Meet Tami, known as the Ole Bag Lady here on Zibbet.

Don’t let her very low prices scare you away. Her $2.50 fabric bags with handles are completely lined, sewn with care and come with a gift tag. That’s how she gets many repeat customers and quantity orders with over 7,000 Sales online.

Tami says, making and using fabric gift bags and totes started years ago out of necessity, and today she loves making and using fabric gift bags for many more reasons… the way they look, the fact that they are reusable, great for the environment…..and they make gift wrapping so easy! No paper, no scissors, no tape…just drop your gift in and give!

You can follow the Ole Bag Lady on Twitter. On her Facebook she often posts beautiful photos of the countryside and wildlife where she lives and the sunsets on the lake.  Read on to learn more about Tami.

1. Tell us a bit about yourself?

   I am a 51 year old wife and mother and Da’ma. I have 3 children, 3 step children and 4 grandchildren who amaze and astound me everyday. They have given me a new view of the world.

   I was raised by hardworking, loving parents. I have one brother and one sister, a brother-in-law that is not my blood, but my brother just the same.

   When I was a kid I could not wait to spend time with my grandparents. Grandma and Poppie had 40 acres out about 15 miles from the town where I was born and raised. And I think this is where my crafting came from. My grandmother, having lived through the depression, never wasted a thing. She never bought a pattern for anything in her life. If she needed it, wanted it, or one of her grandkids did she would get it in her head and draw it out and then cut it out and sew, cut, paint whatever was needed to make it herself.

   I can not use a store-bought pattern, but will make my own, see it in my head and work till I get it right. I am nowhere as talented as my grandmother, but I am very proud that I picked up her ability to use what is on hand.

2. 

   Apart from being ‘creative’ what do you do?

   I spend a lot of time sewing, quite a bit of time getting ready for or going to craft shows and local fairs. I love to fish and I enjoy riding the 4-wheeler with the grand kids. I also like gardening and doing yard work.

3. What inspires you to do the kind of work you do?

   About 20 years ago, while trying to make a nice Christmas for 6 kids, I had to make the money stretch pretty far so I decided that I was not going to pay for wrapping paper to throw way anymore.  I made fabric bags to wrap the gifts in. That was the first of my gift bags, they have changed somewhat through the years .

   Fabric inspires me.

   

   All it takes is to spot the right piece of fabric and I can already see it worked up in my mind. I don’t use patterns.

4. Do you look up to anyone? Who? Why?

   I look up to so many people, but my grandmother was a great inspiration.  She could always make something wonderful from nothing.

5. What other passions do you have in your life?

   My family, my grandchildren, good friends…laughter. I live in a very rural area in southern Missouri, where I love watching the deer, turkey, squirrels and my little feathered friends come right into my yard.  Star-filled nights are a great sight here and the full moon dances on the lake’s water.

6. What do you like most about Zibbet?

   Wow, I would have to say the one that stands out most is no listing fees. With over 7,000 sales on Etsy, I have paid out more money in listing fees than I want to think about. Zibbet is going to save me a lot of money that can be better spent on my wonderful grandbabies.

7. What ‘new’ things would you like to see added to Zibbet?

   I have to say I am pretty happy with all that Zibbet already has.

8. How do you promote your work?

   

   I do have a Twitter account, but since I live where dial-up is the only option for Internet connection, I don’t spend much time trying to promote online. Most of my sales come through word-of-mouth. Customers who buy my bags, send their friends to me and it goes on from there.

9. How would you recommend other Zibbeters make the most of Zibbet.com?

   Leaving feedback is very important. It’s the same as saying thank you. Always be polite and friendly. Let your customers know when you have shipped their orders. Enclose a business card and thank you note. Just basically, treat others the way you would like to be treated.

10. In the future I’d like to be…

    … a tall leggy blonde! LOL Actually, I am pretty happy with my life just as it is. I have a loving family and I live in a beautiful state surrounded by nature.

Tags: Featured Zibbeters, Ole Bag Lady