Bags 4 Darfur

Book Learnin'

2012-01-25T07:15:00.002-06:00

I have been re-reading my books. It isn't as though Chapters is full of books on life in the Darfur region of Sudan. Most people around there are trying not to be dead, and don't have a lot of time or resources for the writer's life.

But there are one or two. And when I read them, I wish they were as popular as the Twilight Series, or Harry Potter.

It is something to have such a first hand account of reality for regular people living peaceful lives rich in family and tradition; only to have government backed militia come in raping, pillaging, and murdering. And something even greater to have authors such as Daoud Hari and Halima Bashir who stare death in the face (once again) and speak out about all that is and has happened in their homeland.

It certainly increases my sense of responsibility.
We are unfortunately of the resource greedy nations who fuel and ignite these types of wars. It's really not some war way over there when you think about it this way.

Meanwhile, I am poking away at my Etsy Shop. Not having been awarded "Most Likely To Whiz Through Anything She Puts Her Hand To" at high school graduation, or at the University grad that I'm still a few courses away from..... I tend to be a bit of a challenged learner. "She works at her own pace"; so to speak.

But work; she does.

So, if you're looking to curl up through these winter days with a good book in hand, here are some suggestions:
"God Grew Tired of us"
"What is the What"
"The Translator"
"Tears of the Desert"
And there are others. But they are on my bedroom shelf, and there is a wee soul sleeping on my bed at the moment who shant be disturbed, so those will have to wait.

And by the time you're done all your reading assignments, perhaps we can meet up at the Etsy shop: joycebaglady4darfur.

She Sales On

2012-01-16T09:04:00.003-06:00

It's kind of like colouring outside of the lines. Except that I use my sewing machine and basket full of wiley bits of trim.
I've always been strangely attracted to rik rak and funny old ribbony bits.
So why not celebrate them?

This is a very basic bag, without interior pockets or lining. It's very sturdy and would work great for gym shoes or skates, library books, and grocery shopping.

This bag is ON SALE today for $10.00 plus shipping.

Interested? Leave me a comment.

She Loves Blue and Orange

2012-01-09T18:58:00.007-06:00

Blue + orange +cheery kitchen motifs from another time always give me a sort of inner glow.

So its a particularly happy day when I find an ancient, well cared for table cloth boasting all of those features. It makes me so happy that I just have to cut it up and turn it into something different (? do I need therapy?)This bag also makes me want to eat pears, brie cheese, and sip on an icey cold glass of white wine.

That doesn't marry so well with my day job of pre-school care-giver....

so perhaps its time to say: good-bye! au revoir! hasta la vista!
Now, if you have the sort of job that allows you to eat melted brie and sip chilled wine, then this is the bag for you! There are handy little pockets in the interior that will be just perfect for some little packets of crackers, a few apricots, and some figs stuffed with goats cheese, if you're so inclined.

Or if you're of a more sensible nature, you could use this for your books.

Or baguettes.

Or kittens.

The long and the short of it is that this spectacular blue and orange and fruity bag is ON SALE today! For twenty Canadian bucks she can be yours, all yours.

She measures roughly 16" x 14", is fully lined, and has three inside pockets.

Shipping to most places is $11.00 Cdn.

Like it? want it? Leave a comment, please.

She Pretends To Be In Retail

2012-01-09T14:06:00.004-06:00

It's not that I'm uninterested in change; it's just that I'm so slow to change

But change is coming.

Really.

Meanwhile, I thought I'd get all consumer savvy and offer a SALE of sorts.

This tote bag will be the first item on the "discount rack".

It used to be a tablecloth in its first life. Then it got folded and stored, then donated to a thrift store. That's when my greedy little mitts got a hold of it and offered it a second life as a tote bag.

As the second photo indicates, it is fully lined and complete with pockets.

I find this style of bag to be incredibly versatile and practical. They are perfect for anything from groceries to holding skates, beach stuff (yes, I live in Manitoba, but a girl can dream!), being a purse, library bag, gift bag, etc. (I'm beginning to feel uncomfortably "salesperson-y"). But before I stop, I should mention that since the lining is constructed out of discarded upholstery samples,this bag might last longer than some of us do.

This bag is on sale for $15.00 Cdn and goes to the first person who expresses interest in the comments. Shipping to most places is $11.00 Cdn.

Ready? Set?

MOB!

Giving a Darn

2012-01-07T18:25:00.002-06:00

It has sat on my bookshelf for over a year.

"The Devil Came on Horseback".

I've been much too afraid to watch it.

Afraid of the images:

rape

murder

burning

looting.

But I watched it

today.

And the part that really, really bothers me is that we don't appear to care.

There's nothing in it for us- no oil, no power, no financial gain.

It's just this nasty thing thats happening somewhere far away.

And what can be done- really.

I don't know. Its the same helpless feeling that is evoked when we hear about Iraq, Yemen, Rwanda, Syria,

or next door.

Watch this movie, if you can. It's so informative, and its definitely not filled with gratuitous violence. I was struck with how much more violence we're comfortable with on our living room televisions, or in the movies we'll pay money to watch in a theatre while munching on snacks.

Do I pretend to have any answers to why we should care or be informed about the unbelievable, inconceivable injustices that are happening around us as we speak? Sadly, I don't.

But I think its important to keep wrestling with the questions. I think that if we dare to care, and if we dare to listen, we will no longer be able to do nothing.

Found on the Internet Today

2012-01-01T12:23:00.001-06:00

Save Darfur The Farchana Manifesto: well worth the read.

I forget sometimes for periods of time why I'm doing this. The mess of daily living clouds my vision, and the stacks of fabric and mental folder of ideas make me sigh with frustration that I'm not tireless. I begin to think that it's a "has been".

How ridiculous. As if a current day Holocaust could stop existing because of my petty irritations and preoccupations.

And a quick google search indicates that the bags 4 darfur project is not forgotten, nor should be allowed to atrophy.

http://thechronicleherald.ca/religion/47676-fighting-famine-one-bag-time

http://tote4pgh.com/tag/bags-4-darfur/

http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/arts-and-life/life/faith/the-least-of-these-135783623.html?viewAllComments=y

So, it is with some excitement, that I shyly suggest some changes coming to this blog. A newer, grander, broader vision? With a whole four days off stretching before me, I aim to take on some new ideas.

So, don't forget Darfur. And please continue to come back, awaiting some sort of change that may allow the project greater audience, and the continued ability to raise our voices for the silenced.
Because: "No one is free when others are oppressed".

Orange You Glad?

2011-12-13T13:16:00.005-06:00

That ladies used to use their "free time" to crochet these layered flowers?

I am.

I find them at the thrift shop sometimes- these intricately stitched together series of flowers meant to adorn your coffee table.

Death by overkill.

But when I pick them apart and look at them individually....

Lovely.

The same can be said about many "parts" that make up the whole of any discarded item. A belt becomes a purse strap and looks-- different! Fun. Reinvented.

A one time 4-H apron project complete with intricate cross stitching becomes a pocket.

Or two.

(bag turned inside out)

Wouldn't it be nice if we could

take ourselves apart

and remake

using

just the good?

(But its more fun...

easier.....

to pick

other

people

apart.....)

This is a medium sized shoulder bag, measuring 10.5" across and 11" up and down.It is pocketed, the strap is adjustable. It's essentially awesome, and you need it.So, leave a comment below, or just give me some love, and we'll shut down this orangey auction on thursday, December 15, at 7:00 pm.

Rolled Oats

2011-12-08T10:54:00.007-06:00

It seems I'm on a roll.

De-cluttering one day, I sold the old brown suitcase that held all my random white-ish linens and lace bits. Sorting through it, I tossed what was never going to work, and got busy on the bits that looked promising.

In the process, all sort of linen and delicate embroidery pieces were rediscovered and reincarnated.

When I work with these items I often wonder about the women who made them; the culture they were women in; the time and pride spent on creating such beautiful pieces of work.

I like to think that I've given them some greater purpose.

A second life.

A small part of a bigger picture.

It's especially fun to pair them up with something as humble and pedestrian as an old oatmeal sack. Which you and I can see holds exquisate (if ironic) beauty. (My mother might disagree...)

I used the scallop of some heavy stiching to double as a button closure for the oatmeal pocket.

A grand juxtaposition.

Here's out sack turned all inside out. The pockets are formed out of an ancient linen baby bed sheet that I "found" during our early married years. In our second apartment, it hung as a curtain.

Now it'll hold your personals.

Interested in this lovely item?I know its a bit weird to post a bag on a Friday, but thinking about Christmas roaring up at us, I wondered if people were wanting the oppurtunity to purchase any bags in time for gift giving. With that in mind, I'm offering a "buy it now" price of $50.00 Cdn. (ooooh! how very e-bay of you!!!) But we'll start with our regular bidding process, with a start of $20- Cdn.

Bids will close on Monday, December 12, 2011 at 7:00 pm cst.

Snowflakes

2011-12-05T11:46:00.004-06:00

Sunday was our tree decorating day. I rolled out of bed rather late and mentioned to the family that I was quite sure our leftover lighting was going to be rather sorely inadequate for the trees I'd hauled into the house.
A trip to Wal-Mart was in order.

It couldn't have been more perfect.

As we travelled down St Mary's road, the sky was dropping huge white snowflakes- the kind that people in California probably dream about. We drove past the green houses which were surrounded by mini vans loaded down with evergreens. There were horses pulling a hayrack, giving kids a beautiful winter ride.

I like to think that this bag looks a lot like that day.

The bag turns inside out shows four interior pockets.

Interested in this snowy, delicate lacey bag complete with "The Manitoba Sugar Co." in pale blue lettering; a velcro closure; interior pockets, and loads of detail?

Leave a comment below. This bag begins with a $20- bid and the auction will close at 7 pm cst on Wednesday, December 7, 2011.

Update

2011-12-02T07:33:00.002-06:00

As I work on the finishing touches for the next bag4darfur, I'd like to thank all you followers and supporters. None of this would make any sense (or food aid) without you.

Thank you Jennifer for purchasing "Lotta Love".
And could "mix mix" from the prior post please contact me at re-joyce@live.ca?

Happy Friday, Darfur supporters!

Lotta Love

2011-11-28T11:11:00.007-06:00

There's just something about layering the off-whites.

And who can get enough of those pearly white buttons?

celebrated doilies?

vintage hankies?

Well, evidently- I can't get enough.

So I want to share with you.

Tote bag, button closure, fully lined, with interior pockets.

Measures close to 16" across and 13" top to bottom.

Another year is coming to an end.

Another year of success in this venture to raise food aid.

Thank you.

If you are interested in purchasing this lovely tote bag, please leave a comment below' with a starting bid of $18.00 Cdn. You don't need to have a blogger account, and can simply place bids by choosing the "anonymous" identity. Don't leave yourself entirely anonymous, as I'll eventually need to know who you are. That's what my e-mail address is for: re-joyce@live.ca

I'll leave this tote up for sale until Wednesday evening, November 30, 2011 at 7:00 pm, cst.

More Where That Came From

2011-11-21T08:07:00.006-06:00

I think I've mentioned before that I have quite an impressive collection of ancient ties at the moment. They are one of my most favorite weird mediums to work with. (can you call a necktie a "medium"?- and not in the "back from the dead" sense of the word?)

There were plenty of reasons to have fun making this messenger bag. Some time ago, an elderly lady in Winnipeg contacted me to ask whether I would like to have her friends sewing collection. That was easy to answer. In amongst the bits and bolts that she had collected were numerous dissected pairs of men's fortrel, plaid trousers. (ahhh, those were the days....)

I immediately imagined them paired up with bad neckties from the same era.

Those plaids are combined with some upholstery samples for added strength, and another piece of plaid suiting material. This bag should pretty much last a lifetime. That stuff never dies.

These pictures show the bag turned entirely inside out. My son's outgrown pants create pockets on one side, and another bit of plaid make pockets on the opposite.

I've been so pleased to see you've not all entirely forgotten bags 4 darfur, and you've been so patient and supportive in spite of all my online comings and goings. Also, a welcome to all my recent followers. It makes me so grateful to think that Sudan is not forgotten.

Bids on this bag begin at $35.00 Cdn. Remember that I ship to anywhere, and payment can be arranged through paypal, or by mailing a cheque, or by coming to my house- cash in hand. I've also met people in shopping malls and lobbeys, but I'll draw the line at long dark deserted alleyways.

This bag will remain available until Wednesday, November 30, 2011 at 7:00 pm, cst.

Any questions? leave me a comment or send an e-mail to re-joyce@live.ca

"Un-Tied"

2011-11-14T08:15:00.005-06:00

A functioning camera cord has been located.
All prior sewing commitments have now been fulfilled, and mostly delivered.
And I'm pleased to present a bag for sale!

A bag that plays with vintage neckties. A kind older woman gave me her entire collection of neckties that her husband had worn throughout his career as an office guy. I liked her parting comment as she gifted me with the boxfull: "I hope you make a killing".

What a great send-off for all those neckties she must have bought every Father's Day, birthday, and Christmas for the previous fifty years!

It's been one of my favourite relics to work with lately. Such fun-loving bits of fashion! And so many functions.

Here's the bag turned inside out. Pockets on each side.

Particulars:

12.5" long

14.5" wide.

six pockets in total- two beneath the flap, and four inside.

Bag is constructed from upholstery samples, remnants, neckties, used pants.

Due to the neglected state of this blog, I'll leave the bag available for sale until Thursday, November 17 at 6:00 pm, cst.

We'll work on the aution format; I'd ask that the starting bid begin at $35.00 Cdn.

Bids close at 6 pm cst, thur, Nov 17.

Any questions, comments, observations can be left under "comments". This is also where you leave your bid if you are interested. If you don't have a blogger account, simply choose "anonymous" as your identity, but do assign yourself an identity one way or another- either within your comment post, or by sending me an e-mail to re-joyce@live.ca

thanks, it's good to be back.

Thank You For Your Patience

2011-11-10T07:20:00.002-06:00

My commitments have been fulfilled, and I'm now ready to post some bags for sale on this erratically maintained website....

But I cannot find my camera cord...
And therefore cannot post pics....

I'm finding this most irritating, since I am ready in almost every other way.
So please send thoughts of camera cord finding my way as I continue my search.

Then come back and support Darfur!

Joyce In Her Happy Place

2011-10-31T10:33:00.003-05:00

It takes months to prepare for a sale like this one. An inventory of approximately seventy bags made in one's "spare time" is a labour of love that often means a cluttered house, less than perfect meals, and a suspicion that I'm slowly being buried alive.

But the rewards!
Pulling into Brandon on Friday evening after a full week of work and last minute prep, my daughters and I set forth to set up a booth. To transform a bland rectangle of the Keystone Center into an appealing shop.

And when it was done, and the doors opened Saturday morning- we were ready! All the bags displayed around me, all that work behind me, and the fun about to begin.

Feeling grateful that I was positioned beside a fragrant beeswax candle vendor, I breathed a big honey-infused breath and anticipated the day's customers.
I was not to be disappointed.
Brandon was generous and kind. I met some new friends, and connected with some old. I put a face to one of my online shoppers. I enjoyed the helpfulness of my daughters. And I sold a lot of bags.

Enough bags to anticipate the need to edit my "Darfur sign".
At the beginning of the sale, our sign read "Since 2008, bags4darfur has raised over $26,000!"

Thanks to the generosity of Brandon, and the resulting $1,700.00 donation, we are now approaching a total of 28K.

Your generosity and support means the world.
I like to think that someone will eat today as a result of it.
Thank you.

Brandon's "Big One" 2011

2011-10-25T09:57:00.017-05:00

I guess you'd call that a resounding success! More details to follow.

Go Read This Book

2011-10-15T08:19:00.003-05:00

It will amaze you.
Leave you astounded at the strength of human spirit. You will be amazed that people can survive AT ALL on pretty much nothing.

Your heart will be broken, but simultaneously moved.

Meet me at Bags4darfur booth in Brandon Manitoba at the "Big One" at Keystone Centre, next Saturday and Sunday; October 22 and 23.

Leave Donations Here

2011-09-14T07:04:00.005-05:00

I often have people gift me with fabric.
Sometimes buttons, and one time- a whole, big tub full of thread.
But this is the first time I've been given a teacup chock full of roses.
Thanks to Linda, over at Hutt-Write Voice.

To accept the tea, which may or may not contain buttons and thread, I'm to post seven facts about myself. I'll custom this just a little, and make these facts pertain to the bag project.

I've met the nicest people through this project. It's always a happy moment for me when I lay eyes on someone who has commented or bought bags throughout the years but I've not had a face to put to the name. For example, this summer at the fair, a woman approached me looking like I was the most familiar face in the world to her. She said; "I'm Wendy", for which she receieved the blank stare. It was only when she referred to herself using the blogger nickname "Wendy Pendy" that I lit up with recognition! Same thing happened to me in Brandon one year when I met Nancy. It meant nothing until she prompted me with the words... "fancy Nancy"... and then it all fell into place! She then proceeded to help me set up my display and offer her services to me. And that's just a tiny bit about the many nice people I've met.

One of my favourite gifts was a turquoise coloured lambskin leather coat. It had been a gift to a lady from her husband many years ago, and her daughter and granddaughter commissioned me to sew it into a bag to present to her for a significant birthday. What trust! Such a special article- so beautiful, unique, and lovely to work with.

I started sewing when I was eleven. I'm so grateful to my mother that she let me use her sewing machine without hovering over me and controlling my every move. Instead, she gave me a small tin full of fabric scraps and let me have free access to her sewing machine. The first gift I remember sewing was a baby gift for my very first niece. It was a terry cloth stuffy that only a mother could love, but I'm proud of it to this day.

My favourite childhood location was at my best friend Elaine's house, two miles down the gravel road. Her house was nothing like mine. Ours was sort of minimalist, very tidy, with few surprises. Hers was bursting with possibility. I believe that my own current home is inspired by Elaine's, and my impressive fabric collection reminicient of that house that always struck me as capable of holding any number of wonders.

It doesn't bother me to hold onto a beautiful piece of fabric for ten or more years. These things can't be forced and ought to be allowed the freedom in which to come into fruition. This summer I sewed up a piece of fabric that my neighbour and I found in a dumpster about sixteen years ago. It raised well over $100.00 to feed the world. I'm glad I didn't force that one earlier than it was meant to be.

One of the other most amazing gifts that I have receieved is a Bernina sewing machine from my siter-in-law, Joanne. It had been a gift from her now deceased husband, and because she never became the seamstress she thought she might be, the machine got passed along to me. Anyone who knows my utter devotion and love to my own bernina can begin to fathom what this sort of gift would mean to me-- a perfect machine both upstairs, and downstairs! (see above... house full of possibility.....)

I've always accumulated nicknames. A great moment for me is when someone exclaims; "Oh! Are you the Bag Lady?" And second- I've heard that people who carry bags 4 darfur have been approached and asked- "Is that a Joyce Bag?" And these things make me very happy. They make me believe that the world is a kind and beautiful place, and there's so very much left not to lose hope about.

Thanks for the blog award, Linda. Now, off to my sewing machine to see how to incorporate a teacup and some rose petals....

Bag Love 'Round the World

2011-09-07T09:49:00.007-05:00

I'm thinking about my friend Donna today.

She and her lovely daughter came to visit us back in May.

All the way from Australia.

Reuniting after twenty years made the good-bye a little teary- we'd reconnected in so many ways.

Having Donna back in my periphery reignited my smouldering creativity and we passed many an hour stitching in one another's presence- talking, sharing our hearts, and just being quiet together. Donna's particular affection for green and pink spurred me onto creating a series of totes and using delicate bits of old embroidery and hankies to employ their soft hues of green, rose, and pale blue.

When it was time for them to go, the green and pink cache went with her.

A few weeks ago, I received the following message from my gentle and compassionate friend:

I've been watching closely the impact of drought and famine in Somalia, Kenya etc.
We wanted to do more....... I think of anyone living in oz as living the dream no matter where you compare it to. We wanted to give (our church people) insight into

what others are doing around the world to help. Trying to inspire them to look

beyond themselves to a powerful God who takes our tiny offerings

and multiplies them to feed the hungry......just a little in our hands.....

.anyway...... I had just encouraged our congregation that maybe they

could go without a small luxury, for a day, week, year etc

(saying that this month I was not going to buy diet coke),

then together once a month we would take up a fast offering to send to Kenya.

People were so excited! I have caffeine free headaches!! Haha
Then your article (Winnipeg Free Press, Faith section, august 6, 2011)

came through to my facebook. I had the tech guys (at church) put it on our big screen,

held up your bags and told them the story of what you do.

A mum, with a big heart, a little at a time.......can make a difference.

I sold all the bags!!!!!!!!

Haha makes me cry.

Yesterday, Donna deposited $461.77 Canadian into our paypal account.Which I will forward to the United Nation World Food Program.

There are bags4darfur walking around in Australia as we speak. There are people eating as a result of it. Donna and her people are asking for more bags, and I'm prepping for the Brandon Big One, a large craft sale in Manitoba, happening on October 23 and 24, 2011.

Isn't life grand?

E-Mail Love

2011-09-03T10:12:00.003-05:00

Hi there!
I work at IKEA, Twin Cities

and a customer came in

with one of your bags

(she was planning a kitchen).

She had one that was wonderfully

vintage with bright colors

and was on the larger-size.

I know you're a busy lady

and I'm not in any rush

....and I know you don't take any orders,

but I really want to buy one

(I especially love the tied strap and flap messenger-style).

How can I find out when you post more bags?

Thank you for what you do--

what a wonderful

cause......

How indeed?

I commented to my husband this morning that i need a life coach. He suggested another cup of coffee...

So much I want to do, so challenging to manage the 24 hour day.

I love this project, I love the joy it's brought into my life.

If anyone hold the keys to the riddle which is

"How to effectively manage my time".....

send me your secrets!

And thanks for all the virtual love.

Potatoes To Eat

2011-08-21T19:35:00.002-05:00

Pretty special.

This woman.

She's been welcomed in our home since her tiny, crawling, cherubic beginnings.

And her donation for the potato bag push our total past the $25,000 mark.

Last fall, Brian and I travelled to Morris, Mb to check out the MCC relief sale. Viewing the produce for sale, my eye was drawn to the sack that the potatoes had come in.

And I asked if I could buy one.

I'm so glad that I did.

We kept the bag out of the landfill and turned it into a different sort of bag entirely!

Which kind of turns it into a lunch bag for someone in another part of the world.

Kind of neat.

With Thoughts of Somalia

2011-08-05T10:36:00.004-05:00

"Famine is officially defined as when two adults or four children per 10,000 people die of hunger each day and a third of children are acutely malnourished. Earlier this week, the UN declared an official famine in regions of Somalia.

The global body says tens of thousands of people have already starved to death in Somalia and thousands are streaming across the borders to Ethiopia and Kenya daily." (WFP website)

Recently the media has been full of stories about the famine in Somalia. Numbers like "Eleven million" can make it can feel pretty hopeless.

It seems futile to imagine making any difference in the face of such impossible odds.

Since 2007, the Darfur project has sent thousands of dollars in hopes of helping the Sudanese people suffering in whole or in part due to the political unrest in the Darfur region. Although it is impossible to guarantee that it is the Darfuri people who have been sheltered and fed in part through this fundraiser, it must be assumed that somebody, somewhere, has eaten because a bag was purchased through this website. I'm aware that it's a "drop in the bucket", but I'll bet it was worth it to the people who got food they might not otherwise have eaten.

It's hard to read the news and watch the images of people who are dying for lack of food, while we live here with problems of excess. And, although we'll never fix big problems with a couple of dollars and some good intentions, we must do what we can.

It is with this in mind that I am posting four tote bags for sale.

The money will be forwarded to the United Nations World Food Program, under the category; "where most needed".

#1:Squiggle Garden
(now sold)

Interested in purchasing? Click here!
#2: Sunday Meeting!
Sold! To Chelsea for $45.00-- Thank you!

Like it? Love it? Click here!

#3: Rik on the Rak! (sold) To purchase this bag or check on the action, please click here.

#4: Sitting Pretty : sold to Lori!
Interested in Sitting Pretty? (literally and bag-it-ively). Click here to purchase said bag.

Sunday Goin' Ta Meetin' (Now Sold)

2011-08-04T20:01:00.001-05:00

Want to show your support in a quiet, dignified way? Here's your bag.
Soothing grey and taupe textiles designed to outlive most household pets, this bag will hold up in tough times. All the materials were donated by my local furniture store, so these upholstery pieces aren't likely to fray any time soon.

Two reclaimed buttons give it a certain respectable, "Sunday morning" kind of feel.

This bag is not lined, and sells for your choice of price typically between $15.00 and $50.00 Cdn.

If you'd like to do your toting in style, leave a comment below.

Let me know if you'd like to pay via cheque or paypal and we'll exchange info through my e-mail address re-joyce@live.ca

Please leave something akin to a name, and the amount you are willing to pay. Please keep in mind a $10.00 shipping fee.

Thanks for looking!

Squiggle Garden: now sold to Robyn for $40-!

2011-08-04T11:07:00.011-05:00

Colouring is fun! And when you bypass the crayons altogether, you can scribble to your hearts content with a sewing machine and a few colours of reclaimed rik rak.

Since I"m terrible at drawing, it's always a pleasure to see my twisting at the sewing machine actually develop into something closely resembling something of the floral variety!

A vintage apron provides the playful design that composes the bag's handle.

This bag is fully lined, with two interior pockets.

One used to be a hankie, and the other is a pocket from the same apron that's now a couple of handles.

Every season is the perfect season for a tote bag.
The beach.

The library.

The grocery store.

Work.

Kids.....

If you are interested in purchasing Squiggle Garden, please leave a comment below, then send me an e-mail indicating your mailing address and preferred method of payment. (paypal, send me a cheque, or arrange to meet me at twilight in an abandoned park) This bag sells for between $20.00 and $50.00. When determining your payment amount, please keep in mind that shipping through Canada post costs an additional $10.00 CDN.

You can comment under the identity "anonymous" if you are new to the blog world.

Thanks for your interest!

Rik on the Rack (now sold)

2011-08-04T10:49:00.007-05:00

If you asked me to explain my bizarre and persistent love affair with that squiggly trim from ?long ago.... I'd have to explore the warm and lovely feeling I always had when I snooped through the drawers of my mother's sewing cabinet. I'd find rik rak, trim, buttons, and all kinds of lovely things. And I've never stopped loving them.

It's one of the items I tend to search for in thrift shops and yard sales- never seeming to lose my joy in finding some more.

I also love finding wildly coloured geometric prints that make me think of happy, uninhibited home fashions of the past.

This bag4darfur is fully lined with a playful, reclaimed paisley piece of fabric. A twice-used linen forms two pockets on her interior.

Interested in a playful way to do a little something for Africa?

Name your price in the comment section below.

Sitting Pretty: now sold!

2011-08-04T10:32:00.009-05:00

There's something wonderful about combining old drapery with linens of another era.

And it's no wonder no one actually used these pretty pieces on their noses.

Lucky for us.

Some of the embroidered tablecloths that I find on my travels are just perfect for a reincarnation as pockets on a Darfur bag.

And all that embroidery! What did women in "used-to-be" do-- stitchery instead of reality shows? What a good idea.

Here's the tote bag all turned inside out to show her pockets.

One used to be a sleeve, and the other a table cloth.

I kind of like them as bag parts-- do you?

If so, leave me a comment with your name and offer. This bag typically sells for between $20.00 and $50.00 Cdn. Please be mindful that shipping tends to cost another $10.00.

Thanks for stopping by!

And $2,390.00 Makes $24,919.00!!

2011-07-01T10:36:00.004-05:00

The buzz didn't end at the close of the fair.
My leftover bags hung on a coat rack in my living room, as some late bloomers wandered by to shop. Three weeks later, and dust beginning to settle, I am proud and grateful to annouce that a total of $2,000.00 has been donated to the United Nations World Food Program, and a further $380.00 to Women To Women International which will sponsor a woman in Sudan for a full year.

It never ceases to amaze me how a little bit done every day can add up to something so big and magnificent! And that's largely thanks to you, my supporters.

Have a happy summer. I may not be around the blog world very much, as I celebrate my eldest daughter's seventeenth birthday, send my youngest off the camp for the first time, enjoy my out of country relatives (doesn't hurt that they live at their cabin.... on a lake....) , haul the camper to the beach a few times, and tinker around in my gardens.

I'll be back.
I'm building up nerve to apply for a Big Event next summer.....

Happy Sunshine!
and Thank You.

joyce.

Back Online! Four bags to share

2011-06-14T20:18:00.015-05:00

I spent a few months ~~trapped in my house dreaming about sewing, sewing about sewing, eating, sleeping, sweating sewing~~ preparing for the Niverville Fair. It was sort of on my "short bucket list" to get involved in something locally, and summer 2011 seemed the time to ~~check that off my list~~ celebrate my community and commitment to Darfur.

I sold a couple of bags!

But not so many that I have none left to share with my virtual world. This fun and rewarding place I can visit any time when physically leaving my house is entirely, completely, utterly impossible.

So, the first bag I'd like to introduce to you has a grand little story attached to it. But first of all- remember the days when I lovingly christened each and every bag with a birth name? Well, this one is named; "Spot The Guinea Pig".

First one to spot Arwin-Das-Pig and offer their cash gets to keep the bag!

But first about the bag.
Which just sold to my special friend Carly!

Cute, eh?
Wannit?

Many years ago when my almost-seventeen-year-old was just a wee toddler, we shared a back lane with a bridal shop. One wintry night, my neighbour and I witnessed a lot of traffic from the rear of that store straight to our shared dumpsters.

My neighbour, worried that I would think her insane, phoned me nonetheless to entice me to venture out into the dark night with flashlights and one toddler in tow.

She didn't know me very well at the time.

it was very likely the birthplace of what I consider to be a lifelong friendship.

My dumpster diving neighbour and I took turns crawling into the container and pitching out box after box of wedding dresses, bridesmaid dresses, veils, satin pumps, and oddly enough- a beautiful piece of embroidered fabric- the very one you see on this June day.

We both have many pictures of our children and all our friends children playing endless games of dress-up from that epic dumpster event.

Arianna doesn't seem to be too scarred from having to hang out in the back lane in the dark with her wacky mother and her awesome friend.

Isn't it the prettiest piece of fabric??

Certainly NEVER belonged in a landfill.

(hi piggy!)

This is a binder-sized messenger bag; the body of which is made from an upcycled handsewn quilt. Yellow. Only one of my favourite colours.

Some vintage yellow geometric fabric fashions the pockets for your cell phone, keys, and mace.
(in case of rabid guineas)

All inside out.

I'm very fond of that little leafy piece with the blue berries decorating it. My volunteering/sewing/Darfur connection pal sent that to me in the mail. (thank you!)

And that completes the photo story for bag #1.

Details: the dimensions are 15" x 12" x 4.5".
The fabric is irreplaceable! (until the next time I live behind a bridal shop that floods and deposits its treasures into the dumpster that is behind my home. That shouldn't be long in coming.)

I will take any reasonable offer of at least $40.00 Cdn.

Just leave me a comment, indicating bag #1, or "dumpster diving" or "spot the guinea pig" or any other creative combo of words that will lead me to believe you love this messenger bag.

Shipping to most places is about $12.00.

And now for:

Bag #2: The One That Got Away

Except that it already got away. Janice needed one more bag to make a well rounded collection of: 4,638,328 darfur bags. The classic tote bag.

Perfect for all your toting needs.

(I should have gone into advertising)

Weirdest thing: a woman at the fair carried this around in my little main street shop for the longest time. She said to me; "This one is calling my name".

Then she put it down and walked away.

This bag is so magical, it has an audible voice!

How can you walk away from that?

I can only surmise that it was something the tote said.

I was so sorry about that, but what could I do?

Okay, seriously now.

The bag measures 13" x 14" x 4".

It is basic, unlined, very durable, and sort of magical.

I will accept any offer at or above $12.00 Cdn.

Bag #3 : This Aint Yer Grandma's Runner

What do you get when you combine a table runner with a throw cushion, one side of a pair of suspenders, some upholstery samples, and some trim?

A bag4darfur, silly.

I had that pillow on my couch for a lot of years.

But I'm fickle and moody with what I have laying around the place.

It was time to embrace the yellows and turquoise in my life.
So I'm passing some of the burgandy, brown, green, and beige onto you, my loyal friends.

This is her, all turned inside out. Someone somewhere along the line gave me this piece of fabric all adorned in fairies lolly gagging around in a flowery field. (Valerie Ruth?) I love its whimsical quality. That's why I saved even little pieces of it, and they became pockets in this here bag4.

See? It even comes with feet.

You don't even have to carry it yourself, if you don't want to.

It's nearly entirely independent.

You know you wannnnit.

Details:
9.5" x 9" x 4"

Any offer starting at $30.00 Cdn will be accepted.

Bag #4: Back to the Sixties: Now sold to Patti!

Okay, so it just figures that I didn't sell this bag on the weekend.

Why, you ask?

Because its one of my favourites.
And it seems that I have eccentric taste.
If I truly love and adore a bag, it doesn't immediatly sell.
Maybe it just wants to stay with me?

I love everything about this tote.

The green button that likely came off one of those plaid coats that we wore when we were little.

The kitchen calendar towel !!

These are my favourite finds.

And when it says 1968 on it, I feel slightly irreverent cutting it into a bag- but what better way to celebrate it?
Much better than drying dishes with it- How Dull.

Every few years when the calenders align, you could actually use this bag as your day planner!

Well, at least for Jan, Feb, March, and little bits of a few other months.

The body is a vintage table napkin in all those glorious retro colours.

I was born at the wrong time and space?

Or possibly- just the right one. 14" x 12" x 4" are the dimensions.

Somehow I neglected to photograph the interior. There are actually six pockets inside, and one outside. The bag is fully lined as well.

I'd accept $20.00 for this here bag, and send it off with hugs and kisses.

Coming soon: an announcement regarding the final tally for the weekend.

It's good.
It's grand.

So, not only am I happy about a fun-filled, successful weekend at the fair, I also noted with some joy that the list of followers on the bags4darfur blog hit one hundred!

Who would have thunk it.
Thanks, all.

As always, comments are free today.

They often bolster me at low points in the day.
And sometimes send me rushing to my bernina with a new idea or two.

If you are interested in any of the four bags posted above, simply leave a comment indicating what price you are willing to pay. As long as it meets the minimum, we've got ourselves a sale. Then e-mail me at re-joyce@live.ca with your location and we'll work on shipping details.

Thanks, all. You've made my life a richer place.

Well! THAT was Fun!

2011-06-12T13:16:00.013-05:00

Home Makeover- bags4 Edition

2011-05-24T09:03:00.008-05:00

I have a sewing room.
But it's
Full.

On a productive sewing day, the pans, bowls, and tins of buttons begin to spill out of the sewing room/ office room/ kids-numbing-their-cortexes-on-video-games room....

......and spread steadily towards the dining room.
Stacks of like-minded fabrics.
Baskets full of neckties.
Scissors, pins, sketches, ideas....

And a few favourite turqoise pieces that are utterly unrelated but oh-so inspiring!

If I cooked meals on days like this,

That's where we'd eat.

But this is so much more satisfying.

Did I mention that in addition to the sewing room/office, I also have an overflowing corner in my basement?

And some boxes in the garage?

So as we slowly succomb to suffocation bags4 style,

Plan to meet me at the fair!

Show 'n Tell, Aussie Style

2011-05-05T18:40:00.008-05:00

Six days of inspiring company found me cutting and stitching to my heart's content.

I hadn't seen my friend in twenty years. We were in our twenties when we'd last spent time together, and our interests reflected that. There was no way of knowing that as the years slipped by, our lives paralleled in the most unusual ways.

Buttons and textiles.

Ric Rak and remnants.

Old and unusual.

What unparalleled joy it was sift through buttons and inspiration with her and her beautiful (in many ways) daughter for a week as we caught up on each other.

The outcomes were memorable.

Donna did not return to the land down under without a bag or two to sell in her own shop near Sydney. (Yay! Bags4 goes international!!)

Bag number one features a retro tablecloth, and the embroidery from an upcycled tea towel.

The other side reuses a kitchen curtain turned pocket, all held together with a vintage button to form a pocket.

This one time drape got paired with a gorgeous (unused) handkerchief and four vintage buttons.

Another hanky adorns the back.

This was one of her personal favorites. She has a profound weakness for all things green and pink.

And my own favourite. I had been hoarding an ancient piece of embroidery that was terribly tattered but sweet and inspired. This was the place to use it. To stabilize the worn nature of the linen, I did a free form stitch-about all over the piece, creating some thread designs over top the original linen. I love the overall effect.

Here's a vintage tablecloth, reading to tote someone's produce from the maw-ket. (that's Aussie for market, or grocery store)

And finally, a series of photos of the bag I made specially for my old friend the lover of green and pink. One side features a pillow slip, a Little John rolled oats muslin sack, and a piece of crochet. (Donna is also a crochet freak)

A large dreamy hanky forms a pocket on the other side.

Turn it inside out and you've got another bag entirely.
I wasn't so greedy that I couldn't share some of my precious buttons with an old friend.

And I simply had to use a Manitoba Sugar Co sack for the other side. She'll never forget her memorable trip to Winnipeg hauling that little beauty around now, will she?

Ah, two more.
I thought we were nearly done!

There's my friend- all weighted down.

Hope the airline doesn't charge her too much for excess weight, or those bags will really become expensive! Should be all right though, since she also nicked a large bag I'd once made for a customer who changed her mind.

One of my personal faves- the carpet bag. It's large and chock-a-block full of pockets on the inside. Ironically, the customer who had requested the bag wanted a piece large enough for all her knitting. Turns out the bag goes to Donna and is currently stuffed with every sort of tool and gadget necessary for in flight crochet. What a party animal, that gal.

I reckon it'll be a fun experiment to have a friend market bags4 in Australia.

Fair dinkum.

I'm Still Here...

2011-05-02T07:28:00.002-05:00

... and haven't forgotten my commitment to Darfur, my appreciation for you, my followers, and my love of all things vintage and woven.

At this moment and for several more to come, I am hosting a dear friend from Australia and her amazing daughter. They inspire me in so many ways.

So, although there is simply no time for blogging, I've found myself lost in buttons and design dreams once again.

I thank you for your constant support, and now for your patience.

xo joyce

Coming Soon

2011-04-26T08:30:00.004-05:00

to a Niverville Old Tyme Country Fair near you...(Now... With the correct link that will actually lead you to the website of the country fair, as opposed to the first link that I innadvertently posted which led you to other places... totally unrelated to the fair)

to a Niverville Olde Tyme Country Fair near you......(this is the link that I downloaded that I totally didn't mean to download, but somehow I did.... and it made people believe that the Niverville Fair was going to host Sheldon from the Big Bang Theory at the fair.....) Wow. I'm such a nob that I do nobbish things without knowing how nobbish the things are that I do.....

Bags 4 Darfur!

Find me- with bags! at the street market on main street, Niverville on June 10 and 11.

I've been busy storing up inventory, and look forward to being a part of Niverville's most fun-filled and community minded event. Please come by and say hello, and support our displaced friends in the Sudan.

As usual, all profits will be donated to the world food programme.

Gearing Up....

2011-04-08T09:03:00.000-05:00

.... to get back at it.

I recently had a visitation from Brenda Suderman, writer for the "Faith" section of the Winnipeg Free Press. This Saturday, August 6, 2011, there just might be a little something about the Darfur project worth reading about.

And as always, I appreciate all the good vibes you keep sending my way.

She Tries To Sound Like Someone Really Important

2011-03-26T06:45:00.003-05:00

I'll be "out of the office" for a few days-
Happy spring break!

Bring Out The Bright!

2011-03-23T21:54:00.022-05:00

Something that really helped me to jump full speed back into sewing, was to tell myself to save nothing for some other time or occasion. Later is Now. See it, love it, sew it, sell it. Life is terminal for us all, and there's no time like right now to just move forward. So, first of all, I attacked my substantial piles of samples. So far, I've gotten over seventy totes from that starting point, and I think my piles have shrunk. Last week someone mentioned "bright". I immediately thought of my coveted, beloved, and hoarded collection of vintage table cloths. Then I remembered about waiting for nothing, and cutting and sewing with total abandon. So, this lot of ten contains some of that work. It may be a little heavy on the pink, but don't let that discourage you if you're a closet pink hater. I have several billion boxes of other options in the garage. Just give me time. So, just to review. See a tote bag that you like? Then scroll to comments at the bottom of the post and leave me a comment that contains the amount of money you're willing to pay at or over ten dollars per bag (unless otherwise indicated). You can also send me an e-mail at re-joyce@live.ca to work out shipping and payment options. Shipping to most places is ten dollars. Ready? let's go. #1 (ahhh... I do love the graphics of these old cloths. There's just something about the colours that makes me think of another time.)

#2: sold to Shannon for $20-

This bag is fully lined, complete with pockets, and actually fully reversible. I'd like a minimum of $15- for this piece which employs two vintage table cloths, and a handkerchief.

#3: sold to Lori for $20-!

(fully lined and pocketed. minimum of $15- please)

oh dear. My personal favourite. *sigh*

:an old baby blanket, vintage embroidered pillow slip, and the purple floral piece is a vintage slipcover that I've been drooling over for years now.

*sigh* (this is the inside view. Lined, pocketed)

#4 the rest of the pink blanket. It has some pretty neat motifs on it.

I like....

this bag is unlined.

it has three pockets on one side.

another vintage table cloth. Love those pics...

#6 is sold to Nancy! and now... a special series by Floey the cat.

Yes, puss. Turns out that I must admit- this blog is actually ALL ABOUT YOU!!

#7: sold to Melanie for $20-

and back to upholstery pieces, for the demure in the crowd...

#9: sold to Alison for $20-!

#10: fancy nancy!

I love you people-thanks for all the support!!

Spring for Bags

2011-03-20T21:58:00.019-05:00

Sewing bags is so much more rewarding than, say; washing dishes.
They have some elements in common- you perform the same set of exercises over and over again- but there's nothing too exciting about a dishrack full of plates.

A blog full of bags? Well, that's another matter entirely.

I'm sure many of you are familiar with the routine, but it doesn't hurt to lay it all out again. On today's blog post, you will find ten tote bags. They are fashioned primarily out of upholstery samples donated by our local furniture store. This means that they really ought to last rather a long time. They are basic, unlined bags. I am offering these bags for sale for any amount of money at or above ten dollars per bag. I ship to anywhere. Most shipping costs ten dollars, and if you offer twenty or more dollars per bag, you can choose not to send additional funds for shipping. You can send a personal cheque to me, and get my address by e-mailing re-joyce@live.ca. You can also pay through paypal, also by e-mailing me with your intentions.

clear? good. Go shopping so I can go shipping.
#1: sold to OttoGus for $20-

#2: sold to Valerie!

#3: sold to Jodi! $15-

#4: sold to Steph for $10-!

#5: sold to Steph! $10-

#6: sold to Stephanie for $10-!

#7:

#8: sold to Debbie for $10-

#9: Sold! OttoGus, $25-

#10: sold to Debbie $10-

So. You Want Bags.

2011-03-15T09:05:00.045-05:00

Sold out!

(I'll just be scurrying down to the basement now.....)

humph. Just try and get past ME first.
I've got sharp parts, and I don't appreciate being unceremoniously dumped from my bed.

But if you insist, I'll move for a minimum of ten dollars.
You should know that my human sewed up these (unlined) tote bags out of donated upholstery samples. They are very sturdy and durable, liable to exist for longer than I am. But I prefer not to dwell on such details.

Leave your name and the number of the bag that you desire in the comment box.
Any questions whatsoever can be sent to re-joyce@live.ca

Check out the donation total in the left hand column of the blog. You'll see that with recent donations, the total has surpassed 20K! Awesomely rewarding. Thanks, all.

#1:Karen snuck past the kitty! $20-

#2 "old friends" are some of the best friends! Thanks VB for $10-

#3 and Jodi snaps up number three!

#4 : sold to Karla! for $25-

#5 sold for $20- to Gaboury!

#6: sold to Karla for $25-!

#7 thanks, Jenni! $10-

#8; wendy pendy for $10!

#9: Robyn! $20-

#10: perrygirl rides away! $25-

And that's the ten.

Thanks for stopping by.

Some Baggy Thoughts

2011-03-08T09:07:00.003-06:00

Thank you all so much for gobbling up another set of bags.

At the baseline price, this set of bags might have brought in $100.00 but because of your generosity, it brought in at least $220.00. Thank you so very much.

And then there are the bags that got away. My sisters came over last Sunday for my annual "So You Survived a Car Crash" Party. This is a Faspa party that I host each February when my family and I celebrate the day three years ago when my parents rolled their van and "walked away" and my daughter got hit by a car crossing a street on an icy day. Yes, these events all occurred on the very same day.

Meanwhile, as we celebrated over pickles and day old donuts, my sisters descended on my bag stacks with unadulterated greed and enthusiasm. Well, not greed I guess, seeing as they generously purchased several bags that never quite made it to the blogspot.

So, in celebration of all your generosity and support, I've posted pics of the bags that got away.

I hope to let a whole lot more bags out into the world, to raise hope, and money, to build community, and to focus on the good.

(yes. That's my sister. And yes. She looks exactly like me. And no. We're not twins.

We're ten years apart, and I dare you to guess who is older.....)

And Ten More Totes Make Sixty

2011-03-06T21:35:00.026-06:00

Can a girl sew sixty bags in a matter of weeks without consequence?

Ask my shoulder rubbing husband, next time you see him.

I think I'm actually seeing a markable reduction in my upholstery sample stacks. But I have concluded that they are stacks of Biblical/Elf and the shoemaker proportions. Every time I dip in for a little more of that flour and oil/ shoe making leather, it seems the stacks grow again.

Imagine if I get to work on the boxes full of fabric that are stored, frozen and waiting in the garage!

Meanwhile, I am pleased to present to you bags number fifty-one to sixty. They are conveniently labelled one through ten so that you can more easily identify the one(s) that tickle your bag-lovin' fancy.

So, for any offer ten dollars and up, please indicate the bag of your liking in the comment section below. If you don't have a google account, you can always leave a comment by identifying yourself as "anonymous" when the list of choices pops up. You can also e-mail me any time with any question at re-joyce@live.ca.

Thanks for being awesome!

#1: sold to Janice!

#2: sold to Leah for $30-!

#3: yay! sold to Valerie Ruth for $10-!

#4: sold to Robyn!

#5: sold to Donna for $20!

#6 : sold to Shannon for $30- Thank you!

#7: sold to Shannon for $30- Thank you!

#8: sold for $25-!

#9: sold to Leah for $30-!

#10: sold to Judy for $20-!

Tote-ally OCD

2011-03-01T19:58:00.021-06:00

So, I got back to the sewing machine and I've just kind of kept going back there.....
It looks like this group of ten will make fifty bags sewn and posted so far in 2011.
And I'm kind of into it! I actually brought in some more upholstery pieces from the garage this afternoon. Did I need to? Nope. I still have a few stacks here. But the stacks have reduced enough now that I'm interested in some new variety.
I think this "whip up a tote" plan is kind of working in more than one way: it's affordable. It's not over time-consuming to make. Its helping to reduce my fabric inventory; which is extensive.

So, I don't suppose you came here to chat.
Here are the ten bags you've been waiting oh-so anxiously for. As per the first four sets of ten, I am accepting any price at or above $10.00 on the tote bag of your choice. Simply leave me a comment which includes your name or pseudonym. You can always follow up with an e-mail to re-joyce@live.ca if we don't know each other in the real world. (or the blog world. Which I happen to consider to be real).

Thanks, peoples! It's been fun!

#1: Crystal can and she will for $10-!

#2 sold to perrygirl! $20-

#3 sold to Accidental Poet!

#4 : sold to Stephanie!

#5: sold to Stephanie!

#6: sold! Janice spends $20-

#7: sold to Charlene for $20-!

#8 sold to kara!

#9 Carolyn is a winner! $20-

#10: Wendy spends her pendies! $20-

How Many Totes Can You Tote?

2011-02-23T10:28:00.027-06:00

Introducing Exhibit C in the series of Tens.

Listed below, and numbered from one through to ten are a series of tote bags that are for sale. They were pieced together in the basement of a woman who is trapped indoors by ice, snow, and minions of preschoolers. These tote bags are simple, practical, and very durable. Made out of brand new upholstery samples which were donated by a special young lady who works at our local furniture shop, these bags are built to last. You could shop for freaking rocks with these babies. (don't quote me on that)

All proceeds go to the World Food Program to help displaced and desperate people in and around the Darfur region of the Sudan.

If you would like to support a worthwhile cause, and have a tote that you can carry with some pride and pleasure, just leave your name and the number of your heart's desire in the comment box. I'll accept any proposed price with a minimum of $10- per bag. (and really. Ten dollars is a very acceptable amount).

I am currently reducing a mass stack of upholstery pieces. I think I've made a dent; thirty bags later. But seriously folks- I think it rained upholstery around here over the past four years or so. Help me out before I'm permanently buried and land up on The Hoarders.

#1: sold to Janice!

#2: sold to my childhood friend IRIS!

#3: sold to Tanya for $15-!

#4:sold to the lovely IRIS!

#5: sold to Erin for $20-!

#6: sold to Jenni!

#7: Sold! thank you, Valerie!

#8 sold to Erin for $20-!

#9 was with us for such a short time.... Can you believe it is sold already?! Thank you Lorraine!

#10: sold to Tanya for $15-!

And that's the way it is. This time.

Like it? Name it. Claim it.

Or just leave a comment.

confused in any way? Send an e-mail to re-joyce@live.ca

Well, maybe not with ALL your confusions. I'm not really qualified to deal with those....

2011-02-22T20:22:00.001-06:00

Does anyone need to contact me for mailing address, or paypal info, or any other reason regarding bags? My e-mail address is re-joyce@live.ca

Ten more bags are waiting in the wings!
Coming soon.

Ten For Ten

2011-02-16T19:01:00.017-06:00

#1: sold to Lisa!

#2: sold to Lisa!

#3 Yay, Erika!

#4 : Sold to Jennifer!

#5: Lisa!

#7: sold to Janice!

#8 : yay! Mike Deal!

#9: Sold to Nance Pance!

#10: sold to Lisa!

That's right, sistas!

Any offer on any bag for ten buck-aroonies is all it takes to see your name in print!

Another set of Ten

2011-02-10T20:46:00.013-06:00

When the masses bellowed "MORE MORE MORE BAGS!"; (ok, one commenter, but don't get so picky...) I took my old self down to the basement, and whaddya know! I found ten more bags.

Same basic concept as round one. These are very simple- unlined, unpocketed, sturdy, durable tote bags. These things could get certain bookworms that I know out of the library without any embarrassing book spills.

So, basically, I'll accept any offer on bags 1 through 10, with a bottom line of $10.00. Shipping to most places is $10.00, but may be slightly less if I can jam it into a smaller shipping envelope. (Canada Post should be ashamed of themselves. How come other countries don't have to put up with these expensive shipping costs?!)

I'm more than a little encouraged that the last ten bags brought in over $200.00! Thank you all so very much.

#1 is sold! to perrygirl for $20.00

#2 sold! to Lorraine

#3 sheentya oba shveerich for $25-

#4 sheentya noch amma shveerich for $25-

#5 sold! to Pauline for $20.00

#6 sold to Melanie for $20-

#7 sheentya shveerich for $25-

#8: judi for $15-

#9 : sold! to Heidi for $20.00

#10

A Simple (Re)Start

2011-02-07T11:16:00.009-06:00

Although you've well imagined me vacationing aside blue/green waters with sand beneath my feet; tisn't so.

I've been in my basement, sewing.
Faced with growing piles of upholstery samples, I'd become somewhat overwhelmed. It was like I was living in a warehouse full of possibility, and in that land of plenty, I lost my ability to "make something from nothing".

So I came up with a plan: First off, planned deprivation. Move 75% of my stock into the garage and out of sight. Then take a single pile (or two) and set it beside my sewing machine. Challenge myself to just make something out of what I saw before me.

What happened? Lots of tote bags; shopping style. Simple. Sturdy. With practically a lifetime guarantee (except I'll never put that into writing....)

And since I've been MIA for so verrrrry long, I wonder if all the shoppers have picked up their pennies and moved over to some online shop with a little bit of reliability? So, I just want to move this stuff. All I want is ten bucks per bag. When all ten are sold, it'll add up to $100.00 which is a lot more than what I've been raising lately. And it's time to get up and get moving.

Especially after having watched "God Grew Tired of Us"- a documentary film about the "lost boys" of Sudan.

Wow. Have we got it good.
And surely we have a responsibility to do something for people without so many choices.
For just ten bucks, you can help me make the first step towards that something.

#1 : Sold to Valerie Ruth for $20.00!

Just go to "comments" and indicate which tote bag you are wanting to purchase. The price is $10.00 Canadian. You can pay through paypal, or send me a cheque in the mail. Once the payment has cleared, I'll put it in the mail for you. Shipping to most places is around $10.00 Cdn.

#2: sold to Robyn for $10.00

#3: Sold to Ms Caddywumpus for $25.00!

#4: Sold to Heidi for $20.00!

#5: sold to Linda!

#6: sold to sheentya for $25.00

#7 : sold to sheentya for $25.00

#

#8: Sold to Oreneta for $25.00!

#9: sold to sheentya for $25.00

#10 : sold to sheentya for $25.00

Once you've committed to a bag, I'll edit this post and indicate 'sold" beside the bag of your choice.

That's it!

Bags For Darfur.... via Kenya

2010-12-14T15:57:00.004-06:00

My friend Marie is taking her family on a hot holiday this Christmas season.
It's kind of an all-inclusive if you mean: your WHOLE family is attending. We've included them all. Yo mama, yo sista, yo brudda......

'Cuz they're not going to Cancun... nope, they are going somewhere so unusual that if they want to have a shower, they'll have to build a dam first.

The whole family is flying to Kenya for the Christmas holidays and spending their hot holidays working on the construction of a sand dam. This is very exciting for our friends- and for all of us who are thinking about their big, exciting Christmas and are happy for not only them, but all the people who will no doubt benefit from accessibility to clean water.

Marie wanted to take a long some uniquely Canadian gifts to distribute on her trip, and lucky me- she chose "Darfur bags"! So, in a tiny way I feel like a piece of me gets to travel to Kenya along with them. Plus it's super cool that these bags are going to be all about Africa.

Bon voyage, dear friends.

Travelling mercies.

Totes to Sunday, December 5

2010-11-29T10:54:00.005-06:00

Peace and Goodwill

Denise, $25.00

Berry Leaves

Christine $25.00

Ragged Angel

Tanya $30.00

All three bags begin at $20.00 bids and are available until noon on Sunday, December 5, 2010.

Please leave your bid on the post specific to each bag.

Berry Leaves

2010-11-29T09:58:00.005-06:00

There's something incredibly soothing about the blend of colours on this tote. It gets even more delightful when you discover that most of the materials are ex-tablecloths of superior quality.

I was able to employ the delicate scalloped edge of the embroidered floral cloth into the shoulder straps.

The pink, blue, and white tablecloth forms the body. It's particularly heavy fabric for dinnerware, and the berries are festive in a subtle sort of way.

Collected hankies form pockets on her interior.

Berry Leaves,

16.5" wide and 14" depth.

Minimum bid $20.00

This auction remains open until noon cst on Sunday, December 5, 2010.

Please leave your bids in the comment box.

Peace and Goodwill

2010-11-29T09:45:00.007-06:00

On my second visit to the stinky house, I combed through several boxes of mostly nasty clothes in a weird little bathroom/dressing room off the apparent living room.

This was the same room in which my sister had found a whole stack of vintage flour sacks that I became the very happy recipient of. The loop that you see here is one of those sacks.

Although I had passed up a 100% wool undershirt on my first pass through, I saw it this time through different eyes.

After washing and drying it hot (which eliminated the whole "stinky" and "ewww" factor), the wool was nicely felted, and a perfect material to stitch a peace sign out of.

This very natural patina goes perfectly with the soft blues and greys of the dotty upholstery sample.

I lined it with more flour sack unbleached cotton, and re-used a piece of one of my shirts that looks better as a pocket than it ever did as a fashion statement.

Sam's outgrown jeans make two pockets on the other side.

Peace Tote.

14" wide; 12" long

Minumum bid $20.00

This auction remains open until noon, central standard time on Sunday, December 5, 2010.

Ragged Angel

2010-11-29T09:17:00.007-06:00

This ragged angel is stitched onto a re-purposed children's quilt. The fabric is dyed with tea to give it an aged effect. The stitching is all done by hand by yours truly. I did it a few years ago, and enjoyed this well-meaning angel as a Christmas wall hanging until I decided to reincarnate her as a tote this year.

She is particularly sturdy and durable, and has a velcro closure so that all your candy canes and angel dust don't fall out onto a parking lot when you're running into Odd Lots for some quality items.

Here she is all bent out of shape. The red pocket has a zipper closure, so you can totally hide a tonne of stuff in there, safe from prying eyes.

The edging of a table cloth form three pockets on the opposite side.

Ragged Angel Tote.

16" x 16"

minumum bid $20.00

Please leave your bids in the comment box, this auction concludes at noon, cst, on Sunday, December 5, 2010.

Bags To November 21, 2010

2010-11-16T11:20:00.002-06:00

Drifting Time

sold to Robyn for $50.00

As The Deer

$25.00 sold to Lexi

Needled

sold to Karen for $45.00

Drifting Time

2010-11-16T07:04:00.000-06:00

After getting flooded out of my basement, washing an entire shelf full of fabrics that were on the brink of rot, then embarking on a major reno, I had no desire to haul every piece of fabric back into my downstairs sewing space.

I decided instead to practise a little forced deprivation.

I've noticed that with creativity, sometimes less is more.

If every imaginable colour, texture, weight, and style is available, the artist in me just shrivels up and starts staring with suspiciously blank eyes.

So when it was time to move stuff back into the basement, I decided to limit myself to one box. The challenge: to make something from what I had right then and there.

I liked it. I studied the quilt piece that I'd been so thrilled to purchase at the local thrifty gifty shop. I combined it with the good parts of a green quilt, some pieces of upholstery, and one of my favourite things ever- vintage tea towels.

On the inside, I used some shirting fabric, an apron, a cast-off never-completed quilt, and some random scraps.

The strap contains helpful tips on healthy herbs, an apron whose label said; "Rosie", and a shirt from Tar-Je (Target) that looked ugly on me.

The flap combines vintage quilting squares , more "rosie" bits, two needle-pointed purple flowers from a hand made doily, and one of my top favourite things- calendar cut-outs from an annual kitchen towel.

Messenger bag measures roughly 11" x 14".

8 pockets.

Adjustable shoulder strap.

Bids begin at $25.00 Cdn, and the auction remains open until 12:00 noon on Sunday, November 21, 2010.

As The Deer

2010-11-16T06:45:00.000-06:00

I think it's because brown and blue were absolutely forbidden together in the sixties.
I think it must be that my childhood rules get broken every time I see this wonderful abomination.

But you have to agree. Blue, green, and brown- an unlikely, splendid colour combo.

This messenger bag measures approx 11" by 12".

She has two pockets beneath the furry flap, and two interior pockets.

Her strap is fashioned from some rayon tie dye, a pair of brown cords, and a soft mossy green bit.

Interior pockets are thanks to a quilt I never did make for my daughter, and a sweet piece from Burundi.

This looks so much better slung across a shoulder than it does hanging above the brown couch in the rec room of your youth.

Bids begin at $25.00 Cdn.

Auction concludes on Sunday, November 21, 2010 at 12:00 noon cst.

Needled

2010-11-16T06:37:00.000-06:00

When people gift me with their fabric stashes, I often find partially completed pieces of needlework. Having roughly a billion unfinished projects of my own around the house, I like to think that it's redemptive to put someone else's to good use.

Like this lovely floral bit of needlework. (sorry, i don't remember whose stash it came in... forgive me)

Combined with a handstitched green quilt from the thrift shop, and a gorgeous drapery panel, our flowers have become part of a sensible tote bag.

Her inside is also re-purposed drapery fabric.

Got stuff?

You may need this bag.

And all the proceeds will get donated to food aid in Sudan.

Bag measures 16" x 15".

Velcro closure.

Bids begin at $20.00 Cdn, and the auction concludes on Sunday, November 21, 2010 at 12:00 noon, central standard time.

Git Yer Bags Here

2010-11-08T07:00:00.001-06:00

Bertha. Quite a gal. Bid on her right here.

Sold! to Katie for $35-

Self-actualized Jemima. Meet her here.

Sold to ottogus for $30.00

Take a walk in the Park, here.

Sold to ottogus for $40.00

Bertha

2010-11-07T20:23:00.007-06:00

Just when you thought that aunt Bertha's Sunday goin' ta meetin' broach had gone out of fashion.

What you didn't think of is how great the broach looks when you pair it up with some needlework, a pair of plaid fortrel pants, some velvet, and a bit of upholstery fabric.

Never thought of that now, did ya.

That bit of really detailed needlework used to say something about the road to a friends house, and it used to hang up in my house. But I really love the way it looks right there atop a bag. Helps you enjoy the detail so much better.

I particularly love the piece with the sort of raised velveteen. It reminds me of cushions on my auntie's couch.

For your cell phone and key carrying pleasure- two pockets just beneath the flap.

The long shoulder strap piece in plaid is nearly the length of a pair of polyester pants.

Could we bring back the day of the plaid polyester pant, pleeeease?

Here is Bertha all bent out of shape... er... turned inside out. Helps you get a clear picture of her pockets, which number four on the inside, and two beneath the flap.

Her measurements (yes, I'm posting them on the internet) are:

10" across and 12" down.

Bids begin at $25.00 Cdn, and the auction closes on saturday, November 13, at 12:00 noon, cst.

Jemima

2010-11-07T20:14:00.004-06:00

Here's a tote that's all wrapped up in happiness and love.

Her body is a lovely old hand-stitched quilt that I found at the *gasp* thrift shop. (does the woman live there? Some believe that she does.) It had been partially patched with some pretty ugly stuff that I picked off. Sure, there were hole-y bits, but there were lots of bag-sized parts that were just fine!

It went well with my large-armed tea towel lady. I hope this towel is not politically incorrect. I worry about this. What I see is a woman who has happily embraced her large arms. See how happy she is? Well, then look more closely.

To create a closure for one of the exterior pockets, I used the button and buttonhole off of a shirt that looks ghastly on me. It looks great on our large-armed friend, does it not?

And she's making stuff out of flour. Have I ever told you how I feel about flour?

mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm.

flour.

Just mix it with some sugar and pretty much anything else, and you've got yourself comfort on a plate.

See how charming the insides are? That's the handy thing about a quilt that someone at the thrift shop marketed as a "dog blanket".

humph, I say.

See that splendid strap? When boler babe and I were thrifting in a land far, far away, we came across a huge roll of the stuff. But we're much too financially responsible to like the price tag that was on it, so BB waited them out, and at "blue tag special day" (or something like that) she got the whole lot for like..... way less. I'm good with numbers that way.

I'm starting bids on Jemima at $15.00 because I can.

Wanna play?

Walk in the Park

2010-11-07T20:02:00.005-06:00

Imagine the days when draperies contained entire parks.

In fabulous colour.

Well, this park just became a bag 4 Darfur, and you could walk around with a park on your shoulder, all winter long.

With a base that came all the way from London, England. That pretty little bit of red is here thanks to our friend Lettuce.

I love that soft grey.

And it was thoughtful of the couch people to create an upholstery that so perfectly compliments it.

The inside is a bit of a visual delight. Some tea towels and pillow slips have been reincarnated as pockets and lining.

Her strap is such a delightful use of colour.

Bids on the park begin at $25.00 Cdn.

She measures 9.5" across and 10.5" deep.

If you don't want her, she just might become mine... All Mine.

This auction concludes at 12:00 noon cst on Saturday, November 13, 2010.

Branching Out

2010-11-04T19:32:00.007-05:00

Surrounded by bags and last-minutes "I shoulda's" in the hours before presenting to the social concerns committee at Providence College, I couldn't shake the feeling of inadequacy and internal struggle.

I told myself that it was because I'd slept in that morning and not managed to shower before the day's work consumed my hours. Once I got clean and actually put a little bit of thought onto what garments to throw across my body, surely my confidence would rise.

I'd spent a few days reading information on the internet- trying to get back in touch with the real issue here- war. Injustice. Fear, hunger, displacement. Personal responsibility.

And I felt all those things. I found myself trying to imagine being a woman whose children were raped, murdered, and chopped into pieces before my very own eyes. I tried to imagine being raped time and time again, and knowing that it would never really be over.

I tried to imagine being in that position and knowing that there were women in other parts of the world comfortably drinking hot coffee and watching these stories on You Tube.

I re-read the history of Darfur and Sudan, and tried to compose some sort of speech that sounded semi- intelligent and wouldn't leave me looking like a tired forty-something year old nobody who just mumbled IDUNNO a lot. But the facts and numbers just wouldn't stick. No matter how many books I've read, how many times I've stared at a map of Africa, or how often I read Mia Farrow's website... I just can't seem to rely on my grey matter to contain and release accurate information.

I shared my frustration with everyone who crossed my path.

My sister said that the magical shower wand would transform me.

My husband urged me to simply be honest- share my passion, regardless of my apparent inability to clearly remember history, geography, or where I last left the camera.

I arrived at Prov, and spread out my wares.

I still felt fetal on the inside, and like my words were jamming up and jumbling around between my teeth and fuzzy tongue. I kept up my internal dialogue between fear and intellect: Come ON! Wake up! Get With It! I reviewed my notes. I wasn't nervous, I just felt vaguely unprepared.

I knew that what Brian had said was wise. It resonated. This wasn't so much about presenting an historically accurate portrayal of war in the Sudan. This was about responding. This was about being moved to action.

I left feeling satisfied that I'd done the best I could have at the time, but frustrated by the limitations that I felt my brain had handicapped me with.

But I've always thought in swirls and coloured bits, and it's hard to feel academic in that state. It does enable me to sew odd things onto each other, squint at it sideways, and then add a touch or two. It does allow me to feel connected to people, their stories, and to be aware of the tenuous nature of this thing we call Life and Living.

In light of these convictions and passions, I'm happy to share with you a very special project that some dear friends of ours endeavor to do this Christmas. Instead of buying their children presents, they are all flying to Kenya, and participating in the construction of a sand dam which will provide a sustainable source of water for the inhabitants.

This weekend, there is an art auction to raise funds to pay for the construction of that sand dam, and here is the bag 4 that will become part of that event:

And ya know what? I don't pretend to know or understand the history of Kenya either.

What I do know, is that after some sales at Providence College, the total amount of funds raised through the bags 4 project is now $19, 396.00!

(sniffing around for some bags yourself? Come back soon, I got some stuff to show you)

Two Bags: On the Auction Block!

2010-10-26T07:29:00.002-05:00

Click over to this post to bid on the rosey posey that you see above, on yours truly.

Or how about wearing a piece of art across your bod? Click here to bid.

Rosie

2010-10-25T22:05:00.004-05:00

A few of my favourite things: mossy green fuzzy fabric; some deep red burgandy; and a gorgeous rose covered tapestry. Top that all off with some fabulous vintage buttons.

The shoulder strap contains bits of cushion cover, quilting pieces, plaid shirt, and a pretty piece of burgandy, pink, and green floral from Lettuce. (who is kind. And loverly. They have boot sales and tag sales where she's from. And lots of truly old buildings. *sigh*)

A velcro closure keeps your keys, phone, and bags of money safe.

And hey- you can fit like.....FIVE cd's in that space!

Rosie is 7" across; 9" tall, and 4.5 " on the side.

She looks great all year round, but she is particularly lovely with the onset of colder weather upon us.

Like her? Want her?

Bids on Rosie begin at $25.00 Cdn. Leave your bid in the box. Leave your comment there too, and don't be shy.

I'm going to leave this auction open all week, and finish it off on Sunday, October 31 2010 at 10:00 AM, cst.

Cheese and Trees

2010-10-25T21:51:00.006-05:00

So a couple of years ago, my husband was experimenting with some art form or other. He used cheese cloth and different colours of die. The result was exquisate, and I asked to keep that piece of coloured cheese cloth. It sat in my myriad piles of ideas until recently, when I turned it into the face of a messenger bag.

I started out by arranging some thicker, ropier thread in the shape of an unruly tree. Then I placed the cheese cloth over top and ran along the tree outline with the sewing machine.

The blend of colours and the places for your eye to wander is sort of delightful.

The buttons add a dimension of texture that compliments the thread picture, the cheese cloth, and the array of subtlety in colour.

A piece of swirly, mustard and purple, yellow and green fabric from Trinidad goes absolutely perfectly with this piece.

(for you, janice- a little cameo by Floey)

Turned inside out, we've got three pockets. A small one made from the edge of an old table cloth. A large one with party reindeer, fashioned from the bottoms of my daughter Jane's jammy pants. And on the other side, a button up shirt that I bought at the thrift shop that looks way better here than it did draped on the likes of me.

One of Loretta's scarfs brighten up the shoulder strap, and goes really well with the fabric from Trinidad, some corduroy, and a strap of patchwork that needed a home.

This bag measures roughly 12" x 12.5" with a side measurement of ~4 ".

The auction will conclude at 10:00 am cst on Sunday, October 31, 2010.