MonicaJacobson

LOL, "sleep faster".

Huh, sounds like he was one of those customers. However, they do let you know about every problem, so I guess they're a good thing. Thanks for letting me benefit from your experience. I'll probably go ahead and add Sam Brown buttons for each strap, like Bill suggested. Next time, I'd probably go with the kind this store sells. The problem is taken care of, and it's more user-friendly.

LOL, sweet bag.

It seems to stay very solidly shut as it is... I am tempted to add a d-ring with a wrist loop on the side, though.

I've often heard the 10,000 hours theory, and I thought it made sense as well. I think observation has a lot to do with ability, and can be trained. If you can't observe where your own work falls short, you won't know how to proceed. If you can't observe what is good about great work, you won't see what to work towards. The longer you do something, the more you are able to see what is good work and what isn't. Sometimes getting good at something might mean ditching something you're obviously bad at, and creatively redirecting yourself towards your own strengths. David might disagree with me here, but I think almost anyone, given enough time and dedication, can get to the level of a Hermes worker. They've got the tools, they've got the mentors, and they push you to be excellent. (Granted, you have to provide your own persistence and dexterity, and I do think some people might not have the dexterity or the desire to pay that much attention to detail). While I admire their skill, I admire individual creativity and inventiveness more. So no, I don't think you either have talent or you don't. I don't think talent is a mystical quality. To me, it's passion, creativity, and observation. Some people pay better attention, I think.

Thanks, you guys! Karina, I have the same problem. I was going to make a bag out of the black Dublin with a croc flap like the dopp kit, but I was running low on the dublin, so opted for the kit. I was also thinking it'd be fun to pair with brown for a tote... Charlie, I think you'll be agreeably surprised if you try this pattern. The hardest part are the straps that go through, and you can use a different way to close it.

Finished the dopp kit over the weekend. Fun project, a lot more relaxing than the wallet. forgot specs: Horween Dublin 5-6 oz, and Horween horse croc print.

Your first projects totally put mine to shame. Great job!

Last time I was in a Tandy (last Spring or so), one of the employees told me they weren't allowed to display leather items they or others have made anymore. I thought that was very telling.

It looks great! Lucky find on the Horween. That bag is large enough and multi-purpose enough to last practically forever.

lol, me too, Bob. But at least that much is happening this/next week.

Thanks, Nigel! Seriously indebted.

Yeah... that's one reason I have never done lettering. People usually use small single letter stamps. You know, the bracelets that say, "fly!" or whatever. Anyway, from what I've seen, people usually only use stamps for smaller letters and cut in larger letters. I did do one name at the size you're talking about... 3/4 - 1 inch, but it was really annoying. (http://monicajacobson.com/?p=320) I also have an angled blade for my swivel knife, and I couldn't have done it without that. I have a pretty slender beveling tool, which certainly helped in the tight corners.

I've been thoroughly wetting the leather on both sides, letting it dry out a bit, casing it in the 'fridge overnight, then letting it air dry almost to natural color. By that time, as long as your project isn't gigantic, you can put tape on the back side.

Cool, solid looking books. I like the snap system. Makes it look antiquated.

Shop looks great, and you work is extremely nice.

If I ship a bag to someone Priority Mail, it can cost $25.00 - 35.00, no additional fees. From GA to Washington State was more like 64.00. I'm not at all surprised when it costs $17.00 or even $27.00 for a company to send a huge roll of leather. I add it into the cost of the leather and the final product.

Great job! It looks rustic and cool.

Is he talking about compressing it? Weird.

Looks great! Love the color. Your dog looks like he/she thinks it would be tasty.

That's a very sturdy looking bag. Very nice!

Yeah, it looks very nicely done. I'd like to see pictures of the inside and how it holds the Bible.

Very cool! Love the color combination and the semi-rolled edge as you described in the rolled edge thread.