Cooler Bag for Tupperware lunch boxes

I must admit, i do like a bit of tupperware. I particularly like these lunch boxes, the ones that have 4 compartments in them so i can pretend that i am organised. I have had these since the kids were very little. One thing i have never had is a small/medium size cooler bag to fit them.
Every one i find is neither long enough, or if it is, it is far too big.

Yesterday, a package arrived in the post of some of that Insulbrite stuff, used to keep stuff hot, or cold, or to use in oven mitts etc... So i grabbed some of the oilcloth that i have, found some binding, and gave it a go.


Was quite happy with the end product, but have decided that it definently needs a zipper, to make the most of the heating/cooling properties of the Insul-brite stuff. Have found one exactly the right length in my mess of a craft box, so it was meant to be. Will do that when the kids go to bed tonight.


It also fits, along with the lunch box, both kids drink bottles in them.

Very happy.... just dont look too close. It has my signature sewing all over it!!!

Hats,... I think i like them.

Todays hat even has interfacing in it to stiffen it up. Not yet lined,as im still trying to work out what the best way to line a hat is with minimum effort.

The material was from the op shop, $3 for about 3 metres.

I would never buy this for any other reason. Its just not my style. But for a boys hat.. Its cool to the MAX. well so says the 5 year old

Perhaps the next one will be for me?

Monday Craft

YAY, monday craft has re-started.

Today, there was not a huge amount of crafting going on. Three of us, plus 5 boys, 5 and under. It was fun.

Jo made some bean bags for her boy to play with. Here my boy is giving them a good workout, and contrary to how this photo looks, it didnt hit him in the head.

Of course, Monday craft would not be complete with some 100% healthy and nutritiously sound food. mmmmm



MMM,.. well, i had to include this one.. Here's me out in the rain, testing out the new wrap skirt, that started its life as a vintage tablecloth..a huge tablecloth, its oh so comfy and just the thing for doing a rain dance.


I might be overweight, but look at those leg muscles!!!!

and here is the end product. An extremely comfy wrap skirt. Thanks Cathy for the tip on how to tie it. Button hole and ribbon working a treat.

How difficult is it to take a photo of yourself wearing a skirt. I tried a zillion times.

A new year,..

2010, a new year.

I have been very slack posting this year. It has been very busy and only 0ne month has passed. So much has happened. Our beautiful dog Reg, had to be put down on New Years Day. It was quite traumatic. He was 14, nearly 15. He was around long before the kids. He put up with the kids, he loved us all unconditionally. I miss that dog.

Andrew is away in China at the moment, and has now been for 5 weeks. Its been fairly full on with the two kidsand looking after the house. Things like trying to get the lawnmower going, which andrew woudl fix in 2 seconds, becomes a drama....

anyway its now february, and this is what ive bought today.

Benny checking out the tub of Mobilo, $2. quite a few of the connector pieces have been chewed, but most are fine, and ben is enjoying himself there.


a wooden marble run game, which i know is an Aldi brand... but it was still in the original plastic bag inside $2

pack of nappies... yes i know they are girl nappies, but for day time, who cares particularly when they are $5

a tablecloth in this funky print with dresses and tops all over it . have visions of turning iit into a skirt or a tunic.

and this little shoulder bag which i made at craft morning at Jo's

material madness

Onceagain, things have been quiet here. Ive been house sitting for the last week or so, so quiet on the op shopping front.

For christmas this year, i have been attempting to make things for people for christmas.
Here is benny holding mums beach/pool bag. Made from oilcloth, and lined with red linen serviettes, from Lions club oppy, i think it looks cool. So cool, that im def going to make one for myself, as i have been using this one non stop to cart all the kids stuff about.


On Tuesday i stopped at Hornsby Salvation Army Oppy and came back with this lot of material. all the small pieces were 50c, and the big piece, which is a curtain was $3.


as you can see i whipped up a pair of shorts for benny. Its lovely and thick cotton material, and i think they are pretty good looking shorts. The sort that i would buy if i saw in a shop. Unfortunately i didnt have any elastic, so they are draw string, or should i say draw shoe lace! at the moment.

My gorgeous model.

and here is another little bag i zipped up with the oil skin, with lining made out of a $2 tablecloth from Berowra.

Today is thursday, today is one of the good days (although every day is a good day) to go to the op shop as the ladies churn out a lot of new stuff into the shop...

Doona cover to tote bag and a little bit dipsy

Benny loves the Teletubbies,.. I found this Dipsy at the op shop for $3 and he has not let go of it since i gave it to him. You think he likes it?

My friend Kath gave me a pattern for a picnic tote bag. I have started it using an old doona cover, and the pink material is an old sheet. Unfortunately the sheet has a bit too much polyester in it so it makes it "walk" when you sew it, so i will

have to re do the straps before i line it. Ilike it though

More material from the Oppy

Interesting way to put my pictures... how did i do that?

No matter... Today i got from the Op Shop a Pippi Longstocking video . How could i not??

This lovely blue fabric which will be excellent to use as a lining for one of my bags.
Jo, this picture is particularly for you. My material was SO out of control, shoved here there and everywhere, that i decided to use a picnic basket that tom bought at the op shop once. It now houses some of the material, with the rest organised (for now,) in a plastic container.

And last pic is of my new messenger bag in progress... what do you think?

My first messenger bag sewing adventure

Here is my first attempt as sewing a messenger style bag.

I made up the pattern by looking at a bag that i already had, then used some ikea kids paper, to cut out a pattern. I have lined it with a co ordinating fabric and put a pocket for pens, a phone, and keys. I am so so so happy with it. I can see a few more being made for christmas presents.

The only thing is that i didnt put wadding or interface in this one, as i just wanted to make it to see how it turned out, and i didnt have any, but i know the Op Shop has a big wadge of fleece wadding which i will buy on tuesday when it opens... oooh i cant wait.

Shhhhhh

My mega press setter... any one needs some press studs put in?

My Peter AlexanderSheet

My cot sheet i bought today which i am going to make into another top soaking, of course i didnt think to take a picture till it was already in the nappysan....

Things have been quiet on the Op Shop side of things. Not because there hasnt been things to buy, but more because i have been busy. Busy doing what im not sure, just busy being me. To think of all the bargains that i have missed!

Anyhow,yesterday i went to craft day, and finished my top that i had been making and wore it yesterday. I want to wear it today but its too cold, but was very happy to hear that tomorrow is going to be hot, so it will get another outing.

Today at the op shop i bought, what i thought was a doona cover, but its a queen sheet, but it turns out to be a Peter Alexander sheet, so am going to buy some white, or dark blue sheeting material and turn it into a doona cover.

Did i mention that i bought myself a press setter. It was cheap, and silly me was checking the letterbox each day for it. I laughed when it arrived... It weighs more than 15kgs, and is very large, but boy does it put in press studs super fast. Now to think of all those things that i can make that have presses on them... oh the possibilities.... i also bought some bamboo material and some PUL and have made tom a night nappy as he wants one that can be put in the wash and used again. Who am i to argue

Boxy Bags

The house was tidy!!! the kids were asleep, and the husband was out. The TV was off, there was a free dining room table, and the sewing machine was easy to get to. It was meant to be.

I found a tutorial here for these cute and very very ver fast to make bags. They are not lined, and take about 10 mins to make. In the tutorial they pfaff about with sewing the corners, but as you will know thats not me, so i just did it without anyof that and they came out fine. I think next time i will put a lining in them,but they are oh so cute, and it means that i could buy some nice material and get heaps of them out of 1/2 metre.

This blog has been on a bit of a sewing/crafting bend of late. Well, the material still is all from the Op shop,.. and so are the zippers actually, so i think working it out, these bags cost about 50c each to make.! I love it.