YinTx

I want folks to use my items as well, also trying to make it worth my time to make things. Am happy to be doing what I want with my time vs. what someone else wants me to do as well. I have put this out on social media, and it has garnered a lot of attention as far as my works go. No one has yet asked me how much $ or if I'd make one yet tho...suspect they may be afraid to ask lol. Now, if I could stop giving things away as gifts, and taking so long at making things, I might actually make some money! YinTx

Awesome, but what is that I spy on the left side of the first photo? They look nice too... YinTx

That came out super nice! YinTx

No prob, was just curious. I know leather softens up some with use, and that would be against the body, so had me wondering. You are right, simple adjustment to the curve would take out the concern. YinTx

Holsters look nice. But I have a question: any risk of the holster depressing the magazine release button? YinTx

I too have been looking for some kid safe products. I have noted that Fiebeng's has a "School and Institutional" line of products, Springfield Leather's "Goof Proof" is something they claim to be safe for kids, but with all items, I'll have to pull up the MSDS before I give it a go ahead. Beeswax should be a safe thing, and I suspect neatsfoot oil will be ok. Looking to hear from others what they use for sure! YinTx

Just phenomenal! YinTx

I'd say that came out top notch!I like the cover flap - its a nice touch. YinTx

I like the thought process. I think this one was a bit big, so maybe a smaller version, and cut out several waiting for selection of tooling pattern and thread? Appreciate the positive comments on the looks and quality! I think the big factor is the amount of time I spent on it, really needs to be reduced to be a viable product for me. I think it was JLS that mentioned goin fishin vs. break even. I think I even posted some commentary regarding "fair" pricing on a post he had about some positive customer feedback he'd received on a holster he made. Oddly enough, at $150 and 13 hours labor with $30 materials would probably make this one of my more profitable items, I suppose I should ignore the $30 bags out there and motor on, reduce the time input and see what $ the market will bear. I've been waiting for the recipient to get the package I sent before I put other photos on social media, it'll be interesting to see what the non-lw community thinks of it also. Thanks also for the positive comments, the piping was a bit of a pain to make, and it complicated the stitching. I have only done a little bit of it and was wondering if it was worth doing more of or not. Something that could reduce time and materials input, but detracts from the flourish if it is absent. At any rate, if I do more of it, I suspect I'll get faster at it just due to practice! YinTx

Thanks, ScoobyNewbie! YinTx

I bought the alcohol creaser, and promptly burned some leather, not knowing how hot the thing really was. Electric would reduce that issue. Also, if you are doing a lot of creasing, the electric would not need to be continually reheated, allowing longer work runs. Electric has this silly cord hanging off the back that the manual does not. Electric is much more expensive. Manual requires alcohol, and probably a wick or two over time. Price is obvious. I still want an electric. YinTx

I've used 5 oz up to 7 oz. Both are pretty heavy for a small bible, I would think a 4 to 5 oz leather would do well, especially if you have a liner leather on the inside. YinTx

I wish I could, but then I'd have one custom item sold and 4 on the shelf. Everything I do is one-off, someone wants a particular color thread, certain type of leather/color, different liner, a particular pocket, certain length shoulder strap, custom tooling, etc. I keep wanting to make a bunch of one item, and say "this is what I've got," but when I do, the customers say "Thats nice, can you do it in green?" I tried a tiny run of basic black belts, sold 3, still have one finished and one half way finished that I stopped on, waiting for someone to buy. The life of a leatherworker, I suppose. I show photos of what I've done, let the customer select size/color etc, and get to work. If I want to try something different, I have to make a gift like this so I have something to photograph and show! YinTx p.s. I do plan to do some shows, so for that, you are right, I'll make 5 each of things, see how it goes.

Thanks much, Ferg! Means a lot, coming from an old man. The gift is going to someone in their 80's, so gives me confidence they'll like it! I liked it enough I think I want one now... just have to find the time to make another, lol. Appreciate that, RockyAussie. I'll put it out there and see what kind of a response I get, if they do sell, awesome! This explains the plethora of leatherworkers on social media! Even the not so good ones get a lot of traction, it seems. This is a recent phenomena, I believe. But, there are a lot of folks willing to pay to BIFL, and I have been one of them. Thanks also for the compliment. YinTx

Thanks, Bikermutt. I think you are probably accurate with the pricing, and I know I ain't the Fastest Leatherworker in the West, but the tooling took me nearly 3 hours to do, from start of drawing to finish, and the bag took me another 8-10 hours, including making the piping, hand stitching, etc. All this totaled up for over 13 hours work, $10 zipper, $20+ leather, I'd be not be making much money. I think if someone offered me $150+, I'd do it, but I suspect they'd be shopping around at that price! YinTx

Thanks! I try to remember that, but always back of my mind telling me folks are bargain hunters.... just have to keep my focus! thanks for the compliment! Not many changes to the typical dopp kit design, just some flourishes, and it is probably larger than most. And out of some really nice leather! Experience can be a heck of a teacher for sure! YinTx

That is a really nice bag for a first project out of the gate. I'd say your course paid off! YinTx

Very sharp. I like the use of the stamps you chose! I am sure you'll hear about how you should be showing some blade from the knife aficionados around here... YinTx

Just my take on the lowly Dopp Kit. After I made it, found out they sell for like $30 on Etsy, Made in USA no less. Not likely to compete with that! Horween leather body, Hermann Oak tooling on the rest. Hand stitched with Juane Fil Au Chinois. Half of the tooling pattern I drew myself, the other half is adapted from some Don Gonzales sketches. This was some thick leather, thought I would never get it turned back right side out. Would probably make it from thinner leather if I did another in the future, although I must say I like the heft and form that resulted, just not the corners, even though I skived them! YinTx

Black Cawfee.... Yintx Nice work, too!

nice clean work. Any photos of the other side? YinTx

I made a slip on handle cover for my cast iron out of suede. No glue, just stitched it, happened to use linen thread. Seems to work fine, but I don't leave it on there, just slip it on to move it around, then slip it off again. YinTx

Alexis, I think the OP made the holster, so he's being modest in his response to you. His work was great, and the customer called him out on it. Jeff, I once sat through a pricing exercise by a... ahem.. Harvard professor, first time I'd ever heard one of them folks in person. The company I was with at the time had brought him in to help us build a pricing scheme in a tight market. The one thing that stuck with me was his question to us, "What is a fair price?" and after a bit of banter around the room, he clarified "Fair to whom?" Followed up with "an item is worth what someone will pay for it." A lot of math followed, our corporate profits shot up, the company was sold, and I had to move on to greener pastures. If your customer base says that your quality matches another price bracket, then you can consider moving into that price bracket, if you so desired. Congrats on such positive customer feedback, it means your work is top notch, and they see it. As leatherworkers, it is easier for us to notice your work is high quality, for the general populace to notice is awesome. And yeah, you don't always get what you pay for! Good to know your customers do, tho! YinTx

I have some Hermann Oak milled veg tan in 5-6 oz, nice feel to it, seems thick, soft and strong, and I suspect it would work well. I think the kidskins are mostly chrome tanned, and may not hold up under that kind of stress. Not sure, but suspect the milled veg would probably get a nice patina to it and wear in very comfortably. YinTx