WOYWW 559

PAPA'S GOT A BRAND NEW BAG....

I hope that Storm Dennis passed you by and didn't inflict too much damage - the gales were horrendous here on the coast but we weren't flooded unlike some of the poor folk in the Valleys and Herefordshire/Worcestershire. It was foolhardy to go out if you didn't need to, so there's been quite a bit of sewing going on...and all to do with bags.

I saw a FB post by Catriona a while back about making shopping bags from recycled fabric and thought it might be a good thing for the WI group to do, as one of the resolutions was about stopping plastic usage.  

So last Thursday, a group of us gathered:
Some cut out the fabric....

Some ironed!

And some sewed! We had a really good day, Janet provided lunch and it's amazing how the time flew.

I came home with a lot of spare fabric and decided to crack on and make a few more - so while the wind was howling and the rain lashed against the window panes, I sat in my snug little JanCave having a lovely time!

It's easier to make lots of one thing at a time so there's handles aplenty here.

I used some of my stash - the yellow made a good partnership with the floral ex-duvet cover!!

I made quite a few and was wondering how to photograph them all and found this handy chap who was willing to make a fool of himself, all for the sake of my blog ;-)
Lol!!! 

We took the 48 bags to WI today and each member could pick one, the remainder and all future bags will be going to some of the independent shops in Burry Port and given out free of charge.

They are a good bunch of gals!!

And I came home with more fabric so there's quite a few more bags to be made, we'll have to have another sewing day!

Have a good week xxxxxx

27 comments:

Helen said...

I am glad you weren't flooded (I was thinking of your new kitchen..) the bags you WI gals created are fabulous, what a lovely lot you are. Happy WOYWW Helen #??

Sue said...

Hi Jan, Sorry I have been MIA again. Arthritis and Fibromyalgia thought it would be funny to both flare at the same time.

Love the bags. Nice photo of your hubby.

Happy WOYWW
Sue

craftyani said...

After our talk about plastic waste etc I have decided to make some bags also. will show you next week. Glad you survived the horrific weather you have been experiencing in the UK. Ani #7

Crafting Queen said...

Wow what a great idea. Well done ladies. Have a great week. Anesha.x

Lillianb said...

Happy WOYWDW

so glad you were not flooded but feel for those who were. Love the bags what a great idea, Makes me wish i could sew lol

sure looks like you had a great time,

Lilian B #8

Catriona said...

Glad to know you were safe from the flooding, Jan. Well done on making all the lovely bags-my friend and I tend to set up a production line too when we are making them. Looks like Gordon’s as tolerant as Norrie when it comes to helping you craft-mind you, N usually i sists his head is not in the photo! Happy sewing.

lisa said...

Lovely to be back amongst you, Jan and glad you escaped the storm. We got off very lightly this time which was a relief. The river flooded the weekend before and we were cut off. It's quite nice to not be allowed to go out though lol.
Love your bags, what a great idea and your model did an excellent job. I hope you paid him well.

Love Lisa xx #12

Annie said...

It's like the magic porridge pot isn't it Jan...the more you make the more fabric appears. Jo and I have been in that situation many times over the years lol. Enjoy every minute and stay safe and warm in the awful weather.
Hugs,
Annie x #6

Sue Jones said...

Glad you weren't too affected by storm Dennis - we were watching the news and saw that lots of places in Wales weren't so lucky.
The bags are a brilliant idea . Have a lovely "dry and not too windy" week. Soojay #11 xx

Felix the Crafty Cat said...

Pleased to hear you stayed dry, it's a nightmare and so frightening, I feel so sorry for those people that have suffered the floods. Loving the bags they are a great way to reuse fabrics. Your model has a lovely smile too. Men are useful sometimes Lol! Have a lovely week and a very happy woyww, Angela x15x

Belinda Basson said...

Your display manequin is just the bees knees! He looks so pleased with himself! What a great group of ladies all getting on with the job at hand! Glad you were not affected by the storm

Camilla Fisher said...

Beth llawr o fagiau. Da iawn, ti! What a lot of bags. Well done, you! x

Glenda said...

What a lovely bunch of bags you guys made. They will be so appreciated. I should make a few for myself here but I just reuse my plastic ones that I have had for awhile.
Glenda #19

shazsilverwolf said...

Hiya Jan, love the pic of G with all the bags. I agree that often making a whole bunch of something while you have the stuff out is smart- it's why I usually make a few cards that look similar. You all look to be having a fun day making them, and I LOVE your clock! Love & hugs to you both, XxXxXx Shaz #4

Shoshi said...

Great post as usual, Jan. So glad you had fun with the ladies. Did you ask the bag man, "Can I please bag your arm for a moment?" Great pic! He looks as if he's enjoying himself! I am a bag lady, of course, but a rather different kind of bag lol lol!!

Thanks for your visit. I don't suppose you have much to do with gesso but it's great stuff. "Tooth" is a term for a slightly rough finish that "grabs" the paint or other medium and stops it sliding off. My clear gesso has so much tooth that I'm always afraid it's going to leap off the paper and bite me! Maybe if I painted it with sugar solution, it would develop tooth decay. (Sorry...)

I love pattern too! That latest palette of Tombows is strictly temporary - wait for the Real Thing which I want to make a lot prettier than that. I just love how the colours fade and blend on the gessoed surface, and how the grey mutes them so beautifully.

Happy WOYWW,
Shoshi #20

Elizabeth said...

What a fabulous idea, Jan. A fun project for the ladies and the community benefits too. And what would we do without our menfolk ... they can so often be relied on to step in as male models when the necessity arises. Good, too, to see you are enjoying happy days, snug as a bug, in the JanCave once more. Though we haven't been flooded out - the river Ayr is in spate but hasn't burst it's banks, yet - a lot of mini lochs have appeared in nearby fields. And, as we are now expecting storm Ellen, followed by storm Francis, I won't be going out anytime soon. Take care. Hugs, Elizabeth x #22

StampinCarol said...

Glad you are safe! I've been hearing about the flooding on different news stations. That's quite the assembly line of ladies! How fun! And what a nice stash of bags! Your hubby looks very happy to help you!
Thanks for popping by and have a wonderful week!
Carol N #21

Neet said...

Gosh, you are a champion! What a lot of bags you made and what a lot you girls put together. I think that was a good idea to have a production line. I sometimes do that with my card making, especially at Christmas. If I get bored of doing the same thing over and over I have a break and go on to stage two and then back to one etc. Your G made a wonderful modeller! A great project and one others could follow - love how you are donating them to the shops too.
Trust you to notice the G&T and the chocolates and comment on them. We GinGirls have to stick together! Wish I hadn't eaten all the chocolates I did though.
Glad you enjoyed the video - thanks.
Hugs, Neet 10 xx

Caro said...

Loving the bag man - beautiful colours in your bags and so nice to see that you have stayed safe and having fun in the storm. Happy WOYWW. Have a wonderful week. With love and God Bless, Caro xxx (#8)

Stacy Sheldon said...

I am just in awe over those bags Jan, and I love seeing all the models you found to display them too. :) ( plastic bags are banned in the state I live in and I have a collection of canvas totes) so, I think this is so nice that you guys made enough for everyone and extras for the shops too. :) ~Stacy #23

Heather M said...

Hi Jan, glad to hear you are safe and Storm Dennis didn't cause you too much problems. I hibernated for the weekend apart from nipping out to choose a carpet. You all look like you had a great time making the bags, and what a brilliant idea. I need to get my sewing machine out soon, and finish the boys quilts before they are grown up! Have a lovely week, hugs Heather xx #26

Ali Wade Designs said...

Happy WOYWW. After being really proud of myself for actually blogging this morning, I then remembered late this evening that I should be doing some reading/commenting too! Watching some cycling on the tv and keep stopping to cheer them on, so not getting very far down the list. Your WI group looks so much fun. There is very little crafting in our local one, and a lot of Welsh speaking. If they spoke Spanish I would be more able to join in! I love the photo of G. One that needs a scrapbook page. Rich was actually cycling in the last storm - from Cardiff Gate to the Cotswolds and back again. 10 hours of rain and gales. They are mad. I was safely at home, literally keeping the fire alight, as our underfloor heating stopped working on the Friday. Our heating engineer had hurt his back and could not come out until Monday. We had heating upstairs, but this big/draughty house soon got chilly. The fire, 2 portable heaters and blankets kept me and the cat/dog warm. I hate the constant noise of a storm. Really messes with my head. Glad that it is calmer now. We aren’t going away to Spain until towards the end of April now (we want warmer weather than our usual late winter break), so we must meet up. I have been meaning to get to Carmarthen for ages, so perhaps there one day? Ali x #13

Sarah Brennan said...

So glad you were dry inside Jan. What a brilliant idea for the bags. I always carry around fabric bags with me for when I shop. G makes a great model! Happy belated WOYWW. Sarah #2

Lindart said...

That sounds like so much fun! Lovely bags! I have been wanting to make myself some lightweight mesh bags for produce so I don't have to use plastic, they seem easy enough to make with a drawstring closure. They just need to be very lightweight. I'm glad you weathered the storm all nice and cozy in your Jan Cave, I can't think of a better place to be while the wind is howling! Thanks for your visit, and have a great week, Lindart #24

Eva said...

Dear Jan! I'm deeply impressed by your bags!! You lucky person have frieds to sew and chatter and make new projects. After these plastic bags, fabric bags have a great future.
What a great idea!
Best wishes from Austria, your lonely sewing Eva

Twiglet said...

Been busy with Ben/ Max this week so I didn't post. But must say I love your big bag effort - well done to all and such a fab post of your bag model - looking really well G! xxx Jo

Kyla said...

ooh wow what a great idea, 48 bags is a LOT well done to your WI that is for sure! I have made a couple in the past and was thinking it may be a good way to use up some stash now I have seen yours.
Kyla

WOYWW 769

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