We survived a middle school science project.

This week we spent time with one of our 12 year old volunteers. Jessie and I helped her prepare for a science project. She is aware of how we up-cycle to make Jessie’s bags. She spent last summer helping us 2 days a week. She enjoys designing the fabrics, she even made herself 2 bags last summer it took an entire day to complete one bag. I think she forgot that….. So…… She decided to include a few bags in her up-cycling science project. I notice Sometimes young people want the end result but don’t want to do the work to get there. Or maybe I should say they only want to do part of the work……. The fun part…….  She designed the jeans skirts and shorts into bags, which she brought to Jessie to sew.

That is not how the process went….. Since this was her idea and science project….. I made her do the sewing on all   the bags with Jessie guiding her. It was not the quick process she expected. She temporarily forgot that this was work.

 She had to miss going to the carnival to complete the process. She was not happy about that……. I am NOT the one to do the work for you…and you get the credit and the good grade…..  but I will help you do the project. A valuable lesson was learned about hard work and good planning. In just a few hours with Jessie’s and my help she completed sewing on 4 Bags. Jessie stepped in and helped on the hard parts…. I directed ways to make the process a little easier……. She left Tired and sick of bags. I am not sure she ever wants to even see another bag. ….however…….

3 days later At the Middle School  Science project all the hard work was forgotten as she proudly displayed the items she made. The project was a success. These busy young ladies had created scarves out of t shirts, bracelets out of braided supermarket bags and plastic soda bottles. They sold a few of their items at the event so everyone was happy. This was the final school project….summer is finally here…….yea!

Hopefully we will have our summer volunteer 2 days a week helping us make bags…..

Up-cycling can be fun….. But it is work……hopefully you will love the end results….at least we do.

The bible at Ecclesiastes 5^th chapter verse 19 says we should rejoice in our hard work. This is a gift of god.

We rejoice in our hard work making bags. Jessie’s Bags are made from recycles fabrics, by volunteer workers….. Join the fun volunteer…

Check out our new Facebook page.

 We will be posting pictures of some of the newest bags which will be for sale.

Remember when you purchase a bag it will help fund the bags we donate to breast cancer survivors.

Thanks for your support!

Grateful for Getting the car fixed

There are things in life that we have to do but don't want to do.

 Getting the car serviced is one of them............................................................................ Jessie's Bags can't be on the road if the car doesn't work. And we are on the road more and more these days.

  Soooo… early morning......The car shift begins. I need transportation..... back home from dropping off the car....to pick up the car when it’s finished....and anywhere I need to go in between.... well I can always sit at home and get some Jessie's bags work done. 

Now we have to pay for this work to be done... of course it comes just as I want to take a vacation. Well I can't go on vacation without a car. Well we could just rent a car for the trip....but.... If I rent a car I still have to come home and fix my car double money.

It cost what? 

Wow I hate this whole process!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Can I go get the car take it somewhere else I’m not sure I trust this guy …do I really need that... it was working before I brought it to you… I hate this process… maybe I should by a new car …I hate that process too… I also hate the car payments every month…. Didn't we buy a warranty

…is that covered …. Part of it is YEA!!!!!!!!!!!!

Grateful for being able to get the car fixed! Jessie’s Bags will be on the road….soon

Grateful for Lunch with my cousins…2015

Today Jessie & I had lunch with my sister and a few of  my cousins. 

We were the group of loud ladies laughing and having fun at the Olive Garden. The ones who stayed forever......

 It was a time to reconnect and regroup. I heard two of them talking and saying I haven’t seen you since high school. I might add everybody there was retired except two of us and we are quickly reaching early retirement age. But I must say we are aging Beautiful!

For some of us it has been years since we were last together.

 We talked about changes and how things are different. The retired folks talked about life after working for so long and new work ethic of Gen X was discussed.  A few reminiscences about bobby socks and stockings were told.

We talked about how Jessie’s bag has grown. Jessie and I brought gifts. We had brought a Pillows and Bags for everyone something we try to always do...

see the pillows....

 A group of ladies at a table nearby saw the pillows and bags asked about them......

 a survivor a bag!

 #Jessiesbagsontheroad. 

The lady who approached us was also a survivor,.... who's work involves research for Breast Cancer. 

We quickly gave her one of Jessie’s Bags and our business card. 

We told them about Jessie’s bags and how we work with nursing home residents to get volunteers to make parts of the bags...  Two of the ladies she was eating lunch with work in nursing homes. Wow…. What a day!........................ Who knew our loud fun time at lunch would help us meet people we hope to see again who will support Jessie’s Bags…

 These ladies may be able to help Jessie’s bags grow and reach out to even more folks. 

I had planned to talk the retired family members into joining our volunteers…  LOL

 I am  always recruiting… even the cousin in Florida… we need a southern division….OH!!….. The possibilities….

My sister said you are just like Daddy… an entrepreneur….. I guess I am …Jessie always says 

you are just like your father……..

I so enjoyed Lunch..................

Arden Court Volunteer Appreciation Lunch

We enjoyed ourselves at the lunch Arden Court provided to say thank you to some of the volunteers who work throughout the year.

This was a time for us to meet some of the other volunteers that we usually don’t see.


 Volunteers come in all shapes and sizes….. One family brings animals in to visit including their potbellied pig to visit.

can you tell who has the potbellied Pig?

A few ladies  bring in cats & dogs to visit

A group of ladies who come in to read bible stories 

 One of the volunteers we know has been coming to this location for 15 years on Wednesday  mornings to read bible stories....

Jessie's Bags on the road!

refreshing! 

It was a Bright spot in our day!

Grateful for School days

WE finished our last day with the middle school students. During  This  3 month journey the girls made bags for themselves, pins for us, a flyer for us, they pulled apart fabric sample books, made bows and tags for bags. We hope they enjoyed learning about the process of hand making things and being creative, because we enjoyed teaching them a few things. Most of these young women we may never see again as they move to a new school next year.

We hope to continue this program during the next school year. 

I think these young volunteers enjoyed making bags for breast cancer survivors and the enjoyed the process of working with us. We got help and support in our project.

 Volunteering is an exciting thing where ever we go we give time and attention to people who need it and they give time and help to us.

On the last day we gave these ladies a pillow to take home…. they have to finish it so they can use it.  We also sent them home with fabric supplies; we hope they will continue to be creative making things they like...

The Bible at Ecclesiastes the 11 the chapter verse 9 says in part " Rejoice young man, while you are young, and let your heart be glad in the days of your youth."

This is our wish for the young ladies we met at Springer Middle School.

This is Jessie’s Bags legacy…

Encouraging others one bag at a time……

Grateful for the positive things Breast Cancer brought to our lives.

…….a wonderful program that demonstrates a purpose and meaning as well as a way to give back to our community.  This is how one person described our bag building workshop….

We visited Genesis Health Care High Gate at Paoli Point for the bag building workshop last week. The ladies all enjoyed the activity and made some beautiful Bows for use on our bags. One resident helped me cut the linings for several bags.                                                Jessie was out on the road at this event along with 2 other volunteers who helped with the process.

       






 One  volunteer that worked with us was also a survivor. She also likes to sew and now works on bags almost as much as Jessie does. I think the experiences we go through really do shape us and mold our lives. This experience with caring for my Breast Cancer survivor is the thing that has led us to ….making bags…visiting nursing homes, senior centers, middle schools….. Meeting wonderful supporters who donate fabrics and supplies… & excited volunteers who process and help keep us organized.

 Grateful for the positive things Breast Cancer brought to our lives.

4/21/15 The Solana Willistown on west Chester Pike

We had a wonderful day working on Jessie's bags with the ladies and a gentleman on Tuesday. They helped us process bags ready for delivery. They also supported our project by helping us make items for use on the bags. we enjoyed this fun lively group of new friends. Hope to see you soon! Thanks for the support.