Pants ?

Well, I managed to get one bag done.

See my lovely tidy piles of fabric in the background - I am so happy with me.  : )

I probably have enough scraps to make a trillion bags, which just goes to show that you should never throw anything nice or pretty away.

I regularly throw away things that I don't consider to be nice or pretty, for example - Phil's socks and underwear.

Phil and I have lived together for a long time time now, and he knows that throwing his dirty socks and undies down the stairs (so they land in a heap by our lovely stained glass hallway door), and leaving them there, really REALLY annoys me.

My dear husband doesn't seem to be able to understand the concept of putting dirty laundry in a laundry basket. ?

So, I take my anger out on the smelly socks and unmentionables, by throwing them straight in the garbage/rubbish bin. New or not  *  This makes me happy again.

Anyway, back to the bag...

I really enjoyed doing this - because it's so messy. The stitching is all over the place, but who cares ? If it starts to unravel, just do a bit of hand stitching to put it right, I reckon more stitching will add to the texture anyway.

And going back to not throwing pretty things away... that corsage is made from the cuff of a very well-worn Oilily dress, I just cut the cuff off and gathered it up with a running stitch, and then made a little fabric yo-yo to go on top.

A few people have asked me where to get Oilily fabric, Gawd knows, if anybody does know, I will happily lick you all over. In the meantime, I just cut up old dresses that you used to be able to get on e-bay.

We're away for the weekend, we are going here, a very westerly part of Britain, if you live in America, I will be a little bit closer to you and I will be waving to you on Friday evening. Look carefully and you will see me. As usual, the weather forecast for this country, is crap. Rain, rain and more rain....

I've packed our bags with Scrabble,drawing stuff, playing cards,Enid Blyton and Roald Dahl books, and lots of warm blankets. Wish me luck.

* Phil, in case you were wondering.... that's what happened to your ' lucky mickey mouse pants'.

Ha !

: )

Comments

[Sarah]

Oh my, you crack me up! I have a laundry rule of my own, everytime I do the washing we each have to throw away/give away three things. I don't care if they are ratty or not, I hate doing laundry and seeing 3 things from each of us in the trash (or donation box) makes me feel better about that horrible job.

[meg]

well, now, that is just the best bag ever. ever. i will be stealing this idea straightaway. genius!!

[LLA]

Such a gorgeous bag! Love how much character it has....

Living in a house chock full o' boys, I too get tired of being the only one in the house that is capable of putting a dirty sock or underpants into the hamper. I often think "I have three different degrees, and this is what I have chosen to do with them???" Ay yi yi....

Have a lovely, lovely trip!!!

[Celeste]

I couldn't help but laugh out loud at that last comment.
I can (just) deal with the fact that my blokey doesn't put things in the wash basket, but leaves them by the bed instead. What really annoys me is when he takes his socks of in his studio and stuffs them down the back of the desk, or his amps. Cleaning the studio is his job, but every few months I give it a good clean and find masses of socks.
To make it worse he doesn't care if his socks match, he also wears mine a lot, so I always have a carrier bag of odd socks waiting for their partner to surface.

I absolutely adore the bag. I'll never be able to throw any scrap away again.

[Stacy]

Wow. That's a lovely recycled creation. Wonder if my trash pile could result in such a pretty thing. I've been thinking about that since I saw the beginnings of this on flickr.

Speaking of trash - maybe your husband would catch the drift if you turn his improperly discarded undies into a similar bag. Ew, wait that's gross, and I'm doubting he wears Oilily inspired undies. I just took a look at my hubby's which are tossed next to the shower doors every gosh.darn. morning. Nothing pretty could be made out of those either. Darn.

I'll be waving to you from America. I'll be the blah blonde with brownish roots still lecturing the husband about leaving his crap (coins, computer, socks, undies, mail, cereal bowls, etc.) everywhere that morning....

[jennifer w.]

That purse is amazing! I love that it is made from fabric scraps.

I've seen some fabric (by the yard) on Ebay that claims to be Oilily - not sure if is legit, or what the sellers' source is.

Going off now to determine if it would be overkill to throw my husband's shoe pile in trash...

[raspberryfairy]

Reading this makes me feel bad, because I'm the dirty monkey in our house.
I have a pile of clothes on a chair in our bedroom, referred to as the 'clothes mountain' by my lovely husband. It is a pile, which is neither dirty nor clean, so has no proper home, but in the end is start on by cats and is then dirty.
I'm a bad dirty girl!

But anyhow, have a great weekend, and more lovely bags, because this one, is just divine!!

[Daphne]

AHHH! Lucky Mickey Mouse pants! Hilarious.

I love the bag. Also, I bought my first copy of Cotton Time and I'm totally 100% hooked. Not that I've made anything yet, just that I neeeeeed all of it around me, all the time. It'll go great with the clothing draped all over my house, new and old and clean and dirty.

[Rosa Pomar]

Beautiful!

(...and i've bought oilily fabric from ebay more than once. VERY expensive but totally worth it)

[sandy]

This is so darned cute I'm tempted to drag out my scrap bag & make one of my own. Just darling.

[amanda]

oh, i"m SO laughing at all of this, as usual Lyn. You're such a hoot. I think you've inspired me to start throwing away some 'not so pretty' things laying around my own house...just feet away from the laundry basket, but not IN the laundry basket. Oh my gosh, and that bag!! I really really love it and it's 'raw' edges. So great. Have a wonderful time away from home!

[Mama Urchin]

Why exactly do they make man-sized micky mouse pants and how do they become lucky?

[Fran]

Great idea. You've inspired me to hang onto all those tiny scraps of fabric. Since it's getting chilly over your way, why not set fire to the socks/pants? :)

[Dawn]

I am loving that bag...
I'll be wavin' back to you Friday night.

[Siow Chin]

I seem to be only able to sew messily so this bag is perfectly my cup of tea! Talking about lucky pants, here in Hong Kong, there's a belief that if you wear red underpants, you could have a winning streak at the mahjong table ... ...

[sally]

Fantastic bag! And the whole laundry thing is hilarious!

[sadira]

Lord...when I was married my husband discovered his lucky socks in the rag bin (ewww...lucky socks? It's a good thing we parted ways)

I love Roald Dhal...have a good trip!

[lisa]

beautiful, lyn. love it. and i'll be waving back at you.

[Alishia]

Hey, my husband knows not how to use a hamper either. Solidarity!

[debs]

So so lovely! I gasped with delight when I saw your photo! And your fabric stash is so perfect and pretty - I can't imagine you throw any of it away! Have a wonderful weekend!

[hwehimnbryn]

Oh MC Lady! this is soooooooooo divine. I AM going to try and make one of these AND I AM going to start throwing out all the male underpants/socks that live on the bedroom floor ( when the laundry basket is 3 ft away in the bathroom)You are a wise and wonderful woman!
Have a great w/e.

[Shell]

Haha! Adore the bag - it's beauooootiful, and yes a bit of patch-up stitching will only add to it's loveliness.

What is it with the male aversion to laundray baskets? I swear, my partner just throws his clothes down wherever he likes creating nice little piles for me to pick up. Sometimes he even puts his clothes on the floor next to the laundry basket!?!?! - there is no lid on ours, it is an open basket, so why he can't throw them a couple of centimetres to the left or right I have absolutely no idea. I feel your pain, truly I do.

[rebecca]

My husband manages to put his football kit in the washing machine but leaves it there for days festering until I come along with armfuls of washing only to find his stinky kit in there - so annoying.

Love your new bag and hope you have a fab weekend.

[Elly]

Lovely bag!, yes i like to cut up all my old clothes for scraps in fact i have been known to cut up my new ones too:0.
Hope you enjoy your weekend, im fed up of the weather here in the UK.....we need another heat wave:0

[Vicky]

Great bag! How about a tutorial?
Hope you have a good weekend despite the weather.

[Lina]

That bag is oh so pretty!

[Hanne]

Great bag! - and I share your oppinion: stitches only contributes to "the texture" - that´s what I do a lot when making collages (paper).
And I´ll join the chorous of girls asking for a tutorial..

[caroline]

Love, love, love that bag. Just wouldn't be the same made out of greying and holey pants.

Have a fantastic weekend.

[Rebecca]

Oh that bag is lovely, you have completely inspired me to make good use of my scraps. I think I would love a whole quilt like that, it looks so right.

My husband is also physically unable to put clothes in the laundery basket, sometimes I just put them back in his cupboard, you would think that would shock him into improving his behaviour but no....

Now I'm very curious, where are you off to? It looks lovely, have a great time.

[lk]

My guy doesn't grasp the hamper for socks either. I retaliate by leaving all laundered socks in a basket. He hates that.

We're headed off to the family house north of us on the river this weekend, and for the first time in WEEKS it is not supposed ot rain. It will be cool, but sunny. There is a local Applefestival near there with 300 crafty vendors that I have great plans to head off to visit with my magpie.

We did the rainy, scrabble, blankets, hot cider with caramel and whipped cream topping(no wine for me right now, alas)last weekend. I brought a Waldorf doll I have in progress, but not a single needle!!!! ARGH. :>

[helen]

hee hee. This bag is divine. Such a contrast to smelly men's underwear. My boyfriend has now overtaken our bedroom floor with piles of clothes, the spare room is his dressing and drying room and the dining room has jackets, ties and who knows what else draped over every chair. Of course it goes without saying the trail of socks and undies on the bathroom floor. You are definitely not alone.

[Melissa]

I love the raggedy bag and would love to own one of my own. Must make one someday or maybe if you ever sale any. Too funny, I tell my children there is a little troll in the dryer that took the dirty unmentionables and disposed of them I like it that way:)

[le bec poilu]

great !
it's a lovely recycled creation !
I love it !
i skeep the idea for my scraps !

[lindsey]

no need to comment on the bag because it is JUST that lovely!...but the socks made me laugh out loud! i would do the exact same thing! haha. that is so wonderful, and it does make cleaning a little easier, right?!

[beki]

Brilliant! Simply brilliant!

[Peggy]

Lynn, I loved your blog before today. I've experienced heart palpitations over some of your wee creatures (softies, kitties, and kids) and the ways you find to present them, but after today's post, I am completely in love! The bag, the underwear/laundry thing, the cutting up of old beloved dresses--brava! I'll be waving, and blowing kisses too, from the US East Coast.

[Elke]

I guess I am a really lucky women; my beloved one never leaves his dirty laundry somewhere and is even able to do his own laundry... and does it!
Wonderful bag! It is perfect to add some colour to this grey day.
And for the Oilily-Fabrics: This is the place to go: http://www.noorderarcade.nl/pages/oilily.html
It is the Oilily-outlet in Alkmaar/Netherlands. They have some of the fabrics there, too, but you never know, if there is something interesting. Around the corner there is actually the shop of Room Seven, the "pastel daughter" of Oilily. Very nice fabrics, too and great quality cotton.
Thanks for the post and your great blog!
Elke

[Bettsi]

Okay, Lyn, I'll be waving too! All the way from California! Have a lovely weekend- love, love, love the purse. Love the image of you going around throwing away lucky underpants! You're so....cheeky!

[lucy]

Oh man, that was funny. My husband has the same problem. Our house is quite small, and he'll just change his clothes wherever he happens to be and leaves the dirty ones where they fall. More than once have I tripped over a pair of tighty-whitey's in the living room.

Love the bag, as usual. All your creations just bring out the smiles.

[Joy]

what a gorgeous bag, i feel a making session coming on. and is that a photo of polperro or s a littlre futher west than that?

[Anna H.]

I *try* to do the same thing to my husband, but I can never get to the actual throwing-out part -- I'm always afraid, that since he often does the laundry, he will retaliate by washing my reds and whites together or something awful like that. I kept his hideous pair of brown jeans in my closet for a YEAR and then had to confess and bring them out when he treatened to throw away my favorite sweater, which he hates...

Anyway, the weekend sounds lovely -- the scrabble, the Blyton and Dahl. All of it, really.

I will be spending my weekend trying to figure out how you made that lovely bag and searching madly for Oilily sources so I can receive the promised licking.

Have a great time!
xxoo

[geek+nerd]

I'm in love with the bag and the story about your husband cracked me up! Have fun this weekend!

[Zohrah]

Did you sew any lining for the bag? I am definitely going to make one of these as I have heaps and heaps of fabric (more than my own clothes) lying around and too sad to just throw them away.

You've given me a perfect idea. Maybe I make a mini purse to go with it too...and maybe fabric folder to store all my cross-stitch threads. and a needlecase. Thank you and have a great weekend. :)

[Susan]

I mean this in the best way (just in case you're a Project Runway fan and you know who Angela might be)...I love the fleurchon. The bag is quite cute too.

[Becky]

OK, I see I'm a little late in commenting. I'ts obvious everyone LOVES this bag!

[Nicki]

I am killing myself laughing over the *Lucky Mickey Mouse pants*!!!

The bag is fabulous. I love the colours, the textures and the fact it is made out of scraps. A truly brilliant idea.

Hope you are having a fab weekend and that the weather people are proved wrong.

[tinker]

Waving back at you!! Over here! No - this way - a little more to your left - here I am - Hi!

The bag is gorgeous - I love a project idea where my wonky stitching could actually increase interest by adding texture! Though I'm sure yours would still look much, MUCH better. But I might still steal your idea and give it a try :)

Next time I find socks stuffed in the chair cushion, I just might have to steal that other idea of yours and take them to the trash :)

Hope you and your box of wine are having a lovely time! :)

[Margy]

This bag is absolutely wonderful. So pretty!
And I totally get the laundry thing, I too, live with only boys...

[Amy]

I love scrappy stuff - and this is really wonderful. I am inspired to try this raw edge/foundation scrap technique on something now - a throw pillow cover perhaps - though your bag is of course the ultimate! Wonderful stuff - thanks.

[Blair]

perfection all over Lyn. Oilily should send you some of their fabric...do you hear us Oilily??? This woman does wonderful things with your yardage.

Have a fantastic trip. I'm waving back!

[Blair]

perfection all over Lyn. Oilily should send you some of their fabric...do you hear us Oilily??? This woman does wonderful things with your yardage.

Have a fantastic trip. I'm waving back!

[nichola]

You are just too funny! I love the bag, very inspirational, maybe i'll get around to doing something like that, i don't have a fabric stash half as big as yours though. ;-)
Enjoy your trip.

[Cassi]

Oh my, so cute! You're brilliant!!

[tatjana]

That looks like fun to make, great idea :) I decided to de-lurk because I just had to tell you that you can find some oilily fabrics on German eBay, I just did a search and found these:
http://wohnen.search.ebay.de/oilily_Hobby-Kuenstlerbedarf_W0QQsacatZ8423

[Account Deleted]

I *love* the bag. It does go to show you that everything can have a use if you just figure out something as clever as that.

[francoise]

Fantastic bag! What a great way to use up scraps of fabric you love. I think, by the comments you've had, that you've inspired many of us to "do" something with their fabric stash...

[Passions & Distractions]

Love the bag and love your writing! Wish I'd read this before today. I could have waved back Friday night!

[Max]

I absolutely LOVE your bag. I wish I had the energy to do something even half as wonderful. Oh and as far as the men/socks laundry thing goes it totally drives me crazy, I am always finding smelly socks around the house and he even piles his laundry next to the basket instead of in it - whats with that?! In fact on occasion I have put smelly socks in his laptop bag to find at work, as a hint!

[debra]

The bag is darling and so you! You have to have a sense of humor about men and their cluelessness. What woman--regardless of how messy--would consitantly throw the dirty clothes on the floor, right in front of the empty laundry basket, actually touching the side of the basket, but never even think to throw it IN the basket??? Really, you have to pity them.

[smileymamaT]

Hi from Canada!
You are so very funny! And talented, of course....the bag is huggy-beautiful! Meaning, I just want to hug it to my chest and dance around the room, it's so pretty! Love your blog. Will be back to read again. -T

[tyn]

Lyn you kill me!!! I have to be careful when I read or coffee will come out my nose.
I love love love that bag, and would gladly send Phil some new undies for a tutorial. :)

[Fabricated Goddess]

This bag is so yummy!

And re: men and laundry.... OY, don't get us started! Me? I refuse to turn smelly, sweaty, dirty socks inside-right. For almost 15 years I've been throwing them in the wash in disgusting balled up wads. They come out inside-out and that's how they stay. I do a lot of things for the men in my life, but sticking my hand inside dirty socks is NOT one of them. Plus I really enjoy watching him have to turn them right-side out in order to wear them every morning....lol.

[Tami]

Wow, gorgeous bag! A very good use for all those tiny but still beautiful scraps of fabric. Too funny about throwing out hubby's unmentionables when they're just left out in the open. :-)

[Morgan]

Hilarious post. Gorgeous Bag! That's what you get for having Mickey Mouse pants!

[artway]

fantastic bag and fantastic note!

[Wendy]

How do you get so many visitors -- I need visitors as well :-}
I have a house full of single socks. 3 boys, and 1000's of single socks.

[Dana]

You have made me insanely jealous! I have bags and bags of these little tiny snippets. I haven't been able to part with them. I had intentions of making them into a quilt (okay, maybe 10 or 12 quilts). What a lovely, lovely bag.

[samlamb]

Wow - what a great bag!

Thanks Lyn, every time I get a chance to visit your blog I get so inspired. You're always making the most wonderful things.

[Lesley]

The bag is so lovely. I love the colours, they are so bright and cheerful!! and your fabric stash!!
I wouldn't be able to leave the house.

and ahem,,,,, there was some mention of a raggy flower tutorial.....????
is this coming any time soon??
I have a little bag of scraps just waiting for the project..

thanks
Lesley

[cara]

i am on the most eastern edge on north america, you are on the westerly coast of britian. i could almost see you when i waved.
your scrap bag is great,if i ever have the time i may make one for myself. need a new purse,i just end up stuffing all purse things into my bra. doesn't make for a hot set of tots.

[erandi]

love your bag, you rocks!!!

[jenny vorwaller]

oh lyn!! that is the most wonderful bag i have seen, and i bet its the softest too! :)* love the colors...

everytime i see my little piggy purse, i feel so lucky to have something precious and handmade from you!*

[bekka]

lovely bag. your pieces are so inspiring!

[maize]

oooo, love the bag!

my hubby does the laundry so I don't have that problem.

[Adriana]

You never fail to put a big smile on my face. Poor husband, having to find out his lucky pants' fate on the internet :-)

[ruthie]

oh I love your sense of humor and your bag too!! it's so pretty.
My bf is able to do his own laundry so I guess I'm lucky!
great blog!

[heidi]

Been lurking for awhile, but MUST comment on the laundry situation. Tossing dirty clothes from the second story makes my family think they are helping in some way. Not so much. I love the idea of tossing the socks and undies...that would restore my mood as well. I must try that purse. Reading and loving it from Topeka, Kansas!

[Leta]

I. Love. This. Bag. And yay for you for throwing the pantaloons out! It's called a laundry basket. How hard is that???? My husband likes to leave his on the floor DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF THE LAUNDRY BASKET. I haven't been ballsy enough to throw anything out YET.

[Jenny]

What a lovely bag! Nice colours an a smart way to make someting from all the stripes of fabric you collect over the years!

[Kylie]

Just Beautiful!

[quenna]

That is so pretty -- now I feel justified in saving all my scraps!

[k8tykat]

oh my. such a fabulous idea for all the scraps. just fab!

[Dale Anne]

What a FANTASTIC purse!!!
Love scraps and the flower is FABULOUS!
GREAT JOB!!!

[Becky]

What a pretty bag!

I've just discovered your blog after following a link from Posie Gets Cozy. I am really enjoying your posts and your photos-and I LOVE your whimsical banner!

By the way, I have a messy hubby too, and I really like your method of tossing out the old socks and stuff!

[Tracy]

LOVE, LOVE, LOVE that bag! Happy Days! :o)

[Rachel]

I cannot stop laughting about the socks and undies. My husband always leaves them on the bathroom floor. Drives me crazy!

I absolutely LOVE that bag. Makes me think of all those scraps I had that ended up in the trash bin. I thought our apartment was just too small to store them. I'm kicking myself now.

[jenny holiday]

Ohh my goodness!!! This bag is sooo edible!! Sooo sweet!! Adore it!!! Lovely Lovely Lovely!!

Thanks so much for the eye candy!!! I can't wait to see what you create next!!

xoxo Jenny a new fan!!

[Sue]

I've just seen the photo of your holiday location - Polperro, isn't it? Did you have a good time? Sue

[Kay]

Did your husband ever find his pants?? I have so enjoyed your blog and just made some little brooches (putting your name on my blog as the inspiration, of course). thanks!