gicts

Where did you get the conchos?

I've picked up a few brass name plates as seen in the tack scene. Ya know, lots of belts with the customers' names, horse harnesses with their names, etc etc. For the belts, do you add a slight curve to the brass plate? This way it won't stick out and rip off. If you all do that, what do you use? Any problems with snapping? Thanks!

Great work! Your domain in your sig expired. Do you have a new site?

Looks great!. What did you line it with? What was your source for the LDPE? You've inspired me to make something similar. I was thinking a 5oz exterior with the LDPE sandwiched with a thick fabric on the interior. Thoughts?

Can anybody recommend a quality 1.5" belt punch? My Tandy purchase didn't last too long.

Looking for molds for all sorts of revolvers, Ruger LC9 and more. Please let me know what you have!

Jump in! In hind site I should have lined it. If/When I do another I will certainly do that and probably roll the edges. No problem! Thanks for the advice, I think it turned out ok. Here it finally is. I stitched the edges and added an 'emblem'. It weighted the flap nicely but the edges still curl a bit, Oh well, a great lesson and a decent Valentine's gift! I didn't even have to buy roses!!!

Andy, thank you very much. I think that's what I will do. It will give it a finished look as well as extra weight! Thanks! Thanks! I thought about lining it but couldn't come up with something to line it with. Lining it with leather would have ended up having me use an entire side! I used Fiebling's Light Brown dye and Springfield's mid grade 4/5oz tooling side. I'm not sure what you mean by no pics of the flap closed. The first one is of that. Looks a lot like the back! Thanks Natalie! I'm afraid the pictures are deceiving and it isn't as nice as it looks! Good idea on creasing the edges. I'll either do that or stitch it. Gah! I still have to burnish them too!

Love your dedication. I'm a screw guy too. Much easier to replace the keeper or buckle...and when worn no one knows the difference!

So here is my first messenger bag...or any bag for that matter. Where do I go from here? The front flap is very plain and flimsy...yet stiff at the same time (4/5oz veg tan). It reminds me of a sheet of poster board. What do you recommend I do to polish this up and make it a decent, presentable bag? I'm happy with the strap, but the front seems like a blank canvas to me. The color is more uniform in real life, and I have yet to put a finish on it.

I think the others hit on it but if you have a thick enough belt and spread the slots far enough away, it just won't bend.With that said, it looks like in the diagram you have adjusted for this by enlarging the belt slots. I can't see how a larger, diagonal hole would be better than a smaller, perpendicular slot. If you wanted something for retention, try playing with concave shapes.

How would the belt slots work? With a thick gun belt I can imagine a few problems

I really like the way they both turned out! I will have to keep your pig in mind when I want to make a figure!

Any pics of the finished product?

Give that a try, or mix a little laundry detergent in with the water. Instead of holding it under the tap, use a bowl of water with a few drops of liquid detergent.

Pesky limestone water! Good for bourbon, not so much for leather. Try using different water and you don't have that problem

Great work and thanks for sharing! I'm planning on making a messenger bag next month for my gf's birthday. It'll be the first one that I make. I really like your style and would like for it to look similar!

Stunning colors and great details!

Very inspirational! I really like your hardware...mind sharing your source? Are you still stitching by hand?

It's a great way to advertise to the people who already 'like' you. You can post pics and sales to remind them of your shop/sales/services. The hard part is to get them to like you.

Stunning work! i really like how the bags connect to each other. Your latches are also very nice! I am curious, are your bags lined? It's a shame that you aren't selling what you thought you would. I was reading another thread and found these words to ring true: "I fixed a lot of Coach and Vitton and other designer handbags when we had the shop, and I don't see the quality of the workmanship improving. Cheap hardware, cheap leather or fake leather trim and panels, flimsy snaps and straps- junk. High priced junk. And the ladies wanted them repaired. They carry them for the prestige of the logo and because they match their outfit, not because the bag is practical. Keep me posted with what you come up with, Ed. ~J " It seems like you place some emphasis on Apple with your iPad and iPhone cases, and on one of your videos you pan out to show a Mac computer. For some reason that makes me wonder who you are marketing to. Here is my ridiculously naive and simplistic view. Keep in mind that I really do like your work and believe your prices are fair. Middle age women:"I can buy a Coach Bag for that price...and people will instantly know the value. At the very least I know I can get $xxx on eBay for the Coach bag when we max out the credit cards." Camera Men:"I don't want my camera to be housed in leather when I can have a padded bag or case with pockets. Plus thieves may not know what is inside. Oh, look! This brand has a warranty against damages...." The youth: "LOL, OMG" So that leaves us with people who are not brand eccentric, higher society, and care about paying extra for 'Made In The USA'. Think I couldn't be any more narrow minded or naive? I'm taking it further! Let's take a look at your stereotypical audience- Affluent, older businessmen or retirees. This stereotype stereotypically is not caught up in, or impressed by, the latest Apple trends. If you do find this tiny niche demographic, they'll likely be put off by your website. My guess is your website pics do not do your work justice. People are attracted to your work more in person, right? In conclusion, you need to expand your audience. You could take two routes. The first is to get your brand recognized by the 'in' crowd. For example, getting spoken about by celebrities, getting viewed in a movie etc etc. Ipads travel. Perhaps you can gift a few cases to producers? The second option....I forgot. This was my thunder too. Perhaps it will come back to me later today. Anyway, I hope you take this 'advice' lightly and am not too sore- I do mean well! I'm just a guy who can't sell nice (if I do say so myself) gun holsters for $40.

Looks great! Truthfully though I was hoping to see a holster for a Steyr mp40

That'd be a great wall hanger!