This week in bags...

Each week I work hard to make a few bags. Some weeks are of course harder than others. This week I have been working on some smaller bags. My new tote ones are fast becoming my favorites. I really like the flat bottom and clasp. Here are some of the bags I finished this week.

Grocery list - ON A PIECE OF WOOD!

So this morning was my weekly trip to the grocery store. I have an extra boy in tow alone with my usual three helpers because my nephew is spending a couple days with us. As usual I bring along my reusable bags for my groceries. I went about getting the food I need for the week. I have noticed more and more people are using canvas bags when they check out which always brings a smile to my face BUT today there was something I will not soon forget. As I was choosing some apples my 10 yr. old son Jadon whispers to me, "Mom, that lady has her grocery list on a piece of wood!" I looked up to see what he could be talking about and saw that indeed a woman nearby had a small rectangular piece of wood in her hands. Of course not being the bashful one I HAD to ask. She smiled and thanked us for noticing. She said she usually has a bigger piece of wood and keeps her list for the week writing the groceries she needs to buy, some notes to herself and so on. Then at the end of the week she puts it into the wood stove. How is that for recycling, reducing and reusing?? I simply LOVE this idea and had to share this with you. How can you reuse paper for your grocery list?

Concord Arts Market?

I am very excited this year to be able to do the Concord Arts Market here in Concord NH. I had several conflicts with the fall dates last year and am SO EXCITED that Katy Brown (organizer) will be doing some spring dates. I have sent in my paperwork for June 20th and 27th. It has to be juried so I am waiting to hear if I will be there...fingers crosses. I am also organizing dates for the NH Etsy Street Team to have a tent there during the spring CAM. I am looking forward to meeting up with some more of the Team:)

Concord Arts Marketp: http://concordartsmarket.com/

Etsy NH Street Team: http://nhstreetteam.blogspot.com/

Plastic bags in the news...

I was browsing news articles about plastic bags and came across this one. The date says 11/02/2009 LOL, considering that hasn't happened yet I am thinking they ment to write 1/2/2009. I am always interested in articles like this. Enjoy this small article. I found it at http://margaretriver.yourguide.com.au/news/opinion/letters/general/bravo-to-cutting-out-plastic-bags/1431025.aspx


Bravo to cutting out plastic bags
LUKE PETERSEN
11/02/2009 10:31:00 AM
CONGRATULATIONS and thanks to Margaret River Riverfresh IGA for committing to reduce the use of plastic bags in our town.
IGA has shown that business and communities can make plastic bags history while our State and Federal Governments sit back and watch from the sidelines.

Responding to a survey that showed its customers would support a levy to reduce plastic bags use, the Margaret River Riverfresh IGA will charge 10 cents for plastic bags and remove them from the checkouts.

The money collected will go to local charities.

The new policy starts on February 9, and for the first seven days IGA will give away 100 reusable green bags.

In addition, manager Debbie O’Connor reports that IGA will encourage the use of its green bags (which sell for an affordable one dollar each) by donating five cents for each one sold.

IGA has taken a significant and courageous step.

Now it’s up to us to follow.

Devise a strategy for remembering your reusable bags.

If you shop by car, make the car the storage place for your bags.

Empty them and put them back in the car.

Or hang them on the door knobs so they’re handy when you leave your home.

If you need motivation, remember that once a plastic bag escapes from the supermarket, it can end up as a serial killer in the ocean.

A fish or marine mammal that ingests a plastic bag, mistaking it for a jellyfish, usually dies.

The dead animal decomposes, but the non-biodegradable bag survives and floats off, ready to kill again.

Thanks again to IGA for giving us all this chance to help protect our environment.

NH Street Team

I have been a member of the NH Etsy Street Team for a couple of years now. It is a group of crafters who all have Etsy in common. We are all creative people who enjoy crafting and we post items at Etsy to sell. This is a wonderful group of crafters who for the most part have only spoken online through our yahoo group (http://finance.groups.yahoo.com/group/EtsyNHStreetTeam/ ). Yesterday we had a meet-up for the first time. Our hostess, Katy Brown offered her Concord studio for anyone who could make it. I have to say...I was SO excited about this meet-up. I was excited about getting together with other crafty people. We were lucky enough to have a total of 10 women show up including myself. Each brought a sample of their work...this was by far my favorite part as I am a visual person:) Ideas were shared friendships were made and I really felt energized by them. I am excited to go to future meetings and meet more of the 80 crafters in the group. Please check out the blog and support these wonderful local artists at http://nhstreetteam.blogspot.com/.