Nora
Irvine, creator and owner of
Journey
Giftbags.
Journey
Giftbags® are made in Maine.
The workmanship is of the highest quality, and we stand behind our product
100%.
The creation of Journey Giftbags was a very long time in the making! My mother was alarmed by Rachel Carson's Silent Spring, and she reused and recycled all manner of things decades before it was part of the popular culture. One of the things that got a second go-round at our house was gift wrap. It seemed a shame that beautiful paper and ribbons were discarded after a moment's glory, and I took up the habit myself.
But my real love has always been fabric. When a friend returned from Japan with an exquisite silk furoshiki, the traditional squares of fabric that were elaborately tied around gifts, I had an inspiration. My children were small then and I wanted to figure out a way to work at home, so I started fiddling around with fabric gift sacks.
My brother's family exchanged gifts in brightly patterned drawstring bags, and I was charmed by the sentimentality of using the same bags year after year. But I also wanted to satisfy people's desire for sumptuous, distinctive wrap. That was the 1990's, after all, and the presentation of a gift had become as important as the gift itself!
So
I designed Journey Giftbags as fancy, fully lined sacks tied with shimmery
ribbons. What sets them apart from all other reusable wrap is the Journey
Card, a 24-page booklet attached to each bag by a satin cord and nestled
in its own fabric pocket. It was thrilling to be issued a patent for the
card and pocket.
The Journey Card tells stories of celebration as the bag is passed along
from one person to the next. This is one instance when it's even more
fun to be the 20th person to receive the gift than the first!
Journey Bags are made in Maine, a decision based on my desire to support local women doing what I was doing, working at home while raising children. My neighbor Wendy Brown has been the production assistant for years, setting the highest standards for excellence in stitching.
As we say around here, "Many happy
returns of the bag."
--Nora
Irvine
South Berwick, Maine
What our customers say about Journey Giftbags
The bags you sent are perfect! They're so much more
beautiful "in person." Thanks for the extra trouble of choosing
one of the fabrics for me.
Betsy B., Kittery Point, Maine
Thanks so much. My sister is thrilled with
the giftbags.
Selma M., New York City
The
giftbags are beautiful! My niece is getting married in June and I am giving
her pearl earrings at her shower -- of course I love the bag as much as
the earrings! My daughter is making her first communion next month and
she will be receiving the floral bag. They are truly a wonderful gift.Ellen B., Norfolk, Massachusetts
The bags arrived in time and they are
smashing! You do such a nice job. Thank you sooo much.
Patricia C., Guilford, Connecticut
I
love your Journey wine bags and I'll definitely be ordering more. You
were right about the Victorian print -- they are elegant! I'm so glad
I saw the write-up in the Boston Globe and then checked out your website.
I'm telling all my friends. Thank you, thank you!
Linda H., Danvers, Massachusetts
Thank you. The bag was so much nicer
than a colored paper bag! I will order again.
Lauren W., Beverly, Massachusetts
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