RuehlLeatherWorks

If you scroll down on the "Dog Purse" image, the second shot of the purse shows the opening with the flap raised.

I haven't posted in a while so I figured I'd let you guys see what I've been making.

The classical composer Wagner had a hand in the horned helmet mythology as well. Now the Celts....THEY had horned helms to some degree!

So I'm making a leather Santa hat and I want to trim it with some white rabbit fur that I have and I was hoping that someone would have some tips on the best way to accomplish this?

So the stuff is just short of impossible to locate any more and I was hoping I could come up with a formula to simulate it's effects, if nothing else. I used it mostly to accent my tooling, so does anyone have suggestions for ways to simulate the effects of antiquing stain?

Absolutely! The patterns can be found online for free! http://www.personal.utulsa.edu/~marc-carlson/shoe/SHOEHOM3.HTM My particular shoes are listed in the Dark ages section under the Anglo-Scandinavian style type 4. On suggestion I do have is instead of making an "O" shaped hole for the toggle loop, simply cut a "T" shape into a flat piece of leather. The loops on mine are stretching and have worked themselves loose.

The Navy Girdle Purse IS for sale through ETSY: http://www.etsy.com/shop/RuehlLeatherWorks?ga_search_query=ruehlleatherworks&ga_search_type=seller_usernames . The Maroon Girdle Purse is for sale, but I haven't posted it yet. I'm asking $25 + Shipping for it.

I use a mixture of beeswax and neatsfoot oil. I keep it at about a 50/50 mix so that it's a fine paste, then I just rub it into the surface of the leather. If you want deeper penetration, just heat it up a bit. (Warning, it does smell quite bad and the beeswax can burn from being heated too quickly)

Great job! It certainly turned out better than MY first attempt!!!

The only pre-contact armor that I've known to be verified for that region is a type of armor made from shaped bark slats. These were used by some members of the Iroquois confederacy. If I remember correctly, it's mentioned in accounts of their attacks on the Erie tribe during the onset of the Beaver Wars (Prelude to French and Indian War). After the introduction of firearms, stealth and mobility became the primary means of defense.

I made a batch of Vinegroon and I have to say that it's an ESSENTIAL project for any leathercrafter. It's such an easy mixture to make (Since it works best when you throw the nails in the vinegar and forget about it) and the color it creates is a deep, rich black. It is by far THE best black dye I've used so far.

I get whole tooling sides when I purchase my leather, but I seem to have this problem regardless of the location or make of the leather.

I've been using the Fiebings Black Alcohol based dye but I'm not happy with the results. Despite multiple applications, it seems that most of the time the dye simply rubs off the surface. This would be great if that was the effect I was seeking, but when I'm trying to make a solid black piece, worn areas are not beneficial to a uniform looking product. Does anyone have alternative method or products they use that achieve better success?

I saw in the last photo exactly what you mean about 'artifacts'. I'm pretty sure that it's in the leather itself. If you plan on doing more applications to the leather, I would certainly dampen the leather first and then apply what ever method you choose. Remember, though, that the darker shades will bring the artifacts into starker contrast with the rest of the leather. Personally I would use an antiquing glaze on that piece!

These pouches are based on designs found in the book Purses in Pieces.

From the ones I've seen, most people attach the rerebrace to the spalder/pauldrons and then the pauldrons attach to the gambeson as mentioned above. It's a good anchor point and provides good mobility. Then the gorget covers the attachment points and collarbone.

I can just see him walking around with these, a cowboy hat, and a gun belt toting twin laser pistols!

Niiiiiiiiice.Time for some matching Spalders!

Pretty sweet. It reminds me of Wild Wild West meets Steam Punk...

I retouched my first pouch and did a second one. I like the natural color of the second one. I'd like to do some tooling on the maroon one, but I've already posted it for sale.

It is made from two pieces, but no, I'm not adding in pouchlets yet. My next pattern is going to be a double-pouch design with a cloth lined flap-pouch. I'm progressing through the styles from the most basic (The one I've posted here) to the more complex ones such as the ones with buckles, pouchlets, and wax tablet holders.

This was my first attempt at a historic girdle pouch. Let me know what you think! 4 oz, oil dyed leather.

Very Nice! Very Nice!