archive post: DIY travel tote roundup.

This week I'm bringing back some of my favorite posts from the archive. There's a part of me that wishes that I hadn't taken all of my old posts and created an archive, but I feel as though it needed to happen in order for me to move on from the difficult year that I had. Luckily I saved them all in a tab!

First up is pretty close to being my favorite, my DIY travel tote bag roundup. With my upcoming trip to Honduras (AHH!), a small bag to carry around Guaimaca and use as a carry on for the trip is necessary. The lovely purple type is all newly added, just to give some updates and such. Enjoy!

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I shared last week that I'm flying to south Florida for spring break in a few weeks. (I can't believe it's nearly been a year) In the process of prepping for the trip, I've been searching for the pretty much perfect personal item. After browsing through Delta Airlines' carry on and personal item rules, I found out I can't take my beloved Marmot backpack as a personal item. My go-everywhere-with-me, on sale, last one, backpack counts as another carry on in the eyes of Delta. So sad. Here begins the journey to the perfect personal item: big enough to hold my toiletries, macbook, notebook, current read, Relevant Mag., and the contents of my purse (not that much in it). I found one at TJMaxx in Athens Friday afternoon, but it wasn't something that I could see myself using in the future that often. I bought it because it was the largest bag, one of the lowest priced, and the only one like it. I decided to return it yesterday afternoon. So the search goes on!! I've decided I'm going to try to DIY it. I like the idea of a big tote bag. I thought of making/buying a plain tote 14"x15"x5" or larger, and then creating a liner with a laptop pocket and other pockets. It's really quite simple. I love all of these fabulous tutorials that I found on Pinterest.

1. Braided Belt Messenger Bar from Cold Hands Warm Heart. I like the idea of this bag. It's simple and cute. I think I could increase the dimensions and add a heavier interfacing throughout the entire bag to make it sturdier. Oh and also add a few more/different pockets. 
2. Mirador Tote from Anthropologie --no longer available. I love this bag. It's just your average tote in a pretty fabric with leather straps and maybe some front pockets (??). Sweet and simplistic. Need I say more?
3. The Weekend by Don at Weekend Designer. I fell in love with this bag the moment I saw it. At first I thought, there is no way this can be a DIY, handmade bag. I don't think it's super difficult to make other than the leather pieces. I've never worked with any form of leather. Intimidating, I tell you, intimidating. It's just a super awesome bag. 
4. DIY Tote Bag from Megan Nielsen. How to make a tote. Just what I needed. That is all. Oh and great tutorial. I love all of hers. 
5. Scrap Map from See Kate Sew. This one isn't a bag. It's just an inspiration for what would go on the outside of it. I love maps and I love fabric scraps and I love a nice tote bag. Perfect combo right here. Perfect. Combo.
6. This one is another bag from Anthropologie. Unfortunately I don't know the name of it. So sad. I love the cross body strap and the handles. I think I will create a detachable long strap on my travelin' bag.
7. Sweet Scallop Tote from Taylor Made. This bag is just too cute. Too cute I tell you. I like how she took a basic tote and made it more. She added tons and tons of pockets, sides, and a wide bottom. I love it. Beautiful.
8. Art-Inspired Chevron Tote Bag from Fabric Paper Glue. I think this one is my favorite out of all of them. I love the pattern of scraps, the handles, the thickness, and the simplicity. If I made one like this, I would just make the handles long enough to go over my shoulder and extend the dimensions. Other than that it's just plain perfect. 

So that's all for my DIY travelin' bag inspirations. I hope you had a great weekend and an oh so exciting Tuesday!! Enjoy!

**I can't believe it's nearly been a year since I created this post! So much has happened since, and to believe that it's still relevant this time around....CRAZY! I hope that you've enjoyed this archive post and I can't wait to tell all of you about my trip to Guaimaca!! Less than 2 months away!**