Welcome! I hope we see you in here again.
Timtex is a really thick interfacing. I used it once for a small purse I made. The stuff I used was, I'm guessing, about 1/8 to 1/4 inch thick. It was pretty hefty, but you can sew right through it. As well as being hefty, the price was high. I found something I could use instead at Walmart. It wasn't quite the same, but it was close. Just go to where the interfacing is, and look for the really thick somewhat rigid interfacing.

BTW, about 6 years or so ago, I made a cloth nativity set, and I used plastic in the bottom. The heat from the garage where it was stored disintigrated the plastic.

I'll check out Walmart. You're right about the price, I placed an order online for 13.5" x 22" @ $5.60. However, the company hasn't confirmed, charged me or answered any inquiries since placing the order on 10/25.
Thanks for the suggestion.

Fabric.com has it (link below) If you have a Joann's or Hancock's near you, they would either have that or another brand heavy interfacing that's the same.

Divermom, most sites have a minimum, so that's probably why you haven't and won't get a confirmation. Been there.

Here is a link that might be useful: Fabric.com Timtex

Another brand name is Peltex - same stuff, different manufacturer.

Lazy Girl Designs sells a line of acrylic purse bases in five different sizes to match Lazy Girl bags patterns. Lazy Girl bags have a sleeve or tube in the bottom of the bag, so you can put the Bag-e-Bottom in and take it out; it's not sewn in. However, they are just simple acrylic, and you can buy acrylic sheets various places and have them cut to your specifications. Tap Plastic, probably Home Depot, Lowe's, or a local hobby store. A little sanding on the rough edges and you're ready to go.

A friend of a friend makes bags and purses and uses plastic cut from square milk jugs or water bottles (the flat sides of the bottles) to make a simple stiffener panel to slip into a sleeve at the bottom of the bag. Slip the plastic out and wash the bag, then put it back in again. Easy to replace, if need be.

CMC

Here is a link that might be useful: Bag-e-bottoms

Welcome to this site! I've made oodles of purses, and I use that plastic mesh, sold by the sheet at JoAnn's and Michael's, for the bottom of my bags. Just cut it to fit (not with your sewing shears, but with an old, non-sewing pair) and sew a fabric cover or sleeve to match. It's a fairly heavy opaque mesh that normally is used with yarn to make craft boxes, etc. I have found one layer is adequate, but you could layer two for more strength. It's cheap and easy. The nice thing is you can make it fit exactly with no trouble, unlike acrylic.

Some excellent ideas for me to check out! I quess I'll have to make another trip to JoAnn's - what a shame. Maybe I'll find another project to work on, along with the 7 others that I have started.
Thank you all for your knowledge!!

Timtex can be found in quilt shops also. I buy it by huge bolts on Ebay. Some stores may carry it under different names. Craft bond is one name I have heard it called in craft stores. I would cover it with fabric before putting it in the bottom of a purse. I know people who have used acrylic pieces at the bottom of purses (there are precut pieces in stores). I have gotten my husband to cut one out of a broken hard plastic container. I also know some ladies who got some empty fabric bolts from my brother's store and cut them and covered them to put at the bottom of tote bags - they are thick cardboard and double layered. That wouldn't work in purses, but a similar idea with heavy cardboard might work if laminated and covered with fabric.

I found the peltex in Joanns - will be perfect for a stiff side in a tote insert. The mesh for bottom will be great for smaller bags, but the large tote that I am making just will be too big for that. I cut up some thick cardboard and wrapped it in postage tape. The tote is for the beach/pool and might get wet so hopefully the tape will make it slightly more waterproof.
Thank you all for your help.
oh, I did find another project to do!!