Snow: The Dogfood Purse (Candywrapper Weaving Technique)

Snow, by Rayela Art, $340
a candy wrapper purse using dog food bags
7.5" high (without strap) x 11" wide

This is my second purse using the candy wrapper technique. The first one, shown below, was made out of wallpaper samples. Click on it to see my first article where the technique is explained and where links to other sites with more info can be found.

Wallpaper Purse

Each square starts out a strip which has been folded and interlocked into another one. If you look closely, you will see a dog's eye peeking out at you:


I start out by cutting the strips on a mat. I used a rotary cutter to try to go through the task more quickly. For both purses, I cut strips measuring 4.5"x 2". It's unbelievable how many strips you have to have to make a purse. I kind of lost count, but am estimating that Snow, the dog food purse, used up six of the biggest paper bags, four medium ones and two small ones. It may have been more.


I estimate I used at least 500 pieces for snow. Once I had a big stack of them cut up, I separated them into color content, not easy to do on bags that have a lot of images and text.


The strips are then folded. I fold down the middle to get a crease, open it up again and then both sides down to the middle again, ending up with a long skinny piece.

That gets folded in half once again:

Then each end is folded once more to the middle. These are the links. If you really want to learn how to do it. Go back to the beginning of the article and follow the wallpaper link to the first one I did.

The links fit into each other, forming long, zig zag strip. The strips eventually get sewn together. It was much easier working with the dog food paper then with the wallpaper. The wallpaper was really too thick, although the effect was gorgeous. This paper has a slick coating on it and made it very easy to link one into the other. I also think this coating will help protect the purse over time. This example shows how color choices can impact the look of the strip:


Taking care in color combinations keeps the design from becoming too chaotic.



I covered the purse with white buttons and I think I am the first person to use embellishments in this way on these purses. At least, I had never seen anyone else add to them with the exception of zippers or closures. The added texture makes the bag for me.


I am going to add a magnetic closure for the flap. I just haven't had the time to go face Mall Land yet. It will fit in the empty area below:


This not just a purse. It is wearable art, a piece that will start up a conversation wherever you go. I love making something beautiful out of garbage, but even though it is functional, it should be treated with care. I've reinforced edges with super glue, but if it gets banged around a lot, the purse will get damaged.


In my mind's eye, this will go to someone who loves dogs. But, who knows? I just know it will be someone who appreciates the countless hours it took to make. I started out keeping track and then lost the paper I was recording. I'm estimating around 60 of them. Lots of movies...


When people see this technique, they say, "Oh, I used to do that when I was a kid!" I keep thinking, "Whew, that'a a lot of candy!" I first saw these bags through outsider art publications. Prisoners use cigarette wrappers to make purses and even large sculptures. I've now seen easier versions made by fair trade groups and even mainstream outlets. In my book, anything that reuses what is headed for the trash is great!

Snow: The Dogfood Purse (Candywrapper Weaving Technique)

Guest Artist- Mandy Curl of Mandinka Designs

Illionois fiber artist Mandy Curl has taken the task of recycling or repurposing to a new level. She transforms men's suits into gorgeous functional bags and purses that are both attractive and expertly made. When I first saw her bags, I thought, "Now here we have someone who really knows how to make something old into a treasure!" I felt jealous! Heh, heh. Mandy is in this for the long haul. She presents her store and lines professionally and offers a healthy selection of styles and fabric combinations. She also has some new "bugs" or toys that are really cute and neutral scarves that are perfect gifts for men. It's a joy to have her here on Fiber Focus!

Handbags from Recycled Suit Coats

My business Mandinka Designs has taken many forms over the years, involving sewing and fibers in some manner or another. But in 2005 when I stumbled on the idea of bags from suit coats, I knew I had found my "thing".


I received my BA in Psychology and then discovered fiber arts and received my MFA in 2000. My thesis exhibition consisted entirely of clothing, but I knew I didn't want to be a part of the fashion or the "art to wear" worlds. So, I worked in the interior design field as an independent doing upholstery and custom home furnishings for people. While this work did allow me to work from home and be my own boss, I was still making things to other people's tastes and preferences. I was always, in the back of my mind, trying to think of that one idea/product that was all my own that I could make and sell.


I've always loved men's suit coats, especially the insides with the beautiful linings and labels and pockets. I love wearing them, as well as cutting them up and making them into stuff. It seems serendipitous how my business and the bags I create encompass the different elements I love: fine craftsmanship, tailored style, neutral color, recycling/repurposing, making art and thrifting. I've always loved going to thrift stores, and now it's part of my job!

My hope for the future is to continue to make and sell more bags while still remaining a small business with the emphasis on producing artist-made, finely-crafted pieces. Oh, and to make a decent living doing it!

Mandinka Designs handbags are available at www.mandinka.etsy.com

Guest Artist- Mandy Curl of Mandinka Designs

Wallpaper Purse: Candywrapper Weaving Technique

I made this!!!

Dimensions: 11" wide x 7" high x 2" deep, strap 12"

Metric: 28 x 17 x 5 cm, strap 30 cm

I worked at Home Depot for awhile and while I was there, they got rid of their wallpaper department. They were going to throw away their sample books, so I asked and got as many as I could carry. It's gorgeous, thick paper- a shame to throw away. I debated for awhile what to do with them, then remembered these folk art purses I had seen made out of soft pack cigarette wrappers, mostly made by prisoners. I had always wanted one, but they are usually a fortune, so I decided to try my hand at it.

I had no idea how they were constructed, but after some research online, I found a couple of blogs that had helpful instructions:

Wrapper Purses has detailed photos on how to fold and construct rows of woven paper which are then sewn together into a purse. She used potato chip bags. Candy wrappers are also a popular choice. Here is one of her rows and her finished purse:


Mylinda's instructions were very helpful, but there are some tricks you learn as you do it that are hard to describe online. If you want to try this technique yourself, her blog is the place to start.


The Purse Project also had helpful information. Barb Lawrence, of San Diego, has the following great drawing that shows the folding process clearly:

She also lists several organizations and businesses marketing purses made using this technique and has some great photos of purse examples. Between these two blogs, you should be able to make your own purse.

Like all good things, making a purse like this takes time and lots of it! I'm estimating mine took about 40 hours. But, there was a learning curve there, too. It's a mindless operation for the most part, a good way to keep my hands occupied when I was too mentally fatigued to do something that needed some thinking. I sat in the kitchen folding and folding while I listened to a book on tape.

The wallpaper worked well in the sense that it folded easily, was sturdy, didn't crack and was pliable. The problem is the thickness. Although I think the purse resulted in a gorgeous product, it's not the best functional piece in terms of weight.



I have not seen any other examples that used beads. For my piece, the beads added texture, depth and really finished it off. The white ones are carved ostrich egg shell and the dark ones are coconut shell, both from Africa. They are held in place by clear glass seed beads.



Inside of purse:


Back:

I had it listed on Etsy for a bit for $250. But, I took it to my monthly fiber art meeting and my friend, Pam, fell in love with it. She is a long arm quilter, so we traded for a quilting job that I needed completed. I would like to try a couple more variations on this technique, now that I know how to do it.

One of our group members also suggested that flat wall pieces could be made using color to make an image, rather like a cross stitch pattern. That would be an interesting experiment!


Note: This post has been the most searched of all the ones I've written. I'm now working on my second purse, made out of dog food paper bags. It's coming along nicely, but taking forever! The paper is much easier to work with than the wallpaper as it is thinner and has the coating on it which makes it slick. I will post an article on it when it is finished.

This wallpaper purse ended up as an exchange for a quilting project I needed done. If you are interested in one of these, they will be in the $300 range.

Update November 2008: See my dogfood purse, "Snow":

How about you? Have you made any? Leave a comment with your progress or questions!

Wallpaper Purse: Candywrapper Weaving Technique