Get excited y’all!! You may recall when I posted on ila Handbags in March to which several of you expressed swoon worthy reactions. Well, I am thrilled to announce that the incredible couple, Paula and Brian Bjerketvedt, behind ila Handbags is doing a giveaway of one of their gorgeous handbags here at The Eclectic Life (I’m refraining from writing 10 more exclamation marks).
I asked Paula and Brian to introduce themselves and share a little bit of how ila Handbags came to be (love their story!). Be sure to read it and look for the giveaway details below!
ila Handbags
When Paula’s friends Faymi and Eric decided Paris would be the spot for
their big day, who knew it would have led to this. Unable to attend,
Paula wanted to give her close friend something special. Some ideas and
time passed, and then one idea seemed to stick. Paula dusted off her
sewing machine and made her first handbag. Requests for two more bags; one
from Famyi’s mother and maid of honor came in, and Paula was hooked.
That was one year ago in 2010. Since then Paula has been refining bag styles,
scouring vintage shops and online flea markets for fabric and brooches and
sewing nonstop.
Currently, ila Handbags are available in two retail locations in
Minneapolis, Minnesota, and have been featured in numerous web sites and
blogs – including 100 Layer Cake, Metro Magazine, Minnesota Bride,
Wisconsin Bride, Arizona Bride, The Eclectic Life and Snippet and Ink.
Paula’s design aesthetic was informed as much by her fashionable
grandmother Ilaverne’s amazing collection of bags, shoes and jewelry as by
her six years as a Senior Visual Manager with retailer Anthropologie.
Paula has a Clothing Design degree from the University of Minnesota.
Paula’s husband Brian, is a senior art director/designer at a Minneapolis
agency and can be found collaborating with Paula on nights and weekends;
working on ila’s web site, product photography, PR and overall branding
and marketing.
{Check out their Orla Kiely wallpaper! Is this couple cool, or what!}
Paula and Brian have been married for 8 years this August and live just outside
Minneapolis, Minnesota with their two boys Simon and Quinn.
—–
Thanks Paula and Brian for sharing a snippet of your story with us! Both your story and your handbags are such amazing inspirations. Does their story encourage you to pursue something you love? Yeah, me too! Alright, let’s go right to the giveaway information!
WHAT WILL BE GIVEN AWAY?
The winner of this ila Handbag giveaway will pick the handbag of their choice! Yes, you heard me correctly. The winner will also have a three month window after the giveaway to choose their favorite handbag so there’s no rush(a great option considering Paula will be releasing new handbags this summer).
WHEN DOES THE GIVEAWAY END:
Friday, May 13th 10pm CST
HOW TO ENTER:
Each of the following options counts as one entry for a max of 3 entries per person (and 3 separate comments!)
1) Visit the ila Handbags site and leave a comment sharing your favorite handbag with us.
2) Leave a comment if you “Like” ila Handbags on Facebook
3) Leave a comment if you “Like” The Eclectic Life on Facebook
WINNER MUST CONTACT TEL:
The winner will be announced first thing Monday morning, May 16th. If your name is announced (and I hope it is!) you will need to contact me at hello@vivjordan.com to claim your prize, so be sure and check back here that Monday. Thanks again to ila Handbags for their generous giveaway and best of luck to all of you!
This giveaway is absolutely open to international readers!
{all photos by Craig Vandershagen}
99 comments
Comments feed for this article
May 9, 2011 at 5:20 am
sissi
viv, you’ve put twice the gb connection with ila, and no one your! 😀
the one i like most is this one underneath! 😀 don’t know if this is open worldwide but i try!;D
http://www.ilahandbags.com/product/meg-bows-bows
May 9, 2011 at 5:31 am
classiq
This is such a fabulous giveaway! And as clutches are my favourite type of bags and there are some gorgeous ones here (I’ve admired them before), I have to try my luck. 🙂 Hope you have a wonderful new week ahead of you. 🙂 Ada
May 9, 2011 at 7:19 am
Brandi {not your average ordinary}
Viv, this is awesome!!!!!!!! (there are some extra exclamation marks for you) My favorite Ila bag is the Frenchie in Navy. I can just imagine how fantastically versatile that would be for me!
May 9, 2011 at 7:20 am
Brandi {not your average ordinary}
And I like Ila on Facebook.
May 9, 2011 at 7:20 am
Brandi {not your average ordinary}
And I like your blog on Facebook (though the link to your facebook page didn’t work and I had to search for it — just FYI).
May 9, 2011 at 7:40 am
Lauren (PalmPapers)
My favorite is the Meg – Floret – I already ‘liked’ you and now I ‘like’ Ila on Facebook. This is an awesome giveaway! Yay viv!
May 9, 2011 at 7:48 am
Chelsea
Love the handbags! SO sad that my favorite is currently sold out (http://www.ilahandbags.com/product/nora-yellow-with-vintage-brooch-br-sold) But, i do quite like the Dandelion Frenchie, too!
May 9, 2011 at 7:53 am
Gabriella {sensiblyluxe}
So difficult to choose–but it really is a tie between the Meg English garden and the navy blue Frenchie. I am crossing my fingers really hard on this one! xx
May 9, 2011 at 8:02 am
Maddy
Oh my goodness!!! BEST GIVEAWAY EVER!!!!!!! (I have no qualms about using exclamation points) I want the Frenchie in Emerald with brooch. I know it’s sold out, but that’s my absolute favorite!
May 9, 2011 at 8:08 am
Maddy
Just liked Ila on FB and The Eclectic Life on FB. But your link is working for me either. You may want to double check that.
May 9, 2011 at 8:17 am
Lauren (PalmPapers)
I like the eclectic life! Sorry i didn’t get that there needed to be 3 comments total
May 9, 2011 at 8:18 am
Lauren (PalmPapers)
I like Ila on Facebook too – these bags are so cute!
May 9, 2011 at 8:20 am
Hannah (Culture Connoisseur)
This handbag is my favorite: http://www.ilahandbags.com/product/frenchie-pop-floral
May 9, 2011 at 8:21 am
Hannah (Culture Connoisseur)
I liked Ila on FB
May 9, 2011 at 8:21 am
Hannah (Culture Connoisseur)
I liked you on FB. 🙂
May 9, 2011 at 8:34 am
Sandy a la Mode
oh my goodness! what an amazing shop! i can’t even pick a favorite! i do love the frenchie line in pop floral, clover, pale pink with brooch.. oh my i can’t decide!! great giveaway!!
May 9, 2011 at 8:34 am
Sandy a la Mode
i like ila handbags on facebook, yes i do!!
May 9, 2011 at 8:35 am
Sandy a la Mode
and i LOVE your page on facebook! 😉
May 9, 2011 at 8:50 am
rachel
Viv, you just keep getting better and better! I love that you have such a great passion for people and things through blogging. Great job. Can’t wait to get my new Ila Handbag!
May 9, 2011 at 8:59 am
actorsdiet
gah – what a giveaway! i desperately need a new handbag for red carpet events. the frenchie in navy would be perfect b/c 1. it’s my fave color and 2. goes with everything
May 9, 2011 at 9:50 am
angie {noodle 'n thread}
liked ilahandbags on facebook (angie pham)
May 9, 2011 at 9:50 am
angie {noodle 'n thread}
liked The Eclectic Life on fb too.
May 9, 2011 at 9:51 am
angie {noodle 'n thread}
i like the Frenchie – Powder Blue with Brooch hand bag.
May 9, 2011 at 11:01 am
Gloria
Frenchie Hibiscus has stolen my heart – what a gorgeous color! great giveaway!
May 9, 2011 at 11:18 am
jenny kim
omg, your bags are lovely! i hope to win the meg-english garden! to wear to a wedding of a friend that is coming up!
May 9, 2011 at 11:21 am
Gloria
I “Liked” ila on FB
May 9, 2011 at 11:21 am
Gloria
And you on FB as well!
May 9, 2011 at 11:44 am
heather j
Great giveaway! Thanks. Love the stems and blossoms bag but all are pretty!
May 9, 2011 at 11:45 am
heather j
Like ila Handbags on fb
May 9, 2011 at 11:45 am
heather j
Liked TEL on fb
May 9, 2011 at 1:13 pm
lizzie
i LOVE this. LOVE LOVE LOVE. meg-floret is definitely my favorite. it would be such a perfect accent to a gajillion outfits i can already think of.
May 9, 2011 at 1:13 pm
lizzie
I liked ila on Facebook, for SURE, can’t wait for updates.
May 9, 2011 at 1:14 pm
lizzie
i liked the eclectic life on facebook as well. are you in texas?? cuz i am. 🙂
May 9, 2011 at 1:32 pm
Erin
Love love love the frenchie- metal! It is stunning!
May 9, 2011 at 1:33 pm
Erin
I liked ila on facebook!
May 9, 2011 at 1:45 pm
Erin
And I love the eclectic life on facebook! 🙂
May 9, 2011 at 2:26 pm
Tian
frenchie berry
thanks for the chance to win
May 9, 2011 at 2:59 pm
Amber Blue Bird
my favorite is the Meg – English Garden bag, its so dainty and cute
May 9, 2011 at 2:59 pm
Amber Blue Bird
I liked ila Handbags on FB
May 9, 2011 at 3:00 pm
Amber Blue Bird
Also liked The Eclectic Life on FB!
May 9, 2011 at 3:34 pm
Ana Belén R M
Enter me please! My fav is Meg – English Garden
May 9, 2011 at 3:34 pm
Ana Belén R M
I Like ila Handbags on Facebook (Ana Belén R M)
May 9, 2011 at 3:35 pm
Ana Belén R M
Following you on FB too (Ana Belén R M)
May 9, 2011 at 3:43 pm
kimia
stems and blossoms is my abs fave!
May 9, 2011 at 3:43 pm
kimia
i just liked the eclectic life on fb 🙂 and ila handbags as well!
May 9, 2011 at 4:31 pm
sissi
hey i forgot to mention that i LIKE the eclectic like ( it DOES WORK!) haha
May 9, 2011 at 4:31 pm
sissi
and i like Ila handbags ;D
May 9, 2011 at 5:31 pm
Julie Khuu
Liked and liked! Wow, such an amazing giveaway from two truly talented designers! Love that gorgeous graphic clutch in the first pic! Amazing colors during a sunny season…Can’t go wrong~ Thanks for the chance!
xo-Julie
Peace. Love. LOL!
Haute Khuuture Blog
May 9, 2011 at 5:53 pm
Lucy Tran
Doing a giveaway? That’s big-girl-blogging status! 😉
My favorite is the Meg Large – Modern Flower because I love the design and am always carrying way too many things in purse so I need a lot of room!
May 9, 2011 at 6:13 pm
Amanda Steed
I love the Meg Large Spider Mum – it’s beautiful and I think it’s sweet that it’s made from an antique kimono! Love these bags, great giveaway!!
May 9, 2011 at 6:14 pm
Amanda Steed
I already like The Eclectic Life on Facebook 🙂
May 9, 2011 at 6:14 pm
Amanda Steed
I now like Ila Handbags on Facebook – now give me one!! 🙂
May 9, 2011 at 6:19 pm
Lauren {Stylized Existence}
Gorgeous clutches! I think my favorite is the Frenchie in parchment. Thanks for the lovely giveaway!
May 9, 2011 at 7:55 pm
Kim davis
I love the frenchie in dandelion! Such gorgeous bags!
May 9, 2011 at 7:55 pm
Kim davis
Like ila handbags on effbook 🙂
May 9, 2011 at 7:57 pm
Eva @ Four Leaf Clover
Three comments, eh? I’ll feel like I’m spamming, but if I must, I must – I love these handbags! It’s SO hard to choose a favorite, but I’ll have to go with the Meg – Daisy & Dot or.. oh gosh, the Frenchie – Pop Floral was the one that initially caught my eye! All so beautiful!
May 9, 2011 at 8:01 pm
Eva @ Four Leaf Clover
I liked Ila Handbags on Facebook.. thank you for the opportunity Ila Handbags & Vivien!
May 9, 2011 at 8:04 pm
Eva @ Four Leaf Clover
How did I not know you had a blog facebook page?! I’ve liked you personally and with my own Four Leaf Clover fb page!
May 9, 2011 at 9:03 pm
mary [ life inspired ]
so delicately lovely. and i do love their story. the frenchie in dandelion is beautiful.
May 9, 2011 at 9:06 pm
Raychel
I love the pale pink Frenchie with the brooch!
I liked ila Handbags on FB, and of course I liked your blog on there for a while!
May 9, 2011 at 9:07 pm
Raychel
Whoops didn’t read that all the way. The first one was number one.
This is number two (I liked ila handbags on FB).
May 9, 2011 at 9:07 pm
Raychel
And now here’s number three!
I like the eclectic life on FB 🙂
May 9, 2011 at 9:42 pm
Mary
I love this give-a-way!! I’ve done all three. 🙂
My favorite hand-bag is the yellow one with the brooch.
May 9, 2011 at 10:03 pm
Molly
I think my favorite HAS to be the Audrey-English garden. It’s so Audrey Hepburn! I think it’s elegant and cute at the same time.:)
May 9, 2011 at 10:13 pm
Megan
I looove the the Frenchie (Pop Floral)!
May 9, 2011 at 11:55 pm
jaclyn @ thelateafternoon
there are way too many gorgeous options to pick from! these are seriously swoonworthy. my favorite has to be the margaret mini – such a lovely pattern!
May 10, 2011 at 1:34 am
Jaja
Among the super adorable bags, I love Frenchie in pale pink with brooch best! This is an absolute arm candy!
May 10, 2011 at 1:36 am
Jaja
I already liked Ila Handbags in FB! 😀
May 10, 2011 at 1:38 am
Jaja
Just liked “The Eclectic Life” on FB! 😀
May 10, 2011 at 7:10 am
Heather
love love LOVE the Frenchie in metal.
and about a dozen more.
May 10, 2011 at 7:12 am
Molly
I also love the pale pink frenchie of course! Who doesn’t love a little elegant pink. And I “liked” Ica on facebook:)
May 10, 2011 at 7:13 am
Molly
Lastly-I adore the Nora. A little more fun and a little less fancy:) And let’s just be honest-I love fun! I also liked TEL on FB!
May 10, 2011 at 8:54 am
homestilo
This is really difficult, but…I love the Meg because the shape is not that of an everyday clutch. For the pattern/color I’d say the Spider Mum because the “Japanese silk kimono fabric” just adds to the fabulous factor. ok, keeping my fingers crossed from now till Monday!
May 10, 2011 at 12:27 pm
mofish17
These handbags are GORGEOUS. I just visited the site, it would be so hard to choose – but I love the Meg in Modern Flower!
May 10, 2011 at 12:28 pm
mofish17
I liked Ila Handbags on Facebook, too!
May 10, 2011 at 8:33 pm
Tang
What a great giveaway Viv! I think my fave must be the Audrey – English Garden! 🙂
May 11, 2011 at 6:51 am
Callie
I love the frenchie in dandelion or in navy. And the Meg in hibiscus. And the (sadly) sold out Nora in yellow with the broach. ALL are so cute!
May 11, 2011 at 6:57 am
Laura Verdery
I don’t even know where to begin in picking my fav! But I keep staring at the pale pink Frenchie with the brooch! It has such a beautiful classic look.
May 11, 2011 at 3:29 pm
lanie
Viv i miss you!
this is my favorite:
http://www.ilahandbags.com/product/frenchie-powder-blue
May 11, 2011 at 10:12 pm
Elizabeth G
My favorite handbag is the Frenchie – Pale Pink with Brooch.
May 11, 2011 at 10:13 pm
Elizabeth G
I like Ila Handbags on Facebook.
May 11, 2011 at 10:14 pm
Elizabeth G
I like The Eclectic Life on Facebook.
May 12, 2011 at 12:55 am
pinksade
OMG! So many pretty ones I can’t choose a fav! I really love the Meg – Floret
May 12, 2011 at 12:55 am
pinksade
I “Like” ila Handbags on Facebook – Pinky Sade
May 12, 2011 at 12:55 am
pinksade
I “Like” The Eclectic Life on Facebook – Pinky Sade
May 12, 2011 at 12:55 pm
michelleYpalmer
Meg English Garden is my favorite!!
May 12, 2011 at 12:56 pm
michelleYpalmer
I like Ila Handbags on Facebook. 🙂
May 12, 2011 at 12:56 pm
michelleYpalmer
I like The Eclectic Life on Facebook. 🙂 (
May 12, 2011 at 3:26 pm
Alicia
It’s so hard to choose! I’m getting married in July, and I really like the Powder Blue Frenchie for our big day…. but I also love the Audrey in Stems and Blossoms.
May 12, 2011 at 3:27 pm
Alicia
I’m a fan of Ila Handbags on Facebook.
May 12, 2011 at 8:26 pm
Audrey
I adore Meg-Golden Bubble. Stunning!
sweetstrawberryjam at yahoo dot com
May 12, 2011 at 8:27 pm
Audrey
I like ila Handbags on FB as Audrey F.
sweetstrawberryjam at yahoo dot com
May 12, 2011 at 8:28 pm
Audrey
I like The Eclectic Life on Facebook
sweetstrawberryjam at yahoo dot com
May 13, 2011 at 8:29 am
jillian clark «
[…] Friday friends! Just a final reminder that the ila Handbags giveaway ends tonight at 10pm CST! Thanks so much for those of you who have […]
May 13, 2011 at 6:00 pm
Ladna Amin
Hi there, great contest btw…love it!
My favorite is the Meg Large – Spider Mum
May 13, 2011 at 6:01 pm
Ladna Amin {Lulu}
I like you on Facebook!
May 13, 2011 at 6:01 pm
Ladna Amin {Lulu}
I like Ila Handbags on FB too!
May 13, 2011 at 8:04 pm
Chelsea
Did I mention I liked you on FB! 🙂
May 13, 2011 at 8:04 pm
Chelsea
And that I liked Ila Handbags, too!