Maggie and the inspiration behind the company, Maxwell himself!

We've worked with Maggie a few times before as she's been a sponsor for quite a few of our events, but the point of this post is to advise you that if you haven't already picked up any of her products, well, you NEED to. No, really. You do. Maggie makes most of her products herself and the quality is second to none. I personally own two makeup cases, two iPad cases, three zippered wet bags, 1 wet/dry bag, change mats AND a diaper bag. And I'm not done adding to my collection.

I have this one.

Not only are Maggie's handmade collections functional, they are GORGEOUS, and it's her exquisite taste and eye for style that really set her apart from the status quo. I've seen photos of her living space as well and she certainly does practice what she preaches! Now to get her to come from Vancouver to consult on my home decor...

Read my interview with Maggie below. I have to admit, I'm pretty much floored by what she's accomplished. I knew some of it, but bronze medal skiier...??

This is one of my iPad cases.Maggie has generously offered a coupon code to AppleCheeks fans. Use the code AppleCheeks30 for 30% off all Chelsea Diaper Bags, Totes and Hobos and Cosmetic Cases only through Maxwell Designs, until May 21.

After Maggie's interview are the details for her giveaway, so pay attention because there will be a quiz!

Who were you before you were Maggie of Maxwell Designs? 

Before Maxwell Designs I was in the hospitality industry for a number of years. I have been through pretty much every department of a restaurant and my last position was as a General Manager.

Tell me about your family.

Life was pretty tough growing up in a one parent family. My mum became a teacher in order to have vacation times with me and my older brother. We were a very small family, just me, my brother, my mum, nana and grand father (who had remarried). I did have relatives in Australia and Canada though.This makeup case is used to carry around my Luna pads!

A little about my family - I was beginning to think it would never happen for a start! Now I have 2 amazing, adorable boys (again, never thought that would happen), and an amazing husband. My dream is for my boys to be hockey stars (naïve probably but a dream nonetheless). I fell in love with my husband after watching him skate and play hockey every week. I grew up in the UK (although I am 100% Canadian) and have never liked soccer or cricket etc, but hockey I love! I would watch a live game every day if I could. I also have an amazingly well adjusted, level headed sweetheart of a step daughter who is about to turn 17! My boys are very lucky to have such an amazing sister to look up to and play with, they all love each other so much it's very touching to watch.

Have you always wanted to create beautiful things?

I would like to say that I have always been creative. Art amd drama were my favorite subjects in school. I used to sew dresses with my nana, who used to make all of her own clothes!

What's the best part of your day at Maxwell Designs?

Best part of my Maxwell Designs work day? When I get comments from customers about their products. It makes my day when people love my designs and appreciate what goes into them. It's like a little piece of me in everything I make.Isn't this perfect for summer??

Tell me one thing about yourself that would surprise your readers.

It is very hard to name just one random fact people might not know about me, I have some interesting ones though....I have a Post Grad in Education, I was a Pastry Chef, I have made desserts for Harrison Ford and Jessica Alba, I have personally met Christian Slater-Nicolas Cage-Britney Murphy when I was a Manager at a restaurant in Vancouver, I joined the (English) Army at 17, I can fence, I have a bronze medal in skiing......I could think of quite a few more but it might get boring.

What do you dream of for your future with your family?

My dream for my family's future is for my boys to have the childhood I never had, have the opportunities I never had, to not have to worry about the small things, to always feel secure and loved. Steve and I are busy making a home for our family (we moved house last year) so its nice to put our personal touch on things and create a space for the boys to call their own. 

Just because Maggie calls it a makeup case doesn't mean it can't be used for many, many other things!Personally I would love to continue to design, using different mediums, perhaps creating some home furnishings or a line of accessories.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

For details of our original response to our Dragons' Den appearance, please click here.

To view the episode if you are Canadian, please click here. If you are viewing this post from elsewhere, please click here.

As many of you are aware, Amy and I appeared on CBC's Dragons' Den on January 18, 8 months after we had filmed our hour long pitch to the Dragons back in the Spring of 2011.  When we last left you, we appeared to have entered into a deal with Jim Treliving and Arlene Dickinson whereby they agreed to give us $100K in return for 25% of our company. The truth is that at the time of the airing we were still in the due diligence process and no conclusions had been reached about how either party intended to proceed with the deal. So the purpose of this post is to update you on what's happening behind the scenes! 

Wow, what an amazing last three and a half months it has been! Peers had been telling us for years that we needed to go face-off against the Dragons but until April 2011 we simply did not feel ready. And when the time was right, it was clearly right as we skipped the audition process completely and were selected to pitch by merit of our web application alone.

The main reason we pitched to the Dragons was for the publicity, plain and simple. We wanted to prove to the Dragons' and to our Canadian audience that manufacturing and distributing cloth diapers do make for a viable business model and that motherhood and business can and do mix nicely. And prove it we did! The Dragons were so impressed by our pitch that they made us an offer right there, and we shook on it. It is important to know, however, that before we went on the show we signed a loooooooong waiver, and one of the points to which we happily agreed was that any deal that we shook on on the show was non-binding by either party. It's all in the name of good television, after all!

So we are sure you are dying to know what the outcome of our Dragon Dealings has been! Both parties have very amicably walked away from the deal. Neither Jim nor Arleyne, in the end, were interested in working with a company whose growth is slow and steady, and from our side of things Amy and I are VERY happy being each other's only partner! Too many cooks spoil the broth, or so they say.

We are SUPER happy to report that the publicity we received from our six minute airing has launched our brand to a new level of recognition. Thanks to you, our customers, and our fantastic retailer family, this Canadian-made model is standing comfortably on its own two feet! And as such we have decided to step back from our intention to manufacture a complimentary line overseas. We have not ruled out this option down the road but for the foreseeable future we have decided to focus on things here at home and are working hard to increase production so we can meet this new, unprecedented and self-sustaining level of demand. We are proud to be manufacturing our line right here in Montreal, and we know you are happy with this decision as well!  It has been said that you vote with your wallet and so many of you have voted for us and we sincerely thank you.

Happy diapering!

2. What is the web link to your store? www.buttercup-baby.com

3. Are you brick and mortar or online or both? Online/Free Local Pick Up and Delivery 

4. How long have you been carrying AppleCheeks? Since the beginning of the year!

5. Do you ship to countries other than your own? Not at this time

6. What are your customers saying about AppleCheeks? Husbands love them, easy to put on, doesn't give baby a bubble butt!

7. What are your other top sellers? CJ's BUTTer and Amberizon Baby Teething Necklaces 

8. What would you like us to know about your store or yourself? Buttercup Baby is the brainchild of Audrey Marandino, mother to 6 month old Sophia. Passionate about cloth diapering, Audrey decided to open up her own store so that she could work at home while raising her young daughter. BB is located in a small town in Connecticut. 

9. Where can we find you? Ellington, CT USA! Facebook: www.facebook.com/ButtercupBabyStore  Twitter @ButtercupBabyUS online at www.buttercup-baby.com 

10. You earn $5 for every $55 with Buttercup Bucks!

Here are the contests we are running to celebrate the release of the brand new Limited Edition, Purple Rain. Remember, the more creative you are, the better your chances of winning...

1. Cover Purple Rain. 'Nuf said. You have until Thursday, April 5 to submit this one, either on our Facebook page or email it to contests@applecheeks.com.

2. We want to see a photo of YOU doing the 1980s. Not your child, not your dog, not your husband, but YOU. You could win a Little Bundle in the colour of your choice...you have until Monday, April 2 at noon to post your entry here on our Facebook page! This has to be a relatively recent photo, taken within the last couple of years.

3. Cover our new AppleCheeks Theme song, musically. For this one we want you get super creative and this is a video entry, which will be posted on your YouTube channel. If you haven't already heard our theme song, play it here. Get your kids singing, the dog, the neighbour, the dust bunnies under your bed, animate it, whatever you like! You have until Thursday, April 26 at noon to submit this one. Send by email to contests@applecheeks.com.

Three winners will be chosen in each category. Prizes up for grabs are:

First Place - A Little Bundle in the colour and insert of your choice and a size 1 Storage Sac.

Second Place - A six pack of our super plus bamboo wipes and a bottle of our Gentle Cleansing Solution.

Third Place - 2 Packs of our Disposable Diaper liners.

GOOD LUCK AND HAVE FUN!