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An accomplished accordion and piano player, Kristina Giedra figured she would one day end up as a music teacher.
But after graduating from a music conservatory in Lithuania, her native country, Giedra’s heart pulled her in another direction.
“My interest was more in sewing,” she said.
Soon she was designing and sewing her own custom-made clothing.
After receiving a green card to come to America a decade ago, Giedra landed a nanny job with a Naperville family and began taking college management and marketing courses.
With her degree, she used her design industry experience in various capacities in stores such as Marshall Fields, Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom, and Von Maur.
In 2006, she got married and settled with her husband in Bloomingdale.
When they began talking about starting a family, Giedra set up a design and sewing studio in her basement and began a custom window treatment and home decor business.
While she pursued her design business, she also began thinking about creating a line of custom purses.
“I made one and got lots of compliments,” she said.
These days, when she can sneak in time while her 5-month-old naps, she works on her line of Lady Butterfly handbags.
“They’re one-of-a-kind,” Giedra said. “You won’t find anything else like it.”
Whether it’s black chenille with handmade feathered trim or multiple color tweed with a pink and black rose arrangement, each purse, which has a butterfly shape, is distinctly embellished using different couture techniques. Other handbags are decorated using Swarovski crystals, hand crafted trims, or brooches or handcrafted pieces. Purses can be customized to order.
For information about the handbags and custom home decor, visit www.kristinasdesignpalace.com/kristina/home.html.
Notable
Giedra did not speak any English when she first got to America for her nanny job. “I’d be sitting with my dictionary and watching the kids,” she said. “Little by little, I learned.”
& quotable
“I didn’t know anybody here,” Giedra said of coming to America. “My whole family was in Lithuania. I came because I had this opportunity. I figured, if I don’t like it, I can always go home.”
Philosophy
Because women are unique and beautiful, Giedra said their purses should mirror that. “The handbag can be something very personal and fits your style,” she said. “It’s about you and what you want the Lady Butterfly handbag to represent.”
Favorites
COLORS Red, turquoise
MUSIC Classical, pop
FOOD Meat, salad, chocolate, ice cream
INTERESTS Reading
An accomplished accordion and piano player, Kristina Giedra figured she would one day end up as a music teacher.
But after graduating from a music conservatory in Lithuania, her native country, Giedra’s heart pulled her in another direction.
“My interest was more in sewing,” she said.
Soon she was designing and sewing her own custom-made clothing.
After receiving a green card to come to America a decade ago, Giedra landed a nanny job with a Naperville family and began taking college management and marketing courses.
With her degree, she used her design industry experience in various capacities in stores such as Marshall Fields, Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom, and Von Maur.
In 2006, she got married and settled with her husband in Bloomingdale.
When they began talking about starting a family, Giedra set up a design and sewing studio in her basement and began a custom window treatment and home decor business.
While she pursued her design business, she also began thinking about creating a line of custom purses.
“I made one and got lots of compliments,” she said.
These days, when she can sneak in time while her 5-month-old naps, she works on her line of Lady Butterfly handbags.
“They’re one-of-a-kind,” Giedra said. “You won’t find anything else like it.”
Whether it’s black chenille with handmade feathered trim or multiple color tweed with a pink and black rose arrangement, each purse, which has a butterfly shape, is distinctly embellished using different couture techniques. Other handbags are decorated using Swarovski crystals, hand crafted trims, or brooches or handcrafted pieces. Purses can be customized to order.
For information about the handbags and custom home decor, visit www.kristinasdesignpalace.com/kristina/home.html.
Notable
Giedra did not speak any English when she first got to America for her nanny job. “I’d be sitting with my dictionary and watching the kids,” she said. “Little by little, I learned.”
& quotable
“I didn’t know anybody here,” Giedra said of coming to America. “My whole family was in Lithuania. I came because I had this opportunity. I figured, if I don’t like it, I can always go home.”
Philosophy
Because women are unique and beautiful, Giedra said their purses should mirror that. “The handbag can be something very personal and fits your style,” she said. “It’s about you and what you want the Lady Butterfly handbag to represent.”
Favorites
COLORS Red, turquoise
MUSIC Classical, pop
FOOD Meat, salad, chocolate, ice cream
INTERESTS Reading
