Assorted Little Bags

i have been busy trying to build up an inventory of bags because i am considering opening up an etsy shop. i am sure most crafters know what etsy is... if you don't, i think you should definitely check it out ( www.etsy.com ).

i have never sold anything on etsy... but have bought a few things... and have spent hours drooling over all of the handmade unique goodies on the site! there are a lot of creative folks out there!

anyway... so here are pics of my bags... i would love to get some feedback on pricing and styling... don't worry, i am not "thin-skinned"... i can take it... so please feel free to comment on the blog or email me... also... any advice on the etsy process would be appreciated!

This first one is a little fulled (felted) bag... it measures about 7" x 5"... it has a little front pocket and the closure is a vintage button. it's just a little bag for when you don't want to carry a big purse.

Here is a view of the back >>>>

Next is a small little acrylic bag...
(sorry about picture quality... i definitely need to practice!) On my monitor, the first pic is close to the actual color... it is a variegated blue colorway... it has a small "granny square" front pocket that is just the right size for a cell phone or an mp3 player; and a slightly larger area for a small purse or wallet. the front pocket closes with a shiny, sparkly vintage button, while the other compartment closes with a vintage button that is kind of an ivory color.

this bag is one of my favorites... the strap is made to sling over your shoulder... it is 100% acrylic... it is a little larger (about 8" long)... it has a buttoned pocket in front and a button closure on the backside for the larger compartment... it's black with a variegated colorway of purples, blues & teals.

this one is probably my absolute favorite of this batch of bags... it is mostly acrylic ... but the pink is woolease yarn which contains a small amount of wool...it is embellished with wooden beads and plastic buttons.

all of these bags are unlined.

what do you think?

Recycling Plastic Grocery Bags

I have been reading alot lately about plastic bags. You know, the little bags they pack your groceries... I probably end up with at least 10 of those in one shopping trip... They really add up!

according to this website (http://www.myownbag.com/activism.html), it takes 20 years for a plastic bag to biodegrade as litter... and 1000 years to biodegrade in a landfill!!!!

We always reuse them as wastebasket liners... and Sugar Daddy carries his lunch in them (I bought him a lunch bag... but someone at his office called it a purse and now he won't use it anymore!)... but I am looking for other ideas to reuse them.

On Crochetville (www.crochetville.org), I found people cutting and crocheting them into reusable shopping bags and purses... what a neat idea...I could combine recycling with my favorite craft... crochet!! woo hoo!

here is another good website, if you are interested: http://www.marloscrochetcorner.com/Plastic%20Bag%20tote.html

it has a pattern... one of these days, i am going to try to follow a pattern... but right now, i am still too busy following my own ideas...

it also gives instructions for cutting and attaching the bags to make "yarn"... this is how i do it... there are other people who do it different ways... i am sure you can find it on the net...

so here is what i have made: (or why i havent been posting...lol)

The first bag that i made was a messenger-type bag... actually, i call it a "farmers' market bag"... i think it would be perfect to sling across your shoulders and fill as you travel through a farmers' market or...flea market...

Here is the cavernous inside of the bag:

this bag is huge!

That's our younger son, the Barbarian, who is modeling...umm... err... showing this bag... let's gve him a hand!

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here is the 2nd bag that i made... i would use this as a reusable shopping bag... or it could be a beach tote:

inside view:a closeup of the stitches... i like the little bits of color interspersed by using different bags:

I made the next two bags, as purses... here is the lovely Ms. TM modeling them:

<<--- a close up of the stitching... i think it almost looks like one of those straw purses that are so popular during spring & summer. i also love the variation in all of the brownish... bags.

This purse was made for my sister (who requested a "non-girly" type of bag):

The green button is a kind of "inside funny"... you know, green ... recycling... i know, corny... but that is me... uber dork!

Check out that subliminal message to shop Bi-Lo!

So here is one of my attempts to reduce, recycle, and reuse... and i get to use my favorite craft to do it! woo hoo!