MonicaJacobson

@Snubby - oh yeah, there's no way that's going anywhere. Now, if I can just steal one from the husband's shop when he's not looking.. Cheryl, that's terrible. I know how you feel - we're renting, too, and hopefully our landlord will never see that picture. Actually, maybe I should show it to him so he'll be so impressed at how much better it will look when we get the floor back to normal.

Wow, no wonder it took so long. That thing is crazy.

LOL, Harvey, too bad I didn't think of that before - I dare say I would have left it there.

Aonir, I know what you mean about tools. It's a little overwhelming, and the best thing to do is try a few things (maybe some simple flat pouches), see if you enjoy leatherwork, and start accumulating tools a little at a time. You can get tools on ebay pretty cheaply.

J Hayes - Yes, they're glad to take it back. They're very pleasant and helpful - my post was my agony of indecision about whether to be out of pocket $30.00 sending it back with nothing to show for it, or try to sell two or three "distressed" leather bags. Or if it was supposed to be like that, and I should suck it up and use what I bought. But I'm definitely sending it back. Like you say, better some annoyance repacking it than two months of annoyance trying to do something with it. It's also too stiff for my liking. I guess this was a good way to learn that I might like Western Bridle or Show Harness better than English bridle. I'm going to talk to someone at W & C on Monday and find out if those two alternatives might fit what I need better. David, I agree - in theory. I got into leatherworking because I couldn't afford good leather products, and because fake leather products are very expensive for how badly they wear.

Sweet knife sheaths! I like the middle one and the one on the right a lot.

The wrinkles I could deal with - it's the scratches, scuffs, and black spots that I was bummed about. It's possible that I'm judging it with the wrong criteria, but I figured it seems right to judge it by unfinished veg tanned standards. I wouldn't buy a piece of veg tanned from Tandy that's all scratched up and has black spots that won't come off, so.... But yes, it probably is Grade C. Up until now, I've always bought what is probably grade C, but since I picked it by hand, I avoided the worst of it. I think this was just an undiscerning grade C, as opposed to a carefully chosen grade C. I guess it's the price you pay for buying online, sometimes. Overall, my online buying experience (though limited) has been very good.

I guess it depends on their costs; if they buy their HO bridle leather from Weaver, it costs 16.00 a foot, roughly. And yes, maybe a few corners were cut, but overall, they look pretty good. What would you charge for something comparable? This is selling for $600 (or anyway, it's "for sale" for $600, and it's much more simplistic).... http://www.etwasbags.com/collection/standard-no1/

It looks great! You could buy a little space heater... grow lights? OR......a cow.

Well, there's at least one kind of veg tanned that's not stiff as a board (Horween Dublin), but it's expensive..... But it certainly looks more like oil tanned to me. The meat side looks rougher than i would expect for a very expensive leather.

Very nice, I really like the tote with more red on it. `

Thanks George, I appreciate it. I think I'll try Wicket & Craig for the next hide, for sure. As for my hide, I just looked at a lot of semi-expensive bags (http://www.jpmarcellino.com/buckle-cases/major-john-fremont-125-natural.html), and it appears that several of their English Bridle briefcases have marks and wrinkles all over them, and they don't seem to be embarrassed. I was probably being a bit over particular.

LOL, you guys are funny. CamanoRidge - Styrofoam sounds about my speed. Or... better yet, a mug in styrofoam, with a clamp that clamps the whole mess down onto the table. I guess that might be overkill. Hobbihorse - if the ink I spilled was blood red, I might have been tempted to leave it there and call it a conversation piece! "Oh yeah, that was Uncle Bob. He didn't like my lasagna. He's not with us anymore."

Thank you George. So you don't have an expectation of scratches or wrinkles on normal Bridle Leather? About W&C bridle leather, how does it do with scratches? Do they rub out? Honestly, I have no idea how bridle leather behaves or wears. Thanks a lot, Monica

Hey all, I just bought some Hermann Oak London Tan bridle leather. I was rather disappointed with it when it arrived, and I thought perhaps my assumptions about bridle leather might be completely off. I'm going to describe my side, and I'd really appreciate it if you could tell me if my side has a problem, or if my expectations have a problem. I found it to be stiff and dry feeling, with a glazed lacquery coating. There were wrinkles all over it, part from the shipping. There are 1 1/2 ft. darkened scratches in two places. It has other random scratches all over it, some dirty spots, and even a few tiny black spots. I couldn't find a clean place to lay out what I wanted to cut out. Are my expectations too high? I just finished using a beautiful piece of Horween Dublin from Springfield, and my judgment might be clouded. This cost exactly the same price.... so... Are scratches par for the course with bridle leather? Does my customer just assume that goes with the name?

Hi Matt, Interesting, I would have sworn it was chrome tanned. Did they tell you the name of the leather? There are some veg tanned leathers with chrome tanned properties. They're probably a bit more expensive then simple chrome tanned. You could try maverickleathercompany.com - call them and ask them if they have any veg tanned leather that looks like chrome tanned. I'm sure they can help you out. You could probably send them an e-mail with a picture of that bag and they'd be able to give you good advice. I hear they're very friendly. If you get the right leather (which i believe they did) you shouldn't have to do any coloring or finishing. There are a lot of thread options. I think it depends upon what you're looking for. I use Tiger thread, but I have to order it from England right now, which is a bit of a pain. Some people have mentioned Maine Thread Company, I think for linen thread. You probably don't want larger than .8 or .6 mm thread. Watch Nigel Armitage's saddle stitching tutorial, and you'll be set. As for patterns, you can figure it out yourself, search the forum for patterns, or see if one of our members here, tboyce, has one or will make one for you. If he has one already made and it's public, I think you can use it for free, or if you want one made specially for you, he charges a very reasonable fee. Have fun, and good luck!

Wow, that is .... seriously creepy. What does human leather look like? I'm not sure if I want to find out....

Cool! It looks like a legitimately cool purse/bag, which I'm starting to think is not at all easy to do. Great job!

Gafer - Glad it wasn't too much trouble. I had mixed my dye with lacquer thinner, so it was almost like it froze with the impact, because it evaporated off so fast. I barely had time to smear it around before it was dry. Zulu - yes, I guess I'm surprised it hadn't happened already. Two years on the dining room table is a pretty good stretch without a catastrophe. tboyce - Yes..... you are so right. I'm pretty sure I wouldn't have gone out to the shop, got a sander, and starting working on it like my husband did.

That's awesome. I wish my first project came out anything like that. Love the inventive use of the basketweave tool.

Cool!

Thanks for the sympathy, guys - we are still in the process of taking a sander to it. Fortunately, my husband was very philosophical, longsuffering, and helpful. Gafer, what are you doing with your mess? I hope your floor was concrete, at least. . . and not your dining room floor. LOL, Boyce, I have a history of clumsiness in my past. I was magic with a broom - I could knock things off of shelves without even being close. At least, that's what it felt like.

It looks amazing to me!

Thank you!! You should collect all of these in your gallery.

Very nice and solid looking. I love the shape.