Actress Fashion Trends: Get to Know TeamLove Members: Donna Fluegel of The Snap Dragon's Lair

When this new version of the Love of Vintage Team Blog started, it was with a promise to publish articles about our teammates. It's always nice to learn more about someone you know only as an avatar, a shop name and that little bit of information on the "About" page of each shop There is indeed a human being behind that gorgeous Juliana bracelet!

We asked Donna Fluegel, of the Snap Dragon's Lair, to be the first Love of Vintage team member to share a snapshot of her life. Without further ado, here is Donna.

Donna Fluegel of The Snap Dragon's Lair

When I was in high school I had a math teacher I just loved. He had such an interesting life history and I enjoyed listening to the stories of his various jobs and hobbies before becoming a math teacher. My Dad had just one job his entire adult life, so listening to Mr. Matthews made me yearn for something a bit more.

Fast foward 40 years ..... I have become Mr. Matthews! Here is the short version of what my crazy life is like...

My first job out of college was with a major insurance company in the Big Apple. Fresh off the South Jersey Farm, this was quite an eye-opener, to say the least. Then I caught the teaching bug and I whipped inner city 10th graders into shape for fifteen years! While I was teaching I had a side job; making and selling homemade jams and jellies. That messy job lasted about three years and I knew being self-employed was in my blood!

I taught English and Journalism -- a perfect segue into my current job/hobby- taking over the publishing of the national orienteering magazine when I retired early from teaching.

What is orienteering? Since becoming involved with the sport in 1992, I''ve heard this hundreds of times. And, as the publisher of the national magazine and Secretary of the Board of Directors of Orienteering USA, the governing body of the sport, I am forever explaining what this crazy thing I do on weekends actually is.

Orienteering is the sport of navigating through the woods with a map and compass. It's easy to learn but always challenging. The object is to get to a series of points shown on the map, choosing routes -- both on and off the trail -- that will help you find all the points and get back to the finish in the shortest amount of time. The points on the course are marked with orange and white flags and punches, so you can prove you've been there. Orienteering is done in many forms -- running/walking, cycling, skiing and so on.

Orienteering

In addition to orienteering I run regular races too. I mostly enjoy triathlons because of the diversity. My latest adventure was to run a Ragnar race from Miami to Key West.

Ragnar Race Team

Eleven of my craziest friends (along with 6000 other crazy people) tag team ran 196 miles from Miami to Key West. "I'll sleep when I'm dead" was our motto!

Which bring me to Etsy. My husband and I have collected all kinds of vintage. When we decided to downsize Etsy was the perfect place to open shop. I work when I want. I have been self-employed so I am comfortable with the solitary work routine. And I get to have all my Etsy "co-workers" too! We travel quite a bit and Etsy is great for where ever we might be. If there is internet service, my Etsy shop, The Snap Dragon's Lair, is open for business!