Handstitched Report post Posted October 7, 2022 I got first prize at our local show for this hand bag I made before August. The leather was given to me by a local, but it wasn't the best. Looks like the back/front & flap part came from a kit. Old, a bit hard , discoloured, and with some scratches , but too good to just cut up or waste. So I put my thinking cap on and this was the result. The tooling had to hide any scratches, which almost kinda worked. It was handstitched with custom made gussets . I made a rookie mistake along the way too, plus a few others , but it turned out quite well, and to my surprise, it got ' Most Out Standing Exhibit' ribbon OMG !!! And, I sold it on the same day as the show...woo hoo . My belt got second prize. Yey !!! HS Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
fredk Report post Posted October 7, 2022 Verily most very excellent ! Mucho congrats to you Craftsmanship will always win through Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
xnikolaos Report post Posted October 7, 2022 Stunning leather construction. Simple and beautiful. Bravo. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TomE Report post Posted October 7, 2022 Congratulations! Very nice work. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Handstitched Report post Posted October 7, 2022 Thank you muchly I think my basket weave has improved quite a bit. Still need to do a bit of work on the horses. Practice practice.... HS Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
chuck123wapati Report post Posted October 7, 2022 holy cow man that is awesome!!! i like them both you did a great job on that tooling. That belt design is cool. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DwightT Report post Posted October 7, 2022 Congratulations. They look awesome. /dwight Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kgg Report post Posted October 7, 2022 Damn nice, congratulations. kgg Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Chux Report post Posted October 7, 2022 Perhaps I'm just dumb, but I didn't even know that there was options for entering shows where they gave out first prizes!! I always thought shows were for selling so color me "informed"!! Your tooling looks better than anything I've managed to do, so double or should I say triple congratulations on your belt and purse!! Nice job!! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
battlemunky Report post Posted October 7, 2022 Congrats! It's always good to get some reward for something as bold as subjecting your work to judgement. I'm too self conscious to even enter something like that. I'm fine selling stuff but exposing yourself to scrutiny is tough for me. Congrats again! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
tsunkasapa Report post Posted October 7, 2022 Excellent work! Years ago I put one of my belts in our county fair, and I beat out one of our local saddle makers for 'Judges Choice' and 1st place, so I know how you feel. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sheilajeanne Report post Posted October 7, 2022 CONGRATULATIONS!! Great work! Lovely! (And I think I see the 'rookie mistake' - the latch isn't 100% line up with the horseshoe, but no one's going to notice when the latch is closed!) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PastorBob Report post Posted October 7, 2022 Nicely done. I love how you stretched out the basket weaves. That looks awesome. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Gezzer Report post Posted October 7, 2022 VERY VERY NICE !!!!! ? is that a seeder used for the border on the basket weave ? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AndrewWR Report post Posted October 7, 2022 Y'know, looking at that open bag shot, the age of the leather is working for you. It looks much more genuinely vintage than new leather with an 'antique' finish and everyone knows leather gets better with age: It has that in common with wine, women and songs. Those perfectly straight stitching lines are eye catchers too. Nothing speaks of quality like good stitching. Congratulations on the recognition and commercial success ('cos money beats ribbons.) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bladegrinder Report post Posted October 8, 2022 Great work Handstitched, congrats! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bert03241 Report post Posted October 8, 2022 Well I can't add anything that wasn't said already so well done Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Klara Report post Posted October 8, 2022 Great work! And those Quarter Horses look fine to me! (If that's what they are supposed to be ) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Handstitched Report post Posted October 8, 2022 22 hours ago, Sheilajeanne said: And I think I see the 'rookie mistake' - the latch isn't 100% line up with the horseshoe, but no one's going to notice when the latch is closed!) Well done, you get the free beer ( or a fruit juice if you don't drink) . Apart from that, the latch is in the way of the image . About half an inch or so lower , it would have cleared it. I underestimated the size of the clasp. But I am very happy with result .BW is always a challenge . On 10/7/2022 at 8:54 PM, chuck123wapati said: That belt design is cool. I love to doodle on leather , see what tool does what, have a play. If I like it, it goes on a project. It also makes the design ' unique' . 21 hours ago, Gezzer said: is that a seeder used for the border on the basket weave Yes. I used a cammo on the outline of the bw , and a seeder to finish off 16 hours ago, AndrewWR said: Those perfectly straight stitching lines are eye catchers too. Nothing speaks of quality like good stitching. Thank you. I had no template for the gussets, so I made my own.....with some guess work . Thank you all for your comments & feed back . HS Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Gezzer Report post Posted October 8, 2022 @Handstitched Thank you and that is "genius " !! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BlackDragon Report post Posted October 8, 2022 Wow. Thats great work! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
