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One of the most exciting things about shopping with QVC is feeling like you’re browsing alongside your best friends—from the comfort of your living room. We not only get to learn more about the products—everything from the number of pockets on a handbag to the outfit you’ll want to carry it with—we get to know the hosts and guests who begin to feel like our friends. We tune in to hear about Courtney Cason’s engagement, Amy Stran’s new baby, and to see David Venable’s “happy dance.” 

Many of you have shopped alongside Dooney & Bourke On-Air Guest Sue Clifton for more than 15 years. You’re familiar with her upbeat personality and may know a little bit about her personal life—from her home in Florida to her two children, Nicholas and Nichole. Now I’d like to introduce you to a new member of the QVC family, Dooney & Bourke On-Air Guest Ashley Bellman. I recently got the chance to chat with both Ashley and Sue about their relationship, favorite things, summer plans, and of course, new Dooney & Bourke bags! Enjoy the scoop!

Ashley – QVC Copy Editor

Sue Clifton (left) and Ashley Bellman (right)

How does it feel to be part of the Dooney & Bourke on-air team?

Ashley B.: I am thrilled to be a member of the Dooney & Bourke family! It’s such an honor for a brand that I have always adored to welcome me with open arms and allow me to be a part of the QVC experience.

Tell me a little bit about what led you to the luxurious handbag maker.

Ashley B.: I received my first Dooney & Bourke bag as a gift when I was in junior high school, and I have been a devoted fan ever since! My admiration for the luxurious brand has only grown since I started working with Sue and Dooney & Bourke. The eminent aesthetic appeal reflects the quality and craftsmanship that I have had the pleasure of seeing and learning about firsthand.

I love fashion, shopping, accessorizing, and television, so being on QVC is a dream come true! When I heard that Sue Clifton from Dooney & Bourke liked my audition video, I was beyond ecstatic.  

How do you two like working together?

Sue C.: It has been so great having Ashley on board; she has been so helpful to me and QVC. She is a very organized and smart young lady!

Ashley B.: I am so lucky to be able to work with Sue! She is one of the most down-to-earth, genuine people that I know. If you watch her on QVC, you know exactly what I’m talking about. She is the same wonderful person in front of the camera as she is behind the scenes. Sue knows everything there is to know about each and every Dooney & Bourke item, and she is an excellent teacher and role model.

What do you like to do when you’re not busy sharing your love of luxe handbags?

Ashley B.: I love to be at the beach! Everything is better near the ocean! I also really like to cook. I got married last October, and I haven’t even scratched the surface experimenting with all of my newlywed cookbook recipes. I love spending time with my family and friends, too. My sister is my shopping partner in crime, while my husband and I like finding fun, innovative ways to work out. We like to do mud runs and explore different parks and trails. And last but certainly not least, I love playing with my little dog, Myla. She is the cutest Maltese Yorkie mix who loves going for walks and jumping in my mom’s pool.

Sue C.: I most enjoy entertaining family and friends at home. My husband, Joel, and I love to boat and fish in the summer and are big snow skiers in the winter.

If you had to choose, what’s your favorite food?

Sue C.: Joel makes the most amazing smoked ribs on the grill—they are my all-time favorite.

Ashley B.: Mine is caprese salad with buffalo mozzarella.

How about a favorite restaurant?

Ashley B.: La Stalla, an Italian restaurant in my hometown of Newtown, Pennsylvania. 

Sue C.: Riverwalk Café in downtown Stuart, Florida—best tuna nachos in the world!

Favorite TV show?

Sue C.: Masterchef.

Ashley B.: How I Met Your Mother was one of my favorite sitcoms. I also love House Hunters.

How about your all-time favorite movie?

Ashley B.: Love Actually.

Sue C.: The Green Mile.

Where’s your favorite travel destination?

Ashley B.: Maui! I went there on my honeymoon last October and it was breathtaking.

Sue C.: Colorado and the Bahamas.

Any special summer plans this year?

Ashley B.: My family has a place in Ocean City, New Jersey, so my husband and I try to make it down the shore as much as possible! My husband’s family lives in Ohio, so earlier in the summer we took a trip with them to the lake they vacation at in Coldwater, Michigan. And beyond that, I plan on just being outside and enjoying the warmth!

Sue C.: Summer plans are a vacation in Colorado and a “staycation” at home in Florida with family and friends.

Best QVC memory so far?

Ashley B.: I would have to say my first Dooney & Bourke show! It was a two-hour show with an amazing line-up. Jane Treacy was the host, and the callers were wonderful! We had so much fun—I couldn’t believe two hours had gone by when the show ended.

Sue C.: I’d say ALL the fun I’ve had and the relationships I’ve developed over the past 16 years at QVC.

Do you remember your first Dooney & Bourke bag?

Ashley B.: Yes! It was a signature multi-colored wristlet with a white background. I got it for Christmas when I was in 8th grade, and I’ll never forget how excited I was to receive it!

Sue C.: Mine was an all-weather leather satchel in Air Force blue that I still have 28 years later! Check it out:

Be honest, how many Dooney & Bourke bags do you own now?

Sue C.: Yikes! To be honest, I have owned and shared hundreds.

Ashley B.: Right now I have five bags, but with the new purses coming out, that number is going to undoubtedly increase.  

What can we look forward to from Dooney & Bourke? Your new line, Samba, sounds like it’s going to make me want to get up and dance!

Sue C.: Our fall line-up is amazing!—full of luxury leathers showcasing the most wonderful colors. We have added many new styles to our core collections, including great functional small leather goods sure to please the Dooney & Bourke gals!

Ashley B.: All I can say is, get excited! I literally have had dreams about this one bag that comes out in November. It was love at first sight, and I saw it for the first time back in May. While patience is not my forte, this one will be worth the wait.

I have a list of favorites for the fall and winter collections. There are so many spectacular silhouettes with innovative styles that possess all of the perfect qualities we love about Dooney & Bourke! 

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