New Crafter In Missouri

[Athenah]

Hi all! I am a married lady of unknown age (grin) in N/W Missouri East of Kansas City.

I got a starter leather kit for Xmas and have been happiliy pounding away ever since. I think my background in art has helped me a bit here, like Sewing, Oil Painting, Designing, drawing, sculpture, etc. I feel like a duck taking to water with all this leather. I decided to skip buying those expensive patterns for everything and do my own work from the start. Not to say I won't steal and idea or two! I have a horse, a Missouri Fox Trotter, and will be making tack for us, as well as friends. So far I have considered all the projects I have tackled as just learning projects. As soon as my strap cutter and other tools arrive I will be starting out on something larger. I think I have exhausted all the uTube videos avaliable on Leathercraft, leather sewing, leather tooling and all. I learned a lot there and cant wait to apply the knowledge.

Here are some photos of things I tinkered with:

My first belt, my own design, learned a lot on this guy. I have a belveler on the way so I can finish edges better:

I ride and need a compass sometimes. My brother gave me this wonderful one, great in combo with a topo map. I wanted easy access to it from the saddle so I made a small horn bag for it:

I am looking forward to learning more about leather craft, and I very happy to have found this forum!

[abn]

Looks like you're off to a great start.

[Athenah]

Thanks abn! Thanks for the welcome too!

[CowboyBob]

Great work,welcome to the site.

[Athenah]

Thanks sewmun

[Randy Cornelius]

Welcome, you are off to a very good start by looking at your work. By the way I life just south of KC.

[Athenah]

Welcome, you are off to a very good start by looking at your work. By the way I life just south of KC.

I know who I can turn to when I start to do bigger projects. Hey neighbor!

Just today I cut out the pattern out of some leather for some western saddle bags. (had to wait to get some proper cutting tools for the double shoulder I bought). Did you ever want to just cry cutting into such lovely leather? Newbie thing maybe. I think the leather is too thick to do the gusset though, need to buy some thinner stuff or they will stick out too far due to stiffness. Is this a common thing? to use lighter leather for a gusset?

I brought my saddle home from the stables and made a pattern right on it, should work out ok. 8 1/2 by 11 inch bags. I am still fussing over my design for tooling, drew it from my limited experience tooling, thinking on what I could do to make it look nice without getting into too deep of water.

[TwoWalks]

Athenah, I was in Missouri last year .. Small town of Marshall. I went there for the Bow makers gathering called MoJam. Both of my Step Sons were born in St Louis, Missouri I really loved it except for the heat and humidity. . I think your belt is amazing for such an early attempt and with very limited tools. I am finishing two holsters that I started with and will be doing a belt in the next couple weeks. Keeping my fingers crossed it turns out half as good as yours.

[Gawdzilla]

Greetings from Exit 257 on I-44.

[Chief31794]

My first belt, my own design, learned a lot on this guy. I have a belveler on the way so I can finish edges better:

Resized to 59% (was 1024 x 768) - Click image to enlarge

Athena,

One suggestion, this isn't critical just thought you might want suggestions on alternate techniques, these belt buckles really look nice if you close them with a contrasting lace as opposed to stitching. Below is one where I was trying my hand at painting (which I'm terrible at), but it demonstrates the alternate closing method.

Your work looks great, welcome to the site.

[King's X]

Welcome to the forum and greetings from Central Texas, USA