Today I'm joining in with Thursday's My Creative Space at Kirsty's. Elsa's class has been working on a recycling theme this term, and when her teacher asked me if I knew where to source plain calico bags for the children to decorate, I thought it would be a perfect opportunity for a bit of upcycling. We asked parents to donate old sheets, and we were lucky to score some gorgeous super thick vintage cotton sheets which were perfect to sew into simple shopping totes. Three mothers set ourselves the task of sewing thirty five bags. At home I cut most of the fabric for the bags (wincing as I cut into those beautiful sheets) and about half of the seventy handles required, in preparation for a session at one mamma's place with an overlocker - one cutting, one ironing, one overlocking. We then split the bags to finish off at home which I did on my mum's not so trusty old singer. Phew! Hard work! I so admire anyone who sews for a living.
Here's Elsa's finished bag decorated with an Antarctic penguin.
Next project is inspired by Amanda's Button Flower Blanket in her lovely new book. This is a chair bag for Elsa at school, made from recycled wool blankets, it hangs on the back of her chair to store bits and pieces. These felted blue flowers are made from one of Hugo's old jumpers and I'll embroider Elsa's name along side them, hopefully sometime today in the sunshine.
Thanks so much to Kirsty for hosting and do check out more creative spaces at Kootoyoo.
The chair bag is adorable..And wow the sewing bag project seems daunting..you go girl...
ReplyDeleteWow! The power of a working bee! I love the chair bag :) K
ReplyDeleteWhew, what a lot of work, but good for you!
ReplyDeletefabulous recycling effort all round!! great job!
ReplyDeleteThose bags are brilliant. I bet the linen was delicious !!
ReplyDeleteNothing like a sew-a-thon to churn through big job like that. I've just got together with some friends to repair all our cloth nappies in a similar manner.
ReplyDeleteGreat ideas! Well done. I love those little chair bags. Those little flowers are lovely.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great idea - love the orginal artwork!
ReplyDeleteI hope the kids all know they were made by the Mums of their friends. Great project and so worth the effort. Well done.
ReplyDeleteSuperb upcycling & subsequent decoration too.
ReplyDelete*Clapping* Yay for up cycling!!! You did a great kob on the bags... it's never as straight forward as it should be. I don't like the ironing part!! hehe
ReplyDeletexo Steph
What a selfless and beautiful thing you three Mums did for those students and their teachers. Wow.
ReplyDeleteA chair bag is a great idea and how perfect to again just use recycled materials. Inspiring.
Awesome job girls!!!! Pat yourself on the bag for upcycling and contributing to such a worthy cause. YAY!
ReplyDeleteCute, that bag with those buttons. I bet it will be lovely. And great idea, those bags from sheets. Very inspiring!
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful idea! Great job mama!
ReplyDeletelove that chair bag!
ReplyDeleteyou gotta hand it to mums, they know how to get things done. head down-bum up. well done, love the sense of community in group sewing projects. love the chairbag too
ReplyDeleteThose little blue flowers are adorable, sounds like a very sweet chair bag.
ReplyDeletethis blanket looks so soft and inviting.
ReplyDeleteI love recycling ... and what a great idea. Great job.
ReplyDeleteWhat a fabulous idea! Love the decorated bags. I might have to do that myself!
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