Friday, September 19, 2008

When Old Becomes New Again


Last week I had a bee in my bonnet. I dusted off my sewing machine and attempted to fashion a reusable shopping bag out of an old sheet. I, not being a seamstress, messed up the pattern and the bag didn’t turn out quite right. My husband said it looked like a tank top sewn across the bottom (which actually isn’t a bad idea, hmmm....).

Anyway I chalked this attempt up to a learning experience and vowed to make the next bag closer to pattern specifications. The experimental sack went to live with my girls and their playthings.

Today my daughter came downstairs with the sack over her arm. “This,” she announced, “is my new book bag.” By some miracle it was large enough for her planner, PE shoes and lunch.

I was on carpool duty so we drove across the street to pick up our elementary school neighbor. The neighbor girl, at eight-years-old, is trendy and fashionable. In fact the backpack my daughter ditched for her new bag was a discard from this neighbor.

“Where’d you buy that?” asked the neighbor girl as she climbed in the car.

“We didn’t buy it!” my daughter proudly retorted, “My mom made it!”

“Oh,” said the neighbor with a pregnant pause. I cringed.

“That’s awesome!" she finally said, "I wish my mom could make stuff like that.”

I breathed a sigh of relief. The bag met with eight-year-old approval (every one in their right mind strives for eight-year-old approval, right?).

I drove to school with two happily chatting girls and a set of old sheets who’d gained a new lease on life.

10 comments:

Meadowlark Days said...

it's beautiful...i have some old sheets i've been meaning to do something with but haven't gotten around to it yet...

Anonymous said...

Perfect! And the life is yours to keep.

Mamalang said...

It's great!

Courtney said...

What a precious story! I love how proud your daughter was that you made the bag. So sweet.

Thanks for stopping by my blog too. I've never been to the Pacific Northwest, but I certainly hope to at some point...and, unfortunately, I have no clever quip related to spelling Pac. NW ;)

Anonymous said...

what a super cute bag! :)

so brave of you to try something new and let it be imperfect- even though it looks pretty darn good to me.
can't wait to see more of your lovely creations.

xo

ps thanks for the kind words on my blog.

earthmama said...

I love that story! It's so true--the 8yr old approval thing! Ha! Life is so odd,huh? I think you are courageous for making the bag. It's great, BTW! You can sell them on ETSY for your new cottage industry :)
Everybody's doing it...a bit of 8 Y.O. peer pressure for you!

warmly,
earthmama

Anonymous said...

great idea! i wonder if that would work for grocery bags....?????

Wayfaring Wanderer said...

That's awesome :) Made me feel all warm and fuzzy, I love hearing about items being reused.....and appreciated!

Bridge said...

I'd buy one! Lovely-
from the woman with a sewing disability.

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