DIY Drawstring Lunch Bag | Turquoise Lunch Tote

I am on a roll with this crafting-using-supplies-I-have challenge (check out my DIY tassel key chain and air dry clay fish art).  I think I need a catchier name though - any suggestions?

Today's DIY sewing project: a drawstring lunch bag, tailor made for the massive salads I like to take to work.

Do you remember that cute turquoise patterned tote from Skylark + Owl?  They used a cloth bag to wrap their bedding for shipping and of course I was smitten with the print:

In theory, I love the idea of wrapping bed linens in a tote for shipping because it reduces shipping waste, but in reality I couldn't actually find a use for the tote bag because I have so many open tote bags and this one was a bit floppy and useless.  I originally wanted to sew the fabric into a cute throw pillow, but I actually needed a lunch bag big enough to fit the awkward container I use to bring my lunch to work, so my Mom and I whipped up a drawstring lunch bag instead!

Supplies:

• Fabric (a sturdier, upholstery weight)
• Sewing machine + thread
• Single fold bias tape (optional)
• Satin cord
• Large crimps (check local craft stores)
• Craft glue
• Large safety pin
• Needle nose pliers

How to Sew a Drawstring Lunch Bag:

Because I was hacking fabric already sewn into a tote, I could skip some steps - like sewing up the sides (yay)!  However, I also had to do a bit of seam ripping to remove the handles and open up the top seam, so it probably didn't save me any time in the long run.  But I love any opportunity to use my new teal seam ripper...

I wanted this lunch bag to offer up a nice big base so my salad containers can sit upright - and not on their side, threatening to leak -  so I sewed the corners straight across, eyeballing the size:

You can see my lunch bag taking shape, once I removed the handles, trimmed the top edge and sewed the bottom (I trimmed those "ears" after snapping this photo):

 

This fabric was too heavy to turn under twice for a neat hem (we worried my poor old sewing machine wouldn't be able to handle it), so we opted to sew on bias tape to hide the raw edge instead:

Then we opened the side seam a little to create a hole for the drawstring.  We sewed around the opening, to keep it neat and tidy:

 With the drawstring hole sewn, it was time to form the channel for the drawstring.

The drawstring closure is comprised of two continuous loops of silk cord, running parallel inside the channel, which is how we created the "handles" and avoided any raw, unraveling ends of cord or awkward knots.

To thread the drawstrings, my Mom had this handy tool, but you can also use a large safety pin to help guide the silk cord:

The last step doesn't have an in-progress photo because it was messy!  Like I mentioned above, because I didn't want dangling ends of cord or having to make knots to keep it from slipping back inside the channel, we created two continuous loops by gluing the ends together and sealing with a large metal crimp:

I used my favorite gel epoxy for this, but you can use your favorite fabric or craft glue.  Place the end of the cord in the crimp, apply glue, let dry to a slightly sticky (not goopy) state before closing the crimp with needle nosed pliers.  Keep the crimp as round and smooth as possible - with no sharp edges to catch the fabric.

Here's what it should look like:

Once the glue has dried completely, we worked the cords around so the sealed crimp is in the middle of the channel and it won't be seen when the drawstring bag is cinched closed.

And that's it!  I love that I could customize the size of this DIY drawstring lunch bag to fit the containers I use for lunch - plus it folds up into a tiny square on the weekends :)

I am really loving the challenge of making things using supplies I already have on hand, but if this is going to be a regular feature, I'm going to need some suggestions for a better name! 

10 Ways I Stay Relaxed and Chill While Traveling for Work

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #TimeWithAveeno #CollectiveBias

Today I’m spilling the beans on my secret job!  In February I landed a really interesting job but didn't share too many details because to even describe my new position would have revealed how much I was traveling and I always worry about giving too much of that kind of info away.  However, I recently decided to leave that job, so now I can comfortably tell you about it!  I'm saving some fun stories - and more juicy details - for another day, but today I'll at least let you know the gist: I worked as a freelance educational workshop facilitator in First Nations Communities.  I spent two weeks each month traveling to communities and delivering week long workshops about anger management, youth engagement, and emotional health.  Although some communities were actually close to a town or city and I could stay in a hotel or motel, other communities were really remote, fly-in places and there I often stayed in someone's home or a lodge where I shared a bathroom with a bunch of guys.  A lot of times there was no internet and in many communities my cell phone didn't work, so it was, at times, a really isolating experience.  Plus I had severe baggage weight restrictions (many planes were so small I couldn't even pack a carry on) and sometimes I had to pack my own food within that weight restriction (I learned to travel light, that's for sure)!  But I always made room in my luggage for a few little luxuries, like AVEENO® products from Walmart, to help me stay happy and relaxed traveling so much for work.  

Here were my must-haves for treating myself!

1. Scented Candle

When I stayed in private homes, they were always pretty immaculate but some of the lodge-type accommodations and motels were pretty old.  One room in particular smelled so terribly bad that I was forced to sleep with the door to my hotel room open all night (so unsafe!) and so, after that, I started packing a small scented candle or room deodorizer which, as it turned out, also helped me de-stress after a long and draining day.   

2. Good Book

I know e-readers are all the rage but I like to decompress in the evenings without a screen, so I always brought along one good old fashioned paperback.  I buy cheap books at yard sales specifically for traveling so I can leave them behind for the next weary traveler.

3. Warm Drink

I learned this from a co-worker, who always traveled with his favorite instant coffee.  I was used to just hitting up a local Starbucks whenever I traveled but that definitely wasn't an option for this line of work!  The places I stayed often had communal everything: bathroom, kitchen, living room, so I did often have the means to at least boil water and bringing my own fancy loose leaf tea or instant coffee/hot chocolate was such a nice treat in the evening and made me feel more at home.

4. Healthy Snack

Many communities had really limited food choices so I made sure to always pack my own snacks because having something to nibble on in the evening that reminded me of home was always a treat.  Plus I definitely did feel stressed after some workshops and without a healthy snack to rely on, I was weak and would have said yes to every doughnut and chocolate bar that crossed my path...

5. AVEENO PURE RENEWAL® Shampoo and Conditioner

My hair already takes a beating thanks to bleaching and dyeing it bright hues like hot pink, shades of teal and mint, or, heck, four different vivid colors at once!  Plus the water was really harsh in some communities so I had to take special care to be gentle to my strands.  AVEENO PURE RENEWAL® Shampoo and Conditioner is creamy and gentle but effectively removes impurities while renewing my hair to a balanced state.  Plus it's clinically proven to be mild on sensitive skin and it's safe for color treated hair - which is a bonus, for sure.  I always decanted some of each in a travel sized bottle to take with me on the road.

6. Calling Card

It felt like the 1990s to have to track down a public phone.  When my cell service didn't cover in a particular area, it gave me peace of mind to know I could still connect with Hubby.  I still keep a calling card in my wallet just in case - you never know when a cell phone might give up the ghost.

7. Comfy Lounge Clothes

The first few trips I made I packed my (required) business casual attire and then some PJs for hanging out in my room - not realizing everyone would SEE them when I had to trek to the communal bathrooms.  I ended up buying PJs that weren't quite so thread bare but I also packed some comfy lounge clothes so I could hang out in common areas with ease.

8. Running Shoes

At first I was too nervous to wander around the communities (bears! blackflies!), but eventually I started to get cabin fever so I started packing running shoes and going for a walk or run every night.  I am not a runner, by any stretch of the imagination, but that daily exercise helped clear my mind and connect with people in the community so I always made room for my runners in my suitcase.  In my room I did some gentle stretching or yoga. 

9. Music

After I started traveling for work, I spent a good chunk of money and bought some music.  To save a penny, I usually listened to a lot of free music apps on my phone but they all required internet and I didn't have internet or data many places so I finally bought some songs which was definitely a sanity saver for me.  It was nice to block out the noise through paper thin walls and decompress.  Had I kept traveling for work, noise cancelling headphones was next on my list because those small planes are so LOUD. 

10. AVEENO® POSITIVELY RADIANT® 60 SECOND IN-SHOWER FACIAL

Did I mention the shared bathrooms?  It was, surprisingly, not as terrible as I imagined but there were some terrifying moments.  Sometimes I only had to share with women, but it was the unisex showers that still give me nightmares.  It definitely didn't leave time for much primping, but my skin was really taking a beating so the AVEENO® POSITIVELY RADIANT® 60 SECOND IN-SHOWER FACIAL is something I started using.  It works with the steam of a shower to deeply but gently exfoliate dirt, oil, and dead skin.  After piling on makeup every day (something I was not used to, working from home in my jammies as a blogger), spending a day in a sweaty meeting room, and trudging back to my room on a dirt road, only to wash my skin with harsh well water (treatment facilities really varied), my skin started to feel really awful.  This facial in a bottle worked like magic to make my skin feel velvety soft and naturally radiant.  I always showered at night, so taking 60 seconds to treat my skin at the end of a day felt like a luxury in my work environment and I'd shuffle back to my room feeling so content.  It's now a permanent staple in my shower at home, too, because I love that it only takes a minute and it exfoliates without leaving my skin feeling dry or stripped.

Those were my 10 must-haves for staying chill while traveling for work.  My job was such an unusual experience and, in some ways, I'm sad to have to have to search for something new but at least I can add "savvy traveler" to my list of skills!  I'll be back another day to share more about the actual job - and why I left... 

Do you travel at all for work?  What are your must-haves when you're on the road?  

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Lake Life Lately: I Have a New Job!

I never intended to become a professional blogger.  I started blogging as a hobby, while I was in grad school, because I wanted to connect with other people who had small budgets and big dreams for their homes.  I've always loved making and creating, and it was just so thrilling to be able to chat with others DIYers.  To my surprise, Dans le Townhouse grew and by the time the blog became Dans le Lakehouse, I was making a nice little income.  I filmed videos with Canadian Tire, saw my house pop up on sites like Elle Decor and Better Homes & Gardens, and even parlayed the blog into some exciting freelance work for various Canadian retailers.  Behind the scenes, even crazier opportunities presented themselves - it has been a wild ride!

But secretly, I was applying to other jobs.

My job search is such a long story - with so many crushing disappointments - but I don't know if it's really all that uncommon.  Lots of my friends, with various backgrounds/education, have struggled to find work.  I was lucky I had a back-up plan!  I decided to start growing the blog more purposefully (wishing I had laid the proper groundwork to run the blog like a business when I started) and things were chugging along.  Looking back, I'm especially grateful that I had a flexible job like blogging to fall back on because when some terrible things happened in my family, I was able to be there.

But I pined for a different kind of job.

Recently I took another stab at looking for a job but I took a wildly different approach with my job applications.  I threw out every single piece of advice I'd been given over the years (and I had been given a lot) and just wrote my cover letters from the heart, keeping them casual and upbeat.

Well, guess what?  I landed interviews for every job I applied to and was offered two competing offers within days of one another, for two excellent jobs broadly (sorta, kinda) in my field - if I can even say that I have "a field" (I have a PhD in Feminist and Gender Studies and an HBA and MA in Philosophy).

I chose the one with flexible hours and a chance for adventure.  Hubby works a really weird work shift and a 9-5 job would mean I'd rarely see him, so I pounced at the opportunity to work a job that has similarly odd hours.  I always worry about sharing too much on the blog, which is why I've kept details like Hubby's first name, our last name, his place of work, our location, etc., private.  I am probably overly cautious, but I hesitate to share too much about new job too, although I will say it's in education.  I am currently training and I start in earnest very soon.  There is a lot to learn and that's why I haven't been posting here with the same frequency as usual.  I'm cramming, haha! 

But I'm not leaving blogland!

The best thing about my new job is that I can keep blogging.  In fact, my new boss has encouraged it, which is amazing because Hubby and I have so many great projects lined up - plus I'm collaborating with some really great brands I've been wanting to work with for years.  With my focus shifted to my new job and new research, I'm actually feeling so much more inspired these days.  I think my brain needed a little bit of a challenge - and probably a change of scenery - to get those creative juices flowing again.  Ideas for posts and projects are just pouring out of me right now.

I wanted to share my news to explain my absence but also because I wanted to say a huge thank you to everyone who reads Dans le Lakehouse.  I never shared my employment struggles because I try not to let my problems seep into the blog.  There is an abundance of negativity in the world so the criteria for the blogs I read is simple: I like to be entertained, uplifted - and if I can learn something, that's a bonus!  I don't want to be mired in someone else's crazy drama, so I try not to foist mine on you.  But when I was feeling down, your kind comments and emails definitely propelled me forward, made me smile, and made me appreciate this job so much more. 

So I wanted to say thank you.  So much.  I think this year will be our best year yet!

P.S. The photos are from my home office makeover - if you missed it (and our DIY walnut waterfall desk) check out the before and after tour here.

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