Produce Totes by Bumble Bea Green

Made of 100% cotton voile, these drawstring bags are a wonderful reusable alternative to plastic produce bags. Lightweight and encumbered only by a grosgrain ribbon for the drawstring, there is no need to worry about adding weight to your produce. Cotton voile (pronounced 'foil') is a lightweight, sheer, gauzy fabric that is delicate but not so flimsy that your peaches will pop through. Washable, made from a natural fiber, and sheer is why I chose to use this fabric.



Produce totes come in two sizes, Carrot Bunch and Banana Bunch.

Carrot Bunch-pictured holding a bunch of celery	Banana Bunch-featuring a bunch of bananas

Carrot Bunch is approx. 12"w x 15"h and Banana Bunch is approx. 8"w x 12"h. Each bag is handmade, so size may vary slightly. Carrot Bunch easily holds a bunch of carrots or celery, while Banana Bunch will fit a bunch of bananas or a few apples. Because of the natural, gauzy nature of the fabric, it does have (as any mesh fabric does) the potential to snag, but voile is also sturdy enough that it will be less prone to snags and isn't as likely to rip as most cotton mesh fabrics.



Edges inside are zig-zag/roll finished, and each bag features a sewn-in casing with secured grosgrain ribbon to pull the bag closed and keep those apricots safe.



The nice thing about these produce bags--aside from being reusable and oh-so-cute-is that they are washable. Strawberry smudges? Dirty celery? No problem--machine wash cool, gentle cycle, tumble dry low.

Monday's Stocking

Some new bags are up as promised, but sometimes design and production of new products takes more time than you realize ;) So I plan to introduce some new things on Friday's stocking rather than today or yesterday because I'd like to have more than one done ;).

Here's a sample of one of the bags available for purchase from Monday's stocking:

Friday June 20th Stocking-Postponed

As they say, life happens :D I'm hoping to debut a new product, possibly Monday, so there will be more than bags by the next stocking. :) More bags and new possibilities will be available on my etsy very soon--check back around Monday!

ANNOUNCEMENT! Coming Soon...

Things are on track for a grand opening on July 1st! I've already begun listing items on my etsy (and selling them too!), but prepare for a deluge! There will be a give-away, a carnival/contest for another give-away, and many quality products of various types (but mostly market totes of course) for your viewing and buying pleasure!

So if you've been hoping for a bigger selection, check back then. Of course, if you see something you absolutely must have, then by all means have it ;). But if you are planning on buying a batch, you might want to bide your time and visit me on July 1st!

I hope to debut a product or two at that time, and watch for other product debuts in the next few weeks.

June 13 Stocking Update

Four out of five bags are up and ready for a good home! Final bag (the Alexander Henry "Bisbee Butterfly" print in Chocolate) will be up later today.

Why Etsy?

When I decided to open up my ideas and handiwork to a world-wide audience, I thought long and hard about how I would present my adventure--how I would protect it and put its best foot bravely forward. Buy my own .com? eBay? a pre-made storefront? Craigslist?

After sorting through these ideas, the one venue that stayed consistently at the top of the list was Etsy. I decided to open my shop through Etsy for many reasons, some of which I will share with you:

1. Ease of Use
Etsy is easy to use for both me, as a seller, and you, as a buyer. It offers many protections and options for me, there is no monthly maintenance fee--only a small listing fee and a small percentage of profit. It offers many protections and options for buyers as well. In some ways, it's basically eBay for handmade items, and in other ways, it's not. Just like eBay, I list items for sale and you choose items to buy. Again, small listing fee for me, no fees for you. Just like eBay, you need an account to use its services whether a buyer or a seller. Unlike eBay, my listings don't expire after a short amount of time (incurring more costs to relist) and while they are not up for auction, I haven't marked up a "buy it now" price in hope that someone will really want or need it and just click that "buy it now" button rather than waiting for an auction. And unlike eBay, Etsy is a community...more about that later. Bottom line-the buying and selling process on Etsy is easy, affordable, and safe.

2. Etsy is comprised of men and women passionately pursuing their talents
If you've got it, USE it! I am someone who believes in the beauty of art and the power of creation. I believe in music programs and museums. And I love that there is a place for someone to pursue their art or their handiwork at their own pace, in their own style, as much or as little as they want. Whether taking a fun hobby and occasionally offering the fruits of that labor for a little extra cash or a more serious bread-winning endeavor, I like that I am supporting an entity that enables those people without being greedy.

3. Etsy is more than a website; it is a community
When I list an item in my shop or buy an item from someone else, I feel good that I am putting my money and effort where my mouth is. I firmly believe in local economies and supporting them as well as supporting cottage industries. For stay-at-home moms like me, I may not be in it to get rich and famous, but it's nice to have that extra bit to ease the pressure on the breadwinner--even if it's just enough for some gas and an ice cream treat. I am becoming very picky about what I buy and where I buy it from, so buying something from a fellow seller is a real boon. I'd rather buy a hand-made coaster from someone who makes coasters because she loves it and is talented at it than buy a coaster made in a sweatshop in a third-world country. I believe in fair trade; you couldn't trade fairer than putting the money directly in the hands of the artisan as Etsy has done.

So there you have it. Locally, you may find me in a farmers market. Always, you will find me at bumblebeagreen@gmail.com and online, you will find my home at http://bumblebeagreen.etsy.com :)

Preview of June 13th Evening Stocking

Market Totes by Bumble Bea Green

The Anatomy of a Market Tote


Each tote bag is approximately 13" wide, 15.5-16" high, and 7"-7.5" deep(due to handmade nature, totes may vary a bit in size). The makes a sturdy bag that is not too big and not too small for your various grocery needs.


For durability, aesthetics, and sturdiness, every tote is fully lined. In general, I use one "heavy" fabric and one lighter-weight fabric; either can be outer and vice versa. Lining the bags ensures that seams are hidden for longevity during washings, it gives the bag some substance so that it holds its form better or hugs your groceries as needed without being too floppy or too stiff...bag does not stand on its own very well, but again, holds its shape. Lining is either a complimentary solid color or a fun contrasting print.




I use dual-duty thread (to match weight of fabric) and pre-wash all fabrics in a eco-safe detergent to preempt shrinkage. Seams are top-stitched in such a way that they add to the durability, beauty, and form of the bags. The bottom seam is reinforced several times, and the straps are sewn in a box-seam and reinforced further where they attach to the bag.




Straps come in two sizes, "market"(approx. 7.5" drop) and "shoulder". Lightly padded for comfort and grip, these straps are 1" wide.



Bags retain shape well, but aren't too stiff. This means that your delicate peaches won't get as squished together as if they were in a plastic grocery bag, but you can also carry milk jugs in the bags without worrying about the seams prohibiting the item size as paper bags do.


Sturdy, beautiful, dependable, washable, reusable, durable, versatile market totes are a must-have for today's green world. I designed these bags and made them for myself, then as gifts for friends and family, and am now offering them to the rest of the world! I've been using bags for quite awhile, and they have been beach totes, diaper bags, overnight bags, and many other things. To test the weight, I put as many tin cans and packages of rice and beans as I could (somewhat) comfortably lift into one of the totes to demonstrate:


As you can see, it is a heavy load but the bag is sturdy enough to handle it, the straps are secure and not biting into my hands, and the bag is retaining its shape well.


Care And Feeding Of Your Market Tote
Machine was cool, tumble dry low. I do not recommend washing them often--they won't really need it often, and home dec fabrics that may be used can *sometimes* fade over repeated washings, as can repurposed or vintage fabrics. I also do not recommend bleach; to disinfect the bags, I recommend Bac-Out or using tea tree oil in the wash and vinegar in the rinse.

Please use common sense in the care and use of these bags. They may hold a lot, but have not been individually weight tested, and it's never smart to overload a bag of any kind or place a greater weight in the bag than you are comfortable carrying. I stand by my products as being high-quality and sturdy, but again, use them responsibly!

Factory Perfection Versus Handmade With Love

I feel a recipe is only a theme, which an intelligent cook can play each time with a variation. ~Madam Benoit

I love handmade items. I myself have made gifts for others and things for myself since I was old enough to glue two pieces of paper together. One of the great charms of something made by hand is that each stitch is a story, each brushstroke a thought. As I knitted my baby's blanket, I prayed for her, dreamed about her, and shared a moment with her. As I conceived of and then created a special apron for my sister, I reflected on her and imagined her joy at receiving the gift.

One thing I have noticed about artisan or hand-made items is that they are imperfect. The soap I bought from a local soapmaker isn't a perfect rectangle--but I know it was hand-cut and hand-crafted with care. It certainly doesn't affect the function of the soap, and really, the slightly-off angle adds to the uniqueness of the item. I know that it was still the advertised ounces, as it was individually weighed. I bought some homemade-jam from a local lavender farm, and the label was not really something you'd find in a store ;). Of course, the lavender-raspberry jam was one of the most delicious jams I'd ever had, but it certainly screamed "homemade". I honestly think it is part of its beauty, but I know there are those that don't--even some artisans, who fret over every teeny misplacement or mistake.

It seems that in our world, we are just used to the sterile perfection of a factory item. Take a cloth napkin turned out by the thousands in a factory, for example. They are punched out to measure the same, the seams are perfectly straight and even, and they are uniform and neat. Ones with small deviations--perhaps a crooked seam--are tossed away as "seconds". Others are simply wasted materials altogether because they are so sub-standard. I find that to be a shame; a few stitches off here and there is no reason to deny that cloth napkin a chance to shine at its brightest, and the materials wasted could have been spared had a more careful eye been on them instead of the mass production that butchered it. Factories are part machine and part human, certainly, but any human error is whisked away before its uncomely blight graces a store's shelf.

Handmade items, even from the most professional of artists, have slight deviations and variations. Factories reflect automation and a glittering idealism of perfection "attained"--at no small cost--and marketed as true beauty and standard. Handmade or artisan-made items reflect the maker, and perhaps an organic view of humanity--beautiful, and slightly flawed.

Of course, there is a difference between a shoddy seam that is so crooked it not only looks awful but does a disservice to its function and a seam that is well sewn but perhaps not entirely straight. There is a difference between quality and laziness, human error and sub-par ability. To an untrained eye, in fact, the differences may be negligible or unnoticed. Of course, to the perfectionist in the craftsman--driven perhaps by a strong work ethic and commitment to quality--every misstep is magnified.

While I am by no means a master artisan of my various crafts, I do take pride in my work and yet embrace the small deviations that occur organically. When I make something for you, it will not be factory perfect. Some of the seams may take a tiny detour, dimensions may not be exact, and the item may not look as perfect and uniform as one borne from a factory. That's ok...because I pour myself into everything I create, and I am not a perfect person. So you won't get factory perfection from me.

What you WILL get is attention to detail, quality workmanship, an eye for aesthetics, and a product that was lovingly handled, created, and crafted from raw materials to final stitch by someone who cares about what she does. What you WILL get is a little piece of me--a bit of my time, a bit of my passion, a bit of my life. You can count on a beautiful, quality product--even if it is not factory perfect.

What's In A Name?

Bea + Bee?
I love bumble bees. They are cute and fuzzy, they bring great beauty to our world and participate highly in the ecosystem. In fact, my name means "honey bee", so when I thought about what I would call my little adventure, I knew I wanted it to reflect me and bees sprang to mind--the word "Bumble" in particular. "That's all very well and good," you may be thinking, "but erm...there's a typo in your logo...B-E-E, not B-E-A!" I'm so glad you noticed, but it wasn't a typo. :)

The inspiration for my desire to create, to re-create, to make do, to make something beautiful out of something ordinary, is rooted firmly in my family. When I was pondering titles and credos and concepts, I wanted to honor my family legacy. I wanted my adventure to reflect me and reflect the why-behind-the-me. So I lovingly dedicate this adventure to my family, and most particularly to my Great-Grandmothers: Irene, Dini, Esther, and..."Bea". All four women have inspired me in different ways, and Grandma Bea in particular inspired me in handicrafts. It seemed only fitting to include Grandma's name as my identity stamp, so to speak, in this adventure.

The "Green" in the title hopefully speaks for itself. I am dedicated to living as naturally and responsibly as possible. Materials are becoming more affordable and easier found that are all of the principles I embrace about the green movement, and I strive to use those when I can. Even more, I hope to provide safe, affordable, inspiring products that enhance and encourage a "green" way of living beautifully.

The Shape Of Things To Come

Have you ever wanted to carry your groceries home in style? Wanting to get on the green grocery bag wagon, but don't want to pay $30 for a simple canvas bag nor resort to the cheap plastic-y ones at the grocery store?

Here is a preview of what Bumble Bea Green can offer you:















Be sure to check back for updates and information...store launch TBD, but coming soon!