Reusable Bag Spruce Up

I don't know about you, but we have given our reusable bags quite a workout. We've had ours for about 6 years, the bags are still in great condition, but over time, a few of the little storage bags have gotten lost along the way. Without their baggies, carrying your reusable bags can get a little unwieldy. To get things back to their ordered state, I decided to make some new baggies, this time with fun patterns.

I used cotton fabric, so the new baggies can be easily washed, and patterned, so that any stains would be camouflaged. The baggies have a sewn in tab that flips down to close, and keeps everything in their place!

Supplies

Cotton fabric, pre-washed/pre-shrunk
Thread
Measuring tape
Scissors
Sewing machine
Iron

Instructions

Note: Use 1/4" seam allowance

1) Cut a piece of fabric that is 5 1/2" x 15."

2) Fold, pin and press the short edges 1/4" (both the top and bottom).

3) Fold, pin and press the short edges 1/4" again, so that the unfinished edge of the fabric will be hidden inside the fold.

4) Sew a 1/4" away from the edge. 

5) Fold one of the finished edges 2" down (wrong side to wrong side), pin and press.

6) Sew across the folded piece, following along the line you stitched previously. This is creating the tab that flips down to close the top of your baggie.

7) Lay your fabric wrong side down, and fold your sewn tab back onto the main part of the bag.

8) Fold the other end up to meet the sewn edge of your tab. This action is sandwiching the tab, in between the front and back parts of the bag.

9) Pin, and press the unfinished, open edges. Sew up the sides. Trim your threads, and any excess fabric on your seam allowance.

10) Flip your bag right-side out, and get all of your reusable bags back into the rotation!

Liberty of London

Arthur Lasenby Liberty opened his first shop in 1875 selling ornaments, fabric and objets d'art from Japan and the East believing that he could change the look of home wares and fashion. By the 1890s the shop had grown considerably and built strong relationships with key designers in the Arts and Crafts and Art Nouveau movements.

Although the building looks as though it has been there forever, the Tudor building was built in 1924 at the height of Tudor revival from the timbers of two ships: HMS Impregnable and HMS Hindustan.  The shop was designed around three light wells that formed the main focus of the building. (This and more on Liberty's website)

Lili sent me with strict instructions to go to Liberty and I was so glad I listened! I love how european department stores are broken up the way they are. The experience is much more oriented towards wandering and exploring. Different designers have their own rooms or alcoves to tell their unique story. The focus is not about getting in and out as fast as possible like so many stores in the State, there is even a hip barber in the men's department. And of course, the patterns and fabrics that Liberty is known for do not disappoint! I was trying to be good as usual and succeeded in that, getting some new oven mitts and two hankies (pro tip: hankies are about 10% the cost of pocket squares but, from my perspective, are 99% the same square of fabric), all with Liberty floral patterns, of course! I was also tempted by the fox or guinea pig egg cups but realized I didn't really want to deal with breakables this early in the trip. All-in-all, another for the not to miss list!     

Borough Market

Just a little south of the London Bridge is one of the oldest markets in England. The market was first mentioned in print in  1276, although the market itself claims to have existed since 1014. Borough Market caused such traffic congestion that in 1754 it was abolished by an Act of Parliament, but residents raised the funds to buy another parcel of land and reopened the market in 1756. The present Art Deco buildings were designed in 1851. (Thanks Wikipedia!) 

Click the arrows to see some more pictures-->

It was quite an incredible place, but given the hoards on a Saturday afternoon it won't be making any "best kept secrets" lists. The Saturday afternoon part was a mistake in hindsight, but I was on a tight schedule. It was difficult to move with all the people but once you got a sense of the place I could weave in and out of the stalls. There were the most exciting and varied fruits, vegetables, meats, seafood, and cheeses. Since I had no idea what I was getting into I didn't make a plan, so I decided to document rather than buy, but oh what a place to shop for a meal or a lovely picnic along the Thames (just maybe not in January).