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I am in central North Carolina and would like to hire someone for a belt and matching hip quiver project. I have attached a few pictures of the general style of quiver I am looking for. I can have someone draw a specific design and provide that to you for production or I can collaborate with you. Whatever works with your skillset. The base color will likely be black and a secondary color, red. I'd like the back of the belt to read, In God We Trust. And you can probably tell from the attched pictures that the style is more modern vs. western or traditional. I can pay through PayPal or via check and would like to start right away. I look forward to hearing from you.

I finished this full-length armguard last week; just in time for Missouri's archery season. I will use it when I wear my ghillie suit. Now if it will just cool off enough to put them both on! The body of the armguard is made from Honduran caiman and backed with vegetable-tanned cowhide. The trim is lambskin and I carved the lace hooks from deer antler. The whole thing was sewn up by hand using artificial sinew. Darren

First real project. Lots of amateur mistakes, and very simple build. I'd do it again, but more skillfully; clean up all the rough spots and add more stitching, but it was a good learning process. I kinda "MacGyvered" it, (harvested the hardware from horse halters, used an old bracelet for the decoration, didn't really research the strap system, and such) so its a bit scrappy, but I think I'm still proud of it for my first project that isn't a little bracelet or just designs on paper. I just wish I had carving tools and dye. Any tips on when I make more? I have 2 more in the works. One is still on paper, and the other I have the pattern cut out, but I haven't started sewing or anything like that.

Just finished my latest, and possibly last(for a while) leather project. Sorry for the long post, this is as much for my future reference as it is to let you all know what I did. Archery armguard pattern designed by me to offer more protection while still allowing full articulation of wrist and elbow. Pattern is an adaptation of the Ardre III runestone from Gotland. No pics of the inside, but it's lined with deer skin with snaps to allow for a removeable wool liner/sweat rag. This is only my 4th carving and 2nd dying project, so feel free to offer any critisism. I don't offend easily, so be harsh. My process: > Case > Carve > Cut out pattern > Oil > Glue/stitch liner > Dye > Spray deft lacquer > Wool applied lacquer > Antique (fiebings black paste. Applied with wool, buffed with flat paper towel. Wool buffing pulled out all the antique... It works for other people I guess but not for me.) > 2 spray coats of lacquer (I was afraid of lifting the antique, due to the problems from the first coats) > Wool applied lacquer > Punch eyelet holes > Add a coat of montana pitch blend and buff with wool (actually my own formula, but same 3 ingredients) > Attach eyelets Things I didn't like or would do different: > I need to find black shock cord and a nicer bead... > Make sure dye on figure goes "over the edge" as the antique doesn't always cover the "sides" of the carving. > Next time I will try 2 spray coats, as the wool applied coat lifted some of the red and made the eyes more orange than yellow > First wool applied lacquer step unnevenly darkened the deer liner. I think I would only spray the liner next time. > Lacquer crackled/spiderwebbed when armguard was wrapped around my arm for the first time. > Next time I might try 50/50 resolene/water instead of the lacquer, due to the crackling problem. > 3/16" eyelets are inefficient for attaching lacing hooks. They are barely attached, and I had to replace two of them already. Sorry, for the poor cell phone pics, still waiting for my camera to ship...

Here are two quivers, one simple with just fringes and a tatanka - no need to translate this word if you saw Dances with Wolves, and one fully decorated with fur, horse hair, feathers and lizard skin, and an archery arm protector covering entirely the forearm for maximum protection. To draw the pattern for the arm protector was everything but easy, therefore I'll post it later on if it appears that some of you are interested once I am sure I have not lost it (searches to be done in my archives.) Photos are a bit better on my website since I was less limited concerning their size. I made a few others, but most found new owners (sold or offered) before I took any photo.