Donkee House

Upcycled Burlap Shoe Bag

In my continuing quest to fulfill the Donkee Do List of 2010, I spent this beautiful Sunday afternoon making prototypes of an Upcycled Burlap Shoe Bag.  You’re looking at prototype #2, #1 was an utterly laughable failure and I am too embarrassed to even look at it and touch it myself without blushing with a deep sense of craft bankruptcy and doom.

Ahem…in any case, I’ve had three of my burlap coffee bags washed and ready for a few weeks now.  Needless to say, I’ve been just a tad too busy as of late between the regular job and my Etsy shop.  But the craft fairy was kind to me this afternoon and sprinkled me with some of her crafty fairy dust – giving me enough time and energy to put down some much needed time at the sewing machine.

An hour or so later, along with a broken needle and one failed bag, I came up with this shoe bag.  For those of you who have a regular and somewhat long commute on the subway, you should already know all about Subway Shoes.  If you do indeed need to wear non-subway shoes in the office, then you need something to carry your pretty office shoes in.  I’ve seen women who just dump and squeeze their shoes inside their purse or bag without even so much as a grocery bag for the shoes and I must admit, it disgusts me.  All that shit on the street you walk on (literal shit, gum, dirt, grime, glass, you name it) and you’re putting it your bag unprotected along with your wallet, lip balm, keys, etc.!  Yuck!

I’ve always used the shoe bags that come along with some of the shoes, but when they get dirty and grimy, you have to chuck them because they usually can’t be washed.  When you’re out, you’re out.

So I thought to make myself a burlap shoe bag.  Burlap breathes and is resistant to moisture.  Also washable, so can be used over and over again.  I paired the rustic and rough burlap with a bright yellow velvet trim as the drawstring to create a bit of contrast in texture and feel.  Maybe I’ll use some nubby linen as the drawstring next time for an all out natural and rustic shoe bag.

I think it turned out pretty good and I can’t wait to make the next one.  It now hangs easily on the shoe closet doorknob waiting to be used!

Easy Peasy Pasta with Pancetta

I love to eat and I love to cook.  But there are times when you’re too tired, too worn out, too much in a hurry…too everything.  That’s when the husband and I order in or go out (honestly, we order in or go out half the time during the week and try to cook more on the weekends when we’re less pooped).

However, sometimes my palette and appetite crave something simple and humble, something warm and inviting…second and third servings here I come!  We keep a variety of staples around the apartment, some of which are pasta (a mix between regular pasta and brown rice pasta) and spinach for the husband’s salads.  I also like to have on hand a pound or so of pancetta, I love that stuff and can have it everyday!

With just three ingredients, some salt, pepper, spices and about 15 minutes – I can whip up some yummy brown rice pasta with pancetta and spinach:

1. Start the water for the pasta
2. Meanwhile, cube or cut up the pancetta into bits or bite-sized pieces
3. Some chopped onions and parsley if you’re so inclined…I’m usually very much inclined
4. Dump the pasta in the water when it’s ready
5. No olive oil needed because the pancetta is already fatty, brown those lovely bits of pure ecstasy in a big pan – onions first if you’re using onions
6. Salt, pepper and spice as you like
7. Pasta should be nice and al dente by the time the pancetta is a bit brown and a bit crispy – drain the pasta
8. Add the spinach to the pancetta
9. Add the pasta to the pancetta and spinach in the big pan
10. Stir everything around, making sure the pasta gets acquainted with all that pancetta goodness in the pan
11. Serve in a bowl and EAT!

Really, this is so quick a meal and you can make a big bunch and have leftovers.  You can use a variety of substitutes:

Try broccoli rabe, chard, even cabbage.  Try sausage cut up into cubes or slices, regular bacon (maybe leftover from breakfast), beef cubed up (cooks quickly) or any leftovers can go in the pan, really.  Add in some sun dried tomatoes if you have a bit lying around.

Now I’m hungry…matter of fact, we’re heading out to food shop for tomorrow in a bit.  Happy eats!

One of These Penguins…

Is unlike a zillion others…

Learn more at National Geographic.

Exchange Program – Coffee Bag Apron

Jane from Maiden Jane created this super fantastic apron from the burlap coffee bag/coffee sack she received from us through the Exchange Program via Totally Tutorials.  I think it’s marvelous and of course, it’s wonderfully useful to boot!

This project is exceptional for sewers and Jane’s very detailed step by step tutorial with exceptional pictures makes it easy for beginning sewers also.  These bags are pretty big, so Jane was able to make two aprons from one bag…NICE!

I think her husband makes a great apron model…don’t you?  He looks mighty ready for some serious BBQ…

Exchange Program – Burlap Bulletin Board

Wearforartthou made this fantastic bulletin board from her burlap coffee bag.  Isn’t it awesome?  Look closely and you’ll see the border is a border of coffee beans!  See those 6 thumb tacks?  Yep, coffee beans!

She and her cute little helper did an awesome job recycling this burlap coffee bag into something useful and beautiful, don’t you think?

Head over and check out Wearforartthou’s detailed tutorial (I love the title of her tutorial!) – you’ll be surprised how easy and fun this project was.

Thanks to Dotty at Totally Tutorials for heading up this exchange program!