Peace, Love, and Recycling

Patchwork Purse - $15.00
Made from leftover fabric from a throw-pillow. The front is a patchwork of a fancy swan, a flower, and some solids, plus the border around the top (which is also the same as the strap on the bag). The backside is a large image of the swans around an ornate flower. The inside liner is white.

Katie of Knuckletoes from Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada makes mod and funky clothing and accessories items from recycled materials, both for the style, and also as a way to help the environment. A lot of the items in this shop remind me of things that were popular during the ‘60s. Those were the good old days.

Her other shop Revynalized specializes in items made from old recycled record albums.

Plaid Floral Tote Bag - $10.00
This tote bag is made of a heavy black fabric with a pink and orange plaid floral pattern on a black background. It falls about at hip length.

Purple Skirt - $25.00
Made of a lightweight silky fabric, this skirt has an elastic waistband, and fit's approximately a 34" waist.

Stone Hemp Necklace - $15.00
Hand braided with white and brown quill beads, amber beads and this great handmade centerpiece of stone wrapped in wire. One end has a loop and the other has loose strings for tying.

To find more cool handmade vintage items go to:
http://knuckletoes.etsy.com
http://revinylized.etsy.com

To learn more about the artist, take a look at her blog:
http://knuckletoes.blogspot.com

It’s Beginning to Smell A lot Like Christmas!

Zoe Stewart of Zoestewartuk lives in Edinburgh, Scotland and sews a variety of things including aprons, stuffed creatures made from Scottish Tartan with hypoallergenic stuffing, T-shirts, and occasionally vintage items.

Her specialty is these really unusual elongated hanging hearts that go on a hook for decoration and to make the room smell good. Stuffed with either Lavender or Heather, these create a nice ambiance throughout your home. It has been known for a long time that scent evokes emotion, and Lavender in particular tends to make people feel comforted.

Pink and Green Polkadotted Heart- $24.00
Measures approx 42cm in length and approx 15cm across

Pretty in Polkas- $30.00
Made of 100% cotton, for ages 4-7

This huggable creature just might make little ones no longer afraid of “monsters under the bed”. He’s friendly and doesn’t bite, and he can even be used as a pillow.

Henry- $24.00
Made from Scottish Tartan, and measures 25cm tall by 25cm wide
These will make great feel-good gifts around the holidays.

Check out what else she’s got at:
http://zoestewartuk.etsy.com

and to learn more about the artist see her blog:
http://zoestewart.blogspot.com

Fabric Reincarnated

1970's Fabric with Beads - $15.00
Measures 5 by 4.5 inches, with a short 18 inch strap.

Jajaja is a small business run by two sisters in Castro Valley California who recycle fabric and make all kinds of handbags out of it. Many of the fabrics they use are vintage, coming from the 1940s, 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s.

I love the cheeriness of some of these handbags! You would never guess that they are made with recycled fabric to look at them! This one below has such vibrant colors, as if it were brand new.

1960s Recycled Shirt Purse - $17.00
measures 9 by 9.5 with a 40 inch strap.

The two of them find their materials at thrift shops, yard sales, estate sales, antique shows, on Ebay, fabric stores, and they also get some donated.

They were taught to sew by their grandmother as they were growing up, and all their clothes as children were handmade.

This one in shades of blue-green and royal blue has a sleek design and would be perfect to carry with you when you want to travel light and all you need to bring with you is the basics. It is the right shape and size for a cell phone, some ID, wallet, and checkbook. If you're wearing jeans it will dress them up just enough to make you stylish but without being too formal.

Recycled Curtain Purse - $17.00
Cut in a diagonal shape, so the bottom measures 10 by 8 inches, and the top measures 10 by 10.5 inches. The strap is 38 inches long. It is fully lined with ivory lining, and a matching pocket and is reinforced with interfacing.

To see more of these neat handbags go to:
http://jajaja.etsy.com