Double U Leather

Thanks for the compliments. Louro....The diamond pattern is simply wing divider lines cut with a swivel knife, and then the intersections I used a seeder I think. Either a seeder or some other type of circular stamp. Pretty easy to do that "cross hatch" as I call it.

Here's something else I finished up not too long ago. Unfortunately, the horse turned out looking like a Welsh circus pony, but the guy who owns this establishment is an old rodeo friend of mine and he was thrilled. Safe to say, I'm a bit better at floral type stuff than figure type stuff...LOL.

Figured while I was at it, I post pics of these also. I had five of them all together for a youth rodeo association. They turned out alright. The kids that won 'em sure liked 'em.

Haven't posted anything for a while. Not that stuff hasn't been moving out of the shop, but with announcing rodeos all over the US, I haven't really taken the time to post much. Anyway, here's a wallet for a customer that had been on order since April!! It turned out pretty nice. I hadn't done that braided edge thing for probably 30 years. I remember using the Tandy kits back then, but I thought I cut everything myself. Guess what...my holes didn't line up any better than the old kits. I remember why I hated doing these edges when I was in 4-H. Anyway, let me know what you think.

Casey, I think a chap makng category would be a good idea, however I think it would have to be specified what type of chaps. Kinda like the carving contest this year, all makers were making the same sort of item. As you know, there's a world of difference between working cowboy chaps, rodeo chaps, show chaps, biker chaps, etc. If it were just a chap contest, you could have a zillion different types of entries which would be very difficult to judge. Just my thoughts.

This was my entry in the Art of the Cowboy Makers show. I"m sure it didn't win much. I was kinda rushing to get it done before I headed the state HS Finals rodeo. The rodeo didn't turn out very well either. I felt horrible for my son. He worked so hard all year long to wind up short. Oh well....such is life. The stitching on this had couple ducks, the photos are "craptacular", the San Marcos border had some glitches, and the construction was a completely new way of doing things for me. Aside from that, it was okay....LOL. Be blessed ya'll

Ok.....I've now seen John's entry in the Art of the Cowboy Maker's show, and then Bob shows his entry. In the rodeo business, if a guy has one drawn he can't win on he's got 3 options. A). Just turn out. (responsible for entry fees and a turn out fine). Visible Injury (Judge looks at injury, fills out a report. Not responsible for turn out fines, but have to pay entry fees). C) Doctor's Release (Need a signed form from a doctor. Not allowed to enter for 2 weeks). There may an accident occuring in the shop today!! Dadgum, ya'll are scaring "the rookie". And, so far, I've only seen John and Bob"s work. I may seriously be entered a little deep. Anyway, kudos gentlemen on fabulous pieces of work. I guess they do pay 3 holes. Maybe I'll slip in for a bottom hole.

Holy Cats!!! That a fine wood. Like Joel said, if it fits a horse, and if it fits the hand ridin' it, there ain't a thing wrong with it. I'm thinkin' it should fetch a pretty nice pocket full of change, and ultimately, that's what we're in this business for anyway. You did good. Just for curiosity sake, how long did it take to make?

Thanks for the comments gang. I really appreciate it. I'll consider the name change AFTER the Art of the Cowboy Makers show!! I understand there's some big dawgs entered. Shoot, I hope to have the project even done in time. This trying to be on the road as a rodeo announcer, and fill customer orders in the shop (not to mention trying to turn out something nice for a show) is about to make my head explode!!! It's all good though. I only wish I was able to attend the show. I'd love to actually see the work of other people instead of just look at pics. But of course, I've got a rodeo to go to. I guess I'd really rather be at this particular rodeo though. High School State Finals, my son who just graduated is entered, and he's got a good shot to qualify for the National High School Finals Rodeo. It's gonna be tough to try to be an announcer and Dad at the same time I think. Anyway, thanks again for the comments. Stay blessed.

Here's another order out the door. The guy that ordered this one, also ordered another on I posted on here for his wife for Mother's Day. This one is for an ol' feller that still ropes calves, and it's for Father's Day. Anyway, take a look and let me know what ya'll think. As always, I'm open to suggestions on how to improve. Thanks. Be blessed.

Thanks for the compliments. Terry, I appreciate the fact that you think I should change my name, but I'm still a ways from being a master. Maybe I could call myself "Dead Cow Molester".....LOL. Bob, we're neighbors. I'm in Greeley. Maybe sometime we can get together and pick each others brains. Anyway, thanks for the compliments.

Thanks Bob. It almost is actually cut out and laid on something blue. All of the background is cut out with a scalpel and then blue metallic leather is laid under it. I really need a better camera. It sure enough had some "pop" to it. As for inside pics, I pulled a bonehead and didn't take any of the insides. The customer said he was coming to pick it up, and I had barely got the edges buffed and shined. He kinda caught me off guard, and I was hustling to get pics taken and back out to the shop before he got here. Oh well....such is life.

Here's the newest item from the shop. As always, I learned some things I will do differently on the next one. I really like the way it turned out though, and the customer was thrilled with it. Take a look and let me know what you think. I'm always open to suggestions on how to get better also. Be blessed.

Don't worry in the least about freezing it. I do it all the time if I'm going to be away from a project for a couple days. In fact, I'm fixin' to put a notebook in the freezer this weekend while I go with my son to a high school rodeo. Just be sure to let it get back to room temperature, moisten it, and go to it.

Thanks for the compliments. I certainly appreciate "atta boys" from people as accomplished in leather as John Ivy a.k.a leathercrafter. I've had the opportunity to see first hand some of John's work, and it is top shelf. Don't get me wrong, I appreciate compliments from anyone on my work. RHide....there's loads of folks on LW that have, and continue, to inspire me to push myself further. I've been very blessed with some good mentors and people to look up to. Keep on pounding. Stay blessed gang. P.S. Although this customer is someone I've never met, we almost feel like friends through e-mailling pics of the progress of this project to him!

WOW......that looks really nice. Very impressive. I've never done any portrait type carving, although I have an order for one coming up. I hope mine turns out half as nice as this one. Good work.

Here's a first. Considering I really had no idea what I was doing, I think it turned out pretty sweet. Tip o' the hat to Lobo for helping on this and for pointing me in the right direction. Cool thing about this holster is the fact that it's going to a 25 yr. veteran of the Marines who will be home in about a month. Hope ya'll like it, and that he does too.

An added note on this order...I delivered it yesterday at a junior rodeo where the guy who ordered it supplied the calves. He was ecstatic (sp). And, there were several people milling around when I gave it to him. Could very well turn into more rope can orders.

I thought I posted this, but I don't see it. Anyway, let me know what ya'll think. Be blessed.

Actually, it's not my mom. It's for the wife of a guy my son and I rope with. LOL. My mom is 80 yrs. old. She don't rope much anymore.

Here's the latest project from Double U Leather. As usual, the pic isn't worth a flip, but the product turned out really nice. Let me know what ya'll think. Be blessed.

Here's the latest. This is the second belt I made for this customer. The first one was a traditional floral, this time around he said he wanted a black dress belt. I wasn't real sure about it, but it turned out pretty nice. It really looks nice with the silver dots that match the buckle set. Anyway, let me know what you think. Be blessed.

Thanks all for the kind words. My son got a lot of compliments on the belt this past weekend at the high school rodeo we went to. In answer to some of the questions ya'll have asked, the machine I use is a Singer 211G145. As for the background, it's a metallic purple. All of the background area is cut out, then the purple is laid in behind the belt, followed by some 2-3 oz. liner leather. Thanks again for the comments.

Here's another floral belt. The pics aren't worth a diddly, but the belt looks good. I made it for my son for graduation. I also carved a Bible scripture on the inside. He's pretty stoked about it. Anyway, have a look and let me know what you think. Be blessed.

I make lots of belts. Shoot me a PM and I'll send you some pics.