Containers, lovely containers

I have a love of containers. Toolboxes, duffel bags, suit cases, french easels, useful objects that make me feel all warm and purposeful. Even the containers that groceries are packaged in seem so full of possibility. (Yes this is how I deal with the growing problem of trash, otherwise I would just get depressed). We have been purchasing more food in containers since we've been here in Georgia. A few things that we usually get in bulk from our co-op at home are rolled oats and honey. Here we get them at the supermarket in packaging.
Greg eats his oatmeal every morning so we've been buying the large container of oats. These lovely heavy cylinders aren't quite recyclable. Yet I eye them fondly, especially when empty. I cannot throw them away. We also eat a ridiculous amount of yogurt, Evan and I. Those large containers are great for leftovers but you only need so many "tupperware." I finally had a flash of an idea one day in my studio when I used the yogurt containers to sort some bits and pieces. Why not make a sort of traveling art case with that lovely large oats cylinder and those large yogurt tubs? A problem I run into often is how to transport my paintbrushes when I go out to paint. The french easel is lovely for my paints but the brushes aren't properly protected. And so I went with the idea of those brush rolls and brainstormed a bit. Here is a little run of pictures of my design process

Lovely Oat Container

Empty yogurt tubs

figuring the depth of the 1st pocket

Larger brushes

Brushes and palette knives

2 containers of mediums and 12 tubes of paint

Fabric and velcro on inner paint tower

Before the straps are attached

Finished paint tote

The other simpler project was making the honey bear into a sippy cup for Evan. For some reason he is really picky about cups. Well he loves the honey bear so I just vented the top and added a straw and voila we have a cup he loves at least for the week.
So there are a few of my little trash projects. I hope you enjoy.