Old Bags
Owner: Dawn Coffin
Address: 1334 Main Street, Harrington, ME 04643
Telephone: 207-944-9773
Web:
http://oldbagcreations.weebly.com
Email:
Sometime
in the mid 1950's, soon after World War II, I remember dad preparing us
children for something similar I am sure he thought was imminent. The
boys of course would be soldiers and go fight the enemy. I, the only
girl child, would of course go to war as well as a nurse to care for my
brothers and others who would be wounded in the fighting.
But I always wanted to set up my little seamstress business, presumably
on some street corner in Upstate New York where I would make all kinds
of pretty things for people who would want me to sew for them.
Later I even had an upholstery business that was profitable in its time.
And I have done many other things along life's path, some to profit,
others not.
After years of not sewing I became greatly intrigued at a sewing machine
demonstration during which the proprietor showed us how easily he could
sew through a paint paddle! I had to have one of those machines. So I
bought the commercial model of Singer he was showing and several years
later began to make vestments and other dress regalia for a friend who
was entering ministry.
My daughter fell in love with a brocade from which I made my friend a
vest and asked to have a purse made from it. Humoring her, I chopped out
a piece of the fabric and sewed it rather clumsily together without much
concern. Soon she began to report women following her around wanting to
know where she got a bag like that.
From that humble start the Old Bags evolved. My daughter even chose the
name--Old Bag--which alternatively amuses or offends.
Yet,
on I sew. I cannot bring myself to enlist help since no one can satisfy
my standards, so every bag is individually sewn by myself--THE Old
Bag--on that same Singer which begins now to show scratches and dings.
I love what I am doing and every bag is inspired. I can't seem to begin
a project without my personal sewing muse giving me a nudge.
And the greatest joy comes when someone says, "I like that bag, but..."
Could I make the strap longer-- or shorter. Could I make it in a
different fabric or make it fatter here or there, or can it have pockets
for this use or that. So every bag is a creation and those sewn
especially to someone's want or need take on their own personality. Then
too, I think of adjustments and improvements that I employ on the next
bag.
So, IMAGINE! If you can picture it, I will try to create it. Please give
a call or an email and lets see what we can do to make your bag unique!