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Hi all, I have two questions. First... someone asked me to make them a suede clutch bag. They are looking for a specific colour (light lime green). I can't find suede that is the right colour. I've attached some photos of the colour they've requested. I thought about suggesting we go with a raw veg tan leather and I try dying that lime but the only dye I can find the right colour is Tarrago. Is this a good choice... or even a good idea to try?? Second... If I go for suede the bag will be floppy and a clutch needs to be stiff. Does anyone know how to get around this? Thanks in advance for your help. Kymberly :-)

I've finally brought the new red Geom bag to life. For the handle, I ended up using Angelus red dye and finishing it with Natural Carnauba wax creme (Fiebing's). I was really happy with the finish. For some reason I can't seem to upload the other photos so if you're interested here's a link to more... https://kymberlysteel.wordpress.com/2015/03/09/geom-red/ …

Just finished making a new bag. It was difficult because the leather was very thick. Next time I will stick to thinner leather!! :-)) I've also added photos of some stages as I was working on the bag. I don't really have all the tools I need so I had to improvise!

"Mother's Day-out" by Imadlak (logo embroidery done by my lovely wife Janint) =============== Hello to everyone, It's a pleasure to finally have something to show you guys after repeatedly returning here for guidance for my first leather projects! I'm Gergo, 28, from Hungary. I guess insterest in leatherwork came to me as to most of us guys here: to create something we can be proud of, with such a noble material, and to please and perhaps impress the women in our lives (please tell me if I'm wrong ). The first bag that I made - to my Wife - a beautiful Patent-Croc embossed evening tote, which I will upload shortly after this one, was the result of about a year's worth of "not knowing where to start" and watching 2-3 minute Youtube videos of Designer brands' crafting processes (at least the process they advertise to the public) eagerly trying to catch the techniques and methods from there, along with this forum, where a lot of my unanswered questions found a resolution. Then came second, the bag that I've been promising for years to my Mom, in order to replace the one bag (below) she's since completely worn out: (as you can see, it's torn and faded in places... and it has lost most of its elegance and beauty...) Inspiration: my Mom's original bag (as seen above), Gucci Vintage Backpack, Gucci Backpack with Woven Strap Materials: Body: Soft Torino Lambskin - brown (chrome-tanned @ unitedleather.com) Base & Trims: Crazy Horse Cow Skin - brown (veg-tanned @ unitedleather.com) Lining: French-style striped canvas burgundy-beige Zippers: Antique-brass double RiRi zipper (ouside) and Brass RiRi zipper with silk-tape (inside) Hardware: all Antique-brass hardware made from solid brass (@ buckleguy.com) Features: H-35cm x W-28cm x L-17cm Outside Double-zip pocket Drawstring closure with snap Inside Zipper pocket Snaps on inside to attach division compartment for custom organizing Design-process: Firstly I downloaded some pics online from various sources of the bags that inspired mine, and used my measurement needs with the help of Google SketchUp to scale the bag down and take measurements I used those measurements to make the cut patterns for the bag and the various pieces it is made of (about 30pcs + fabric lining + hardware) Using a handy tool for Sketchup, I printed out to-scale patterns for the pieces that were too complex to draw with a pencil and ruler Some thoughts and lessons: If I had one regret while making the bag is to have started way too late (I gave myself 2 weeks for its finition) and did not have enough time to finish the inside separation compratment and to attach our logo. It was a real gamble that all the pieces fit nicely and the end result looks and holds great as I did not have the time to make a mock-up before the real thing. Realizing and discovering how to put everything together along the way did make it extremely exciting for me, as even with initial planning of assembly steps, at times I found that I had forgotten about something. This project taught me a lot about basic skiving, stitching and braiding techniques, and very importantly about knife sharpening, which was a game changer once I got the hang of it. Some mistakes during construction I was able to fix while others are there to stay. I find I should have made the bag a bit taller and stiffer to give it more body. The stitching was inconsistent on the thicker parts as my machine is not really adapted for that kind of work. Also the studs look awful - I guess they are meant for thicker projects, and cutting the stems shorter didn't help too much. But my biggest reward was the look on my Mom's face when I gave her the bag Thank you for viewing and please leave your comments and feedback below! Gergo

Hello there, I am the owner and designer/maker for my brand Ò Faoláin. I work out of Arkansas and show in NYC and LA. This is a really great forum and I'm very excited to be connected with so many other talented individuals. I began leatherwork when I was 12, making Venetian styled masquerade masks from scrap leather from repairing saddles at a local feed store where I grew up. That turned into leather bags and accessories etc. The hobby became my passion and is now my career. I love what I do and I'm looking forward to learning some tips and tricks from other artisans and to expand my knowledge on the subject as well as have good conversation about the craft with other artists. If you would like to see any of my work, the galleries on my website have some of my previous and recent works. www.OFaolainLeather.com facebook.com/ofaolainleather I have a few questions I will be asking shortly as soon as I figure out this site navigation and find the appropriate placement of questions. Thank you for your time and I look forward to being a part of this community.

My sister saw a bag by these folks and liked it, and, being richer in time than money, I made one similar for her for her birthday. The yellow one is the inspiration by VanHook and Co., and the Austin leather brown bag is mine. 9 oz leather, all hand stitched.

I'm about to spend a *lot* of money on a handbag with leather handles. The handle is made of good quality leather and comes nearly straight. It is supposed to mold to the wearers shoulder over time, but a lot of people have reported ripples on the underside of the handle. Is there anything I can do to my bag when I get it to avoid this problem?

Hi all, I am looking for someone who has the capabilities and capacity to make a custom handbag for me to give to my girlfriend. I already have the leather and hardware, but I do not have the ability or capability to make the bag. I do not already own the lining or zipper, but I am amiable to purchasing that in advance too. Ideally, the bag will look like this Valextra one though where it is brown, I would like the bag to be a deep cream and where it is white, it will be a midnight blue: As mentioned, I already have the leather, so I am looking for someone who has the technical ability to make the bag for me. Please message me your price and samples of your work. Thanks!

Hey guys, I've been on and off here quite a bit for the last two months or so trying to learn from seeing and reading. I've done some stamping with the two Tandy kits I bought, but I think I want to head in the purse,backpack,attache bag direction. I'm kind of on a tight budget so acquiring tools has been slow. Thankfully I have a good friend that bought me a rotary punch so I've managed to make the two projects you see. The little bag is the Dasher from Tandy. The other is a Kindle cover I made from the Tandy 8 1/2" by 11" tooling leather. The purse was a big step for me but I had to jump in with both feet. The leather was a veg-tan belly? that was on sale at Tandy for 20 bucks. I had no template or pattern to speak of, just what i saw in my mind. I measured and cut trying to maximize the leather for the biggest bag from this cut of leather, also for gussets and straps. I actually had to borrow money for the hardware. Anyway the bag is complete and as of later today it will be given to my wife for her birthday. I know I have a long way to go. I see what I want but have to get the tools and practice to get there. But hey, practice makes perfect. Let me know what you think.

Handmade Leather Purse LCP-201 ..Size: 9" x 12” x 4" ..Top Grade Leather ..One inside pocket ..Black suede lining ..Extra Inside Gusset/panel 4" ..Sumptuous Celtic, Floral, Ornamental, Medieval Designs