children’s school bags and purses.
How did you begin making and selling Gubsi Bags? I purchased a similar bag at a craft show and kept buying bags for gifts for my family. I decided that I could make the same bag and make it better. I found a pattern online and voile!
Where does the name Gubsi Bags come from? Gubsi evolved from an accidental nickname 15+ years ago. Nooms – Nubs – Gubs – Gubsi.
Where do you sell your products? How can I order one? I sell my bags through Etsy. The address www.gubsibags.com will bring you right to my home page.
What type of customer do you typically attract? I have sold bags to girls, boys and women of all ages. Teenagers have been attracted to striped prints, college girls add extra height on the bag to carry their laptop computers and we all know that women love ‘one of a kind’ products.
Where does your inspiration come from? My sister and I loved sewing and would produce small quilts from time to time. She and I were drawn to quilt shops and could shop for hours; working to find fabrics that coordinated with each other. I am always drawn to a particular fabric and love the challenge of matching it with something else. You’ll notice that many of my fabrics are florals. I love floral prints! Carrying a Gubsi Bag with a floral fabric adds a bit of ‘pop’ to any outfit.
So HAP readers, what is your Gubsi Bag style? I have a tote and make-up bag of my own, personalized with seer sucker and toile.
Looking for a creative gift? My sister picked out fabrics and had totes made for each of her bridesmaids. It was a great personal touch to her bridal gifts and provided a fab photo op!
And…because it’s GIVEAWAY WEEK, Amy has graciously offered a custom-made Gubsi Bag to one lucky winner. All you have to do is go to www.gubsibags.com and check out her line of products. Come back to us at www.hauteapplepie.com and leave a comment under this post, telling us about your favorite bag, what you like about the products, or what your Gubsi style is! The winner of this giveaway will be announced on Thursday, February 11.
We look forward to hearing from you and thank Amy for sharing her creativity with us!
THIS JUST IN: We’d like to congratulate HAP reader Cindy as the winner of the Haute Apple Pie Christine Tavares pottery giveaway! Usually we pick a winner at random but we were smitten with her clever idea for using Christine’s jar as a “Love Cup,” especially right before Valentine’s Day! Congratulations Cindy!
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Love the bags! Reminds me of Vera Bradley bags, but defintely not as busy as them, which I like..each bag has it’s own character. The Black and White Floral was my favorite..loved the red accent..good bag for the beach or a bag to bring along on a weekend getaway. And I loved the key chains too! Good idea Amy.
I am totally coveting your toile-seersucker bag! (I’m a recent toile-obsesser). Also, love the orange and pink paisley – the perfect bag for (hopefully soon-to-come) spring!
:waves: First time commenter (sorry), but I’ve been enjoying the site since you started guest blogging for Allstate’s Goodhands Community.
You mentioned “diaper bag sets” – I didn’t see any specifically mentioned, but that is what I’d be really interested in. I’m expecting my first in May and I can’t help but picture the icky plastic-like thing my mother had as a diaper bag with my youngest sister any time I think of one. Do Amy’s differ from her totes much?
As far as patterns, I usually like purples and blue stripes, but I found myself attracted to the delicate pink and green florals used in “Cream, Sage Green and Purple Floral,” “Pink on Black Floral,” and “Pretty White and Green Floral.” So gorgeous!
Guess what? I just listed the diaper pack as well as custom diaper bag sets. I sell the Large Tote and then customize a diaper pack to match.
Check out http://www.gubsibags.com again for the new listings.
Amy
The bags are too cute! I like that they’re unique, interesting, and AFFORDABLE! I like them all, but if I had to pick one it would be the orange and pink paisley. I would like a bag like that to use as a “transition” diaper bag. My daughter is turning one next week and I don’t need (or want) to carry around a regular diaper bag anymore. I think this would fit bill perfectly. My four-year-old daughter would love the school bags. Oh..and the toiletry bags…I bet Amy could make one to match the tote.
I have listed a diaper pack and diaper bag set on my website. Return to http://www.gubsibags.com to check them out.
Amy
I love the “Pastel Floral Leaf”–these bags are so welldesigned! They are simple and clean-cut, yet elegant. Thanks for the chance to win!
I’m so glad I’m now familiar with these products! I love the variety you have at your shop. I believe my favorite is the Black and White with Hearts all over — with Valentine’s Day just around the corner, this is the one that stood out to me. I love the black and red color combination–it is so sharp. Thank you for the enjoyable interview and for the chance to win!
Very cute bags. Can I win the keychain? I need a big, cute keychain to keep from loosing the keys around the house. And, the bags are cute. I agree with Andrea about the idea of using it as a transitional diaper bag. Very cute idea. You should market that! 🙂
LOVE these bags, saw them on your sis’s page after her wedding and fell in love with them!!! So cute and practical, can be used for so many different ways. diaper bags, teacher bag, purse..etc!! and boy can i find the ways!!! I love the Black and white flower one or the black and white hearts!!! Would love to get one of these!!! Great find Steph thanks for sharing!!!
The fact alone that your bags have three interior pockets does it for me! I have two cell phones and I am constantly digging in my purse to find them. And forget it about trying to find the keys! This would be a great solution. Really pretty designs and I love that you are on Etsy. It is a great site for artists/designers to get their names out there. My favorite bag is the Pretty White and Green Floral pattern. But, as a Florida girl, I can’t help but be drawn to the flip flop design on the Toilety Bag too! Great job.
These are darling!!!! I love the Black and White Floral bags…either the pink or the red. I have been wanting to get a back for all MY girlie things (I have three little girls) and almost bought one through jcrew or something. I have been holding out for something really cute though, practical but stylish and this is it. They are chic and so feminine. Very cute!! Thanks for sharing!!
I have three Gubsi Bags and I love them all!
I actually have the honor of owning the very FIRST (non-Neumann owned that is) Gubsi. I have since retired that one, as I didn’t want it to get too worn out. It wouldn’t make a good showing at The Smithsonian that way.
So nowadays I use a lovely black and red one for the fall/winter months, and I recently purchased a totally cute black and white to use for the spring/summer months. I can’t wait until March!
Love you, Neums!
I LOVE the bags! I wish I was as talented and could craft things. I’m starting to get into Etsy…so thanks for pointing out a new artist to me. I feel my wardrobe doesn’t have enough bold colors in my wardrobe. I love the green gerber daisy bag and the orange paisley print. I don’t really have either pattern in my wardrobe and have had a secret thing for paisley for a long time. Plus the straps look fairly long, which is missing from my similar bags at home.
I will have to subtly drop hints to my husband….he can get me one for my birthday 🙂
Love the toiletry bag! I could totally see putting the babe in her sling, throwing a diaper, some wipes and a credit card into the bag, and heading off to the mall for some mother-daughter bonding 🙂
Ladies,
Thank you for all of the positive feedback.
I have listed the diaper pack on http://www.gubsibags.com as well as a listing to customize your own bag or diaper bag set.
Please check out the site again for the new items.
Amy
These totes are sooooo adorable! I love the denim and green and white floral, and the gerber daisy one! I’m tired of the same-ol’ black or brown purse, and looking for something more versatile for the spring. This is perfect to throw my stuff in on the go! You’re very talented! (and a great teacher, I might add!) I agree with the Vera Bradley comment. I’ll definitely go for these! Now which one…..
I, too, own a couple Gubsi bags and just love them! Every time I use them I get tons of compliments. I use a large one for holding coloring books, crayons, etc. that I can grab in a moments notice for those “must have moments” with the kids (church, Dr. appts., etc.) I think I have the most stylish and cute coloring book bag around! Really, I don’t think I’ve ever seen a pattern or color combination that Amy has put together that I haven’t liked. I do love the Green Daisy bag…so cute for summer! And, I just completely fell in love with the keychains on the website. I think that is in my plan for all the Mothers for Mother’s Day.
I love the gingham and flowers toiletry bag, and also the keychains! So bright and fun – these types of bags are always good to have around!
This my first post on HAP! I love this site and always enjoy reading the posts. I absolutely love gubsi bags so I couldn’t resist making a post of my own. I thought they were a great idea as a bridesmaid gift. What I particularly like about the gubsi bags is how versatile they are for any occassion or purpose.
I really can’t pick a favorite, but I did particularly like the olive/turquoise blue stripe. And I really like the idea of the ‘make your own’–I think it would be very fun plus the fabrics look very cute!