Another desperate move: my own camera bag

When I bought my Canon EOS 1000D DLSR, I literally haggled for a camera bag because the package did not include a bag. Hello! Where in the world will I put my camera when I walk around or when I carry it with me? So I said to the attendant, if she gives me a bag, I’ll buy the camera NOW. So she did give me one.

After using it for a while though, I realized that it was too obvious that I had a camera with me. I remember when I bought my laptop, I also made my own laptop sleeve and bag so that when I carried it with me, it wasn’t obvious that i had a laptop with me. I decided that I had to do the same for my camera. So there started my  mission: find a camera bag.

As we all know, camera bags are not ordinary bags. It is important that the camera will be protected. So it was not easy looking for one, and I didn’t want the ordinary black camera bags.I looked around and in the Internet for THE bag for me. I really liked the ones from XcessRice Dezigns and the 5-Million Crumpler Bag, as in. I ogled at them for days. But they are toooo expensive for me. In the end, the practical me took over, and I decided I wouldn’t get either.

So I did what I always do when I’m desperate, I made my own camera bag.

I went to Market! Market! and bought my materials. Finding the right bag was important so I went around first. I then realized that there’s an area where I knew I will find the right bag: the baby section. I went there because I knew bags there had the shape I was looking for and that baby bags already had a certain cushion, which was a plus. Lo and behold! I found one for only, get ready for this, PhP300! Gosh! Such a bargain! (Jetty, told you I was a discount shopper!) I was soooo happy! The design, size, and print of the bag were perfect! After, I went to Carolinas to buy foam and brown cloth. And with that, together with my Brother, I set on my project. The only thing I had to do was the protective layer, the thick one, that, obviously, protects the camera.

 The only materials I needed: a bag, foam, and brown plain cloth.

 First, to make the “protective layer”, I measured the bag and cut the pattern on the brown cloth. [Fold the cloth for easier two-sided pattern.] Remember to put an inch of allowance for the hems.

 I did the same on the foam, with the sides having two layers of foam while the bottom part had three layers, for protection.

 Then I placed the foam in between the two layers of siding then sewed on the pattern.

I then sewed the sides and bottoms together to create a box like the one in the picture.

Then, I turned the box inside out…and this is what it looked like! The finished product!

The last step, of course, is that I put the protective layer inside the bag!

There, my very own camera bag!

The good thing with this bag is that I can remove the protective layer if I want to use the bag as a normal bag. Ha! It took me roughly an hour from the measurement to the finsihed product (picture, picture included), so it was relatively easy.

There, another creation under the premises of desperation. Not the greatest bag there is, but I’m very happy with the final product!

Kashing, kashing! Paying it forward

Just want to share something that I got this week courtesy of Rico. [ I’m not accustomed to posting about these things, but I realize that after Rico shared this to me, I want to share this with others too, as what he has done.]

For those looking to earn through post links, there is a very easy way to do this. The process is pretty simple.

1. Send an e-mail to naeem.dollie@tamar.com and tell him [or her, I’m not sure] that you’re interested in posting links from them at your site. [You may or may not mention that I recommended him to you. But he actually told me to reccommend him to my friends, so either may be fine.]
2. He will send you links for you to post on your site.
3. Post the links at your site and e-mail Naeem again that you have posted the links.
4. Payment will be sent.

Links sent will be paid GBP40 each annually (I got two, so that was GBP80, which is around $120). Not bad diba? [Now I can get those Las Vegas hotel reservations.]

So there, so easy! So for those of you interested, e-mail Naeem now!

A sample of the text link, care of Rico’s post

Important note: Although I cannot guarantee that you will actually receive links or be approved, I know that there’s no harm in trying.

Have a great [and fruitful] weekend everyone!

[PS, if you’re wondering where mine are, scroll down until you see the “Check these out” header on the lower right side of my site. There, you will see the phrases “Get life insurance from Life Search now” and “Insure your home with Directline home insurance,” almost inconspicuous. Those are the links assigned to me.]