I'm Waiting ...

... sigh ... I'm waiting for spring, for it to get warmer, for my husband to get back from Europe so I can get a hug and for a vital piece of a project to arrive through the post. I'm like a toddler when it comes to waiting - I don't do it well and I'm often tempted to stamp my feet in frustration. On top of that I've become a little plain.

To distract me from the waiting I tried to kick in my "make something fabulous from recycled materials" gene into gear. I keep a pin board in my little workspace and I pin up pictures or other things that give me ideas. Last year I found this bag at Viva Terra (a lot of their products are eco-friendly) ... ... and it is not that I particularly like the bag but it is made from recycled sweaters and I thought it might be something I could recreate. It turns out that interesting materials are key (brown and black seem to be popular in my recycle bin) ...
... this is the best picture of the bag - note the cute little fuzzy flowers that I learnt how to make from Betz White ...
... so the bag is just a bit boring and I think I needed more than 3 fabrics (although its amazing what you can make from an old corduroy jacket, wool trousers and an old coat) ... or a different pattern rather than big plain squares ... and while all the fabrics are perfectly pleasant together - its just a bit plain - it also screams 'bring back winter' rather than 'hurry up sunny spring'. I did wonder if more fuzzy flowers would make the bag more interesting ... but I think I will put this quick project quietly into the "could do better" bin.

I also made another bag from an old jumper.
The bag is so soft - made from a felted grey ribbed sweater 70% lambswool and 20% angora ... and more fuzzy flowers made from a blue felted cashmere sweater ....
... so its perfectly soft and huggable ... but as a bag maybe it is missing a little je ne sais quoi?