Kevin Ward

I first created a template on paper for the shape of the inlay. I added a second line 1/2 inch around the outside of the template. I then cut out the center and around the outside. I placed the template over the stingray to line up the skin with where I needed to cut it. This approach lets you see what will be visable when the skin is on the project. The half inch template is the area that will be underneath the leather. I taped the template to the stingray on the inside using scotch tape. I then used gingher sheers to cut the stingray along the outside of the template. The center of the template that I cut out earlier, I transferred to a piece of cardboard. I placed that on the outside of the unlined case and used a scratch awl to lightly mark where I would need to cut. I started the cut by using an oblong hole punch inside the area to be cut. I then used the gingher shears to cut the inlay area on the face of the case. I then used a patent leather compass (http://www.ranch2are...om/hsbtplc.html) to cut a sewing channel 1/8 inch around the inside boarder of the inlay. I then used a dremmel with a round stone to smooth out/burnish the cut edge. After the edge was burnished, I used a no 1 bissonette edger (http://www.ranch2are...btbissonet.html) to round the top edge of the inlay. I then placed the unlined leather case with the stingray insert together on a rubber cutting mat (stingray under the cover) . I lined the stingray up so that it would be where I wanted it within the insert. I then used a 1/16 round hole punch to punch the first hole in the sewing channel. The hole punch works great with both the leather and stingray. Once the first hole was placed, I used placed a tack was lightly hammered into the first hole to hold the 2 skins together. I then proceded to punch the rest of the holes wound the insert in the sewing channel. As I progressed I placed additional tacks in punched holes intermittently around the project. When I finished punching the holes. I removed the tacks. I then removed the stingray and applied some fiebrings brown edge finish to the burnished edge inside the insert. (this perfectly matched the oiled leather I was using.) I then put the stingray behind the leather case insert area and hand sewed the pieces together. The tab clasp was a concho that I purchased from Tandy Leather Factory. While the leather case was unlined I placed the concho on the leather tab. I lined up the concho and when it was centered where I wanted it, I pressed lightly. This placed a slight indentation of the holes needed to set the concho. I then used a hole punch that was the same size as the concho post and punch the 2 holes. The concho was then inserted in the holes. I comes with screws that need to be screwed in the reverse side. Once the insert was complete and the concho set. I took the unlined leather case front and put it with the cut lining and the inside pocket and laced them together.