tatehunt

Thank you! It was a lot more work than I thought it was going to be, but I also learned a lot so the trade off is fine.

Just finished this for a friend. First time doing applique braiding, and using hair on calf. What do you think?

Your work is stunning. How do you manage to get so much fine detail in your carving? I am stumped, but inspired.

As always, Bob nails it with an ingenious and simple solution!

Stunning. Love the layering composition and creative use of texture and stitching. Can you even sell such a piece, or are you just tempted to keep it as a show off item?

Really Excellent! The design, finishing, stamping, and carving are all amazing. Was the finish on the weave airbrushed? Love the gradation of color there.

Love the design, and the tooling is awesome! This site always provides examples of work that makes me want to practice and keep striving to get better. Well done!

Kevin, Your work is simply stunning, always original, and very inspiring to newbies like myself. What makes this project even better, is knowing the inspiration and love you put into it. What an amazing tribute to your father, and the struggles he endured with his illness. I am losing my father to Alzheimer's, and know the pain of watching someone you love, slowly slipping away. Thanks for posting this.

I think you are underpricing your beautiful work. I can't see how you can account for labor and materials at the bargain price of $45.00!

Your stuff is Gorgeous!

I've only been doing leather work for less than three months. What you don't know you will learn, so don't procrastinate. The only tricky things you have to watch out for is getting your measurements right, and backing any leather you decide to tool. I use heavy duty packing tape, so the tooling won't stretch out the panels out of measurement prior to stitching it together. It helps to decide on hardware etc while designing, and I always attach everything before final assembly. It goes: design, cut, tool, punch out for hardware, stain, finish edges (not all the way to the point of dying with edge coat) attach hardware (d-rings, buckles, etc), attach interior lining (in this case I just lined the back panel with pigskin and added a pleated pocket, left the rest natural). When assembling, I start by gluing and stitching the gussets, then I glue and sew the back panel and flap, then finish with the front panel. In this case I waited to stitch on the flap that goes into the buckle last, as I wanted it to align perfectly. Good luck, you can do it! Don't have an interior shot yet, but will try and post one tomorrow.

Thanks!

All finished but the strap. Braided or simple and clean? I have some Kangaroo lace that matches the two colors, and was thinking of doing the Trenza De Trece Tientos 13 plait flat braid.

This is going on a messenger bag.