Camera Purse

The finished camera purse can be carried without calling attention to you as a tourist. Your camera is easily accessible for a quick photo. If you're doing a full-out shoot, then the shoulder strap will come in handy.

I have a trip planned for next month to visit one of my besties.  It’s my first-ever venture to San Francisco, or California for that matter.  Everyone has told me how beautiful it is so I want to make sure to have my camera on hand at all times.

The dilemma is that camera bags are not cute.  For the most part they are built for function and completely ignore fashion.  However, I did find some pretty amazing camera purses.  The new dilemma being that they range from $160 – $200, and I’m not willing to pay that for something sight unseen. (Also, the cutest one was out of stock and won’t be available until after my trip.)

Then I came across a few DIY camera purse blog posts from Tatertots & Jello and Live Laugh Eat.  Problem solved!  I rushed right out to Kohls and bought a cute purse, on sale for about $30.  Then I headed over to Jo-Ann Fabrics and Crafts for my materials, where I spent another $25.  In addition to my time, because I am far from a seamstress, I have a cute camera purse for only $55.  That’s more like it!

Materials:

• Cute Purse – preferably one that zips shut incase of rain, has a flat bottom and a removable shoulder strap
• Fabric – 1 yard
• Batting/Quilt stuffing – 1 yard
• Foam – 1 inch thick
• Velcro – get the heat-activated kind if you’re not patient or good at sewing, which I’m not
• Needle and thread – sewing machine optional

Follow the pictorial from left to right, starting with the top left and working your way down. Purse. Materials. Inside the original purchase. All the padding and how it fits inside.

So basically, you purchase a purse that you like.  Then you cover the foam in a layer of batting and fabric.  Sew a pouch, insert the padding and close it off.  Then attach two strips of velcro, so when you fold the pad into the purse the dividers can attach on either side.  Create the dividers with layers of the remaining batting.  When you sew them closed, leave flaps on either side to attach velcro to.  (Again, I’m not a seamstress so ignore the quality and finishing of my sewing skills.  That’s partially why I chose a fabric that was similar to the purse’s original lining.  Yours could turn out a lot better.)  I’m keeping my camera in the center so it has maximum padding, an extra lens can go on one side, my wallet and other personal items sit comfortably on the other.

I preferred the tutorial from Live Laugh Eat because at any time I can choose to take all the camera padding out and use the purse simply as a purse.  Enjoy!