TGIF! For all you Pinterest fanatics out there, here's the coolest stuff we saw on Pinterest this week! DIY Doily Painted Lightbulbs - Cover a light bulb with a doily and spray paint it. The light will shine the pattern onto the walls. Upcycling Soda Cans - A great video tutorial on what you can do with soda cans.  Wow! I bet you can find a ton of uses for those cans now!                        Fix a Too-Small T-Shirt - Brilliant! You can take those too-small t-shirts and add a panel in the side. Also works.. Read More »

All-Natural Face Paint  Halloween is just around the corner and the kids are all excited! Everyone is talking about what costumes the kids will chose, what candy they will pass out and what decorations they’ll hang. Why not add in some great, simple ideas to make your Halloween as eek-o-friendly as possible? It’s far easier than you could ever imagine!                                 When it comes to costumes, being “green” is incredibly easy! Not only is it easy, but its fun to set up a costume swap with a local parenting group. You can trade.. Read More »

Recycled Candles! Collect wax from your old candles and reuse them to make new scented candles with the changing of the seasons or give them as a gift.   What you'll need: Candle Wick cut to fit your jar Jar or Candle Mold Essential Oil you like Ladle Cloth and Rubber band to sift dust and old wicks from used wax   I found this jar at my local co-op and thought it was the perfect reusable candle container, but you can use anything you can think of: an old tea cup, soup can, mason jar, etc. 1. Melt your.. Read More »

Here is a great review from a Cindy T. a YouTube fashion blogger who asked to review some of our products.  Cindy also made the DIY denim bracelet video a couple of weeks ago.  You can view this video on TheMaggieBags YouTube channel. CORRECTIONS on the video:  She mentioned me (Kerri) as the owner of Maggie Bags.  This is incorrect.  I am the Senior Director of Marketing but do not own the company. All seat belt webbing used in Maggie Bags production is new webbing that has been rejected by auto manufacturers. No webbing used has ever been in a.. Read More »

Reduce Reuse Recycle at the Farmer's Market You can find me most Saturdays down at the local farmer's market selling my wares and collecting fresh organic produce from farmers to eat throughout the week. While I was there this past Saturday I noticed my artisan neighbor and friend made this awesome dressing room curtain from packaging that would have otherwise gone to the landfill. This would be fun as a shower curtain too! I just love how she has put her creativity to work in this eco-friendly way!  Find your local farmer's market and support it. This is a great.. Read More »

Denim to Jewelry There are so many creative ways to repurpose materials and create something new.  Cindy Thai a YouTube fashion blogger shared a great idea to upcylce a pair of jeans to create capri pants, and two bracelets.  Check it out.   I would love to hear what creative ideas you have to upcycle.   Stay tuned for a Maggie Bags review by Cindy next week! Reuse, repurpose, recycle!  ~Kerri Find Maggie Bags on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/user/TheMaggieBags/featured Find Cindy on YouTube at: http://www.youtube.com/user/xangelx001  http://www.youtube.com/user/indefinitelycindy  Read More »

Less in landfills means more in Eco-chic    As of May 2012 Maggie Bags has used nearly 1 million yards of rejected seat belt webbing to produce our handbags. Wow – that is a huge amount of seatbelt webbing. Seatbelt webbing is typically rejected by the auto manufacturers because either it does not meet safety standards or the color variations are not acceptable.  Sometimes just part of a webbing spool may be damaged and the entire roll is rejected.  This is all good news for Maggie Bags because we purchase this surplus webbing and turn it into beautiful Eco-friendly handbags... Read More »

D.I.Y. Instant Summer Accessories: Maggie Bags Bracelet? Yes, I said it. Think outside the box, get creative! Just because someone says its a shoelace doesn't mean its only a shoelace. It's a belt, tourniquet, hair accessory, cat toy, tool for tie dying, braid them into friendship bracelets, let your imagination run WILD! It's not about shoelaces it's about re-imagining materials and what they can become. Think tire-swing. This is exactly how Maggie Bags came to be. We had a surplus of raw material that would otherwise go to landfills so we let our imagination take flight and came up with.. Read More »

 Toothbrush Bracelet Dentists recommend changing your toothbrush every three months. What are we to do with our old toothbrushes? Well, I'm glad you asked! Follow the simple instructions below to have yourself in the know about how to make an upcycled eco-chic accessory this summer. Tools: Old toothbrush Needle nose pliers Small towel Pot for boiling water large enough to fit toothbrush Bowl of cool water Here's my old toothbrush. It's pretty fabulous to begin with being gold and glittery and all. When buying your new toothbrush consider, 'will this make an attractive bracelet in three months?' Step One: Begin.. Read More »

Konane, our fabulous Maggie Bags designer is a very unique and creative individual. She applies her creativity into several designs of her own in addition to the designs she creates for Maggie Bags.  One of my favorites is the Butterfly Bag.  It is truly unique and most definitely a conversation starter! I love designing for Maggie Bags because I value creative freedom and working with people who care to have a positive impact on the planet. As a designer having my hands in the process of making these products is very important. Working with seatbelt can be a challenge and.. Read More »

Now that’s cool.  The new Basketball arena constructed in London for the 2012 Olympic Games is covered in 20,000 square meters of recyclable white PVC fabric.  It took only 3 months to set up in 2010 and I imagine it will come down even faster.  After the Olympic Games parts of this arena are expected to be reused and/or relocated elsewhere. What a creative way to construct a temporary building.  I look forward to seeing how they actually reuse material!  There are many areas of our lives where we can re-purpose materials.  We can take something meant for one use.. Read More »

Here is another Video Holiday Gift Guide by Chantilliscious featuring Maggie Bags. Enjoy! [youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X0nRVFdm7fM&w=560&h=315] You can find more information on her blog as well. ~The Maggie Bags Team Read More »

Check out this Holiday Gift Guide by Cindy's Fab Reviews. It is full of Maggie Bags and other great gift ideas. You can also read about her gift guide in her blog post. Enjoy! ~The Maggie Bags Team Read More »

When the snow and leaves clear after winter, many people are ready to shed their heavy coats as well as give their homes a heavy dose of spring cleaning. While sorting through warm clothes to store away and pulling out tank tops and shorts to enjoy the spring sun in, some may find odds and ends in their venture to spring cleanliness such as stained shirts, jeans with holes, plastic shopping bags, old magazines, old craft supplies, mismatched cell phones and chargers, and multitudes of other things, but these are just the beginning of what could be at the bottomless.. Read More »

Going green is the new black. Everyone wants to be more eco friendly and what better way to show the world than through your wardrobe. Here at Maggie bags, we have decided to try and be as “green” as possible this summer. Here are a few tips to get you started when creating your best summer wardrobe yet! Buy Vintage or Used: Through the years we have seen all kinds of trends pop back up from the past. Bell bottom jeans, leopard print, and big hair have all made a full circle and we are seeing them all again. Make.. Read More »

Summer is the time for finding your new favorite outfit, or maybe more than one! You may find yourself shopping all throughout the summer for items here and there, or you may find it all at once. But don't stop at finding the perfect outfit, because no outfit is complete without the perfect bag. And what better way to have a great summer than knowing part of your ensemble is a durable, recycled product, great for the environment. Since summer time usually means more time outside enjoying the weather, take a look at all of the bright colors we have.. Read More »

Christmas is almost here, and at Maggie Bags, we're already full-swing into the holidays! Here's our challenge to you, Maggie Bag lovers: why not make your Christmas a little 'greener' this year by reusing gift wrap? I know, I know, who wants to wrap presents with crinkled-up, used paper or ribbons from last year's Christmas? But truthfully, just reusing 2 feet of ribbon per person would save enough ribbon to tie a bow around the Earth! Can you imagine how much waste we could save from the millions of yards of gift-wrap thrown away every year? The good news is.. Read More »

You know we can't get enough of recycling here at Maggie Bags, and we're constantly looking for new sources of sustainable fashion inspiration! Since our handbags are made by completely revamping rejected seat belt material, we love creative ideas that turn trash into something beautiful and unique. Take a look at this high-fashion jewelry created from bottle caps. Designer Yoak Kotik polishes each piece to perfection and proves that unexpected beauty can be found in everything. Kotik Precious Metals are innovative, and their luxurious look is perfectly balanced with their sustainable, eco-friendly design. Make a bold look with a statement.. Read More »

Hey Maggie Bag lovers! We wanted to create a new, bigger space to share more insights, ideas, and happenings with all of you, hence our spanking new blog! Stay tuned for updates on all things Maggie Bags, mixed in with our favorite eco-friendly products, articles, and tips. Read More »