School started a week ago today in Austin.  It’s always a sweet day in our world, and this year it was especially so because my little bird started kindergarden. (sniff, sniff)  See her holding up sign language fingers for  ’K'?  Yup….sigh.   I rallied for the annual task of inventing a unique tote in which each gal could transport  her midday, nutritious sustenance to school. My big girl requested  a shooting star on each bag.  We did purchase new synthetic webbing for the bags because  nothing else makes as reliable of a strap.  Otherwise each bag is made entirely of materials that might be seen by some as trash.  I fused the plastic bags to make them sturdier and longer wearing. Tutorial here - (Hint: I wait until the bags have cooled before peeling them away from the parchment paper-otherwise the ‘fabric’ might stretch and ultimately not lay flay in your finished item.)  I never have a plan when I start these things, which is very freeing.  In each case, I was building the bag around the water bottle and the size of a few reusable plastic containers.  This year’s bags evolved from these: 2010 and 2009.  Happy Crafting!