When Yamba’s Myra James saw British actress and TV presenter Joanna Lumley visit a factory in India where they made hessian bags about 8 years ago, she was inspired to draw on her sewing skills, so she reached out to popular Maclean artisan coffee business, Botero.
Little did she know she would produce more than 5000 popular bags with her trusty Janome sewing machine that now sell for $15 each, entirely out of the kindness of her heart, using recycled coffee bean bags and various pieces of material, which has resulted in more than $50,000 raised for local community organisations.
“Following the episode of ‘My India’, was the show ‘War on Waste’ where they were talking about how the plastic bags of Coles and Woolworths had gone out of fashion, and I said to my husband Frank, I’m going to buy a couple of those bags from Botero, and turn them into shopping bags,” she said.
“So, I bought 2, for $2 each, and out of those 2, I made 8 shopping bags and lined them with fabric that I had at home.”
After finishing the bags, Myra approached the Botero Marketing Manager at the time who thought it was a wonderful idea.
“He probably thought after a few months I would have had enough of it, anyway, almost 8 years later, I am still making them,” she said.
For her stoic efforts, Myra was named the Local Hero at the 2022 Clarence Valley Citizen of the Year awards.
When questions were asked about who was responsible for these magical creations, Myra decided to put a tag inside each bag, which was also a way to keep tally.
“Frank my husband made up a little flyer about me on a tag that I placed into each bag, which has a number on it…I am up to bag 5216,” she said.
Much of the material she uses to ‘dress up’ the hessian coffee bean bags Myra pays for, sourcing supplies from local op shops.
“For my lining I usually buy doona covers from the Op Shops…all of the local Op Shops ladies know me because I’m always in there buying doona covers,” she laughed.
“Sometimes people donate fabric to me.
“I buy my Visoflex from Narelle at her shop in Iluka called Byndees Patchwork.
“Everything is about the pocket, the appearance of the whole bag is about what is on the pocket, and I try to make every bag special.”
Over the years, Myra said she had received messages from people on social media who had spotted her bags in different countries around the world.
Currently, Myra is making a special edition run of 127 bags for the 127th Maclean Highland Gathering.
“A lady got in touch with me, and she said I’ve got a lot of tartan offcuts, would you use them…so to celebrate the 127th Highland Gathering I will make 127 unique bags,” she said.
Botero Café Maclean took to their Facebook page last week to thank Myra for her tireless efforts and announce their latest donations.
“Thanks to the funds raised over the last 4 months from the sale of Myra’s upcycled bags, along with the sales of the Botero green bean bags, we have been able to donate over $10,000 to the following organisations:
The Lower Clarence Cricket Association for 2025, the Local Christmas Carols to cover kids’ entertainment, the Lower Clarence Magpies Junior Rugby League Club, sponsorship of local lad William Gallagher for his 2025 Kart Racing season, sponsorship of the 2025 Clarence Canegrowers Harvest Festival, to the 2025 Highland Games, Lower Clarence Scottish Association, to the Maclean Show Society 2025, and the Maclean Orchid Society.
“Well done, Myra!
“Keep up the great work and thank you to all the customers who purchase the upcycled and green bean bags.”
Myra said she will keep making the bags as long as she is able to.
“I’m only 82, so as long as I keep going to the gym twice a week, I’ll be making the bags for another 10 years,” she said.