Significant sewing: Army Bags

I love memory art and recycling, but this company goes one step further...mourning.
Using a loved one's clothing can become a treasure, a catharsis, and part of the healing process.
Camp Follower Bags and Quilts make bags for army widows--a meaningful gesture to offer gratitude along with a useful piece of memorabilia from their husband's uniform.
Owner Tia says, "I make 'Hero Bags' for the widows and wives of Fallen and Severely wounded service men. On the whole these bags are free of charge to the widows. A portion of each bag I make is set aside to cover the cost of fabric for these bags. I also get donations from Amy Butler and Westminster Fibers for my Hero Bag cause."

Army wives with healthy husbands are also welcome to place custom orders.
"I transform uniforms in to functional art while following my mate from one military assignment to the next."
Note only limited quantities of custom orders are accepted at one time.
Though the website currently lists orders as closed, I am told she will be accepting again soon.
Her shop.

I went through pics of bags on her flickr.com pages, and honestly, there are just so many incredible bags there, it was really hard to choose which examples to post here.
She also makes civilian bags, so check those out too.

Molly Bag

Patriotic Molly



Sam Backpack


Nicole Bag


She has this bag entered in the current Amy Butler Sew Inspiring bag contest.
Tia says, "Amy Butler's fabric and style always has such a grace and peace about it, that is very soothing. Many of the bags I make are for ladies whose husband's have been killed in Iraq or Afghanistan. Her fabric reflects the peace and beauty heaven evokes."
Click here to read more about it.

Mischievous Gnome Messenger Bag Pattern

I aim to keep people informed about sewing pattern companies that may not yet be in your radar.
This cute bag pattern is by Montessori by Hand.
She also has an amazing apron pattern.

Contest!

I hope lots of you enjoy reading this blog, and I hope you are inspired to step outside your creative comfort zone even if you don't participate in my challenges here.
I mean, I would love to have a ton of people participate.
I hope you consider doing so.

But sometimes challenges for fun (uh, "what's in it for me?") just don't get a radical response.
It's like a comment I read about a dog handler who had to rush out to get prime rib for his dog (that was competing in the Westminster Dog Show) because, after all, "Beagles don't work for free".
Sigh...
That's okay though. I understand.

Maybe you can enter my challenge AND another one at the same time?

Amy Butler is having her own contest, and there is some mighty fine swag involved.
More info on Craftzine.
A part of me wants to keep this info all to myself (less competition that way).
But I want to do the right thing.
Good karma, right?