CollinsMS

Thanks Tom and Spider. Already working up new ideas from everyones input.

WOW. I would be afraid to get it splattered with bugs and road grime. Very awesome.

Wow great coloring on the tiger. Can't wait to see the final fade.

Very cool. So creative. It's on my list of things to try, but that list is long.

Pete you are correct I did it backwards from what you are explaining. Guess I will have to do another. Darn. MattW excuse my lack of knowledge but I am not sure what you mean but a welt. Everything I do is self trained.

Thanks didn't consider copper rivets but that is true its a much softer metal. The stitching on smaller projects I combine hand a machine methods. I use a groover and then follow the grove line with the machine. It gives a more hand stitched look plus you get a stitch line recessed like hand stitching.

Thanks for all the comments so far. I have to admit I am very new to a basket weave tool so yes I could have made a deeper impression. I actually did bevel the edge of the basket pattern but also it is not deep enough. The rivets, I would agree with you that they are not necessary,,,,, unless you have a teenage son. Put a razor sharp knife and sheath in their hands ((first mistake)) and you may find the top 3 rows of stitches sliced open when the knife is put back in the sheath held sideways versus a good strait shot in the sheath..... I would much rather put the edge back on the knife. If you have teenagers you know anything you tell them,,, your wrong. So telling him the proper way to handle the knife and sheath I got a ((I already know how to do it)). Now that I rambled the stitching was moved further over to be center of the rivets. I was about to lay out the stitching when I glanced over and in my box of parts was a bag of rivets. Maybe now my stitching will not get cut. Also the snap keeper came about because the same son sliced into a traditional wrap and snap around the handle keeper.

Please give feedback I am trying to improve my skills. In my opinion this one came out not to bad. It is stitched with a machine.

I have an old saddle that is in bad shape. The makers name plate is gone so this could be an antique but I will never be able to find out for sure. The entire saddle is floral but with age the pattern looses its detail. I want to sharpen it up without making it look new. That is how I got stated on this.

Here is another picture. Maybe it shows detail better. I have a great place to work but not so good for pictures. The way I do this is not much different than normal leather tooling. I guess the 2 big differences is no swivel knife and most relief tools/bevels are hit first with a hammer then smoothed out or feathered out by hand. All edge bevels are accomplished by hand only. Hard on the fingers to put that much pressure on a tool, I guess I use a bevel tool like most people use a swivel knife. I do use very wet leather and maintain that during my work. I love the work people do with swivel knife, bobcat did an amazing job with his Floral post. I guess my eye leans more to an old look. Maybe you could call it an artsy look. Not a look most leather people like, just because no swivel knife was used.

Good eye. There are no swivel knife cuts. I have been working with some old saddles and trying to duplicate a worn look. After 30 or more years of use a saddle does not have any visible swivel knife cuts. All tooling is pressed in on this item. Some by hand no hammer. It is not a plate.

Not sure floral work is my thing but decided to try some. Let me know what you think.

Looks like it came out of the 16th or 17th century. Very cool, great hand on the lacing and bradding.

I agree with the "Birds Eye" comment. Not often someone can nail that. Great job. Those tools for sale. I would be interested because my tools can not do this. LOL )

OMG I hope you are making some good money with a talent like that. Good job!!!!!

This is not my work. Cowboys used to put them on to dress up their shirts. They also used to have leather colors to dress their shirts.

Not my line of interest but the wow the detail is great. It would be interesting to put your twist on some cowboy dress shirt cuffs. Maybe something that from a distance looks like dress cuffs but when you get closer you have a skull outlaw type with cowboy hat and scarf. Just an idea.

Great work. Any chance you can show us how the 2 end come together on the back?

Is the flower carved out and overlay on another color? If so what is the overlay it looks shiny? These are awesome, if I even had the talent to make them I think most people I know would accuse me of being color blind.

That is worth of a frame on a wall. I would be afraid of it getting scratched. Great work

To get everything to fit like I wanted I cut the top leather first that way I could establish the curve. Then I basically cut a belt that was wide enough to accommodate the top leather. I did the sewing and then took the head knife and trimmed everything to the top leather so it matched perfectly. This also gave me a strong loop for the belt and put smooth leather on both sides of the sheath. Glad you like it.

Out of supplies all that is left is scraps. The red did not turn out the way I wanted because that leather came from the edge of a shoulder so it had dark spots. Kinda works with the handle of the knife. Also out of fasteners so I got creative.

Actually first one.

Just finished this project. The leather was overall good but required heavy cleaning and some repair. Both front ring leathers were trashed. The Cantle portion of the tree was cracked side to side. The shearling was replaced, skirts and fenders had to be re-stitched. New saddle strings. All metal replaced; spots, rings and conchos. We did our best to replace metal pieces with original style.

Not sure what else to say. WOW!!!!