a2jacketpatches

The reason I asked because it looks like a very long day. But 10 hours surprises me, I thought to be longer. I did a couple of similar but much smaller patches some time back, the price I got for them was not near enough so I don't offer tooled much and would only consider if asked for it. Hope you were paid appropriately for such a big job and outstanding results.

Very nice, very sharp detail. How long did this take?

Looks great, have you done any of the logos? I did a few Indian themed patches and the guys on an Indian forum went Banzai on me for infringement, so that's the last of that. Funny how it's OK for countless tattoo artist to do the copyright INDIAN script logo though, they even have a pinned thread dedicated to it without a single thought as to it being infringement. Only a handful of the guys had a problem with it and most were siding with me. Polaris, the mother company of Indian Motorcycles has moved a long time parts plant from Wisconsin to Mexico, and most of their patches are made on Chinese embroidery machines. Funny how they still maintain the Native American as their icon.

I sell and trade my patches to a few top jacket makers. These guys are making exact reproductions of the A-2 Flight Jacket of WW2 among others and they are in the1000- 1600- price range. They have gone so far as to buy up all old stock of zippers, hardware, etc. from the 1940's and there's even reproductions made of that stuff. They've had the finest of leather specially tanned for these jackets as well and send me an endless supply of their leftovers. 3-4oz Horse Hide in russet and seal brown is what I usually get in trade for patches or something along with some very nice heavy goat skins. There's usually a full hide or two in the pile with large matching scraps for each that would certainly cover a bag once in a while. My idea was to add features to a bag that resemble the jackets. No hand stitching for me, I use modified old Singers, the older black heavy steel ones. I tear them down to the basic machine use a heavy duty needle and a pile of old embroidery thread from the 40's that I bought at an estate sale about ten years ago. Nice, still very strong, countless colors, for ten bucks. Ten years later looking at it tells me I've got another twenty years worth. I do buy new leather and supplies but always looking to re-source just about anything I can. Here's one of the jacket makers located in the UK that I've been providing the patches for about three years, if you click on the jacket close-ups will pop up. http://www.eastmanleather.com/product_info.php?products_id=233

Yes, Hawk wings. This guy got me on a roll, living in Vegas got me thinking to do some cards hands fanned out or a pair of dice in place of the wings. A friend of mine across town wanted me to come up with some civilian ideas as opposed to my usual military insignia. He's already got the website set up. Also wanted to come up with a guy type bag, something Indiana Jones would carry. Very inspired by your outstanding work, I took a look and love that large satchel. How would you recommend I start a project like that? Never done a bag or anything like it.

Couple more and now he wants bat wings.

Yep, Indian Motorcycles. I've got a special top secret pattern making process that makes it a breeze to lay out the designs on the leather. It's a little tricky cutting out the parts at times but a nice pair of detail scissors and multiple filigree shape punches help with that. I use up Netflix shows to pass the time,

I buy and sell antiques and vintage military items so I'm at the flea market bird early every Saturday and Sunday morning. The 80's bright colored leather jacket are way out of style and abundantly cheap because they've usually been sitting in the peddlers inventory for a while already. When the price is high because it's new to them I always say " Well, if you don't get your asking price after a while I buy them for scrap at 10 bucks" Re-purposed leather jackets account for at least half of my materials and are perfectly thin for my layered leather patches. This wing thing is essentially the same construction process. Here's a patch to see what I mean. .

Flea market leather jackets. If I can get them for 5 - 10 bucks, it's better than 50- for a hide anywhere else. I make jacket patches for the most part so the small cut up sections are fine most of the time. Really increases the profit margin. Just grabbed a super deep red leather jacket yesterday for ten bucks to do Cardinal wings, cut it up, soaked and washed in hot water, then dried.

A long time customer contacted me a couple of weeks ago with the idea and this first picture. He said "just improve on the idea and have fun with it" and suggested Macaw. So I based the color scheme from top to bottom ( 2nd photo ) and left to right ( 3rd photo ) on the Scarlet, Blue & Gold, and military Macaw. There's an internal stiffener within each wing and i'm making the elastic fabric band that secures this band to the hat. It'll attach to the button loops at the back of each with. If you look closely at the photos you can just barely see the loop. He has since ordered one in a Hawk color scheme and the red Cardinal

I hit the one in Vegas when in a pinch for dye or something small, grabbed an economy hide just the other day as they were on sale and I needed one. But the majority of my leather need is lambskin. I'm pretty sure theirs is about a hundred bucks for 6' as opposed to 55- from the Hide House in California or many other sources on ebay and etsy for even less. I know Tandy has a discount system but I figure money is saved from not having to drive the half hour if I just order online. They are friendly and helpful but double the price for the leather I need. Funny because the tools and such are about the same rate as anywhere.

Just a little time will tell, as you can see. Someone with the money to pay and skills / ability to use such a wide range of materials will come along. Pay no attention to the critics and tire kickers.

Just grabbed a 2-3 myself, great stuff.

Welcome from half a Faiella from Palermo

I hear what you're saying, and kudos to you for turning negative vibes into positive ones. At 4500- for just the machines alone, sounds like he's leaving enough meat on the bone for qualified people to pull the trigger regardless of whether they can use it all or not. The rest of us can find what we need elsewhere as opposed to busting his chops for what you may be there that we could use. It's probably tough enough for him to be force into selling and the inability to do this kind of work anymore. Off hand, at 10 grand, how much would be free? It seems the offer / opportunity is for potential customers who are interested in a complete shop and not "most of us" So it may be a good idea to give the total value. Somebody out there has the money and the time and may be inspired by seeing an overall savings for a shop that can do anything. Personally, my success is due to versatility and my shop consists of countless artistic techniques focused to a specific market, I wouldn't trade that for anything. I'm soon to add a station for resin casting so I can sculpt and cast super detailed 3D leather stamping tools and sell them. Will probably have to buy piece by piece but would love to find a ready made set up for a good deal. And Jeez, it's only been a month so keep plugging. Hope all is well with the medical situation Piddler, God bless and good luck.