Giveaway: Messenger Bag from Satchel Studio

THIS CONTEST IS NOW CLOSED. THANKS FOR PARTICIPATING! As a recent post described, I am in love with all of the products from Satchel Studio, a San Francisco-based company that specializes in truly unique messenger bags. Satchel Studio combines found images, original photography from around the globe, and familiar iconography to make the unique collages that give these messenger bags true attitude! The company features two signature messenger bag sizes and a limited-edition hip pack – each of these pieces is available in up to four colors with your choice of design. I contacted the owner and artist, Kelty, and asked her a couple of questions about her work:

Tell us a little about Satchel Studio and how you got started.
Satchel Studio began almost two years ago in the same manner as most of my business adventures have- as a gift for someone. I grabbed an old army surplus messenger bag for my boyfriend and decided it would be that much cooler if I added some transferred collages to the front... it looked so cool that I haven't stopped making them! I graduated from Stanford in 2005 and Satchel Studio has been my main endeavor since then.

Where do you get your inspirations from?
Most of my designs begin with one element that I just KNOW I want to use in the collage and I sort of just go from there. I'm inspired by bright color, textures, nature, city, and vintage prints. I've also begun to incorporate a lot of my photography into the designs (see the limited editions), and love doing custom collage work for people! My greatest inspiration is the world and the people around me, and seeing how all of those parts interact together with the above list of elements is more fun than any girl could hope for.

What are your plans for 2009?
2009 has been an exciting year for me already! Soon, I will be launching Steep Street, a website representing my various non bag-related adventures in the art world. My photography, mini websites, print work, jewelry, custom collages, personal books, invitations, announcements, and other knick knacks... you can see the beginnings of this on my blog and more updates are coming soon! I'm also planning on debuting a new line of bags, and will continue making custom designs on bags for people. In this tough economy, I've decided to stick with the things people want and need most... useful gifts that are meaningful to both the giver and receiver- which also happens to be the most rewarding to me, as well. Thank you!

After tirelessly answering all of my questions, I asked Kelty if she’d be interested in participating in a giveaway on The Bean and she said yes! One lucky winner will receive the fantastic butterfly messenger bag shown here, a $55 value! Some simple steps to enter:

1. FOR ONE ENTRY: Visit Satchel Studio and check out all of the designs and pick your favorite. Return to The Sweet Jelly Bean blog and post a comment to this post identifying your favorite (please don’t just steal an answer from someone else’s comment). Be sure to leave your email address instead of commenting anonymously (if you’re not logged in) so I can notify winners!

2. FOR A BONUS ENTRY: Begin following this blog – please post a separate comment here if you are already doing so or if you begin to do so.

3. FOR 2 BONUS ENTRIES: Mention this giveaway on your own blog and link back to The Sweet Jelly Bean. Please comment on this post to let me know you've done so!

This giveaway ends Tuesday, February 10, 2009 at Noon PST. The winner will be chosen using random.org, and will be contacted following the close of the contest. Good luck everyone, and please send a special thanks to Kelty for her generosity! She’s very talented and we wish her the very best!