Hello from Belgium

[Digit]

Hi all, I've been lurking in these forums and occasionally replying for a few weeks now. Time for a proper introduction.

I'm from a town near Antwerp, Belgium. In my day job I'm a software programmer and to compensate for the cerebral work I like to use my hands. I've been attending evening classes since 2005: four years of woodworking, two years of welding, two years of photography, four years of metal turning and milling, a four-year electrician's course, and past September I've started a four-year course of leatherwork.

Some of the things I've made in school so far:

First exercise: tassel (learning how to cut and glue leather)

Next, a strap with small carabiner (gluing layers of leather and reinforcement, using the belt cutter, machine stitching, rivet press):

A small round coin pouch (learning to cut round shapes):

A small card holder (first use of the skiver):

A small folding pouch (with pigskin liner glued to the leather):

A pencil pouch (pigskin liner, skived edges, inside seams):

A glasses case (reinforcement and liner glued in a curved form):

And finally a small toiletry bag (inside seams, loose suede liner, zipper stitched in between outer leather and liner):

 

It's been a steep learning curve so far, but I'm enjoying it a lot.

All of these were school assignments; I've made some other stuff on my own as well, but that's for another post.

[AlZilla]

Welcome aboard!

Very nice stuff. I'm a little envious that you were able to take actual classes. I'm in quite a rural area so nothing like that available to me. You've really been able to learn foundational skills and build on each as you go. Many of us just jump in the deep end.

Leatherworking is a skill I wish I had picked up early on in life. 

Please keep sharing your work as you gain experience. It encourages others to improve.

[Gezzer]

4 hours ago, AlZilla said:

Welcome aboard!

Very nice stuff. I'm a little envious that you were able to take actual classes. I'm in quite a rural area so nothing like that available to me. You've really been able to learn foundational skills and build on each as you go. Many of us just jump in the deep end.

Leatherworking is a skill I wish I had picked up early on in life. 

Please keep sharing your work as you gain experience. It encourages others to improve.

  WELCOME !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!