My New Bag - DIY Camera Bag

The last few weeks I have not been happy with the look of my bulky, man-ish camera bag. Plus it's not easy to access my wallet, keys and phone...actually there is no place to put them. This is the bag I have been using. It's a nice bag and all, but not very me. I take my camera everywhere but have found at times I feel blah, and sometimes embarrassed about lugging my bag with me into a nice restaurant..kinda clashes with my dress and heels.

I have seen some adorable, stylish bags around the internet. I love the "Ginger" from Epiphanie and "Med Bone and Black" from Jill-E Designs but on our Military pay they are just outside my price range. So I tried thinking outside the box..or bag as it where. I noticed that these camera bags have nice padded inserts and separators. I thought...well heck I could make those myself and convert one of my purses right?

This is inside the Med Bone and Black bag from Jill-E Designs. See the separators? Perfect for camera and lenses to fit and very stylish.

This is one of my newer purses. Got it for $19 bucks at Marshall's and super cute. Now I thought all I had to do was make the inserts to keep the camera body and extra lenses secure. I was wrong. Yesterday while browsing some of my new favorite photography blogs I stopped in on ...and then, she {snapped}. Something drew me to click on her "in my {bag}" link.. really I think it was just me being nosey...lol I then saw something awesome. She had the same "problem" I did and the same thought about converting a purse.

As I read on she explains that she opened up the lining seam and glued a card board piece and foam to the bottom of the bag to support the extra weight of the camera. Genius! Then using more foam she lined the walls of the bag then sewed back up the lining and BAM...she had a camera bag. AWESOME! (p.s. you need to go see her bag, it's gorgeous!)

Already having the foam I headed to the garage to find some cardboard. Now I was ready. I did the same as her. I opened the bottom seam,  glued cardboard (with my already glued foam topper) to the bottom of my bag. Then I cut and fitted my foam to the sides of the bag. I noticed I had a small gap from where the foam of the bottom piece and side walls met so I busted out the ducted tape and taped the seams all the way around. When I was satisfied I sewed back up the lining. Now for the separators. Since I only have two lenses and one is always on my camera I figured at this time I really only needed one. So I cute foam into thirds, cut fabric to match measurements, sewed pockets and stuffed my tri fold fabric with the foam and tada!

EDIT: Since posting I have gone back and hot glued a 2 inch strip of Velcro to each side of the padded separator and then the Velcro mate to the sides of the bag to keep the separator in place. Works perfect!

...and it zips and is still very sleek....

p.s. see those round magnets on both sides of the zipper...awesome pockets to put my wallet, cell, keys, lipstick, a couple lollies for the girls and my lens wipes. I LOVE this bag even more know. Now this is a girly camera bag and only cost me around $26 bucks total! ROCK ON!!