corter

Thanks! Andrew- yes, fold the fabric at the edges and make the fabric piece slightly smaller than the leather shell on the sides and bottom, then glue it down good. That way your leather seams will hang over the fabric, so the fabric will never see daylight on the sides and bottom. Greene- everything there is hand sewn (besides the fabric tote bag), I don't machine sew. I usually make between 50-100 pieces a week not including belts and bracelets, so needless to say I've gotten pretty quick saddle stitching.

Hey guys and gals! I got my start learning from the pages of this forum, and regretfully I've not had the time to post much in the past few years. I find myself with a few minutes to post up some of my new work, so here we go! Short back story- started leatherwork in college in 2007, started my business (Corter Leather) in 2008, graduated college in 2009 and never looked back. Been enjoying the crazy life of a small business owner/leather smith since. Here's some full shell cordovan work: Some fabric lined wallets: And Bags and here's my new stuff. I've been redesigning in preparation for relaunching my website in March with a new line of goods. All custom hardware with my logo, heat brands and mostly Horween Chromexcel leather. Last, a rather interesting commission I got this summer

I tend to move every year or two, in the 5 years I've been working with leather I've had as many shops. Just keep things small and portable, use as few tools as possible. 2010-11 bedroom shop: 2012 dining room shop: 2012-13 dedicated shop (with my assistant). Rented a space to figure out if I really needed one. Summer 2013-? shop. Found out I don't need a dedicated workspace, redesigned production methods to really only need a handful of tools and a few sq. feet of space, desired to work on the beach. It's been about 6 months of work so far, should be finished in June

Figured I'd post up some more new stuff I've made over the past couple months. I do lots and lots of wallets, which is nice because they're all different. I've been using old grain bag inlays for some work lately, I think it really adds a nice graphic element to my work. Also, a shaving kit at the bottom there.

Thanks! Mandy- Don't say that, you totally will. I've only been at it 3 years- just work on deconstructing things you want to make, it's really not that difficult in the end. Work thoughtful and clean, and it all comes together fairly well!

Thanks guys! 50 Years Later- are you talking about the seam at the bottom? it's not a welt seam, just a 1" overlap, riveted and stitched on both sides to strengthen the bottom, which was true to the original I worked with in designing this one.

I got a job in this week that was the largest piece I've ever done- a 17"x12"x5" reproduction of an old leather postal carrier's bag. I never really use a template, but the bag came out nice and centered and looking really swell I think. I used about 20 rivets, and everything is hand sewed. Took a couple days, but I'm really happy with it! I'd love any thoughts, or maybe ideas for next time. This one is natural leather, which the customer will tan and oil to his liking, so it'll eventually turn a nice carmel, then get darker over time.

Oh, by no means am I not answering my customers! I'm simply putting the answers to questions I've been getting a lot on the site, where a prospective customer has to see it. This saves them time and cuts down on confusion, and it also saves me email and computer time, so I can be focusing on making the best work I can. I have a lot of international business, so it's especially nice to have that there in simple english, where a translation site can provide a good translation and they don't have to email me with a translated english message, which gets super super confusing and hard to understand. I've been running my business since I was 19, and I've got a lovely customer base and have been doing this full time for the 3-4 years I've had the site, just trying to make it easier for everyone! Thats all

Thanks! (And thanks everyone else, too). Re: Font, The font's at 12 point now, so I don't think I'm going to go any larger with it (the forum look to be 13 or 14 for reference). I had a few people check it out and the majority liked the size, agreeing that making it any larger would make the website seem a bit less professional and over cluttered. I think a lot of my customers, who are younger, will be more interested in the pictures and probably not read descriptions much, so as long as they can easily get to pictures and the store I'm ok with it! Re: Shop link, I agree that it's kind of irritating to have to click twice, but by doing this I guarantee that customers know that the things in the shop are in stock. 50% of my emails are "I know things are made to order, so if it's in the shop can I order it? or will there be a wait?" So what I'm doing there is filtering out all of those emails and creating less work for myself in the customer service department. I'll try to work on the gallery more, but my problem is that I don't know any coding. Thanks again guys!

Thanks guys, seems I mistakenly had the font too small. I upped it a bit.

Hey guys! As usual, long time no post, but I finally have some time now. I released my first collection yesterday! It was really interesting learning production methods and making multiples of things, as I've only done one-offs until I did this line. I've posted a couple pictures, but I'd love it if you could check out my (newly redesigned) website and let me know what you think! www.corterleather.com

thanks! I did. any other help would be awesome, I'm still in the dark on this one

Hey all. So I'm about to embark on making my first pair of mocs. I've been reading up and designing, and I've got some of the basic construction down. However, I'm at a loss when it comes to soles. I've read about the barge glue/rubber tire shavings deal, but I don't want to go that route. I'd like to go with a crepe sole, as I live in the city and would love to be able to wear them whenever I want. So basically, I'm looking for suppliers/tutorials/advice/anything that can help me figure out where to buy materials and how to get this to happen. I've attached a couple pictures to show you the type of sole I'm interested in. thanks!!!

thank you sooooo much! that's awesome, i'm very excited now.

I'm looking to make some screw back conchos out of old coins. I've been looking and looking for any help, and just can't find it. So i'm wondering if anyone has any resources? I figure there's only a couple steps, doming the coin and then attaching the screwback, which would maybe be done with a soldering iron? any help would be awesome!

Hey guys! long time no post. Busy as usual! Here are some new~ish projects. These are reclaimed leather shells, I used scraps from dye tests. and some other wallets, the browns (and all the other colors) are hand dyed from natural veg. tanned leather, only the black is drum dyed :

there's my bench...it doubles as my bedroom haha. I believe there's a project on it in that picture too. I live in a 9x9foot room, and work there too. I have a concrete ledge out of my window that i use to punch holes and do anything i need to with a hammer

thanks guys! i'm working on a hip bag now, i'll post that up when it's done as well! Andy- most of my work is done in raw veg. tanned leather so that customers (in this case, myself) can make it their own once they receive it. I guess you could think of it as an unfinished piece of furniture, plus I love watching things age and change constantly. With the tanning, I do mean just setting it out in the sun. probably 3 or 4 days on either side, then some mink oil, then a coat of obenaufs heavy duty LP for protection. i'll dig up the thread and post pictures when i get it done!

hey everyone! as per the title, this is my first camera bag for my contax t2. I wanted something simple, i'm going to tan and oil it myself once the weather gets nicer. i'd love some crit, these were the first gussets (i think that's what they're called) i've ever sewn, which actually ended up being way easier than i thought

thanks everyone, your words mean so much most of my wallets are between 1/2" and 3/4" thick when closed. The inspiration I get from japanese leatherwork leads me to use 5-4oz leather for shells and 2-3 oz leather for interiors. it may seem super thick for some, but for the style I make it's prefect and yes, that's essentially what it means...no real bottom to the card slots

I used to stitck a back panel on, however after some testing i've realized that the leather will keep cards in place just fine. i've never had any customers have problems or anything either, so i keep it simple and don't stitch the bottoms closed. thanks

new wallet for myself. i left a piece of leather outside for 5 months, then oiled it, which is the carmel colored leather you see. couple other wallets: and i made myself this too, it's a bracelet with ostrich inlay. i'll probably make another with an oxblood colored inlay, and this one needs tanning and oiling, just something i've never made before!

that looks awesome man. is there any place online with a tutorial for making those type of pouches? i've been really wanting to learn lately, i know it involves joints and stuff.

that's beautiful!

wow...that's stunning! the pictures are gnarly too, esp. that last one