Cork Portfolio

A customer recently asked me to make a portfolio out of cork for him, because he works for a company in town that sells wine corks. He also asked me to put his company logo on it for him. Since it was an easy logo to produce, I said sure!

It took me two tries to get it right, but I was pretty happy with the result. Since I've taken the trouble to figure out how to make one, I suppose I should be making a few more to sell (albeit sans logo). Think they would sell?

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Dark Cork Wine Totes

Wine totes are a unique way to give wine as a gift. Hopefully, the recipient will re-gift the wine tote so it gets many uses. But I've had many people tell me that they plan to bring the wine in the wine tote, but then take the wine tote back home with them. Sort of like a casserole dish, rather than as part of the gift!

I decided to make some wine totes out of dark brown cork fabric. Previously, I only used the light colored cork. The dark cork has a leather-like feel and weight. The handles are made of bamboo grown in a neighboring town, but I also made some with birch, from a large tree branch that fell down in our yard a month ago in a rain storm. Now that's upcycling!

Any preferences on number of stripes? One, three, or none? The stripes are pieces of natural colored cork fabric.

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Black Cork Sling

I'm excited to introduce a new color for my cork bags--black! Technically, it's not a true black, more of a brown-black. I know that I personally favor black bags, so I had to make one for myself right away.
This sling style is really versatile. The strap is long enough to wear cross-wise, if desired. The zippered pocket on the outside provides easy access to your cell phone or keys.

Best of all, it's made of cork, which is eco-friendly as well as water- and stain-resistant. Although similar to leather in feel, no animals are harmed in the production of cork fabric. And it was handmade--by me! In my own sweat shop (except that it's too cold for any sweating right now). Now I need to get my rear in gear and add it to my website.....

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