I wanted a bag for my camera, something I could wear on my belt to free up my hands. Something simple, no hassle of trying to sew zippers or complicated shapes. So, I settled on a simple padded bag that cinches shut and will slip onto my belt. It was a success!
I loved it so much that I decided I needed another bag to wear on my belt (or not) when we go for hikes, that sort of thing - something small, with only room for the barest necessities, but able to carry *everything* I might need - sunglasses, cards, cell phone, a Luna Bar, and allow me to have my hands free for Miss M.
So I made one, and I love it so much that it's become my purse. Here it is, pictured next to a favorite mug for size reference.
But then I decided I needed something fun for those times I don't feel like basic black. I took Miss M's old sling, the one I had made with a beautiful Hawaian fabric. I was kind of sad as I cut it up, thinking how she's grown so much that I won't need it anymore, but holding bittersweet emotions at bay by thinking of the new bag I was going to get out of it, a way to carry those memories with me all the time.
The bag works great! It cinches closed like a dream, has individual pockets for sunglasses (so they won't scratch) and cell phone (so I can reach it easily without rummaging if it rings, which it never does because dh is almost the only one who knows the number), a place for cards, and extra room for a Luna Bar and a few other things.
Here's how I fit everything I need into one small bag - I pack small items in an empty, rinsed bubbles container with the blower snipped off. It holds nail clippers (baby sized, since they're small; they can double as scissors sometimes), toothpaste (for cleaning contact lenses in an emergency), Vaseline, a couple of Advils (each wrapped individually in a corner of a plastic bag, as are the toothpaste and Vaseline), a couple of Q-tips, and a list. I suppose a drop of dishwashing liquid (for hand-washing when there's no soap) ought to be included, too. The bubbles container keeps anything that might leak contained, and prevents the toothpaste from drying out - that had been a big problem, and I only just now came up with a solution that doesn't involve me carrying an entire tube of toothpaste in my bag.
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