Shoulder bag

[rdb]

It's raining here, so my usual dodgy picture taking is even worse...lol

Just trying something new. I've seen something similar before, but I don't remember much about it...I just liked the shape. I've never seen this type again, so go figger. I think the one I saw had a gusseted front, but since I'm doing a lot of molding lately, I thought that's what I do here.

It's slim, that's for sure, but it holds a suprising amount, plus the little inside "vested" pocket. And I added a key ring thingy. The next one, I'll add a cellphone pouch to the top right body, maybe even fit in a pen type pouch somewhere.

2-3 oz leather from Zack White...very clean, and nice to work with. At this point, just neatfooted. Later I'll add some aussies, or snow proof, or some such.

I consider this a prototype, so any suggestions are mightily welcome.

[badger]

Nice bag!

I really like the design, simple and clean.

The moulding really gives it an unfussy look which is very attractive.

Cheers,

Karl

[TomSwede]

Really a good looking and elegant bag!! I love the molding!!

Tom

[Luke Hatley]

I LIKE THE BAG....but... i think the moulding needs to be closer to the stiching.

I M OH O .

[rdb]

Thanx badger, and Tom.

I was tempted to sew tight to the mold line. like in a holster, then realized, by not doing that, the bag stretches out better. My only question will be whether the molding stays mostly intact after long term use. We'll see, I guess.

[SteveBrambley]

Yes indeed, very nice piece of moulding!

Edited April 2, 2009 by SteveBrambley

[Tina]

Absolutly interesting...The molding idea in a purse opends up a whole new dimension... Like it loads:-)

[rdb]

Thanks Luke, you must have written just as I was, about the stitching.

Thanks Steve and Tina. I hope the molding/moulding opens the creative ports....or would that be "pourts"...lol

I might be wrong about the weight. It might be a 3-4 oz, seems kind of thick to be 2-3.

To mold, I just cut out a 1" board, and rounded the edges...laid down the leather, then tacked it on the outside edges. You can push the basic shape when its fully wet, but the trick is to let it set to dry and leave it for awhile. Come back at intervals to final shaping. Sloppy wet is not the time to bone fold or crease. Hand/finger shape for a time, then as the leather starts to dry out, you can finalize.

[Timbo]

That is really cool. Funny but I've been thinking about something along those lines lately too.

Good job!!!!

Tim

[MADMAX22]

I think it looks great.

The molding thing Im sure will change shape over time, I wouldnt say loose its shape as leather tends to work its way into a better shape for what ever job its used for.

[rdb]

Thanx Timbo and Madmax...

Can't wait to see what you come up with Timbo.

Your right, of course Madmax, whatever we design and build, the user has the final say just how they use our products, and what they eventually look like after use...lol.

Back in the 70s, I used to make all kinds of that old hippy-type leather stuff. People put all sorts of things in them...lol.

The times have changed, that's for sure, although a lot of the traditional "western" styles have remained, a lot of craftspeople have tried to update to some modern look. They use computer software to design bags now. Mechanical draftsman do the designing, and then they build or use specific machines to construct these mathematically convoluted wonders. I still think that it's the "trial and errors" of us people who work with our hands and minds that actually comes up with the true wonders of the craft. A newbie, who hasn't a clue of how to make a simple case, can and will often come up with whole new ways of looking at things. Personally, I like life outside the box...lol

[SteveBrambley]

Thanks Luke, you must have written just as I was, about the stitching.

Thanks Steve and Tina. I hope the molding/moulding opens the creative ports....or would that be "pourts"...lol

I might be wrong about the weight. It might be a 3-4 oz, seems kind of thick to be 2-3.

To mold, I just cut out a 1" board, and rounded the edges...laid down the leather, then tacked it on the outside edges. You can push the basic shape when its fully wet, but the trick is to let it set to dry and leave it for awhile. Come back at intervals to final shaping. Sloppy wet is not the time to bone fold or crease. Hand/finger shape for a time, then as the leather starts to dry out, you can finalize.

Molding/Moulding, either form is a perfectly acceptable spelling! Which ever way you spell it, It's still a great piece of work!

Steve

[rdb]

Thanks again, Steve!

Hey, I was thinking. Since we sold you all thouse extra "u"s we don't use, maybe we could offer you some "g"s, as in thinkin' and grinnin'...

You could use them in words like plow, and spell them like "plough". We could save billions in typin time, alone...lol.

Where's UKRay when you need him.....

Now, back to the bag. I'll be showing it off this weekend, to see people's reactions. It will have a "Not for sale" sign on it, but I'll ask what people think, and what they might be willing to pay for something like this. IF in real life, the people might like it, I have an updated version, and a similar model in mind...stay tuned.