VansCustomLeather

Go on YouTube and type in "George Hurst block dyeing." He does a great tutorial on it. My personal advice is to get you an airbrush...it'll be WELL worth it. That effect is called "Sunburst" if you're wanted to google/search for it.

That's Awesome bro...looks like something from the Face Off TV show. Why do you have that ugly profile picture...did u lose a bet to somebody?

Thanks Robertmeco...those pocket holsters are AWESOME. Never seen anything like those. Thanks for all the help Terrypen. I was a Radio Repairer (35E) at first and then I re-classed to a Satellite Communications Operator/Maintainer (25S). I got VERY lucky after re-classing and was assigned to the only Special Operations Signal Battalion in the Army (NOTTT Special Forces). Everybody mixes that up. We supported those guys. I got to see A LOT of the world and a lot of opportunities arose that most "Big Army" Soldiers don't get access to. As for the military plaques...that's my bread and butter. I've been in SOOO many Commanders and Sergeants Major's offices over my career and I ALWAYS looked at their "glory plaques" and took note of them. I'd say 95% of the ones I saw were something I could have duplicated for myself at ANY award/frame shop off-post and just change the laser engraving with my info (cookie cutter plaques). That's when I started evolving my plaques in that direction. Once I did that...the business took off. As for the Facebook page...it's Vans Custom Leather. BondoBob...thx for the kind words. Do you personally make all of those saddles on your website? They are AMAZING. As for the Tide. My parents taught me NOT to say 4 letter words like that. We're part of the "Sophisticated Sector" of our state...we say War Eagle. I'm blown away already by the amount of knowledge I've found on this site already. I just discovered "Paul Burnett" and his website. I ordered his "Super Bundle"...it's like reading "The Leatherworking Gospel." As for the GI Bill...there's NO more college in store for me. One of the GREAT things that George W. Bush did for the military while in office is to pass the "Post 9/11 GI Bill." What that does is to allow you to pass your GI Bill down to any of your dependents if you know that you won't use it. With that said...my 11 year old son's college education fund is taken care of which is a HUGE weight off of my shoulders. As for growing up on a farm...we live on 100 acres or so here in Alabama. We have 6 horses a Donkey and 25 head of cattle throughout the summer. Daddy will only keep about 4 head of cattle through the winter. It's a "hobby farm" for him...he LOVES it. Again...thanks for the warm welcome. This website is Awesome.

That's a beautiful piece of luggage. Been wanting to do one myself...love the look of this one.

That's a VERY unique niche of leatherwork you have bro. You're tooling and coloring is Awesome man.

That's an Awesome Idea bro...looks GREAT!!! Like the previous poster said that "overhang/irregular edge" adds A LOT to it.

I appreciate it biglew and maddhatter. As for the toolholder...that was the first piece of woodwork that I did once I retired. If y'all know how I can attach photos to these posts...I'll add some close-ups of it. As for Michael at AnvilMade...he's the one that told me about this website. He's only been doing leather for a couple years now...which is INSANE when you see the quality of his work. He's an artist for sure.

I appreciate it OdinUK. I've barely started to dig around in these forums and it's AMAZING how many techniques are used that I never had a clue about. As for your work...you have a VERY unique look to your products...looks Awesome. I've NEVER even heard of a Tankard before I checked out ur website...those things are cool. Had one question for you if you don't mind answering it. What type of "matting/backgrounding tool" do you use on those back patches? I've never seen a matting tool that is that "gnarly" for lack of better words.

I'm Technically Deficient. Can anybody on here help out? I uploaded a photo twice and don't know how to remove one of them. I'm clueless.

That's an Awesome technique Bruce...never seen basket weave on a radius before.

Thx for the military support boss man. I enjoyed my time and enjoying the transition as well. It's AMAZING the amount of people and knowledge on this website. Thx for the leather compliments...it's been a 5 year evolution into what u see now.

I'm READY to LEARN!! My name's Van Woodruff and I started Vans Custom Leather. I recently medically retired from the Army after 13 years service. Got to see A LOT of the world but glad to be back in God's Country...Sweet Home Alabama. You'd be amazed at the amount of people in the military that have "some sort or craft/art skills." As for me...I started playing around with leather a few years back. I was "drawn" to doing leather plaques from the very beginning. I only did trades for the first couple years. Once I really started finding my "niche" with the "leather biographies"...business "Within my Army Unit" took off but it's hard to get your "Leather Products" in front of "the masses." As I was going through the retirement process at Fort Bragg...I had an opportunity to meet an AP reporter. I did my best "Billy Mays pitch" to him right after the "original interview" was done. He told me that once I move back to Alabama...he'd come do a story and he was a man of his word. Here's the link...I don't know how to add the link so I'm just typing it in: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Ab-Yc1rjIM ...if that doesn't work Google "Veteran Creates Job During High Unemployment" it should be 1:50 long. As you can see...my leatherwork is "aesthetic in nature." I LOVE doing the plaque designing and tooling but I want to LEARN "Functional Leather Skills." I want to know how to make quality Holsters/Belts/Wallets/Purses/Bags...that people will be able to pass down. I've been fortunate to have "Quality Leather Advice" along the way. The 3 main ones being Aubrin Rheem at Tandy Leather Raleigh. Michael at AnvilMade Leather and Christian Marsh at Xian Leather. If you haven't seen Michael or Christian's work...you SHOULD check them out. In MY opinion Christian's the Best in the World at what he does. I'm going to try and attach some pics...I have NO IDEA what I'm doing or how to "crop them properly." If they're all jacked up...I apologize.