Ladies Vanity Case

[SteveBrambley]

Hi,

I'm not sure about this one! The design was intended to be for a simple cartridge magazine, however, nobody thought much of it, so I have reworked the design into a ladies 'Vanity Case' as this may prove more popular.

It's made from 3.5-4mm (about 10oz) veg tanned, cow hide (saddle shoulder). All the fittings, including the lock and hinges, are solid brass, for 'logistical' reasons the carrying handle, on top, had to be sewn on by hand. The lining is pig sued, which I also used to make up the removable, internal compartment. The small pouches, in the lid, are a 2mm (5oz) mineral tanned, cow hide.

For some reason the bright sun makes the veg tan look a lot lighter brown than it actually is! It's really quite a dark colour, closer to the colour of the pouches.

Steve

[ArtS]

Beautiful job! I can't wait to hear how it sells. It looks VERY difficult to make. Is it?

Art

[SteveBrambley]

Beautiful job! I can't wait to hear how it sells. It looks VERY difficult to make. Is it?

Art

Hi Art,

Thank you very much! Neither can I! Well.... some parts more than others. The hardest part is probably fitting the liners, as they have to be slightly smaller than the outer shell to fit properly. Also, I made up a pair of wooden blocks, the exact shape of the inside of both inner liner and outer shell, in order too hold them into the right position for assembley. It can be done without, but it makes it a whole lot easier!

Steve

[UKRay]

Steve,

Even if I hadn't been told you made that case, I think I might still have recognised its origins!

It is an interesting design and I can see why you might be questioning it. Overall, the case is beautifuly made but I wonder if it is a tad too solidly built for purpose? Does a lady's case need to withstand an attack from a charging rhino? - pehaps not :-)

The insert looks very heavy to my eyes - not in weight but 'substance'. I think this is due in part to the contrasting binding. IMHO it might look better bound in the same colour/material as the lining. Likewise the pouches - I accept they probably couldn't be made in pig suede, but maybe something less contrasting...

Externally, as with all your stuff, it looks solid, robust and bomb-proof. All great attributes but would that limit your market? Does it need to be a tad more 'girlie' to appeal to a wider customer base?

To be honest, your fieldsports equipment is some of the finest I have ever seen but I wonder how many women would want to carry that look over into everyday life. T'would be interesting to hear from one or two of the ladies - and even more interesting to see how it sells.

Just my two penn'orth of thoughts and worth precisely what you paid for 'em!

[FredF]

Steve,

Beautiful case. You said that the only part that was hand stitched was the handle. Is the top edge a box stitch, and did you do that by machine?

Fred

Hi,

I'm not sure about this one! The design was intended to be for a simple cartridge magazine, however, nobody thought much of it, so I have reworked the design into a ladies 'Vanity Case' as this may prove more popular.

It's made from 3.5-4mm (about 10oz) veg tanned, cow hide (saddle shoulder). All the fittings, including the lock and hinges, are solid brass, for 'logistical' reasons the carrying handle, on top, had to be sewn on by hand. The lining is pig sued, which I also used to make up the removable, internal compartment. The small pouches, in the lid, are a 2mm (5oz) mineral tanned, cow hide.

For some reason the bright sun makes the veg tan look a lot lighter brown than it actually is! It's really quite a dark colour, closer to the colour of the pouches.

Steve

[badger]

Steve,

Beautiful case!

It looks beautifully made. Knowing your materials and machines and your personal standards, I wouldn't expect anything else!

I do wonder if Ray has a point with the rugged nature of the case, it certainly looks built to last. When I saw it, my first impression was 'Camera case!'

I think this kind of thing would be ideal for the travelling photographer. If you are going to consider making camera bags, let me know and I'll gladly buy one and road test it for you.

It would be great to have a modular divider system in the interior so you could revamp the space according to what you're carrying that day.

It's certainly something I would like for my cameras..........

Cheers,

Karl

[UKRay]

When I saw it, my first impression was 'Camera case!'

I think this kind of thing would be ideal for the travelling photographer.

I think Karl has a very good point here, Steve.

I spent far too many years carting a pair of heavy cameras and their lenses around the world in a specialist camera bag made by Billingham http://www.billingham.co.uk/pages/index.php but I believe one of your bags would have been a lot more rugged and hardwearing.

IMHO, your style of bag lends itself particularly well to cameras; especially if the interior could be changed around by the user to suit their requirements.

[esantoro]

very nice case. I've started watching HBO's Deadwood, and every so often I get idea for bags I'd like to make. Your case reminds me of the stage coach traveling cases. Very nice work.

ed

[Luke Hatley]

ED.........NOW REMEMBER AFTER WATCHING DEADWOOD..... forget the words that you heard,

GET BUSY ON THE NEW CASES........

Edited March 16, 2009 by Luke Hatley

[tonyc1]

very nice case. I've started watching HBO's Deadwood, and every so often I get idea for bags I'd like to make. Your case reminds me of the stage coach traveling cases. Very nice work.

ed

Fancy that. I'm watching Deadwood at the moment and so far not too bad.

Tony.

[esantoro]

I'd put the Sopranos right up there with Shakespeare. Deadwood is entertaining, a bit thought-provoking, but it's not the Sopranos, no matter how it might think of itself otherwise.

I'm just about through the first season, and am beginning to see that it might be trying to comment about the relatively small-time somewhat innocent corruption of the late 19th century in comparison with the large-scale governmental and corporate corruption that started developing around the same time period up until now.

The Sopranos did this marvelously. Tony Soprano is as American as Carnegie and Donald Trump.

Eventually, I'll be extracting still pictures from the episodes of bags I'd like to make.

ed

[SteveBrambley]

Ray, Karl,

Yes, you are absolutely right! Even as I was putting it together I thought, "This would probably do better as a camera case!" That's why I wasn't sure about it in the first place! Still, I can always do another as a 'Gadget Bag' instead, then try both versions. I have had a look at ladies bags on the web and, as you say, they do tend to be rather 'Girlie' (read Pink!).

The removable inner compartment is fairly light, as it's mainly only 2.5mm fibre board, and I do agree about the binding, which is not quite as dark as it looks on the photos, but it does match the main overall colour, in normal light conditions. Again, the pouches could be better in a lighter weight leather, unfortunately that's the best I had to hand, although the gussets are of a slightly softer leather.

Fred,

Thank you for your kind words. The carrying handle was hand stitched onto the top, as it had to go on after the lid was completed, otherwise it fouled the corner (box) stitching machine I used to put it together. This machine is difficult to use, at the best of times, so, machine stitching the handle on first just makes things worse! I put the four rivets in first, to hold the handle in place while I stitched, as this made things a whole lot easier!

Ed,

Thank's to you, also! I'm sorry I don't know anything about 'Deadwood', we don't receive it over here!

Steve

[Grunt]

As someone who subscribes to the "overbuilt" school of engineering I think you did a great job on this bag. I would buy something like that for my wife. In fact I think I will add something like that to list of things to learn to make.

Nicely done,

Nick

[FredF]

Steve,

If you get a chance I would love to see a picture of the machine, Is it specifically for box stitching? or is it an attachment?

Thanks,

Fred

Ray, Karl,

Yes, you are absolutely right! Even as I was putting it together I thought, "This would probably do better as a camera case!" That's why I wasn't sure about it in the first place! Still, I can always do another as a 'Gadget Bag' instead, then try both versions. I have had a look at ladies bags on the web and, as you say, they do tend to be rather 'Girlie' (read Pink!).

The removable inner compartment is fairly light, as it's mainly only 2.5mm fibre board, and I do agree about the binding, which is not quite as dark as it looks on the photos, but it does match the main overall colour, in normal light conditions. Again, the pouches could be better in a lighter weight leather, unfortunately that's the best I had to hand, although the gussets are of a slightly softer leather.

Fred,

Thank you for your kind words. The carrying handle was hand stitched onto the top, as it had to go on after the lid was completed, otherwise it fouled the corner (box) stitching machine I used to put it together. This machine is difficult to use, at the best of times, so, machine stitching the handle on first just makes things worse! I put the four rivets in first, to hold the handle in place while I stitched, as this made things a whole lot easier!

Ed,

Thank's to you, also! I'm sorry I don't know anything about 'Deadwood', we don't receive it over here!

Steve

[tashabear]

Hi! I'm a girl, but I'm not a girlie girl. I wear pink; I even have a pink motorcycle jacket. Pink is okie dokie in my book.

I would not want pink luggage. I think that case looks classic. It looks like steamships and the Orient Express and Ingrid Bergman wearing fabulous hats. The only thing I would have different is a slightly larger mirror. I think it's beautiful.

[Bree]

Smart looking case... beautifully crafted. That's a case that someone will be proud to own and treasure for a lifetime.

[SteveBrambley]

Bree, Tashabear, Nick,

Thank you very much for your kind comments, I realy do appreciate them!

Fred,

Yes, the machine was specially designed for 'box' or corner stitching by Singer.

I have posted photos of this machine elsewhere on this site, however, to save you hunting about, here's another:

Steve

Edited March 17, 2009 by SteveBrambley

[FredF]

Thanks for posting that Steve. Interesting machine. Would love to have one of those one day.

Great work,

Thanks,

Fred

Bree, Tashabear, Nick,

Thank you very much for your kind comments, I realy do appreciate them!

Fred,

Yes, the machine was specially designed for 'box' or corner stitching by Singer.

I have posted photos of this machine elsewhere on this site, however, to save you hunting about, here's another:

Steve