All items by HasBeen Handbags

Cruising the inland waterways, designing, making and selling bags - a brilliant way of life!

After a long career in education, early retirement offered me the opportunity to indulge my creative side. We had our beautiful widebeam narrowboat 'Kristal' built, let out our house, and launched her in September 2015. It is our home now all year round, and Alastair and I enjoy a more sustainable life in the slow lane, pacing ourselves according to the seasons and the weather, more aware of the natural world around us.
A lifelong love of textiles, and discovering by chance how much waste was being generated in the furnishing industry shocked me into doing something about it, in my own small way. The ends of rolls and remnants of the heavier materials used for sofas and curtains are ideal for making durable, stylish bags and accessories - these smaller projects are also more practical in the confines of a boat - so 'Hasbeen Handbags' was born.
When the weather is wet I am warm and dry below decks in my sewing cabin making them, or managing this online shop - when it is fine, I set up my stall on the bank and sell them!

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