Packing Light

The new airline fees for check-in luggage in conjunction with ever-changing security rules for travel have inspired me to pack light for our vacation. I’m taking only carry-on bags and not checking anything.



My new packing rule is that all clothing items must fit into my new Amy Butler Weekender bag made this week.



Miscellaneous stuff goes in my Amy Butler Sophia bag—also newly completed.



I made a zipper pull for each bag by painting a wood bead to match one of the fabric polka dots. The following photo shows the lining fabric for both bags.



A test run with both bags proved that everything fits perfectly just as planned.



Each time we travel, I make a trip book containing information needed for our adventures: itinerary, airline tickets, hotel/rental car confirmations, rental house contract, maps, National Park passport stamp program cancellation sites, letterboxing clues, birding checklists, and so on.



The notebook fits perfectly in one of the outside pockets of the Weekender Bag.


Graphic from The Vintage Workshop, text added by me. Click on the picture to enlarge for reading (if you're interested)

This is my packing list—my husband manages his own list and does very well. Except for carefully-planned cruises, I’ve generally over-packed for trips and not used 30 per cent of whatever I’ve lugged. This journey is a whole new exercise in packing restraint.