Image: Su Leslie, 2018
In the spirit of trying to eliminate single use plastic bags from my life (and use up my fabric stash), I’m making totes instead. This one is particularly sturdy and wide-based, designed to carry library books.
Next up; perhaps a tote to carry my totes in!
Zimmerbitch 
Great job! I love it, and your idea to make a tote for your totes! lol
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I have a (hopefully temporary) tote-all addiction.
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A tote toting tote, if you will!
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Hehe. Love it!
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Love this! The bag and the quote!
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I read it a while ago, and found myself nodding my head in agreement.
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I’m right there with you🤓
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Very stylish.
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Thank you 🙂
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That looks pretty fabulous. You can never have enough bags.
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Thank you. I think that might be my new mantra.
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I tote-ally love this new bag – and your new addiction! 😉 Always good to use up your fabric stash, That way there’s room for new fabrics!! 😂 xxxxx
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Thank you. I really have to use it up, because I’ve found the coolest new fabric shop near my Dad’s house which has clearance stock from designers at prices I can afford (well, sort of) 😀
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Lol! Put that fabric shop on the list of things I need to see when I visit you! 😉 Whenever I go shopping for fabrics I make myself promise to limit myself to only three different ones – sometimes I pathetically fail to keep my promise though. 😀
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Excellent: a road trip. We’ll have sooo much fun and it’s a wonderful drive down there. I’m going fabric shopping this morning — despite my best efforts I can’t quite manage my next project t with what I have. Hopefully I’ll find something on sale. 😀
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Hope you had luck with selecting some lovely new fabrics for your next project! Hope you´re going to share some more pics soon!! 😀 xxxxx
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I did; I got a really pretty floral print with a sort of periwinkle blue in it, and some plain blue I;the same shade. I thought I’d mix it with a darker blue for a tote and new iPad sleeve. I regularly shift iPad, phone, journal, pens, glasses, etc between office and downstairs and finally realised that putting it all in a bag rather than my arms might make climbing the stairs easier (and safer).
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I´m so glad your shopping trip was successful, Su! I bet those sleeves will look fantastic! Don´t forget to share pictures!!! 🙂 xxxxxxx
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Finished the first one. I’m reasonably happy (will post pics soon) but I’ve has a couple of ideas to improve the design. Totally obsessed 😹
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Hehe! I totally love that you´re being obsessed with these projects! And I totally get it as I´m regulary obsessed with new projects myself! 😀 xxxxx
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I knew you’d understand 😀
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You mean from one lunatic to the other? 😂
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That’s probably not quite how I’d have put it 😂 from one creative visionary to another perhaps. xxxx
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Yeah – that´s much better! 😉 xxxxx
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Love it! Another winner, Su!
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Thanks Deb 😀
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You should sell these online—I’d buy one!
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I’m going to try and figure out the economics of this. So far, what I’m learning is that I can understand why people manufacture in China 😕
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I’m not surprised. Consumers don’t appreciate the time and money and skill it takes to make something by hand (unless you’re being paid slave wages).
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😕 true, it is really tough for small artisan businesses to survive. I guess part of the problem is that things all “look the same”when they are new, but quality lasts. And you have to project forward to appreciate that.
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Brilliant Su, where did you get the logo with the saying and books?
Leslie
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Thanks Leslie; I read the quote a who,e ago and liked it, and the image is a shot I took of one of our bookshelves. 😀
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then did you print it on cloth?
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Yes. I got some transfer paper than runs through the inkjet printer, then can be ironed onto cotton. It only works on white fabric unfortunately, so I had to sew the transfer onto the bag. A bit fiddly, but I like the result 🙂
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Looks fantastic, Su and that’s a great idea.
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Yes; plain white cotton.
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Neat!
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😊 hm. I need to figure out the economics of this. Really bad time to be at the bottom of the world.
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🙂
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Now that is truly wonderful!
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Thanks so much Anabel. 😀
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Nice project with a purpose. and the quote is one to read over and over.
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Thanks Sally. I feel overwhelmed by the amount of throw-away plastic all around me. I know it’s not much, but every time I whip out a tote instead of taking plastic bags I’m also showing retailers that it matters. 😀
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Fabulous! I’d buy one too.
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😊 hm. I need to figure out the economics of this. Really bad time to be at the bottom of the world.
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Yes, the postage to the UK is probably not the way to make money! But locally perhaps? Is there an equivalent of ETSY in New Zealand?
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There are a few online platforms for craft I think; once I figure out how to bring down the cost of production. 😀
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Love it!
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🙂 thank you
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Another library/book lover! Have tried my hand at the ink jet print process long ago, and should look at it again. Love your whole concept – so beautifully executed, Su! If you start selling them, I’ll be sorely tempted… xx
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Thank you 🙏 that is a lovely compliment. If you do decide to try the ink jet transfer thing again, I’d recommend HP paper. It has worked brilliantly for me and given really crisp colourful results.
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Thank you for the recommendation!
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You can start your own range in the spirit of https://savemybag-sg.com
Love the quote on your tote!
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That would be something!!! At this stage I’m happy just to avoid using plastic bags for my groceries, etc.
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Great post! Keep it up!
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