Denim Bags By Mom

During one webcam session, my mom showed me what she has been doing at home in S'pore to kill boredom - altering and redesigning existing clothes and making a denim bag out of jeans scraps after alteration. That's my mom. Never wasteful and always creative. I had made a similar bag out of recycled jeans too but hers is definitely nicer. She was a seamstress in her younger days and used to make clothes for ladies. I've seen her make clothes for us but never before a bag. This is probably her first time making a bag? In any case, given her background, without inspecting it, I know her workmanship would be better than mine. Especially the butterfly embroidery, I thought that was very pretty.






Since then, she has been inspired enough to make another two more, all different designs. One for me, one for my sister and another one for herself. And she wants me to put it on the internet to encourage anyone who wishes to try. If you have a pair of jeans that you don't wear anymore or if you just cut off the helm to alter the length, use the scraps to make something useful! It's environmentally friendly and it's great to have an extra bag!

Now you know where I got my sewing genes from :) Well done, Mom!

Old Fabrics, New Bags

One of my favourite part about patchwork is the recyling or reuse of scrap fabrics and turn them into something beautiful and useful. It's challenging and also gives me the satisfaction that I've not wasted any materials. My little contribution to Mother Earth....hee...





Here I've used some really small scraps of cloth to make into a pin cushion, which my mother has taken a liking to and requested that it be given to her.





I know my mum has a collection of cloth which she'll sometimes use to make clothes (eg nightdresses) for herself and us. I asked her to give me some that she does not want. Who knows what I can use it for. In patchwork, the more cloth, the merrier.




Sure enough, when Hubby brought back the goodie from Singapore, I was inspired enough to use some of her fabrics immediately to make 2 new bags.




The maroon red cloth on this quilted sling bag is from her collection, while the printed ones are from 2 pieces of left over fat quarters. This bag is useful as I can put all the little barangs barangs (purse, handphone, keys, camera, sunglasses and whatnots) and have my hands free to carry things/XX.






Would you believe this blue and white denim bag is made from what used to be the legs and pockets of 2 denim/cargo pants? I found them in the stack from my mom as well.









Besides using them, I've had bags of fun making them.