Located a couple of blocks away from my place in Venice, Groundwork is a tiny coffeeshop where I often head, Benjy in tow, for a macchiato (which they call a "macch'"). I sip it on their mini terrace, with a book or paper and sometimes, one of their delicious chocolate cookies.Old coffee tins, silver coffee pots and ancient items such as rusty scales are displayed around the place, and they also collect funny coffee-themed comics cut out of newspapers.
And now it's time for a design challenge:
Groundwork also sells big burlap bags. I can sense these have a great design potential for the home - bringing some recycling/eco-style spirit into my home... What would you do with them?
Emily Dickinson
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38 comments:
those tins are great! love your blog :)xxx
Oh I love these too - my mum used to collect old tine!
Sounds like a perfect way to spend a morning or late afternoon. Cool tins. As far as the burlap bags? Depending on their size, I think they would make a great way to wrap a present. I'm always looking for a different way to wrap something instead of traditional paper. If you do something with the bags, please post your results. :) M
Cover your ottoman - in lieu of a kilim?
AMUSE ME - the burlap bags are huge so it would have to be a very big present - say, a desktop computer or something.
I do like your idea of using alternative gift wraps. I often use pages from magazines/newspapers, or scraps of fabric.
WORLD IN A PAN - I like that idea... It may be difficult to make, no?...
cut them into strips and braid a lovely doormat?
Use them in thrifted frames as mats for other artwork...
I used one and made a handbag... but I also used red veleveteen as a contrast.
xxoo,bb
Do you have a large wall in your place? The bag could make a dramatic wall hanging. Cut the front off the bag off and sew the top and bottom over wooden dowels.
The first thing that came to mind was a hammock or a picnic blanket(burlap underneath cotton or linen). The other idea is a patchwork window covering for those times that Benjy sees 'intruders' in 'his' garden.
BITTERBETTY, SOMERBRIDGE and J ELAINE - I am in love with your ideas. As it happens, I don't have a door mat so I might make one with those bags.
J ELAINE, if I bring a few to Paris, could you make me a picnic blanket?
Do you want me to bring a couple for you?
Sounds like a nice place!
I have one idea for burlap bags: I bet you could use them to make outdoor pillows, if you have a bench or swing or patio furniture...
But that might just be crazy. :)
REBECCA - actually, that was my original idea, but I wanted to see if fellow bloggers might come up with other suggestions.
Such cool pics. Love the burlap bags. I love the wall hanging idea.
I think the idea of outdoor pillows is a good one. A picnic pillow to sit on and read. You could put it in the basket on the bicycle with Benjy and find a nice place in the shade.
Hey, what about little burlap sacs for storing shoes and ballet pointes?
Sounds like an awesome place. The best cafe's are the one's that don't mind you having your dog in tow.
My first thought would be to make something with them but I can’t sew to save my sorry soul. Still, I‘d be tempted to buy one – they appeal to me. I’d figure out what to do with it once I brought it home. A decorative item?
Love the tins - I have a collection at the cottage.
lovin those vintage coffee tins, they look great on the simple white shelf,
Oh, lovely old tins! Can't wait to see what you create with your burlap...
I love those old coffee tins!
Love the vintage tins.
As for the bags, you could take a nondescript flower pot (a large one), pop it in the bag, and cinch with a pretty red ribbon for a paper-bag waist. Of course, you'd have a pretty flower in it . . . !
lovely terrace...
i would go for something like ottoman cover, yes. but they would also look great by the window. i know you will show us pics of what they become, can't wait :-)
J ELAINE - I need to get a basket for Zooey.
BETH - I can't sew either and so with I could!
MISS CAVENDISH - yes, the pretty flowers would contrast beautifully with the rough burlap.
ROXANA - I'll make sure to post an update...
I love the vintage tins. I too have some coffee bags I'm holding onto to make something with- what I'm not sure. Some times I think it would be fun to make some pillows or cover a seat cushion. I have seen purse too. Keep us posted what you come up with.
Mary Laure, sabes que me encantan los cafecitos, y este se ve espectacular, sobretodo me encantan esas viejas latas que tienen. Nada tan increible que sentarse a disfrutar de un rico cafe con un buen libro, con eso soy feliz!
oh honey...you could anything with them that you would use fabric for!....tho burlap can be a bit scratchy can't it...but wouldn't they look fabulous...sort of incongruous as upholstery on some classic chairs...and I'd have a look on etsy and see what people are doing...
That sounds like heaven to me...particularly the chocolate cookie and paper part! As for that Burlap...well why not cushions? Several people here have suggested that...I think it's a terrific idea!
Si es material lavable, quizas podrian servir como individuales para el desayuno¿¿¿
can´t wait to see your creations!:)
Sounds like a great place. Nice, love old tin jars, they make a place look interesting.
RINA - si, un cafe y un libro... Pero tambien me da mucha alegria tomar un cafe con una amiga, mientras charlamos.
CHRISY - the scratchy factor is exactly what I'm concerned about.
SAM - yes, the cushions was the first idea I had. I wanted to see if other people had some good/better ideas, hence the design challenge.
MARCI - me encanta tu idea, gracias!
I think we should meet at Groundwork for our next coffee date. I get their soy latte, yum. I haven't been to the Venice location--I'm actually rarely in Venice--but I would welcome a change of pace. :-)
I've seen people use them to cover outdoor tables - looks pretty cute!
JOANNA - where do you usually go? We should definitely get together some time to chat.
Oh, you can't sew? I was going to suggest trying out a few of the options that Maya makes over on Maya*made! http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5806647 I was so totally going to hit up my local coffee shop and get some bags to make something like that..until I was given a metre of burlap, and felt it...my skin started crawling, sigh.
Maybe you can swap with her...send her a bag, and she makes you something in return? :p
I love the sight of old tins.
MURALIMANOHAR - thanks for the link, I'll make sure to check it out.
Yeah, burlap isn't your most skin friendly fabric.
I've been to the Groundworks on Main in Santa Monica. It's really tiny, though, so it wouldn't be an ideal place to meet. We could do the Venice location or if you're so inclined, Huckleberry on Wilshire (which I mentioned on my blog). Doesn't it look amazing?
JOANNA - yes, I'm really longing to go to Huckleberry after I saw your post!
I've got a big bunch of those bags at home awaiting for transformation...my project is to use them as emroidery screens.
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