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Yes -- extremely elegant and well-done. Congrats!

I give the effort two thumbs up! You know, I've been wanting to experiment with that "light in the middle, darker around the edges" look. I've seen that used nicely here on motorcycle seats and other items...

Nope. But as an aside, lately I'm sure I've been spending more time on this board than actually doing leatherwork. I wonder if that's a bad sign?

Lately, with everything that's been going on both at work and at home, I'm lucky if I'm able to devote even two or three hours per week to leatherwork. My entire production for the month of October was one wristband. (Good thing I'm not relying on this hobby for any income!) For the other hobbyists on this board, I'm curious... How much time would you estimate you spend each week doing leatherwork? When do you usually do it (evenings, mornings, etc)? And what are your strategies for setting aside time for this (and getting motivated, considering all the other things going on in your lives)? Just wondering how the rest of you balance this... Regards, -Alex

I personally like it just the way it is. I wouldn't worry about a flap or a zipper, since bibles are pretty well cared for anyway. I agree with Johanna -- the antique look you're able to coax from the Eco-Flo dyes is spectacular. Keep up the good work! Best, -Alex

Very nice work!

Leatheroo, I can understand your aversion to guns (lots of people feel the same way here in the U.S.), but I think you'll find that the folks that post pictures of knife sheaths and holsters here are some of the finest people you'll meet. They're extremely talented leatherworkers in their own right, and are interested in firearms for sport shooting, hunting, or military service. No one here is interested in committing a crime. I think you can still enjoy the artistry that goes into making a fine holster or sheath, even if you're not a gun or knife owner. I don't own a gun or a motorcycle or a horse, but still enjoy seeing everyone's work that complements such items. Best regards, -Alex

I can think of at least one member here that might have benefited from wearing the helmet... :biggrin:

How about two compliments right out of the box? That's some fine work there... No signs of rust whatsoever! Welcome! -Alex

I'd love to see some pics of your work. I've been thinking about making a tool belt (or utility belt) for a while now, and would be curious about how you're making yours. Glad to have you here, -Alex

: Really sorry to hear about this accident. Let's all keep our fingers crossed for a full recovery. Get well soon!!

Nick, It looks pretty darn good to me. (Especially for a first try.) However, I know first-hand what it feels like to finish a project, take a good look at it, and identify four or five areas that I want to improve on with the next one. It sounds like you already know how to make your second holster better. BTW, I wouldn't be shy about showing up on the range with this holster on your hip. The spartan finish matches the pistol's look well. Here's one suggestion -- I'd actually use this holster for a few days before building the next one. The improvements you mentioned are all cosmetic, but who knows? After using this holster for a while, you may decide it sits too high, or you need more access to the triggerguard, etc. Whenever I build a brand new product, I always make the first one for myself, and then I use the heck out of it for a while to see how it performs. Regards, -Alex

I believe I'd dye before adding the lining just to avoid that inevitable dark brown thumbprint I'm sure I'd plant right on the pigskin. If you dye first you don't have to worry about getting stains on your lining.

Great -- looking forward to seeing that tutorial! Good luck with your show, -Alex

That's a stunning piece of carving, Gary. It's a real eye-catcher. After seeing this, and all the spectacular bike seats that are produced by members of this forum, I'm wondering... Do you have to keep these motorcycles garaged once they have custom leatherwork on them? I'm just wondering how handmade leather seats and trim hold up to the elements. Beautiful work! -Alex

Studio-N is right. Although Tandy is really pushing the Eco-Flo line, the original formula stuff is still available in the 2008 catalog under the Fiebing's name. Fiebing's Leather Dye is available in 16 colors, and Fiebing's Professional Oil Dye can be had in 4 colors: Black, Dark Brown, Light Brown, and Saddle Tan. Again, as Studio-N mentions, none of these can ship to California.

JWU, I've used the Eco-Flo All-In-One stains extensively, and the quick road to disaster is to apply a second coat. The second coat will actually lift the first one, so you're left with a smudged surface. Now, a greenish tint? That's new to me. What color were you using? Hopefully, you were experimenting on scrap and can just trash it and try again. You can coax some beautiful colors from All-In-One if you're skilled at getting that first coat on right. The recent belts on my web site were done with Fudge Brown, the checkbook cover with Acorn Brown, and the key fob with Primrose Red. But it's definitely a persnickety product with not a lot of margin for error. -Alex

Sweet.

I'd be very interested, as well. Leatherworker.net attracts many thousands of visitors each month, so it's a great place to post information about products and processes -- in a place that will definitely get noticed. I look forward to reading more about cincelado in your future posts. Regards, -Alex

One word -- wow. I took a look at your site, and that's some really nice carving and vibrant coloring. Like Ken said, I'd reckon a guess that your work would be very competitive at a show, so don't be shy about entering! Welcome to the forums, -Alex

Glad to have you here, Nixon! If you have any questions, please feel free to ask them. There are a number of sheath and motorcycle seat experts here that I'm sure would be more than happy to help you get started. -Alex

Sojourner, thanks for posting more pics. Those bookcovers are beautiful, and Enrique's purses are true works of art. When you finish his web site, I hope you'll share his web address with us so we can check out more of his work. Best, -Alex

Would you consider doing a tutorial or perhaps starting a new thread that explains the cincelado process and its history? I don't want to pressure you two 'cuz I know you're new, but I'd love to learn more about this if you're willing to share...

Wow -- thanks for all the info. That gives me an incredible head-start on planning. I'll be sure to get in touch with you if I have additional questions. In the meantime, I hope you'll hang around and enjoy all the great members and their works of art we have here on Leatherworker.net. And don't be shy about posting pics of your latest projects -- your stuff is beautiful! Best regards, -Alex

You know, there have been several recent posts about folks using "ugly" leather. Up to this point, I've always used the best parts of the hide for my projects and the ugly parts for tooling or dyeing practice. But I'm beginning to reconsider... I think Kate mentioned some time ago that she prefers leather with creases or stretch marks, and I think Kevin just proved that with a little creativity and a nice finish, even the most unsightly piece of hide can be transformed into something beautiful. I think woodworkers have been doing this for some time, incorporating knots and other surface defects into their works to add more visual interest... Alex