For my birthday a few months ago, my husband got me this cool, canvas messenger bag that I'd picked out (relatively cheap) on Amazon to use as my painting-on-the-go bag. There is enough room to hold my tools, a sketchbook, and front pockets that are deep enough to fit containers of water, so that of I have it in messenger bag mode, I can open the containers and keep them upright in my bag. The canvas was chosen so it can be washed. I did stitch on an octopus I had made from the angelina fiber I have from back before I started paying attention to things like microplastics and whatnot, so I am not quite sure what to do with them, other than find uses for them, as throwing it away wouldn’t be good either.
One of the issues I had come upon is that while a messenger bag is good for a portable painting set up, it is not good for trekking, as it is too much weight on one shoulder, even with padding. At the same time, I do want to be able to use it as a messenger bag when I am ready to paint.
Solution: modify it so that I can convert it between a backpack and a messenger bag. All I needed was some cotton strap, swivel clasps that would accommodate the webbing, and instead of welded rings, I opted for these tough key rings, since I can find other uses for those. My husband has a speedy stitcher sewing awl with waxed cord, which made quick work of stitching all the thick webbing. I would not have been able to complete this in as short of a time with a regular sewing needle, and the strap is too thick to pass under the sewing machine.
I used some of the remaining strap to make a loop to keep the backpack straps together on my chest, so they dont słup off my shoulders. The last thing to do will be to make some padding for the straps, which can be done quickly on a sewing machine and just pass the straps through the padding. All in all, these modifications cost roughly 25 dollars, more or less? I only needed 5 yards of the webbing material, the rings and swivel clasps. The speedy stitcher we already had on hand, so I am not factoring that into my cost (and since it is his, which he purchased, I have no idea how much it was - I would say that if you find yourself needing a tool that works on thick materials, it is very handy).