Buzz Blog

Ever heard of ZeroLandfill? I hadn’t until a couple weeks ago, but fortunately it was just in time to catch the last in a series of material-dispersal events in Akron.

ZeroLandfill, like Buzz, is really into the notion of putting to use perfectly good materials that would otherwise be headed for the garbage. Volunteers very kindly gather samples from interior decorating and other companies and then let people like me loose on them.

Upholstery samples are my favorite. While larger fabric samples have always made up Buzz wristlets and totes, at this event I grabbed lots of little vinyl and leather squares that were just too cute to ever let go to waste.

And I do mean lots…

70 pounds to be exact. You’re wondering what I could possibly do with 70 pounds of small upholstery squares? They just might be the perfect canvas for sewing little works of art. Hmmm…

So it turned out that my 10-year-old Kenmore sewing machine, while fabulous for occasional crafting, was not up to the challenge of producing Buzz’s new line of super-sturdy, super-roomy tote bags. I kept the old girl around for more lightweight sewing assistance, but I knew I was ready to take on something a little faster and more powerful - a commerical machine.

I discovered this wonderful decades-old, family-run, independent sewing machine shop a short drive away, the Domestic Sewing Center in Warren, Ohio.

The wonderful owners helped me test-drive and purchase my new Janome 1600P commercial machine. I never knew a machine could be so powerful and fast yet easy to use. I got it set up as soon as I returned home and gave it some vintage upholstery fabric to chew on.

A short while later I had a new tote to add to the Buzz spring line-up… but more on that later.