Bratsacks: Gifts for Moms and Kids

You are welcome to place a custom order! Please see my custom orders page for more information.

Can you make a Dora©/Spiderman©/Harry Potter© backpack??

No. This is copyright infringement. It is against the law and Etsy rules. However, if you want to order a Lion Bratsack with lots of orange and tell your kiddo, "Look! It's just like Diego's Rescue-pack!" that is just fine.

How Fast can I expect my custom backpack to be finished?

I always give myself 2 weeks, but I usually get things done much faster. I am a mom of two little boys, so life happens, but I will keep you posted if there is any delay. Let me know if you wish to have your bag by a certain date, and I will do my best.

Will you make a custom order Mama Bag?

Sorry, I don't take special orders for Mama Bags. Its hard enough for me to produce a product that is representative of what I see in my brain. It is even more frustrating to try and produce a bag that someone else sees in their brain. I really enjoy making mama bags and its a chance for me to be creative. I'd like to keep this creative outlet all to myself. I know, I guess I'm just selfish.

Can I send a special piece of clothing so that you can turn it into a backpack?

Wow, I am honored that you would ask me to take something precious and turn it into a backpack, however I don't think I can handle the pressure. I would hate for something to be lost or mis-cut and ruined, so I will have to decline this request.

I own a boutique. Can I place a wholesale order at a reduced price?

I do not offer a discount for larger orders. In the past, several boutiques, both online and brick-and-mortar, have chosen to order several backpacks at my current price and mark them up. You are welcome to inquire about a large order and I can see what I can do. Orders of 5 backpacks or more pays actual shipping.

I own a boutique and I am offering you the privilege to put up your items for sale in my shop, and if I sell something, I'll even give you part of the money (also known as consignment). Are you interested?

Of course not. What a silly question.

Materials and Safety

Do your items come from a smoke-free home?

Absolutely. I’m ashamed to admit that I used to smoke, but then I decided to become a parent. Parenting and smoking do not mix. No one is allowed to smoke inside of our home, and I prefer that no one smoke in our yard or on our planet for that matter.

Do your items come from a pet-free home?

No. We have two dogs. They are not allowed in my sewing room or near my fabric stash, but if you or someone in your family has severe allergies, please feel free to contact me with any questions.

You say that you use vintage fabrics and recycled materials. What about odors/allergens?

I wash everything that comes into my home to remove any allergens or odors. Occasionally some of the vintage fabrics that I use might smell a little musty. Also, occasionally recycled clothing pieces will retain a bit of the perfume odor from detergents that it was previously washed in. I really can't avoid this, or I'd have no fabric to work with. If I notice any strong odors like smoke, pets, perfume, etc, then that whole piece of fabric is disposed of. I wouldn't send any fabric to you that I wouldn't give to my own children. I am very sensitive to perfumes and our home is virtually perfume free.

Are your backpacks child-safe? Are there any warnings I should know about?

Please use common sense. Bratsacks are designed for little ones and little hands, but please don't leave your child unattended with any toy or bag with straps. The slider is somewhat small and if the drawstring comes untied it could present a choking hazard. Straps and cords are possible strangulation hazard. Again, use common sense and supervision when letting your child play with any handmade toy.

Do you use 100 percent cotton?

No. I don't always know the fabric content of the corduroy that I use, but sometimes it is stretch corduroy, which contains spandex or other synthetics. Sometimes I use hemp blends. I love 100% cotton, but I can't guarantee the fabric content.

Do you pre-wash your new fabrics?

Yes. Everything that passes through my doors is pre-washed in hot water whether it is new or recycled fabrics. I use fragrance and dye free detergent and sometimes I use vinegar or a few drops of tea tree oil to remove odors and disinfect.

Shipping

How fast do you ship and what shipping methods do you use?

For shipping inside the USA I use first class or priority shipping, depending on the weight of the item. I usually ship the next business after purchase, but occasionally it will take me 2 days to ship.

For shipping outside the USA I use first class international (airmail). Occasionally it takes me 2 or 3 days to ship international orders because I have to load up the family and trek to the post office, as online postage doesn't let me choose first class international.

I do not live in the United States. Can you mark my purchase as a gift, or label the value as under $20 so that customs does not make me pay?

I think its terrible that some countries require you to pay more than what you've already paid for an item and that they hold your packages hostage. But unfortunately the short answer is "No." Doing so is against the law and considered mail fraud. I will mark the customs form with "other" and mark the value as the actual value of your purchase, minus shipping. Occasionally customs will snag a package and it takes forever to get there. I can not be held responsible for MIA packages.

Misc

Are all of your seams perfectly straight and can I expect each backpack that I order to look exactly the same.

No. The last time I produced anything perfect was when I gave birth to my two sons. My bags are durable and well-sewn, but don't expect them to look like they were sewn by a robot. Do expect them to look professionally handmade and to be unique.

How will I know when you re-stock your store?

Join my Yahoogroup and you'll be the first to know!