Pkay

You need to concentrate on the stitching as much as the decoration on the bag/pouch. You also need to consider flap closing methods as this can contribute greatly to your work. I use contrast stitching so I can see how much I need to improve.Keep at it

you could suggest to your Mum that it may well have been darker when it was made. You could feed it and leave it to absorb the dressing then it would lighten off.

I think you have done really well. It may help if you use a background tool for the outside parts as it will enhance your flower. Practice the background tool on a scrap first as it can be challenging to get consistent results.

I never try and tool more than half the depth of the leather, in my experience to do so can weaken the leather. The strength of leather is in the surface layers and my work exploits that strength. The surface layers of leather are the most dense and I do not like to sacrifice the strength for decoration. I have achieved a greater 3D effect by using other techniques.

I have never had this problem, I guess I don't hit the leather that hard ! you could try a lighter touch and then use an antiquing finish to make the names stand out. Or .. true the flap after tooling the name and then edge it ??

could you add a photo of your fenders ??

found these on etsy https://www.etsy.com/no-en/listing/123476401/full-d-ring-snaffle-bit-charm-in-gold not sure about the price ? You have not shown what size they are ?

It has been Connolleys for years.

If you wet mold some veg tan hide it should be fairly easy to shape upper and lower beaks then leave them to air dry. Rest them over jar or pot to allow them to keep the shape. Make sure you turn up the head end so you can sew it to the head part or make the top beak overhead section and rear in one part. Sounds like great fun. Put a fold in the length of the beak to give it strength, an upturned V.

I like it, a lot of work in the carving and dying !! I made some in the 80's, I will try and post a pic.

You need to appreciate the limitations of leather made for upholstery. It is thin, usually chrome tanned so it will not take any embossing, it is finished so will only take some dyes. However it will be fine for many other uses including bags, purses and even clothes. When I have been able to pick some up cheap it can be very useful.

No pics ??

I guess I could google this but with all the recognising, I thought I should ask what is a 'managers sales knife' ?? Is that like a managers sale carpet, chosen to sell for a short period.??

I watched a tannery video on utube and they had a gauge with a dial gauge attached which allowed them to measure about a foot into the hide which would work well. I always find that the edges are hard and thicker than the leather I wish to use from the hide, not representative.

there used to be a cork shop in Brighton but I have never seen it used as a fabric. Nice !!

Just retiring so could be interested if the terms were OK.??

You could try rubbing a block of bees wax over the back of the lacing before you start. Try it on a piece of scrap first !!

I think your lacing is excellent, you should not need to harden your skin any more but if you do you can dip your finger in meths.

There are several ways you could improve the stitching. you could use a less obvious colour thread or you could use a stitch pricker and an awl at 30-45 degrees. I love the graphics !!

I have also found that what is offered is not necessarily the best. These look worth selling !!

I have noticed that people hold creasing irons in different ways. I use mine right handed with the blades! sloping away and up. The right hand blade holds against the side of the leather and the left blade which is higher makes the crease. I do bevel both of the edges first as I find the crease iron pulls the surface of the leather slightly towards the crease. Some people use them curving down from the hand which I could not get into.

I became interested in leatherwork when a demonstrator at an exhibition in Brighton said I would never be any good at it in 1973'ish. I moved to Cornwall to explore surfing then I moved to the Moors where I met a leather worker who made black jacks and was equally dismissive about the possibility of me being a leatherworker. My partner bought me a kit for my birthday and after making and selling a couple of clutch bags I realised that I could slide right into leatherwork as a hobby. Then I replied to an advert for a craft cooperative starting in North Devon and we moved there. I had to learn from day one and I did learn quickly. I even had help from visiting saddlers who were on holiday but showed me how to saddle stitch much more correctly than I had been doing. I made everything that could be made from leather from holsters and belts to bikinis. When I went back to Brighton my parents gave me a foot measuring gauge and a last, also a few hammers. Then they explained that my great grandfather had been a cobbler in the north Laines area of Brighton. So it appears to run in the family.

Welcome ! And look forward to seeing them.

very neat work, look forward to seeing the finished article.

nice piece of kit. Probably best kept as an antique. try and sell it to a saddlers/cordwainers museum so that everyone can enjoy it.