Double U Leather

Thanks so much for the kind words. I sometimes doubt myself and my skills, but ya'll make me think I'm about to get the hang of it. Thanks again. Be blessed.

Thanks for the compliments all. Nighthawk....keeping the border straight isn't really too hard. My stitch line is 1/8" from the edge, and the next line is 1/4" from the edge. Mark those lines, and then with this stamp, I just put the "barbs" even with the 1/4" line all the way around.

Here's the latest off the bench at Double U Leather. I tried some new flowers on this one. Was getting bored with the same ol' ones. I think it turned out pretty sharp. Have a look, and let me know what ya'll think. Any recommendations on how to do it better are always gladly accepted. Thanks for looking. Be blessed.

Here's the latest order completed. It's something a bit different from what I've been doing, but it's what the customer wanted. It turned out nice for what it is, and the customer loved it. I gotta say, it's a whole lot simpler and quicker than Sheridan style belts! On the downside, I don't get to charge as much. On the upside, when it's all said and done, I made more profit on this one. Anyway, have a look. Be blessed ya'll.

Jed, For your first shot at Sheridan style, I'd say you cut a pretty wide swathe. The flow looks good, leaves are long and flowing, everything looks pretty good. I'm not expert by any means, but you are off to a whale of a start. My first Sheridan style stuff looked more like weeds in a windstorm than nice beautiful flowers. With that being said, there's 2 things in the pics that caught my eye. In the first pic, in the corners, there are some "double leaves". One leaf goes out of the border, which is fine, but then it never comes back in. What I'm saying is that the one that goes out, has to wrap around the circle just like the rest. I think if you look at the partial leaves, you'll see what I'm getting at. The other thing I noticed was in the final pic. It looks to me like your antiquing isn't even. Some areas are very light, while in the middle, it's real dark. The finishing process, like the rest, takes practice. I would also suggest trying to add some decorative cuts on the flower petals, and the leaves. Other than those minor adjustments, you are off to a flying start. Good work!

Sorry for the delay in responding to the questions....been a tad under the weather. Craftsman...I sewed the edges on my Singer 211 Yeha- The blue is a piece of metallic blue chap leather left from a pair of chaps I made. Every place it shows through is cut out with a scalpel. Thanks for looking.

Here's another floral filagree belt from Double U Leather. I actually goofed up and posted it in the Sheridan/Floral Carving section also. Anyway, the customer who ordered it, saw it after I posted the first one on facebook, and ordered one like it the next day. Let me know what you think. Thanks for looking. Be blessed. P.S. My 18 year old son paid me the biggest compliment yet. He said, "Dad, you need to change your screen name....you ain't a rookie no more!" I just might have to take him up on that.

Hey gang....here's the latest from Double U Leather. The customer who ordered this, saw the other filagree belt I posted here and on Facebook, and ordered one. The only difference is his initials on the tip, and a whale of lot bigger than the one that's in inventory!! Anyway, take a look at it and let me know what you think. Thanks for looking, and be Blessed. P.S. My 18 year old son just paid me the biggest compliment ever. He said, "Dad, you need to change your screen name....you ain't no rookie no more!" Maybe I'll take him up on that. Oops....this was supposed to go in the Show Off section. Oh well.

Here's a couple spur straps I just finished up. They're going into a tack booth a friend of mine runs. These, along with the last couple sheridan style belts are in the booth presently. My friends are taking their booth to a big team roping this weekend in Denver, so hopefully they'll sell some of my stuff and some of their's too! Anyway, take a look and let me know what ya'll think.

Thanks for the compliments ladies. Myriam...you're absolutely right about the stitching at the T. My foot slipped on the gas pedal and kinda run away with me for a bit. I was so thankful I didn't go clear off the road!! I'd have probably either cried or started throwing things. And...as small as my shop is, throwing things could have gotten REAL dangerous. WWH...I had someone see the filagree belt, and ordered on just like it. The only difference is initials on the tip. So, I've got it in the works, half a dozen spur straps on order, and a couple holsters. Too bad it's so stinkin' cold. My little electric heater and my propane heater can just barely keep up with it in the shop. I'll guarantee, the first thing in the morning in the shop is not real pleasant!!

Here's the latest off the bench at Double U Leather. I made it for a calf roping friend of mine to give to his wife for Valentine's day. I hope she likes it. Let me know what ya'll think. Any critiques are welcome. I wanna get better. Thanks for looking. Be blessed.

Thanks gang for all the kind words. The pattern is one I designed myself. I still want to tweek it just a bit. I found some places that I'd like to change a leaf here and there. As for the metallic blue filagree, it sure does make it pop. I've got some metallic green that I'm going to put under the next one. I've also got some red and gold I'm gonna try too. It seems like the younger "bullrider" types really go for that kind of flash. Anyway, I appreciate ya'lls input.

Here's the latest. I've had a guy contact me who has a tack trailer that goes to alot of rodeos, team ropins, etc. about having some of my stuff in his trailer. I made this to be a part of that inventory. Let me know what ya'll think of it. I think it turned out pretty sweet. Certainly did learn some things in the process. Thanks for looking.

I with Randy. I've been using the cardboard from feed pallets for years. They're big enough you can use 'em for chap patterns, and the cardboard is stiff enough that the edges stay good for a long time. And, I use them for stiffeners in smaller projects like photo albums and such. Can't beat 'em in my estimation.

Clay, If you need me to, I would also be willing to do the lifters. I don't know how many people we're getting signed up, but lifters and thumb prints seem to go together. Let me know.

I'll do the thumb print/pear shading parts.

Clay, I don't know if this is an objection, or just a thought.....I think that whoever swivel cuts the pattern should probably do the beveling as well. The reason is, I've found if the cuts aren't beveled fairly soon, they tend to close up making it harder to get a good deep bevel. I'm not saying your order of tooling is wrong, but when factoring in sending this piece to one person for one thing, and then on to another person for the next step, etc., we could sure be faced with cuts closing up. Just a thought.

Welcome aboard!! I'm in Colorado also. Be sure to post pics of your work.

Thanks for the compliments gang. The coloring was a very interesting thing. That belt is one that had been cut for quite some time (like several months). It apparently was WAY dry. I put one very light coat of olive oil on it, and bam...it got dark quick. I really kinda wanted it to be lighter, but at that point I was too far in to get out. I lightly antiqued it and called it good. I was happy the way it turned out though.

Thanks Terry. I'm using nylon 69 thread.

Here's something I just finished up....for myself actually!!! I'd say this is the first Sheridan style belt I've made. I made a couple others a year or so ago, but I didn't have a clue how to actually do them. CLH here on LW showed me the proper way to do it, so I'm gonna say this is the first official Sheridan style belt I've done. Let me know what you think. Any input as to how to improve is always greatly appreciated. Thanks.

I'll play. I think it sounds like fun. Count me in.

Happy New Year gang!! Hope all of you are richly blessed in '11. Here's a couple new things I just finished. I'm not sure if I already posted the spur straps or not. The clutch I know I haven't posted. Anyway, let me know what you think. The clutch was challenging to say the least, but for the first one, it didn't turn out too bad.

You can't go wrong with any books written by Al Stohlman, and he's got books for just about any type leather work you can imagine.

There's a book called Sheridan Style Carving by Bob Likewise that is a must have for Sheridan Style carving. I'm by no means a master at it, but when I first started, this book helped immensely. I would also suggest finding someone who is accomplished at it, and willing to show you some things about Sheridan style, and ask a zillion questions. It's a bit difficult at first to figure out, but once you get the hang of it, it just seems to flow. I'd also suggest finding someone whose work you like, and study it meticulously. LW's very own "Hidepounder" is an inspiration to alot of folks, myself included. One other thing I'd offer....get a subscription to the Leather Crafters and Saddlers Journal. Lots of really good instruction in there too. Good luck, and be Blessed.