I've been working on this mat off and on for a few weeks now. It's made of about 200 milk bags cut into strips and crocheted together. It will go with hundreds of other mats of various sizes to Haiti and will be used as sleeping mats for people who would otherwise sleep on the ground or perhaps on insect infested leaf mats. The bugs do not like the plastic so this gives the sleepers a bite-free sleep. The mats are washable and very long lasting. It keeps milk bags out of land fill sites that otherwise would take about 15 years to break down. There are many links with cool info and pics if you google milk bag mats. Here's one of them: http://www.nwhcm.ca/mats4haiti.htm
Barry held it up for the pic and was very pleased that I got his furry slippers in the frame! The "straps" you can almost make out by his hands make it possible to tie it up in a roll. This mat is intended for a child.
The milk bag strips can also be crocheted into shoulder bags which are used in the hospitals to keep a patient's belongings together under their bed. The shoulder bags go home with the patients, hopefully filled with some hospital/first aid supplies.
Getting the bags to Haiti is also a cool part of the story --- the shoulder bags and mats are used to protect medical equipment being shipped there from Canada.
Many thanks for dropping by.
update: haha, i think i've finally stumped the viewers ... seven views and still no comments. Sometimes it's the other way around ... comments without people actually bothering to look at the pic! ;-)
Terrific mission project! My daughter and husband went to Haiti last summer and helped rebuild a church outside of Port-au-Prince. There is so much need! But I'm not really sure what a "milk bag" is? Is it a plastic pouch? Like a juice box in the states?
@chauncygirl no, our quart/litre of milk comes in a plastic bag and three of those bags are put in an outer bag. It's the outer bag that's used. We have juice boxes and they're different.
Well, Anne - I wasn't sure about milk bags, either - but now I get it. My Church does mission work in Haiti as well. . .a lovely effort and the fuzzy slippers really make the shot!
Wow, this is so wonderful to do for those in Haiti, Anne. I have never seen one of these or heard of this before. A wonderful photo of what you made. FAV
You've put a lot of work into this, Anne! I'm glad you explained the milk bags. I have a water bottle holder that was crocheted with plastic grocery bags. My cousin gave it to me and it's very sturdy. I think your mats are a wonderful idea!!!
Who could ever look at this beautiful item and not comment!! It is beautiful, Anne. And your comment is full of wonderful information. This is what I call multiple re-cycling. Amazing piece of work that just keeps on working for everything. Why aren't more things like this done. Such a simple idea, but SO fabulous.
@karenann awe, thanks karenann! you are always so incredibly kind! you make a great investment time-wise to make so many of us feel so good about our shots! as for the the views without the comments, they are just fine with me because at least they took the time to click on the pic and look at it. i just thought it was cute that they were speechless!
This is really awesome, Anne! I had never heard of milk bags either, but wow, what a fabulous use for them. You recycle and help. It is kind of funny that so many were speechless. Tell Barry, I love his slippers!
WOW that is fantastic and thanks for sharing the link too.
Our milk comes in plastic cartons but I guess we could use some alternative for the same purpose!
This is such a unique and wonderful thing to do. We need more of these type of inventive ideas to help save the planet. Great of you to give your time for this worthy project.
That's fantastic! I saw one of these displayed at the fall fair, but there was no explanation. Thanks for that! I smiled when I read that you hadn't gotten any comments and thought to myself, "I bet it's because nobody knows what a milkbag is!"
Well, again I need to say that I learn something new every day when I log onto 365. Amazing project and I admire you for your patience and compassion. I would hate to think what would come out of anything I tried to sew or crochet or knit ....LOL
i admire your efforts and patience in doing this. when do you find the time to do these things? i sit here for hours commenting and i still haven't covered everyone! that's a huge mat! kudos, anne!
Wow - I'm so impressed Anne! Love the whole idea and what a great way to help someone and recycle at the same time. Just catching up now - hardly any time for 365 these days!
Our milk comes in plastic cartons but I guess we could use some alternative for the same purpose!