Old bag made new with a vintage touch up

When I was pregnant with my son Nathan, 11 years ago, I made a babiche bag. Traditionally they are made with partially tanned hide torn in strips and then woven. Similar idea to a mesh market bag.

My in-laws had a beautiful one hanging in their bed and breakfast, and being on maternity leave what better time to while away the hours then recreating a babiche bag. I had never seen one made, or come across any instructions, so I made my own version, tying millions of little knots to form the mesh. Looking today on the internet, I see that people have made them with a form and wove the mesh. Maybe they are made slightly different in the north. 

My babiche bag served as great summer diaper bag, light and I could see where everything was! At some point it was forgotten and no longer used.With the heat this summer, my usual Kim bag wasn't working so I started using my babiche bag, faded and worn out with holes, looking rather tattered and overly loved. I decided to give it some extra love, a tea bath, vintage tatted lace and some awesome buttons from Rev, and voila...

Cedar weaving with Sosan Blaney

Last weekend I had a fantastic opportunity to learn how to weave cedar hats and funnily enough it was hosted by a woman who was visiting Ryan and his old roommates a few years ago, and sporting a cedar hat at the time. From about that point on, I have wanted to make one and always hoped that at some point maybe KBN could offer such a class, maybe one day!











I hope to get out and harvest some cedar bark with friends and family this spring, as both Elizabeth and George are excited about the hats!






Hats at various stages!























Thank you Sosan for sharing what you have learned!