Lina and Vi: November 2016

Friday, November 25, 2016

09 Technicolor Cross-body Burlap Bag


I'm on a cross-body kick this week, and I'm excited to share a colorful new burlap bag whose vibrant colors will make you smile! The name says it all - the 09 Technicolor Cross-body burlap zipper bag is a small, rectangular purse with a long, cream strap and an antique bronze colored metal zipper.  Like all of our bags in the Grounds Collection, this purse features two burlap panels with a print that is completely authentic to the original coffee burlap sack. It's quirky green frog logo and bold, black numbers are funky and whimsical. Like all of our handmade burlap bags, the 09 Technicolor cross-body burlap bag is totally unique and not something you would find shopping at a big box store. 

With technicolor in its name, this bag is all about a pop of color.  The interior lining is a multi-color triangular repeating pattern in all shades of the rainbow.  Deviating a bit from my typical color choices, I opted for this bright patterned cotton fabric to contrast from the more muted and neutral color palette on the outside. I used a cotton fat quarter I had purchased a while back and was waiting for the right bag design. I love adding a little bit of the unexpected and mystery when I can, so this design was intentionally created so that the multi-color was only visible when the bag was unzipped. It's so much fun, and I can't wait until it finds a new home with one of our Etsy customers!









As I mentioned in our post earlier this week, the cross-body purse is all about convenience on the go. The hands-free bag is super easy to carry - no straps slipping off the shoulder or tucked in the hand.

With the holiday weekend in the U.S. right now, I'm looking forward to spending some time in my sewing room working on new burlap pillows and burlap bags to add to the Lina and Vi Etsy shop as well as for the Tiny Expo craft fair on December 10th in Ann Arbor. I hope you are enjoying your day!


Erica

Tuesday, November 22, 2016

Fair Trade Cross-body Burlap Bag



Fair Trade cross-body burlap zipper bag by Lina and Vi Plymouth Michigan | linaandvi.etsy.com

Happy Tuesday! It feels like we are walking up to the starting line for the Christmas season, and I'm not so sure I am quite ready yet but here we are. It's that time of year when the holidays seem to blur together and time seems to pass much faster than usual. I'm feeling all the feels; it's fast then slow and good then chaotic. On a positive note, I am feeling much more prepared as we head into December this year!

I have been working these past few weeks to finish up new bags and stock up on ready to ship burlap pillows in preparation for the holidays. Each year I find that our customers are split - those who shop our burlap pillows, often designing something custom for a gift, and those who shop our ready to ship burlap bags. I recently finished a new cross-body burlap bag design, and I'm excited to share the details about the Fair Trade bag with you today.

As I've been out and about more, I've noticed how popular cross-body bags have become, especially in urban areas where the population tends to travel more by foot. Having a bag that hangs across the body keeps our hands free and makes it much easier to manage when we are traveling with kiddos, carrying schoolbags, or navigating public transport. Like most cross-body bags, I designed the Fair Trade bag in a rectangular shape with the top zipper closure. I opted to add a medium-sized exterior slide pocket with a button for quick grab and go storage. There is one additional slide pocket on the interior lining. The entire bag, inside and out, is accented with a beige cotton canvas fabric. I intentionally designed this crossbody burlap bag using a neutral palette. With one exterior burlap panel featuring green, industrial text from the coffee sack, I wanted to keep the bag balanced and free from too much competing color.

Fair Trade cross-body burlap zipper bag by Lina and Vi Plymouth Michigan | linaandvi.etsy.com

Fair Trade cross-body burlap zipper bag by Lina and Vi Plymouth Michigan | linaandvi.etsy.com

Fair Trade cross-body burlap zipper bag by Lina and Vi Plymouth Michigan | linaandvi.etsy.com

I chose a chocolate brown strap that blends well with the tan burlap. The strap is removable using two metal claw clips. If you are packing it away or storing it in luggage, the strap can be easily tucked away for transport. 

The Fair Trade burlap bag is one of the most simple yet sophisticated burlap bags I have sewn for the Grounds Collection. I think I go through various phases likely related to my state of mind at the time that influence my design choices. There are times where I'm drawn to neutral colors and solid fabric and other times where I am looking for color, contrast, and pattern. If color and pattern is the name of your game, stay tuned for a second new burlap crossbody bag that I'll be sharing on the blog that is all about the color. Shop the Fair Trade bag and other burlap bags now in our Etsy shop.

I hope you're having a great start to your week!
Erica

Wednesday, November 16, 2016

Shop for Lina and Vi at Tiny Expo - Ann Arbor, MI!


I am excited to announce that I will be participating in Tiny Expo this holiday season in downtown Ann Arbor, Michigan! If you are looking for a fun event where you can shop handmade items this holiday season, Tiny Expo should be on your list!

Tiny Expo is an annual Christmas craft fair featuring indie and handmade vendors from around the southeast Michigan area. This year's craft show will be held on Saturday December 10th at the downtown location of the Ann Arbor District Library from 11:00 - 5:30. I will be there showcasing some of my recent Lina and Vi items, including my handmade burlap crossbody bags, pouches, totes, and of course, Michigan pillows! I am also planning to have some exclusive Ann Arbor items for sale. I'm super excited to have been accepted to participate in this year's fair, and I'm looking forward to meeting and talking with local shoppers as well as seeing the handmade items from all of the talented local vendors.

To find more information on Tiny Expo, including a complete vendor list for this year's show, stop by their event page as well as their Facebook page to find more information on the event details.




Wednesday, November 9, 2016

Santa Maria Burlap Yoga Mat Bag



santa maria burlap yoga mat carrier by linaandvi michigan

As we get nearer to the holidays, things can get a little bit crazy.  This time of the year takes more patience as we all manage to keep our stress levels low while still trying to enjoy everything that this season brings about. Over the past few years, I have learned that there are two things for me that are most effective in managing the additional demands: 1. tea and 2. yoga. Let's talk about yoga, while I brew a cup of tea tonight.

I first tried yoga about ten years ago, and since then, I have practiced it on and off. I have tried a variety of yoga, including most recently a pilates and yoga cardio fusion video that I have been trying to maintain at home. Yoga forces me to move slowly, which I find very calming, as I'm typically going about my day at a pace fast, rushing to the next thing, and figuring out how I can get it all done in the expected timeframe. I often have people tell me that exercise is their go-to stress reliever, and for me, high impact exercising does not help. I find that my fast pace is already fast enough and to counter that, I need something that forces me to slow it down.

One of the things I love about yoga is that it doesn't require any fancy equipment or supplies. I have a yoga mat that I purchased a very long time ago that I still use, although a bit ragged now, it still does the trick. I have a few pairs of basic yoga pants. I don't have blocks or straps or feel the need to buy weights like I would with other exercise programs. It's simple to get started and that no-fuss feeling often draws me back to it. With the only necessary item being a mat, the practical thing to do is find a way to carry the mat to practice and store it when not in use. A yoga mat bag is just the thing to keep our yoga mats clean and easy to carry, and I opted to sew up a new burlap yoga mat bag referring back to my original sketch I used for our first yoga mat bag here.

santa maria burlap yoga mat carrier by linaandvi michigan

santa maria burlap yoga mat carrier by linaandvi michigan

The Santa Maria yoga carrier is our second burlap yoga mat bag in our Grounds burlap bag collection. This latest design features a green, turquoise, and white zig-zag accent fabric with a drawstring for easy access. The handle is a light gray corduroy, while the lining is a simple ivory fabric with a silk-like hand. The burlap is funky, but the bag is no-fuss. It does what it needs to do. Simple as that.

We're in the middle of a big week here in the U.S., and I have to say this is the perfect time for some yoga! Shop our Santa Maria bag in our Etsy shop now.

Namaste.

Erica




Friday, November 4, 2016

Blue and Gold Fold-over Snap Burlap Wristlet



Royal Blue and Gold Triangle Fold-over burlap wristlet by Lina and Vi Plymouth MI - www.linaandvi.etsy.com

Hello and happy November! I can't believe it's another month down. We are well into fall now, and the holidays are gearing up. Last weekend, I spent some time sewing up a new burlap clutch with a few special touches that I decided to try for the first time. So, without further adieu, please welcome this fun blue and gold fold-over snap burlap wristlet!

I sketched out my idea before I started cutting, and I based it off of several other burlap wristlet designs I created in the past. For this one, I knew that I really wanted to showcase this fun, royal blue cotton fabric that has a pattern of small golden triangles stamped on it. It's modern, and fresh, which is a great contrast with the bold black text on the burlap.

I decided to go with a combo fold-over zipper with a magnetic snap to keep the top secure. I love how it turned out, so I decided to add the wrist strap to make it more functional. As an added bonus, I added a metal clasp to allow the wrist strap to be removed if needed.

Royal Blue and Gold Triangle Fold-over burlap wristlet by Lina and Vi Plymouth MI - www.linaandvi.etsy.com

Royal Blue and Gold Triangle Fold-over burlap wristlet by Lina and Vi Plymouth MI - www.linaandvi.etsy.com

Royal Blue and Gold Triangle Fold-over burlap wristlet by Lina and Vi Plymouth MI - www.linaandvi.etsy.com

Inside this burlap clutch, I opted for a solid teal fabric. I knew that I wanted to keep the color palette cool, and tonight, I realize that I have been gravitating towards a lot of blues lately. Perhaps the reason is that it evokes a sense of calmness, amid what has been a season of constant change for me? I'm not exactly sure, but I like how these colors both contrast while being in the same tone. A lot of color, and especially a great bag to pair with jeans. Shop this burlap wristlet now in our Etsy shop here!

In other news, I shipped out a set of our burlap zipper pouches this week, and I'm in the middle of sewing up a custom city pillow for a customer.  I'm planning to stock up a bunch of new items in our Etsy shop in the next few weeks. Plus, I have some fun news to share for any local readers looking to shop handmade this holiday!

I hope you have a great weekend!
Erica