The Funkiest Tote Bag Around

It is Christmas in September for me! I just received the coolest seed sack turned tote bag ever made, and it was custom made by a local artist. I feel truly spoiled rotten and I cannot thank the seamstress enough. It is so perfect that I am afraid to use it...but I will get over it.

I bought this funky seed sack on my last trip to Illinois when I explored Amish Country with my mom and sister. We had a great trip and I loved being able to bring home to Texas a piece of my rural midwestern past. I thought that I might turn it into a pillow, but with my very limited sewing skills, I knew that was probably not going to happen. I couldn't stand the thought of me ruining it with my attempt to be crafty.

Fast forward to July when I met a very talented seamstress and new small business owner, Caitlin of Rally Made. We got together to talk shop since she sews with vintage materials. I took a look at her items on her Etsy shop and saw some of her wares were made with upcycled seed sacks and the like. I asked if she would consider sewing my Funk Farms bag into a pillow, and then she suggested it might look great as a tote bag. Well, what creativity she has! Otherwise it would have been one very tall and skinny pillow.

She created a masterpiece. I adore this sweet little bag and got compliments on it within five minutes of receiving it from Caitlin. This bag is precious and the craftsmanship is impeccable. She even used organic cotton lining to make the bag more durable. 

The leather straps are the perfect compliment to the design.

I even have a zippered pocket! The zipper is upcycled from a vintage pair of men's shorts. WOW.  

I borrowed these last three pictures from Caitlin's blog and that is where I discovered the fun details about the cotton and the zipper. She thinks of it all! I know this was a time-consuming project and the price I paid doesn't even begin to compensate for her investment. I am so very appreciative of her creation and so impressed with her skills. I would wish her luck as she takes on her first show at the Austin Flea this weekend - but she doesn't need any luck. 

Have a chic rest of the week,

~Sarah