Purses ~ Totes ~ Reusuable Lunch Bags?

I have decided to add another use for these totes and that is a reusable lunch bag.  If I worked outside the home I would definitely use one for that, there not to big not to small, lightly insulated (not good for outside on a hot day) although you could through a freezer pack in to help keep things cold.  Pockets to put eating utensils, napkin, small treats.

 

green leaves tote / reusable lunch bag 

 

 

teal paisley tote / reusable lunch bag 

 

These are listed in my new Etsy shop theirs only a few items right now but my plan is to add 2 or 3 things a day for the next week or two.  So check back to see what new items have been added.  I think I'm going to make a few more of these totes to be used as reusable lunch bags.

Thought I'd leave this with a few handmade items,
purses, totes, necklaces, & bracelts. 

Tan purse / tote with blue and orange flowers

 Black corduroy purse / tote with blue, green, orange flowers

yellow flower beaded bracelet

pink & purple beaded bracelet

orange beaded bracelet

3 strand floating bead necklace

turquoise blue beaded necklace with mother of pearl flowers

red white & blue beaded necklace with stars

purple beaded necklace

yellow beaded necklace

New Purse Abstract Braided Flower part 2 Handle ~ Strap ?

Ok, so I've spent 2 - 3 hours on just the handle / strap.  But, I think it came out pretty good.  I made it from the ultra suede the same as the outside body of the purse.  Its so soft, This purse is really coming together very nicely.

kathisewnsew Artfire studio

New Purse Abstract Braided Flower

I've been working on a new purse, I feel like I'm letting my creative side take over and I really like how its coming out.  I think it looks like I am using fabric to create my art.  Or am I over analyzing................ maybe its just pretty.

Purses & Rain, Rain & Purses .....

..... I am going to make a purse today with a theme of rain.  Peaceful, I love the sound of rain.  I HATE going out and doing things in the rain. I don't know what that had to do about the topic but, there you go.  I took my dog out to the garage to see if she would go out under the eves or even in the garage & do her business.  But nooooooooooooo, she stared at me like "are you crazy? its wet out there!". 

Stay dry.
Any ideas about a better title for this purse.

Its made with recycled jeans, it has a couple of beaded dangles on the outside front, its lined with a beautiful bright and colorful cotton fabric with a floral design, It has 2 inside pockets and 4 outside pockets, I put a large snap for the closure, and 2 sturdy handles / straps that will lay nicely on the shoulder.  

Ideas .... Handmade Heat Therapy Bags

I had an idea recently about heat therapy bags.  The idea started because of a gift I bought for my daughter for Christmas.  She was in a car accident last year and got whiplash (shes doing much better), ok back to the gift, I bought her a heat therapy bag. A heat therapy bag is a cloth bag filled with something (like rice or flax seed) that can be heated in the microwave.  I will then make a cloth cover (kind of like a pillow case) that can be removed for laundering.   When I looked at it I thought I could make these.  I have so much fabric right now but, most of it wont work for my purses and I wouldn't like it for clothes for myself but, I think it would be great for this.  I've heard about using rice,  flax seed or even corn to fill them.  I ordered some essentual oils so that I can give them nice relaxing scents or leave some scent free.  I know rice would be ok for the scents but I'm not sure if flax seed has scent & if that would or wouldn't work with the oils.  The 2 scents I ordered are sweet orange, and lavender.  I will post pictures when I start making them, which hopefully will be in the next week or two.
Yesterday was a crazy day, Artfire was giving a lifetime pro membership to the 1,000,000 listing.  So I put together a group of my beaded jewelry and finished my newest purse, and took pictures of them all. and then started listing.  When I listed my giraffe trimmed wristlet, I decided to check what number they were at it was close I went back hit list item. ..................... ..........................................  I was 1,000,031 WOW that was close.  It was actually quite fun, I felt like I was part of something.  I havn't started doing the forums on artfire  yet, but I plan on it soon, I just get quite nervous about that kind of thing.  I just need to get over that. 
Here is some of the jewelry I listed yesterday.

New Purse Wristlet Giraffe Trim

I finished my newest and first purse of 2010.  I really like this one, maybe it will be one of those that sell right away.  I did have that happen once, it was so exciting.  I bought the fabric, I designed the bag, I made it, I listed it, and it sold all within 2 or 3 weeks (Wild cool multi color purse July '09).

my ultra suede wristlet with giraffe print trim

Ultrasuede with Giraffe print trim ...

I bought some gorgeous  cream colored ultra suede recently, I've been so excited to make a new purse.  Well, this is what I'm working on. ( my daughter tells me that giraffe print is in right now) so I added some giraffe trim to this little charmer.

This one isn't finished yet, but I can see how pretty its going to be.  I'm hoping to finish it and list it in my Artfire studio within a few days.  I changed the inside pocket on my little charmers (originally talked about my "little charmers" Oct. 5 2009).  The reason for the change is that the 2 side pockets it did have made it difficult to put a wallet in the purse and then if I put my phone in the side pocket and something else in the other side pocket the whole purse bulged. Having a pocket tucked on the edge where the handle is I can put my phone or anything else in it and still be able to put things in the main part of the purse.  I'm thinking the change in the position of the pocket will work so much better on it.  This is going to be one of my "little charmers". I plan on working on the charm tomorrow, I might even get out my polymer clay and make a small giraffe for the charm.

I did get to work on hubbys quilt, here is how far I got.

Ladybugs ...

Its been a busy day.  Did a bunch of listing, and worked on hubbys quilt.  I'll take pictures of it tomorrow and post them so you can see how its coming.
Here is what I got listed on artfire today.

the first and fourth are bracelets, and the second and third are anklets.

And here are some pretty necklaces.

Well gotta go for now.

Rambling ....

Sometimes I get so frustrated.  Frustrated at my life, I just don't feel heard.  Or maybe that what I have to say isn't important.  Or maybe its that I just don't know what to say, and when I do say something I feel tangled up in so many thoughts that I mix it up and it all comes out in a big mess.  Then I worry did I say this or did I say that then the anxiety kicks in and the only way out is to forget.  And thats how I get here.  I guess I'm just a big f----- up mess.  (If this is here then I decided to leave the above in.)
I've listed some new items in my  artfire studio .  Here are a few pics.

This is my Valentine set.

These remind me of cherries. (If I could wear earrings these would be mine).

I really like this pair too.

I listed a few bags too.

 I've got to work on my picture taking, I'm still not pleased with my pictures.  I will learn and they will get better.