YinTx

Thanks! Yes, thefanninator, that is a Riri #4 if I remember right. I too tried pliers, even some with plastic jaws, etc. and like you found none really worked well. Having no desire to spend $60+ for zipper pliers, I discovered the easiest way to set them was simply to whack em flat with a plastic mallet over a marble slab! Course the bottom stops are pricey too, and not entirely necessary, you could just go with a leather cover over the zip as many do. YinTx

Thanks much, Sofaspud! This leather is fantastic, I'm dyin to make something I can use out of it, like a briefcase, but I have to sell more of it before I do that lol. This stuff is downright 'spensive. I have one tote and one bucket bag to make out of it for customers, and after having to do 3 wallets to get one I was happy with, I'm a bit gun shy. Zipper on version 2 came out awful, I won't show it. Thanks for the compliment! Yeah, version 2 is hiding it's worst flaws under version 1. And even version 1 you can see where I was struggling a bit keeping everything happy. So now when I see someone's awesome stitching on Barenia, I . I've restitched before, never really been happy with it. If that was the only flaw...and if the interior pockets weren't also stitched in white, I might would do it with a more subtle color thread. But alas, the zipper design and install was a fail, so I won't spend more time on it. Thanks for the suggestion! YinTx

Thank you. Yes, I did come up with the pattern, nothing complicated, just similar to most long wallets you see out and about. Took me more than a few tries to get it down. YinTx

Lol. I did this once, showed someone my work after they asked what I did for a living. I said, "Oh, I sell leatherwork." After I showed it to them, they wanted to know where I bought it from and where I sell it at.... I was like me: Yeah, no I MAKE it. them: Really, where do you get it? me: starts as a cow hide.... Another person said "Wow, that almost looks like a professional made it..." I haven't shown much of my tooling outside of the family yet, a few images of pieces have been about like on the dopp kit, the eagle, and the IPad cover. Mostly mild but positive reception I'd say. Hasn't garnered much request or orders, so I take that as a need to keep improving...most of my (not tooled) items that I do complete and show, folks really like. After they learn I can't make them one for $20, the interest kinda dwindles... YinTx

This is version 2 and 3 of a long wallet a customer ordered in Barenia and Chevre Chagrin. Only version 3 made the grade. Version 1 never got finished, not sure what to do with Version 2, not good enough to sell, and with 1/2 a side of Chevre Chagrin and a couple square feet of Barenia, a Riri zipper and hours of edge work I can't bring myself to toss it. Happy at least Version 3 came out well enough! I have a newfound respect for those that are able to work with this leather. Stitching is a challenge, and not adding your own "Patina" so the customer can add theirs is also a challenge. Edge painting is also not easy for me on this type of leather! Enjoy. YinTx

Thanks, Bikermutt! True, we always see our own flaws, I'm practicing not pointing them out right away. I've started handing my work to others and saying "hey, tell me where I messed up." If they find it, bin. If they don't, then I show it to them and see if they think it is bad enough for the bin. Thats how this one made it to completion. And thanks for the kudos. Thanks, glad you like it! BTW, camera work helps hide flaws. I'll put up the newer improved version when I finish, and reserve the kicking for others. YinTx

Neat, thanks for that info! I'll have to look for a piece some time to try out! I really like how it looks for your work. YinTx

I took it as intent to aid. For me, carrying is serious business, whether 10 minutes or 10 hours, so I want all the technical aspects of any holster I might make to be spot on so I don't have to worry about any kind of mishap. From that perspective, I want all kinds of input. But I digress, I am me, not everyone else is like that. ComputerDoctor, I see a lot of creativity in your stamp work, and I can see you put some time into your first effort at a holster. Look forward to seeing how you do your next version. YinTx

In all fairness to OP, this was posted in the "Show Off!" section, not the "Critique my Work" section. That being said, there has been decent advice given, and there is a wealth of info on holster making on this site, worth reviewing in a positive light to constantly improve one's work if one is so inclined. YinTx

Heh, I have scrap all over the place, almost embarrassing how much leather I have wrecked. Couple of tubs in the closet, few boxes in the craft room, few bags next to the work bench, pieces piled on the work bench... kinda not the guy to be inspired by lol. I keep wondering what I a going to do with it all... maybe if I learn to do embossing I'll have a supply for leather powder? I am glad you like this piece, tho... Thanks! Things improved a bit thanks to help from you and others... Thanks, plinkercases. Beveling is one of the things I am trying to get smoothed out so the piece has better flow. Hard to take a pic with my phone when it is in the sleeve, sorry. But it works pretty simple, just slide the phone between the two pieces! If I can, I'll get someone to take a pic with their phone... Awesome, thanks! And you have hit the nail on the head, it is all about putting time towards it. Wish I could put more time at it, but I do what I can when I can, usually late in the evenings, when I'm all tired out and mistakes don't matter so much because it is practice... YinTx

Thanks, Cardinal! I'll carry it tomorrow, see if it gets any comments.... YinTx

Wow, didn't expect all that! Many thanks. I know it isn't the best, but for a guy that couldn't draw stick figures, I'm doin ok with it. Many things aren't right, like the stubby leaves, which I fixed on the next version. I was just happy I could draw something to fit a shape I needed! YinTx

This is like the 3rd version or so of a Sheridan style drawing that I have done on my own, with lots of input from folks on this site like @Wykoni, @immiketoo, @JLSleather, @Stetson912 and others. This is the first one I have not put in the scrap bin, and actually antiqued and stitched up. Still not happy with it, lots of things I see to improve, but useable. I think the tooled version with an initial on it is better, and will post a pic when it is done. Just wanted to show it here, and say thanks to all that helped me out along the way. YinTx

Awesome. Maybe tool the next version with "EPI PEN!!" so folks standing next to you don't have to wonder... YinTx

I love this leather. What kind is it? and are those... round holes for stitching? YinTx

Thanks, and I remember your bible, as I recall you did pretty nice work with limited materials. Thanks, I went through three iterations before I was happy with the results. Used about 10 + square feet of Hermann Oak on the previous versions. Needless to say, this meant I lost money on the deal, but hey, happy customer, right? Appreciate that! Thank you. Haven't heard back from the guy yet, I hope they work as intended. He had requested the basket for the look, I had hoped it would help with grip. He does weddings, etc also with the IPad, so he'd be standing and holding it. I did burnish the long edges well, along with dye, the shorter edges were lightly burnished and not dyed. Square hole just was what it was, and round holes I burnished best I could. Short edges you don't really see at all when the IPad is inserted, so I spent enough time on them to make them nice and not perfect. Perhaps if I sell another full price, yes I'd put more effort into the hidden edges. Actually, I think I'd do a different retention system altogether. YinTx

A lot of us can do wallets, myself included, however I would have to see some photos of what you have and some details on what you want, to see if it is something I can/will do, and how much I would charge. YinTx

That is a lot of work! Fantastic! I like the use of the tri-weave for the border, and the battle cuts on the front. Whoever gets to use that is going to look awesome! YinTx

Well, I don't know what your buckles look like, so here is a hi res photo of some of the ones I have. They come in brass also. These are the hand polished stainless steel versions. At least you can take a gander at them and see if they are what you are looking for. Ones on the right show made in Taiwan, the rest in China. YinTx

Wow, thanks for all the positives! I started this one last year, and took me a while to get around to finishing. Thank the Lord, I had a _Very_ patient customer. I don't have the IPad to show it installed, but yes, held top and bottom only. I told him it was no Otter Box, and shouldn't be tossed around as such. He doesn't normally use any cover for his IPad, so anything was an improvement. These are the detail photos of the inside that I was able to get. Access points for all the buttons and ports, and vented for the speaker and opening for the front facing camera only. YinTx

Dang, that is nice! Having just started dabbling in doing my own drawings, I can appreciate what went into this to make it so good! Awesome! YinTx

I picked up some solid stainless buckles from Weaver Leather supply, they are from China, but seem decent quality. Price is not exactly "wholesale," but decent buckles worth looking at. YinTx

Awesome, thanks for the details, Mike! YinTx

Nicely done, and interesting look to the leather! I like it. YinTx