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About this Product
Please be aware that colors can be slightly different on various computer monitors!
Highlights
6" x 9" accessory wristlet pouch, repurposed fabric
wristlet attached to zipper
light-colored lining
boxed bottom of bag
For crafters, this smaller bag is perfect to hold necessary tools. For the traveler, the bags can help organize packing small clothing or toiletries. This bag can match or coordinate with a larger bag to organize your crafting supplies and projects!
All bags and pouches are sewn with high-quality cotton-blend repurposed fabric and lined with a light-colored fabric. I find that a light lining helps the contents to be more easily seen instead of hiding in dark corners.
Sandwiched between the outside fabric and lining is a batting that helps to stabilize the bag.
Fabric is washed before sewing, pre-shrinking it.
Earthwise Emporium
Annapolis,
Repurpose * Minimalist * Low Waste
Meet the Maker
Hello! My name is Ellen Helms and I love all kinds of needlework! I began knitting as a child, sewing as a preteen, crocheting as a teenager, cross-stitch as a young adult.
Using and honing my needlework skills were vital for me as a stay-at-home mother and helped our one-income family use money wisely when creating clothing for myself, my children, for our home and for presents.
Earthwise Emporium is about taking lessons of frugality and low waste from my grandmother and responding to the current years of wastefulness in our country. In the 1920's, my grandmother would take her children's outgrown clothing to a rug maker and upon completion, my mother and her sister would enjoy playing on the rugs and identifying their old clothing!
The mission of Earthwise Emporium is to follow my grandmother's wisdom but instead of rag rugs, I'm making bags, pouches, and ornaments, with ideas for more products to come. As I often carry projects when I'm out and about, I created my own bags using leftover fabric and added a wristlet clasped to the zipper. For me, it makes the zipper more easily accessible!
The passion I bring into my shop is creating new products by repurposing high-quality second-hand fabrics. The ornaments I make honor our faith, country and various holidays; some of these fabrics came from other small businesses that are also working to make a success of their work!
My products are made for customers who appreciate and respect repurposing materials. They are concerned about using resources wisely as much as they can; they strive to reduce what goes into their trash as well as recycling containers and focus on the circular use of products. Reuse, Reduce, Recycle, Repair, Repurpose aren't just words, they are a way of life!
When repurposing fabrics, I consider who the fabric came from and what they may have planned to make before they chose to clear it from their stashes. This makes the fabric much more special to me and increased the attention I give to the creation of the bags or ornaments!
My packaging, similar to my products, is simple and pretty! Everything is wrapped in white paper tied up with a lovely piece of yarn. All products are wrapped as a gift whether it's for the buyer or they are giving it as a gift!
My products are made with the love and care I put into making things for my family and myself! The process of making them may be a drop in the bucket of repurposing fabrics but it is my hope that others will appreciate these products and join in on living a low-waste life!
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How it’s Made
Small bags are sewn from high-quality repurposed fabrics.
The 6" x 9" pieces are cut from a wooden pattern that a friend made for me. This makes sure the size is precise for the outside fabric and the inner lining.
The Earthwise Emporium label, along with a Made in the USA label, is sewn onto the lining. The fabric, batting and lining are arranged with a zipper and sewn together. After both sides are sewn and topstitched, a zipper tab is added.
The pieces are arranged so that the side and bottom seams are sewn, leaving an opening in one bottom seam so that I can turn the bag right side out. After these seams are sewn, 1" squares are cut from the corners and these are arranged and sewn to make boxed corners. The excess is trimmed and I turn the bag right side out, and bringing the open bottom seam together to sew it closed.
I sew a wristlet by folding, pressing and attaching a clasp to a strip of fabric, bring the ends together to sew. I refold the fabric and sew a seam in a circle, moving the clasp when necessary. After the circle of fabric is sewn, I fold the clasp inside one end of the wristlet and attach a double end rivet to hold it in place. The clasp is then attached to the zipper tab and the back is finished!
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Shop Policies
Returns/Exchanges
Contact me first if you have any questions or concerns about your purchase. Returns be arrive back to me within 30 days of purchase, in their original packing and condition. Return shipping is the responsibility of the buyer.
Cancellations must be within 24 hours of purchase.
FAQs
Sizing details
My pouches & bags come in two sizes; 6” X 9” approx and 11” X 13” approx.
Care instructions
Bags & pouches are machine washable and dry-able. Be aware that zippers and clasps may be hot when taken from the dryer. Ornaments can be dusted with a soft brush. Heating pads are NOT machine washable and dry-able because they are filled with flax seeds and water will cause the flax to clump together. Spot clean with a lightly damp cloth.
Why don’t you use brand new fabric?
I believe in slow fashion and reusing good quality products when they are available. There is far too much waste and reusing good quality products is the basis of my business. On occasion I will buy a specialty fabric for ornaments from another small business.
Why don't you add the handle to the side of the bag like I've seen on other bags
I add a wristlet with a lobster clasp on it to the zipper tab because I, and my customers, have found that it's easier to open rather than fiddling with a zipper tab by itself. Having the wristlet added this way make it more accessible to those who may have pain in the hands, eg.g arthritis, which makes it harder for them to get
hold of the zipper tab.
All the linings look like they're white, why not use colors.
1. I inherited a large quantity of sheets and since they didn't fit our beds, it made sense to use them as the bag linings.
2. I've found that a light colored lining helps the contents to be seen more easily. I've been given some lovely project bags with lining that are dark prints and it's harder for me to see if I've left something at the bottom, like a small pair of scissors (or maybe my eyes are getting old ;-)
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