Making a home made camera bag

Being into Photography I often have a dilemma with what camera to take out with me. I have a nice Digital SLR with a rather weighty lens on the front and I have this awesome camera back pack with loads of compartments with extra kit and it has rain covers and chest straps and a clip for my tripod so If I'm doing a job or just a day out with my camera I'm pretty sorted.

However, there are days when I am out and about just doing regular day to day things where I wish I had my camera with me. Driving to work for example, I don't take all my camera gear with me everyday but then some days there will be an epic sunrise or sunset and I just wish I had my big camera with me as taking a picture on my mobile phone just doesn't cut it.

Move forwards several years and suddenly my digital SLR is getting taken out less and less. The technology within mobile phones is becoming incredible and now the results you can get from mobile phones are really impressive.
OK so the control that you have is no where near that of a digital SLR but it's often easier to capture events on a mobile phone that's always with you than planning to take your large camera on the off chance that you might want it.

So what happens when you go on holiday? Do you take the big camera knowing you will want to use it? Or do you just stick with the mobile phone to save on luggage space especially when flying on hand luggage only?

I've decided to make a padded camera cover so that I can put my digital SLR into a normal backpack so that I can have it with me without looking like I'm going on a photography exhibition with all my gear.

I've not made a camera bag before, and if I'm completely honest have only ever made items by following patterns so this is all a bit new to me.
With the help of my partner and lots of cutting and sticking paper templates I finally had a rough idea of what I was doing. With a lot of trial and error.. OK with a lot of error, frustration and whinging that this is impossible and why didn't I just buy a camera case online I finally have a beautiful padded camera case so that I can put my camera in my regular bag without all the extra bulk from my proper camera bag and hopefully this means that I can fit everything within my hand luggage when I go on holiday.

 

What do you think? Do you like it?
I'd love to see your homemade bags?

What do you do when you go on holiday when your a photographer and have to make the choice between camera gear and clothes??