MY PAPER BAG COMPANY is an extension of work titled A DIFFERENT PLANE and was featured at my site several months ago.
A Different Plane is the result of an interest using different painting surfaces; using the uneveness as a point of inspiration- a necessary challenge in creating a visually stimulating experience. My Paper Bag Co. is taking it one step further fusing art and function. I realized that creating My Paper Bag Co. was a natural and obvious direction for me to head in.
From here on, the possibilities are endless.
WARP AND WOOF is loosly defined as the structure on which something is built. The intersection of this structure is the inspiration used in my company's logo, 
In weaving, the yarns that are stretched and lined up parallel to one another are called warp yarns. The yarn(s) pulled over and under the warp yarns is called woof (this yarn is also known as weft) forming a strong foundation. The tighter the weave, the stronger the resulting fabric.
The totes I'm creating are made from strips of canvas-backed paper of varying widths and lengths, thus creating bags unique in size and pattern. I use the strips as I find them. Opting not to make the strips uniform in size, enables me to focus more on the chance designs that come from varied surfaces. The bags are unique; no two bags will ever be the same-- even if I paint the same image, the underlying structure is different. Even on the same bag, a single image that is on both sides changes slightly.
Below, I've grouped the bags by theme beginning with the simplest Plain White Paper Bag and ending with a more complex creature that I call Birdy Approved (a work inspired by my little feathered friend Lani, an Indian Ring Neck parakeet who watched over the fabrication of this one).
MY PAPER BAGS (views of both sides) top
view PHOTO SHOOTS
GROUP 1: Plain White Paper Bags, Black and Whites and Silhouettes
Foundation
size: 13x13 inches / 33x33 cm with expandable base up to 4 inches/ 10 cm at center; red, suede interior ; organza used as liner between linen backed paper and interior fabric ; single strap- adjustable for hanging closer to the shoulder or hanging off the hip; acrylic paint, spray on poly varnish
This simple, straight forward tote is great for loading up with magazines, books, gym clothes... you name it.. it's a stark and unpretentious canvas to make all your own
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Dragonfly
size: 13.75x15.25 inches / 35x38.7 cm ; teal colored, sateen interior ; organza used as liner between linen backed paper and interior fabric ; acrylic paint, permanent marker, spray on poly varnish ; original design drawn by hand, traced and copied onto surface with graphite pencil
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White Squares with Black Outline
size: 13x15.25 inches / 33x38.7 cm ; teal colored, sateen interior ; organza used as liner between linen backed paper and interior fabric ; acrylic paint, permanent marker, spray on poly varnish
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Swoop- Birdy Silhouette
size: 13.5x15.5 inches / 33.6x39.3 cm ; teal colored, sateen interior ; organza used as liner between linen backed paper and interior fabric ; acrylic paint, spray on poly varnish ; original design drawn by hand, traced and copied onto surface with graphite pencil, then painted over
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GROUP 2: Naturals
Tree- red flower
size: 16.5x14.5 inches / 42x37 cm ; teal colored, sateen interior ; organza used as liner between linen backed paper and interior fabric ; acrylic paint, water-based varnish ; original design stenciled, ink applied with a roller (four stencils used)
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GROUP 3: Patterns
Go Green
size: 12x12x2"/1" inches / 30.5x30.5x5/2.5 cm (from a side view, the bottom of bag is a squeezed base that measures 2 inches at the top and 1 inch at the bottom) ; salmon colored, suede interior ; organza used as liner between linen backed paper and interior fabric ; acrylic paint, water-based varnish ; double handle, reinforced ; original design stenciled, ink applied with a roller (single stencil)
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Wave of Pride
size: 12x10.5x2"/.75" inches / 30.5x26.6x5/2 cm (from a side view, the bottom of bag is a squeezed base that measures 2 inches at the top and .75 inch at the bottom) ; deep purple, velvet interior ; organza used as liner between linen backed paper and interior fabric ; acrylic paint, permanent marker, spray on poly and water-based varnish ; single handle, reinforced ; original design drawn and painted directly onto surface
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GROUP 4: Portraits
Lani
size: 15 5/8x14 inches / 39.7x35.5 cm ; teal colored, sateen interior ; organza used as liner between linen backed paper and interior fabric ; oil paint, acrylic paint, water-based varnish ; double handle, reinforced ; original design combination using a stencil created for outline of image on both sides of bag and painted over by hand- the model is my bird (single stencil)
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Barack
size: 17.5x17 inches / 44x43cm ; teal colored, sateen interior ; materials: acrylic paint, ink, water-based varnish; design stenciled with a roller ; clean with a damp cloth
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Missy
size: 20x16 inches / 51x40.5cm ; deep purple, velvet interior ; materials: acrylic paint, ink, water-based varnish; original design stenciled with a roller ; clean with a damp cloth
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Elephant
size: 21x18 inches / 53.3x46 cm ; the title is fitting-- wide, double handle, reinforced, gathered and stitched at center for comfortable grip ; deep purple, velvet interior ; materials: acrylic paint, ink, water-based varnish; original design stenciled, ink applied with a roller ; holds up to 15 lbs (magazines, books) ; clean with a damp cloth
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GROUP 5: Clutches
Birdy Approved- thin clutch
size: 10x8 inches / 25.5x20 cm ; single wrist strap ; single snap ; teal colored, sateen interior ; outside covered with boa feathers ; great for carrying an evening's essentials
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Copyright © 2002-2009 Milagros Melendez. All rights reserved.