Cattleman Report post Posted August 3 37 minutes ago, SUP said: I can imagine. All that hard work and the beautiful results. It is heirloom quality. I hope so... If its properly cared for it should out live the owner. Luckily they are people that know how to take care of leather items. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Aventurine Report post Posted August 3 Really good work. I think I'd modify that pattern to center the flower hearts a little better but you made it look good in spite of it!! Great definition. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JDFred Report post Posted August 3 Turned out really nice. The ride along was neat. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MarshalWill Report post Posted August 3 Outstanding! That is a fine example of a good idea carried out properly. Lookin' good! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Cattleman Report post Posted August 3 1 hour ago, MarshalWill said: Outstanding! That is a fine example of a good idea carried out properly. Lookin' good! Thank you. I cant take credit for the patterns though. With the exception of the modifications to the tooling pattern, the patterns were created by Don Gonzales Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MarshalWill Report post Posted August 3 48 minutes ago, Cattleman said: Thank you. I cant take credit for the patterns though. With the exception of the modifications to the tooling pattern, the patterns were created by Don Gonzales Well, then Kudos to you both. It takes good craftsmanship to get a good end product, though, so that gets credited to you. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Brokenolmarine Report post Posted September 12 (edited) Very nice... I had no idea what custom work brings. I've been making original tooled leather custom work for family as gifts for several years and they all take it for granted. Edited September 12 by Brokenolmarine Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Herbie Report post Posted September 12 Very nice work! Something I can aspire to! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Cattleman Report post Posted September 13 On 9/11/2024 at 8:01 PM, Brokenolmarine said: Very nice... I had no idea what custom work brings. I've been making original tooled leather custom work for family as gifts for several years and they all take it for granted. Thank You. I do items for family as gifts as well. My dad has a rifle sling I made him for christmas 2 years ago. It would have been in the $300 range as a custom order. My brother-in-law jas a pocket knife belt sheath I made last Christmas, it would have been around $100. This purse is by far the biggest ticket item I've made to date. But I've done several wallets of various types that range in price from $100 to $300, a few belts in the $200 range, and several knife sheaths from $75 to $150. Custom work can indeed bring a pretty penny. But more often than not, someone really likes something I've made and wants to place an order... Until I give them a quote, then they get all huffy and start talking about how they can get it on etsy or some other place for alot less. I tell them all the same thing, "You're not buying the leather, or even my time. You're buying the art and the quality." Sometimes they reconsider after I explain some things, other times I know its just a waste of my time to try so I send them on thier way with, "If you change your mind you know how to find me." Ive never had a customer complain about the final product, or the price once they have the item in thier hands. And many of my customers have become return clients that order something from me once or twice a year. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Cattleman Report post Posted September 13 On 9/11/2024 at 9:26 PM, Herbie said: Very nice work! Something I can aspire to! Thank you, but I'm still aspiring myself. Believe it or not ive only been doing leather work for about 4 years. Completely self taught, with many hours of watching true masters either in person or on YouTube. It all started with a simple belt I made my young son out of chap leather. I had posted some pictures on trucking forum, that I'm a member of, where someone noticed the very even hand stitching. They wanted a good heavy duty working mans belt, I offered to make it in exchange for some materials. From there its just gone up, slowly but steadily. Apply yourself and you can make anything you set your mind to. I love to see customers eyes light up when I can personally hand them thier finished order. And then when they give me feed back like, "I'll never buy another belt from a store again. Yours is just so much more comfortable." Or, "I will use this until I'm gone, then my son will have it... Probably until he's gone. You really do make a quality product." Thats what I strive for... A usable product that will will become something that is passed down. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MarshalWill Report post Posted September 13 10 hours ago, Cattleman said: Apply yourself and you can make anything you set your mind to. I love to see customers eyes light up when I can personally hand them thier finished order. And then when they give me feed back like, "I'll never buy another belt from a store again. Yours is just so much more comfortable." Or, "I will use this until I'm gone, then my son will have it... Probably until he's gone. You really do make a quality product." Thats what I strive for... A usable product that will will become something that is passed down. This is what quality leather is about. It's the real reward. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
