Coffee sack crafts and a reader's book sling

I'm supposed to be packing right now for a trip to my hometown, where I'll be taking part in an agri/culinary tour of local-foods restaurants, lavender gardens, bison ranches and shellfish farms this week. It's a work thing, but I'm certainly not complaining about eating in some of Bellingham's best eateries and staying in a beautiful hotel. 

My master plan was to lose five pounds before this tour started (in order to compensate for the expected weight gain and, you know, for the baby-weight gain from five years ago that I'm always asking to go away), but like that ever happens. Did I ever write on here about my wedding day? About how we couldn't get my dress to zip up? I seriously thought we were going to have to go buy something at Nordstrom at the last minute. I don't know if they just altered my dress too small or if I couldn't lay off the cream puffs in the weeks leading up to my wedding. I've never been good at pressure dieting. Dear Food, I love you.

We did manage to zip it up eventually. Never underestimate the power of my mother when she is in full-blown panic mode.

So just a quick note to direct you to this post on my Dwell Well blog, where I'm asking readers to give me some burlap craft ideas. I was given 15 coffee sacks from Doma, a top-notch organic coffee roaster in our area. My plan is to craft up those sacks and then write a tutorial or two so others can do the same, should used coffee sacks land in their hands one day, too.

Here are the sacks:

 

 

On my Dwell Well post you'll see links to what other folks are doing with coffee sacks around the Web. This, from Jayson Home & Garden, is my favorite:

  

Feel free to share any ideas you might have here or over on Dwell Well. Thanks!

On an unrelated note, look at this adorable book sling Sarah over at Trixie's Table made following my toot. (P.S. I realize other bloggers spell that word "tute," but deep down I am really, really, really immature.)

So cute with the circle, huh?

I'm always so humbled when readers follow my tutorials and love to receive photos of the projects. To do so, either leave a comment with a link or shoot me an e-mail at megan.cooley (at) comcast.net. 

Thanks for sharing, Sarah! I'll add it to the, ahem, t-u-t-e soon.

Lots more happening and that I want to say, not the least of which is THANK YOU for all the wonderful comments lately. Must pack, though. Note to self: include a wide range of clothing sizes.

Comments

[Sommer C.]

It was so nice to meet you tonight, and how fun to read your post about getting ready to come to Bellingham! I LOVE the book sling and am definately going to add them to my to-do list for my kiddos. They are just perfect! Can't wait to poke around your blog and see more. :)

[Megan]

You, too, Sommer! Thanks for the great evening! Thanks for visiting my blog.

[Nis]

Suggested edit: "Never underestimate the power of my ITALIAN mother when she is in full-blown panic mode." I think it makes the picture much more clear! :) xoxo

[Kari Rice]

Do you sell the book slings? I am not crafty at all, but I love this and it is just what I have been looking for!! On Etsy it says that you are sold out of them....

[Michelle]

I just love finding fun new blogs to read! Can't even say for sure how I came upon yours (possibly some kind of tree display??), but I'm so glad I did. I LOVE your book sling, and so glad you shared your tute/toot with us (um, that sounds all wrong!). I am making this one of my next sewing projects. Thanks so much! Oh, and check out mayamade.blogspot.com (if you don't know her already--she makes amazing things with burlap sacks).

[Megan]

Ha, ha. Good point, Nis.
Kari--thanks for your interest in my book slings. I am super swamped right now with writing deadlines, so I emptied my shop for a bit. If you can wait a month or so, check back, OK? I'm so sorry to delay you and really appreciate your interest.
Glad you found me, Michelle, and I'm happy to, um, share my toots with everyone! :) Yes, there was a tree thing happening last fall for Magpie's birthday. Send me a picture if you make the sling! I love MayaMade and her burlap goodness. She's so clever.

[Retro Jordans]

Great site Garth! I've looked at it many a time and enjoyed. Now I understand why the Chinese do exercises every morning as a way of life... (that's true isn't it, that a.m. exercise is a way of life?

[utah lodges]

I never saw stylish sacks like it. They can be use as displays.