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Guest Post ~ Meet My Mom!!!



I thought it would be fun to introduce you to the lady that helped shape me into who I am today.  She is a shining star, a cheerful presence, a faithful servant, a force to be reckoned with.   Really, she is the sweetest, most creative, talented person I know.   She paints, she makes signs, sews show shirts, creates quilts (people are standing in line to receive their own)!  She has an amazing vegetable garden, and flower beds that leave me envious. Not to mention, she raises her own chickens and turkeys. She trail rides her horse, Penny, and sometimes even rides in competitions!  She loves to ride ATV's with my dad, and helps with an equestrian 4-H club. She enjoys life!  I only hope that I can continue to live my life to the fullest, as well as she does, when I am her age. Today she is sharing one of her upcycle projects. This is a favorite of mine too, because she takes something that would be thrown away, and creates something unique and useful. Not to mention pretty darn cute. I have several of these beauties myself and we use them for shopping, travelling and all kinds of things.  I like to keep a couple in my car for whatever need arises. 

Meet My Mom:

Gladys

"My wonderful daughter asked me to write a guest post for her blogspot and it makes me so proud to take part in her creative endeavors. This "girl" can do anything she sets her hand to do and in my mind, she is perfect. Well, what mother doesn't think that of her own daughter?! Her husband isn't so bad, either!


Anyway, I was flattered to be asked to do this. The subject of my blog is the animal feed bags that I make into grocery totes.


Empty Feed Bags

One day I was looking for something to transport some personal items on a trip we were taking, and I couldn't find anything that just fit the vitamin containers that my husband and I take with us wherever we go. They say necessity is the mother of invention, so when my eyes fell onto the polyvinyl dog food bag that my husband had just emptied into the dog food bin, a light came on in my head! I could refashion the bag the right size so the containers would just fit and be easier to carry to the car. It worked so well that I decided I could make grocery totes and stop bringing home the umpteen plastic bags every time I went grocery shopping. I had a ready supply of horse feed bags from my other beautiful daughter who raises horses, and dog and cat feed bags because they also have three dogs and I don't know how many cats! I get sunflower seed bags from friends and pig feed bags from a neighbor.

I have cut, sewn, made mistakes and finally figured out a way to make the bags so that the pictures of dogs, cats, birds, horses, or whatever creature the feed was for would show. At first, in order to be sure the totes were sturdy enough to carry the groceries, I was sewing the carry handles all the way to the bottom. This would usually obscure the picture and I wasn't satisfied. Then one day I was in one of my favorite stores looking for sewing notions and my eyes fell upon plastic curtain grommets. They come in two sizes and several colors. They snap together easily and the handles are sewn into the holes they create. They looked lovely, but they add to the cost of making the totes.

My beautiful daughter recently turned me onto Pinterest and boy, was that a fun thing! I am so proud of all the people, young and old, who are busy little beavers creating, recycling, learning almost lost skills that our mothers and fathers knew. And guess what!? I am learning new things, myself! One day I was reading a young ladies blog about making fabric totes and saw the way she was putting on the handles and low and behold, her method would work for the grocery totes I am making with just a little change! So, now I can make them with the grommets, which some people love, and without, to save money.



I am always on the lookout for feed bags with colorful animals. Making totes keeps all that polyvinyl out of the landfill and lets us come home without all those plastic bags. I am trying to get my hands on some cute bunny feed bags that I know are out there somewhere and the pink show feed bags from my neighbor who raises prize pigs are really nice. I have some chicken feed bags that are not that attractive in orange, but maybe when they are turned into grocery totes, they will be just the ticket for someone who likes orange."
So, without further Adieu, here are just some of my mother's upcycled feed bags:









 If you are interested in ordering a bag, or have any questions regarding their use, please contact Gladys at  her Etsy shop:  http://www.etsy.com/shop/GladiolaSmiles

And you can follow GladiolaSmiles in Blogland at:
http://www.gladiolasmiles.blogspot.com/
Thanks So Much for stopping by!
Sherry

17 comments :

  1. Those are sooooooo great! I would feel so organic just carrying one of those bags. Great Job! Hi Mom, nice to meet you! XO Cindy

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  2. I love repurposing! This was really a nice idea. I came over from "It's Fun to Craft" and am now following. I would like to invite you to come and visit my blog and follow if you want. Thanks.

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  3. very nice bags and such a sweet post about your mom!

    Ces of http://momdaughterstyle.blogspot.com/

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  4. What a great mom you have, now I know where you get your wonderful creativity!

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  5. She is a great Mom!! Thanks so much.

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  6. Wow, ingenious idea, and done so well. Could your mother put them on etsy - I'm sure they would sell really well ?!?

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  7. Thanks Fiona! She's thinking about doing Etsy. It's worth a try. That's what I tell her anyway!

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  8. Sherry, I am absolutely and totally head-over-heels for these bags!! What a fabulous upcycle!! Thanks SO much for linking up to the Kiss & Tell party over at my place. And thanks to your mom for dreaming up a project that is beautiful, functional, and helps the planet! I'm pinning and featuring on my Facebook page right now! http://www.facebook.com/pages/Igottacreate/100573240032625?sk=wall

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  9. Oh my goodness! I am totally crazy about these bags! I love the concept of recycling what you already have, plus they are just so darn cute! As I was reading, I was thinking that she really needs to sell them! Thanks so much for linking up and linking back! I may have to go out and get a pet, just for the bags!

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  10. These bags are wonderful! I'm sharing a link on my Facebook page :)

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  11. Now THAT is one of the BEST frugal projects I have seen yet. I have to have the bag with the pigs on it! It's so cute! I would love for you to stop over on Friday and share it on my Frugal Friday :)

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  12. I make these too, but they aren't nearly as "nice/fancy" as yours, but the are a hugh hit. I don't have access to the variety of bags that you do, but I love the way these stand up and stay open when I load the groceries. I'll never throw another in the trash.

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  13. this should be a link to my FB photo of my first one.
    http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.1094063523834.2014802.1593946746&type=3#!/photo.php?fbid=2069108459348&set=a.1094063523834.2014802.1593946746&type=3&theater

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  14. Yes, Etsy -your Mom would have an awesome shop!! Believe it or not, the first "bag" I ever saw made from a horse feed bag, was at the Fair -made by a 4-H member. I loved it so much, I took a pic! Now, I have been saving our dog & cat food bags. Only, the one I saw was a "cinch-bag" style back pace. Your Mom's version has many more possibilities. How fun.

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  15. oh my goodness, I thoroughly enjoyed this post!!!! Loved what you so lovingly wrote about your amazing mother and her bags are so awesome! What a truly creative lady!!! Just loved this post.

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  16. Love it to PIECES, especially the horse feed bag!!! Oh my goodness this is GREAT!! Thanks LOTS for sharing at Overflowing with Creativity!

    XO, Aimee

    PS Did you sign up for my giveaway yet!?!
    Awesome Customizable Frames, Art & Home Decor

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