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