MonicaJacobson

Very nice, as usual, Chief!

Thank you, David, that was a lot of in depth information. I'll probably start with Horween. But I find the calf skin idea very interesting. I'll certainly have to try it. I'm planning on doing an invisible stitch on the bag after next (after I finish a briefcase style bag for someone) with some thinner leather. I'll let you know if I end up finding some good videos about piping. It really does make it feel more complete.

@Winter bear - thanks, I like it to, but if the consensus is that it needs to blend in more, I'll bow to the greater good. @Bill, thanks for the advice! I'll have to ask my instrument maker husband if he has any tuning nuts laying around. He might, actually. That's a really cool idea. I could theoretically screw it into a thin piece of wood on the back side and sew a piece of leather over it. As for the loop, do you mean something like this through the f-hole? Or did you mean a strap all the way around the bag? I'm confused. If you run across that video again, send me the link, because I have no idea what you're talking about. Yes, Joe mentioned the same idea with the pockets, and honestly, it completely slipped my mind. I'll do that for the next one. And feel free to make one for your niece. I'd love to see what your version would look like. Thanks for all the help, guys!

@DavidL - Thanks for the kind words, David - It means a lot coming from someone with your taste in bags. Yes, Joe is right, it's just a single piece of leather for the strap. #2, exactly the same amount you can see on the outside on the body, about 1/8 inch. Is there a certain amount that is supposed to be optimal? After I use up my last two hides, I intend to start buying better leathers online, rather than depending on cheaper leathers from Tandy. However, I'm afraid I'll never be expensive purse material. My taste tends to run more towards a rougher look, like this bag: However, who knows! Maybe in a year or two I'll be good enough to venture into thin, expensive leather. @Joe - it's a good idea to clean up the look, but I'm not sure what you're proposing. Stitch horizontally through the containing piece as it passes the decorative stitching on the front? I could put a loop through the f hole, but I'm not sure that it would look cleaner, and might stress the leather... Ha ha, I didn't even show you a picture of the back with the pocket stitching showing through. But I thought of you when I stitched it on, and thought for sure you'd think it should be a hanging pocket. Now that it's on, I suppose I could put pockets on the front instead of the back, and hang them from stitching across the opening so there are no extra stitch lines. @Dan - LOL, exactly. I think I saw someone else had done a whole, extremely nice duffle bag in this fashion. I hope he sold it for more than $1000. @Feraud, thank you!

Yes. It's not difficult, just painful. I originally saw it here and thought it was cool, but I see it's no longer available. I'm not terribly surprised.

Wow, I totally want to see it when it's done.

That looks really nice, Brent. Nice edges. What kind of leather is it?

@humperdingle - oooh, now I want to see a picture. @blue duck - Thank you! The neighbors have a parrot - I could have improved its vocabulary massively.

Thanks Bill! Andrew, it's Austin leather from Tandy. 8-9 oz. It's fun to work with and very popular, but kind of expensive for what it is. And when it scratches, the scratch stays. It's about $135 (I got it on sale for 110) per, and they're not very big. I'm planning to see what springfield has in a similar color when I finish off my last hide.

Very nice! That's a lot of layers... I like the decorative cuts on the containing strap.

Thanks, Colt - I like how it looks, too. But it's not worth the frustration and self inflicted arthritis or carpel tunnel syndrome or whatever to get the look, I decided.

I tried a new way of attaching the gusset on my latest bag. I guess I was bored? Terrible idea. My wrists are killing me. So yes, the people who use this method can have it all to themselves.

Thanks for the additional pictures, Dwight. I was really intrigued by the stitching lines on the outside, and couldn't figure out what the construction of the bag was from the first picture. I actually really like the stitching lines on the outside. I know some people might prefer it without them, but I think it adds interest. Also, the contrasting color/belt and tooling really makes it look sharp.

Okay, yeah. I thought there must be something else supporting the lizard. Thanks, that helps a lot!

Dwight, those look great! I'd love to see some more pictures of that purse...

That looks great! I have some of the same lizard, and I had no idea it could look that good. But mine is really thin. Did you use something thicker on the inside, or is that just two pieces of lizard?

It looks great, Joe! Your projects all look very clean and nice.

I like how you attached the belt clip.

Ha, what a great idea! Very cool.

Thank you for the kind words, Bill!