things we carry • palimpsestic

Jenn from Palimpsestic here. I've loved seeing the bags of other Dream Team members, so I thought I'd give you a look inside mine. I'm the mom of a ten-year-old boy and our whole family is outdoorsy and active, especially in the summer, so my "gear" reflects that.

My Mountainsmith bag. My husband did some work for Mountainsmith many years ago and they provided us with piles of gear. It was a brilliant marketing move on their part, because I’ve bought more since. I feel good about supporting a company local to me in Colorado. Plus, this particular bag was part of the initial haul. It’s at least six years old and still looks practically new. Everything else you see fits inside here.

2. My iPad and my GorillaMobile Yogi (those bendy legs, which are just about the best invention ever.) I used to always carry a book on me, but now my iPad serves that purpose. I also keep a photo gallery portfolio on the iPad so I always have a beautiful, high-resolution slideshow of my work.

3. Cinch sack containing geocaching necessities. I use my phone as a GPS, but this bag contains a pencil and some small toys to exchange for goodies when we find a cache. My whole family loves geocaching and we do it often.

4. Zipper bag with various cosmetic necessities—lip gloss, a stain stick (anyone who’s met me knows why I need this…I’m hopeless), miscellaneous pills, Burt’s Bee’s “green stuff” (my secret Mom remedy for everything), and some bobby pins, just in case I stumble on a lock that needs picking. (Kidding. I have long hair and those things come in handy.)

5. Moo cards!

6. Bluetooth earpiece, my iPhone, my Moleskine notebook, my favorite Bic pens, and a wire-formed hippo. What? You don’t carry a hippo?

7. Prescription sunglasses, which I rarely needed in Seattle, but always need since I moved to Colorado.

8. Reusable shopping bag.

9. Wallet

10. Headphones and a microfiber cloth for the iDevices.

11. Splenda. Pretty sure these are remnants from my recent cross-country Splenda-stealing crime wave. Also, I drink a lot of coffee.

Not shown is my water bottle-- a big, stainless steel, liter-sized behemoth. It's a necessity in this dry climate and I'm drinking from it right now.

So there you have it...the things I carry. I hope you had as much fun peeking into my bag as I've had peering into others.

things we carry • corrnucopia

Bare necessities are what it's about for me Ilena from Corrnucopia. I really don't care for carrying around a purse at all but out of necessity with my little ones, ages 3 and 5, I must. So here are my few must haves.

Wipes in a plastic baggie. These get me out of many messes. Apparently they are also very entertaining as they will keep my kids occupied when they are in the car and have had enough.

Measuring tape always comes in handy.

Hand lotion from Long Winter Farm. Love this stuff!

Money purse filed with the plastic, business cards, and the coupons that I forget I have when I'm at the store. Sometimes actual money.

Altoids. fresh breath is a wonderful thing.

Yellow goopy thing from the dentist's office prize box. It's absolutely disgusting but the kids love it. Used only for extreme meltdowns.

The phone. I've just joined the smartphone age and love being able to stay connected to my shop and Etsy. Totally addicted (to phone & Etsy).

Hearing aid batteries. A must have ~ my 3 year old son doesn't hear without them. I keep these in a little vintage leather case. Also a little tool that I devised to open the aids with (oh those child proof locks).

& these are the things I carry!

things we carry • leanimale

Laura of leanimale here with the things I carry! I believe I am organized in my purse than anywhere else. I wasn't always - but I got so tired of digging through my bag only to find the thing I was looking for very last, after spilling everything else out. I needed a more efficient way of handling all of the things I like/need to carry. So I divvied up my treasures into several smaller bags.

 In my scavenger pouch I have some creative supplies, should I feel the need to write, draw or paint. This is particularly important to have with me when I travel, as exploring and adventuring always inspires me.

My adorable juicy pear pouch holds my 'beauty' essentials which for me include chapstick (very important), a mirror I rarely use, and a hair tie.

I keep a mini Cranium game with me for spontaneous game-play when hanging out with a couple of friends. (The mini Cranium game came from a Chick-Fil-A kid's meal!) I also keep a few actual Cranium trivia cards because I think trivia is fun. And lastly, when I'm bored by myself and want to pass some time, I carry a miniature version of Boggle. I love word searches!

I keep all of my keys & keychains on a key fob I won at a Thirty-One party. Keychains include: "Bear Getting Into Something" keychain from Madrid, one of the only keychains I could find in India, a hand painted Velveteen Rabbit converted from a necklace by Tuckoo and Moo Cow, a quartz crystal keychain from the Jurassic Park land of Islands of Adventure in Orlando, a keychain that looks like my dog, a Disney Vinylmation keychain from Downtown Disney in Los Angeles, and a keychain my mom made from hemp & purple beads. And those are the things I carry!

things we carry• maddenphotography

Hello, it's Bree from Maddenphotography, and I am going to give you a look inside my bag!

Not the typical “purse” going on here. My daughter will be 2 in October so I am still sporting a diaper bag. I choose an awesome Igloo Cooler bag to be my diaper bag. It is easy to wipe out, (The beach somehow ends up in my bag every week! It also keeps things like my daughters milk and snacks nice and cool for the days when we are outside or at the beach. I got my Cooler bag at the grocery store LoL, but I love it and it works for us:)

My FAVORITE thing that is attached to me at ALL TIMES, is my IPHONE 4. It is lit up to see a picture of my daughter in action. This I take everywhere so I can always keep up with what is going on in my shop and respond to emails when needed. This is also my favorite thing to have as I take millions of pictures on it every day of my daughter being cute! I can't leave the house without it.

My wallet I have had for years. I love it because it opens up to be many different compartments and holds everything I need! It is leather so everything wipes off easy as well, which is so important when you daughter hides treats in your purse, or there is spilled milk!. It also comes in handy when my daughter needs something to keep her entertained. Lots of things to explore in here. :)

My baby sunscreen is a MUST at all times. We are always at the beach surfing or outdoors so we need to have this handy to make sure we are protected at all times.
As well I carry my Lancome Face sunscreen:) for me. As well as my very expensive($11 dollars) sunglasses that I got at Kohls! LOL Did I mention I have a 2 year old? That is why I get my glasses at Khols - they don't last very long with her around.

Diapers are always handy as we never know when you will need one ;). I buy the standard "up" target brand. They work well and get the job done! Also my little case of Huggies travel wipes are always on hand. Desitin is always in the bag as well as a “just in case”.

I am not a make-up girl, since I am always at the beach surfing or in the water. The only thing I carry around is my Burt's Bees Beeswax Lip Balm. What of my favorite and a great thing to keep your lips hydrated and protected!

And of course Since this is my “daughters bag” lol I must always have snacks and a sippy cup of water and or milk handy at all times! I choose the Platex sippy cups from Target as I find them sturdy and easy for her to use.

Thanks for stopping by to take a peek inside my bag!

things we carry• laurenblythedesigns

Left to right, bottom row: Neutral leather bag from Banana Republic, tattered wallet, silver business card holder with my laurenblythedesigns Etsy shop business cards. Middle row: California Baby Sunscreen, Cars 2 Fruit Snacks, Blackberry, Nars and Armani lipstick collection (this is nothing compared to what I don’t carry!) Top row: Tea (coffee) cup cozy from Knit Storm on Etsy, black hair clip, bottle of Advil, vintage 1980s tortoise shell cat eye sunglasses and one of my designs: Garland earrings in black. 

Lauren’s purse

Hi, I'm Lauren from laurenblythedesigns! Here is a look inside my purse. By the way, I don’t use one purse all the time, I have a few and often change them out depending on the season. Since it's summer I am using my casual summer bag.  The day I photographed this I had to run errands: to the Post Office to mail jewelry orders, the bank and then the mall, with a Starbucks on the way of course!  The bag is from last summer from Banana Republic. It’s such a classic look that really goes with everything.

The bag may change, but the daily carry doesn't change much:

Wallet. A must of course to pay for the post office, the daily Cappuccino and the occasional mall stroll (see my lipstick stash below!), as well as 5 year old child needs. Can you say Monkey Business? Or an ice cream cone? Or snacks at the pool? The wallet is just something I got a few years ago and I liked how neutral it is. Nothing special about it except of course it does what it should!

Silver business card case was a birthday gift last year and I love it! It fits my “vintage” style and it holds my Etsy shop cards well!

California Baby Sunscreen. I carry this around for my 5 year old. When we are out at a park or something I hate forgetting sunscreen. This has no chemicals but it’s also not waterproof so not the one we use for the pool and such but it’s great to have around. 

Cars 2 Fruit Snack. Five year old obsessions: Cars 2 and Fruit Snacks! What more could a little boy ask for? I like to have one with me when I pick him up from camp and he’s hungry or just as a pick me up any other day.

Blackberry. Love it! Need I say more?

Lipstick collection! Ok I admit I have a huge lipstick addiction and this is only part of it- the rest is on my vanity table. When I am feeling down, I buy a new lipstick. When it’s a new season, I buy a new lipstick. When I am bored, I buy a new lipstick. Sometimes I think of how much all these cost and think of what I could REALLY buy instead!  Here are some of my faves: Armani gloss in #45 which looks fantastic over Armani lipstick in #101. Amazing nudes. Nars lipstick pencil in New Lover (don't ya love the name?).  I love the color but you have to sharpen it since it's a pencil and I don’t carry a sharpener with me so if it’s too low, I am out of luck! Nars gloss in Orgasm (I can't make these names up!) that looks great over Nars lipstick in Tzigane – peachy nude.  Chanel in Mademoiselle (a peachy pink). This sold out last summer so I hunted it down as I had to have it- and now I never wear it. It’s a gorgeous color though! I should wear it.

Green Java Cup Cozy from Knitstorm on Etsy. Since I am a coffee (make that a nonfat cocoa cappuccino) addict, I figure using this was less wasteful than the paper one’s you get at the coffee shops. Plus it's super cute! I also use it for ice cold drinks in the summer!

Hair clip- Target. I have them in a ton of colors!

Garland Earrings in black from my Etsy shop. I have these in my purse as my girlfriends love these earrings in black and I have a pair to deliver to a friend. Ever since one of my friends asked if they came in black, they have been a local hit ever since- well not just local, all the way to Chicago I kid you not!  I have not added black to my Etsy shop because my Garland Earrings in Mustard turned out to be one of the most amazing photos I have taken as luck would have it. Since I can’t duplicate that photo, I feel adding another color will devalue how gorgeous the mustard one's are. So mustard is all that’s available on Etsy (unless you ask me of course!)

These are very old Cat sunglasses. My mom bought these for me from a lovely boutique when I was fresh out of college in the late 1980s so they are now vintage- wow! (and boy do I feel old).  I wore them a lot then aand then retired them until the last year or so and brought them back out. They fit me so well and I get a ton of complements on them!

So that's the purse of the moment! The only thing missing is my car key which are always hanging on the key holder by the door and my little snapshot book that holds my son's photos and my wedding photos.

That's it. That's the daily carry.

things we carry

left to right, bottom row: bucktoothedbunny bag, vintage change purse, vintage measuring tape. Middle row: Kiehl's hand salve, Burt's Bees lip shimmer, Smith's lip balm, silver hairband, beat-up iphone, envelope from dad, Muji ruler, Moleskin notebook, Muji pen, other pen, Robert Marc custom clip-on shades in vintage leather case. Top row: keys to the warehouse with Tekserve lights and gym pass, sports tape, 1950s vintage mirror from mom's high school dance purse.

Jana's bag

Hi. I'm Jana, from luncheonettevintage. The truth is, I don't really have one bag. I have about five of them going at any one time, some vintage, some not, some big, some not. I just use the one that suits the day. The day I photographed this was a go to town day: trips to the organic supermarket, a thrift shop, and a stint in a cafe to work on an article (there's nothing like a soy cappuccino from this place). And the best go to town bag is the Alice in Wonderland shoulder bag by bucktoothedbunny, which I use all the time. Having Alice with me is a nice reminder to enjoy the ride.

All laid out on our kitchen table (1950s, from a yard sale) is what you might call the daily carry. The bag may change, but the daily carry doesn't:

Wallet, a pebble grain leather Tusk which my mom gave me years ago. It holds an amazing amount of stuff. See Fellini's concept of a film within a film: it's my carry within a carry.

Vintage see-through change purse that was a welcome surprise from someone I did a shop trade with. I was really after a 1960s green-flocked paisley recipe binder, but this has proved far more useful. The binder sits on a shelf look. And haven't used but like to admire.

Very weathered, softened, faded (to the point of not being entirely readable in dim light, but I'm loyal) measuring tape I got from my great friend and superb artist and metalsmith Carolanne. She moved to LA and I miss her big terrible. Great to have a measuring tape in your bag when you're looking at vintage and can't figure out a size, or just feel like whipping it out to look official.

iphone. not the 4g. the 3g. As in, I'm not fallin for your hype, apple. Not until I've saved up enough to upgrade.

And the photo on the iphone is my sister, posing in front of a barn from a recent upstate jaunt. Sisters rule!

Kiehl's ultimate strength hand salve, a must. We live a farmer's life around here, and then there's all that hand-washing after rifling through vintage. If you spend any time at your local Salvation Army thrift shop, you know what I mean.

Smith's minted rose lip balm, which tastes delicious, and was a present from my sister. Every year we give each other lots of little items like this. We're both hard workers who sometimes forget things like brushing our hair. So often, we give each other hair brushes

Note there is no hair brush in this carry. Draw your own conclusions.

Burt's Bees pink lip shimmer. My Chanel lipstick lives in the night bag, I swear.

Hairband, silver, which unfortunately matches at least 20 strands of my brown hair.

Sports tape, to tape up the arch of my foot before I go for a run. This way I never lose the tape, at least theoretically.

Set of keys to the warehouse with a great little Tekserve flashlight tab on it and the "You're #1" key-fob from my friends at the RV sales place. Sometimes they have airstreams, and I get to look and dream.

Very delicate and worn out clip-on shades (custom-made) to my very delicate and worn out Robert Marc eyeglasses.

2 essential pens: a Muji multipen with 6 different colors, and a black uni-ball Signo.  Muji rules.

The anti-moleskin moleskin notebook: it comes in packs of threes, and the pages are big enough to hold my notes for the article or story I'm writing. I color code them by month by coloring in the spine stitches (e.g. 5 stitches colored in = this book was used for May). I go through a lot of these.

Envelope from a letter my dad sent me recently, because I love his handwriting, and he's been writing to me at nearly a hundred addresses all my life.

Mirror in a satin case from a 1950s clutch that used to belong to my mother in the actual 1950s. I think she wore it to a high school dance, and no doubt looked absolutely elegant. I find myself keeping all sorts of these little artifacts close: they remind me of her, but they also remind me to check in the mirror, as she might say.

Debatable as to whether or not this is necessary, but I love the muji aluminum 6" ruler.

The only thing missing is my car key, but that lives on the end of a bandana that I've kind of twisted and tied to make it very large and unmistakable. That lives in my car, unless I am in town and tie the bandana around the shoulder strap of the bag, then tuck the key inside where it can finally have a nap.

That's it. That's the daily carry.