Matt T

Tinker Tailor, your link doesn't work. Siegel has some issues with link sharing because everything is session based for some odd reason. What leather were you pointing out?

Looks good; I like your logo too.

exoticleather, your example stitches look great. If you look at the sample card at colors such as turquoise you will see the variation of color I was talking about.

Thanks for the business Kwelna. I've placed the orders, and will get them shipped out as soon as they arrive.

dcobranding, just curious why you prefer Serabraid to Tiger Ritza. I haven't used it myself. Do they have better color options? Better pricing?

Yeah, that design has a lot of holes. Is it just a concept you have, or have you done it by hand before? I am also wondering if you'd be able to penetrate that many holes at once just by hitting with a mallet.

Alright, good news. I think the medallion punch is a nice idea, and I was able to get a reasonable price on the punch tips by buying thousands of them. I need to make one first to confirm the labor cost, but ballpark figures for the price of a medallion punch is $50 + 1.45 per hole. I will have 1, 2, and 3mm hole tips.

Wow, a very creative project with flawless execution. What did you use for stiffener / padding?

Stangman, I will carry more colors of paint in the future, but I want to first expose people to the product with the two most popular colors, to ensure that there is a strong enough market for it. Do you have any particular brand in mind for the linen thread? What are you looking for in comparison to Sajou's thread? Bigger size? Something less expensive?

Check out Siegel Leather: http://www.siegelleather.com/ http://www.siegelleather.com/Detail.aspx?UID=SG

Wow, that is quite a punch. I'd have to think about how that could be made in a cost effective manner. Would be helpful to have a closeup picture of that punch.

It looks nice. Where did you get the lever?

Thanks Monica. If you are willing to wait for the pre-order shipment, the Lin Cable Au Chinois thread is included in the 20% off sale.

JLS, I don't see your point. Producing items is not the only way to add value to the community. I have spent time and money working on relationships to acquire items which are more difficult to obtain here in the states. For example, the edge paint I am offering is made in the same factory as the paint currently used by the top fashion houses. The minimum order from the supplier is more than $2,000 of paint. The only other way for someone to get their hands on this paint is to order directly from Giardini for the same price, and then pay shipping costs of $50+. Many of my items are available in other stores. Increased competition is only going to serve the community better; it means suppliers have to work harder for your business, through better customer service, prices, and product offerings.

I am excited to announce the opening of my store, lekoza.com. I am offering some of the finest supplies in the world including tools from Vergez Blanchard, waxed linen thread from Sajou, Giardini edge paint, and various other items. I am aiming to become a premier source of supplies and knowledge for the leathercraft trade. If anyone has any suggestions for items, or tutorials / videos, let me know. PreOrder Sale: When you visit, you will notice that many Vergez Blanchard(VB) tools, and Sajou Lin Cable threads are listed as PreOrder. Until Sunday, Mar 15, I am offering a 20% discount on VB tools, and Sajou thread. This is a deep discount and it is unlikely I will do it again. I am offering the discount as compensation for the wait time associated with the pre-order. I will be placing an order from my vendors on Mar 16, and expect Sajou to ship in 1-2 weeks, whereas VB can take 3-4 weeks (They are often made on demand by hand). To take advantage of this sale, you can enter the coupon code PREORDER during checkout.

Do you have a picture of what the pattern looks like?

instagram doesn't work here. You can add youtube videos by selecting the special BBCode option, then choose media

Are you talking about acrylic paint, or dye? For acrylic, it will make a difference if it's an area that needs to flex, or be exposed to wear and tear. I have used Angelus leather paint as an edge paint before, as a test. It's not supposed to be used this way, so the result might differ on a thinner application, but after a while it developed cracks where there was flexing of the edges. This is a paint that is often used to draw artwork onto leather. Meanwhile, edge paints specifically made for edge-work hold up better to flexing and won't develop cracks.

Your work is excellent. Can you give a rough idea of the cost to paint the back of a jacket, for example.

Exoticleather, I have tried RoyalWood's thread during my search for a less expensive alternative to Sajou Lin Cable. Unfortunately, I wasn't entirely satisfied with the thread I received. It is not bad, don't get me wrong; but the dyeing job was not 100%, and the thickness of the thread had slight variations. If you have a different experience with it, please let us know.

I know this is an old post; but if anyone is interested, I do have punches like this for sale here.

Yes, the Blanchards are not a polished finish. The picture of the rusted irons is the result of neglecting to take care of the tools.

Ah, didn't see your link. How does the canvas turn out when you wax it yourself?

Speaking of waxed canvas; where are you guys sourcing your material from? I know of these guys: http://www.fairfieldtextile.com/fabrics.html

David, I really do see the future of manufacturing coming back to the states. The main factors contributing to this trend are the increased automation (reduced labor costs) and quick turnaround for shipping on mass customization products. As for weather things will be hand done? I am a fan of a things made by hand, but I think this is HIGHLY unlikely to be the norm.