Tuesday, January 19, 2010

Story of a Batik Bag

I love to take something and make it into something else.  Finding material that is past it's usefulness and then giving it a whole new life - gives me a thrill!  My friends know this about me and often pass on previously beautiful stuff to see what I want to do with it!

A couple of months ago, a friend gave me a batik she had done as a school art project.  I put it away.  I often don't know what these gifts will become at the time!
Burdastyle have a free pattern service - which is also copyright free! Amazing!  I came across this bag pattern and decided it would work well with a stash of Ghanaian batik fabric I have been given.  But I wanted to do a trial run first.
My friend's school project came to mind!  It transformed beautifully into this bag, and I was delighted to wrap it up and give it back to her! It has become her beach bag!

Posing with the Inca Lillies [Alstroemerias] from my garden proves that it would make a good market bag too!
PS - The pattern and instructions can be downloaded from BurdaStyle and printed out onto A4 sheets.  Stickytaping the bits together is easy as the joins are well marked. Fun to see the pattern appearing!

PPS - I am busy with the Ghanaian batch, and will let you know when they are ready!

12 comments:

Estelle said...

That is so lovely.
Don't worry, I won't be sending you any of my Home Ec attempts (-:
Looking forward to your new bags!

ELK said...

that is a story with a beautiful ending!

Krissy | Paper Schmaper said...

wow- it looks great!

And So I Whisper said...

very nice shape for the bag. Love the fabric.

Anairam said...

The bag is lovely! (I had to laugh at Estelle's comment about her Home Ec attempts - it sounds so like me ...)
PS the TP tube links you sent me are amazing - I especially love the wall art one. That is exactly the kind of project that I've been waiting for. But how terrible - the recycling people came earlier today and THEY ARE ALL GONE!!!! (So of course I am going to start collecting them again now ...)

Lauren Setterberg said...

Gorg!

Jesse said...

That worked beautifully! Can't wait to see the Ghanian ones.

myletterstoemily said...

i love your batik bag! the fabric is lovely with a lovely
history, too!

Unknown said...

so much lovely stuff! and your blog looks fab! happy new year!

flowerpress said...

The bag looks great, that must have been a nice surprise for her.
Thanks for reminding me about Burda, must sew something soon!

dinkum design said...

I love it! off to check out the Burda site.

Monika said...

Great job! Very inspiring!