My friend Alexandra gave me a bag of remnants that she, in turn, had gotten from a friend. I was moved by how each piece of fabric had been washed, ironed, and folded. Such reverence for something most people would have simply thrown away. True abundance comes not from quantity but from appreciation.
Purses Made from Trash
On the top shelf are three purses made from wine cartons. The first one is covered with woven plastic bags, the second with fused plastic bags and pasta packaging, and the third with woven paper. The handles for all three are made from crocheted plastic bags.
On the second shelf are three flower pot coverings. The first two are made from plastic bags and the third from scrap yarn.
Edward Hopper Cardboard Purse
It was a lovely October morning in Rome. Like “Roman Holiday”, we were on the scooter cruising around with smiles on our faces. Our destination was the Edward Hopper exhibition at the Vittoriano. After the exhibit, lunch out and the holiday continued. I wanted the day to last forever. So I used the Edward Hopper dépliant and it’s “Second Story Sunlight” as the inspiration for a cardboard purse. Once the structure was created, I carefully cut out the image and painted a background. And to keep the “sustainable” spirit going, I crocheted plastic bags to make the handle.
When I look at the purse, I think of that Beautiful Day. I don’t look closely at the two women on the balcony, one young, one old but both with Jo Hopper as the model. Jo complained that she had obliterated her career as an artist when she became Hopper’s wife.
Related: Josephine Nivison + 4 things to know about Jo Hopper
Muy Marcottage 