They’re here! They’re here! In celebration of the much-anticipated arrival of our Hardshell Case for iPhone 4 and 4S, we’re giving away 10 of these awesome new tech accessories, here on Inside Stitch.

Simply comment below, telling us about your all-time favorite app, and we’ll select 10 lucky ladies, at random, to win a free Hardshell Case!

This giveaway is now closed. Thank you for commenting and congratulations to the winners!

Accomplished by: Colorist and Material Developer for Product Development Kat Kovac

Our wedding series marches on, with a second installment of Style this Bag: Bridesmaids. This time, we turned to newlywed Kat Kovac, who married Vera Bradley Digital Media Coordinator Adam Kovac, May 14, in Isle of Palms, South Carolina.

For her gorgeous, spring ceremony, the bride gifted all female guests with a Vera Bradley Canvas Tote and Wristlet, making for a colorful group of witnesses. Her bridesmaid wore a red dress, complemented by vibrant red, pink, orange and yellow floral arrangements.

When it came to assembling her Inside Stitch bridal party ensemble, Kat opted for a Priscilla Pink theme. “I wanted to pull the accent colors from this pattern, so I started with green for the dress and shoes,” she said. “I love pink, so I had to stick with pink flowers. The bag and accessories pulled it all together.”

Kat’s advice for any bride-to-be: “Make sure to have all of the major planning and preparation for the wedding finished a few weeks before so that you can just enjoy your day!”

1. Vera – 419 votes | 2. Large Duffel – 191 votes | 3. Laundry Bag & Shower Caddy – 71 votes | 4. Wristlet – 52 votes | 5. Laptop Sleeve - 51 votes

Your other suggestions:
Vera Bradley Gift Card, Tote, Lanyard

Accomplished by: Assistant Photographer Emily Michael

With a growing staff chock-full of wonderful women, we almost always have a few blushing brides in our midst. What a great opportunity to  - well, celebrate, of course – but also to show how the ladies of Vera Bradley incorporate our colors and styles into life’s special occasions!

First to share her style board, Emily Michaels, who’s busy finalizing the details for her July ceremony, to be held in Fort Wayne, Indiana. On her special day, the bride’s two attendants will wear bright purple dresses, and carry vibrant blooms of purple, white and peach. “I love these colors because they feel so bright, happy and summery.”

For this post, Emily chose the Chain Bag style based on its versatility. “This could be day or evening. They can use the chain handle during the day, while they run last-minute errands and get their hair done, and then take the strap off at night for a cute handheld option with plenty of room for their essentials.” For the color, “I love the bright blue with gold. I think it’s classic and fun, with a hint of glitz!”

Stay tuned for more installments of Style this bag: Bridesmaids, coming soon on Inside Stitch.

Our geographically diverse team drew matriarchs from Indiana, Florida, New York and Colorado, all of whom were more than willing to travel in to see where their son or daughter spends their workweek.

We welcomed the ladies with bagels, carnations and introductions, followed by a brief presentation on a “day in the life of the Web team”; website updates and maintenance, emails, social media and, of course, Inside Stitch. One of the Moms delighted the room with a surprise show and tell – a set of vintage Vera Bradley dresses in Mist Green!

The morning moved along with tours of a few of the other home office buildings, including The Vera Bradley Design Center and our Stonebridge Distribution Center. We regrouped for a few photos and a delicious meal against a Summer Cottage theme (thank goodness the Baby Celebration planners were kind enough to share). A warm feeling spread through the room as each table spent a few hours sharing endearing stories and plenty of laughs.

A final touch? Well … this is Vera Bradley. What would a gathering be without a little retail therapy? It was off to our Jefferson Pointe Vera Bradley Store where the Moms were invited to pick out a favorite style – courtesy of their son or daughter – as a “thank you” for attending our celebration.

Happy Mother’s Day to all of the women who serve as an influential figure in someone’s life, from all of us at Vera Bradley. We hope this day brings you special, warm memories, and all the love your heart can hold. You deserve it!

We appreciate your feedback and your readership!

Pictured: Grand Traveler, Hatbox Cosmetic, Garment Bag and Hipster in Lime’s Up

Pictured: Baby Bag, Lunch Date, Deluxe Photo Album and Clear Lotion Bag in Priscilla Pink

Pictured: Beach Towel, Camera Bag, So Cool Picnic Tote, Loop Keychain and Flip Flops (in Stores only) in Summer Cottage

Pictured: Ultimate Satchel in Black, Scarf, Turnlock Wallet, Carly Sunglasses in Black and Wristlet in Camellia

Pictured: Cosmetic Trio, Go Round Tote, Mini Notebook with Pocket, Large Folio, Pocket Stickies and Umbrella in Island Blooms

Pictured: Vera, Tablet Sleeve, Laptop Sleeve, Under Cover Laptop Skin, and Carry it All Wristlet in Very Berry Paisley

Shop for these items now at your local Vera Bradley retailer.

We had such an amazing trip to Tokyo! Our agenda was twofold: One, to reconnect with our existing seven employees, and second, to hire more team members.

We began launching Vera Bradley in Japan roughly one year ago, through pop-up stores. These retail outlets are temporary in nature and allow us to see how the customer responds to our brand in a variety of different markets and locations. Our Japanese team did an amazing job helping us set up, manage and tear down these pop-up stores.

From the moment we stepped onto our Japan Airlines flight from Chicago to Tokyo, it was apparent why Vera Bradley is such good fit for this country. We both live by a standard of values: Respect, humility and caring, to name a few. Our flight attendants were amazing throughout the 11½-hour hour flight and the hotel staff could not have been more accommodating, greeting us by name as we arrived.

After we adjusted to the 14-hour time difference, we were able to sit down and talk with each of our employees individually. Each was extremely enthusiastic about the brand and product, expressing their desire to continue supporting our stores in Japan. One by one, they commented on how much they enjoyed their team. The funny thing is, if I were to walk around any of our offices in Fort Wayne, Indiana, and ask employees what they like best about working at Vera Bradley, they would say the exact same thing! Despite language and cultural differences, Vera Bradley has a way of bringing people together. We feel like we are sharing in something special, which bonds us together in a way that cannot be explained. It was incredible to sit with each team member and understand how the company, product and their fellow team members have impacted their lives over the past 12 months.

Over the next several days, we interviewed candidates, some familiar with Vera Bradley and others not. Some of them had seen our store in Ala Moana, Hawaii, and were thrilled that we were coming to Japan. And in keeping with the culture (both Japanese and Vera Bradley) we offered each candidate a Clip Zip ID as a thank you for spending time with us.

Our final day in Japan was the first-ever Friends and Family Sale. Although on a much smaller scale, it was just like our Outlet Sale in Fort Wayne, with customers lining up before the sale opened! Our staff (including some new members) worked so hard to make the event, which lasted four days, a success. They provided excellent service to the customers, kept the sales floor stocked and tidy and wore a smile on their faces throughout. It was a privilege to see them in action.

I feel so honored to have been part of the process of building the Vera Bradley presence in Japan. The passion and enthusiasm our overseas employees have for the company and product will be contagious as more people are introduced to our colors and character.