New To Leather Work - Australia

[Elegant Equines]

hi,

I am 22 years old, from NSW Australia. I live in a place called "Lemon Tree Passage", it's nice but isolated so I need a new hobbie.

I am pretty new to leather work. All I have made so far is a dog collar because my mum could not find a collar big enough to fit our dog.

I have made some horse halters from PVC

I would like to learn to make these in leather as well as other tack. I want to learn to stitch leather so it can have a more desired finish.

I was thinking of getting a hand stitching kit to get me started as well as a few additional tools. I will only be working with pre cut strips at this time.

I do eventually want to get in to cutting my own leather for more unique tack.

On my website I mainly make ribbon browbands and would like to expand in to tack making! as well as making my own leather browbands

I already have a tack pattern set i bought a few years back and have never used. I was thinking about buying cheap horse leather to practice with.

I would also eventually like to make medieval tack and leather horse face plates. I have patterns for the medieval horse costumes so making a whole set would be wonderful.

Any advise is helpful! I don't really have a clue what I am doing

Thanks

[King's X]

First, welcome to the forum and greetings from Central Texas, USA! Secondly, just sit back and search our forum for tons and tons of information to include hand stitching. I hand stitch all of my work and have found the Al Stohlman hand stitching book to be invaluable. As for your tack inspirations, we have a ton of members on here that would probably be more than helpful to you as you get underway. Best of luck!

[King's X]

Since you probably do not have access to a local Tandy Store, I did some research on a new site that was directed to me and found this resource for you as a downloadable file. Enjoy!!

http://www.leathercraftlibrary.com/p-1135-the-art-of-hand-sewing-leather-by-al-stohlman.aspx

[leatheroo]

Welcome to the forum and prepare for your new addiction!!! Hours and hours of very helpful info here and the members are very willing to help. Even though you may be a bit isolated, we have some great stores that take phone and internet orders and have very fast delivery. Check out www.birdsall-leather.com.au and www.leffler.com.au , www.maclace.com,au just to name a few. leffler have a great range but their website is a dogs breakfast. The have a great catalogue that is worth getting and you can join their club which gets you a big discount on purchases.

Cheers from Geelong Victoria

[Ladykahu]

Hi and welcome

there is a nearly overwhelming amount of information on this forum, along with many knowledgable people happy to share.

Like you, I am a newbie.

to add to the list of australian sites for purchasing from..

http://www.nswleather.com.au/ (I haven't purchased anything from them yet, but they happened to have a store in Melbourne so I noted them down.

and also http://www.gretannery.com.au/ I have been out to this place, the guy was really helpfull and nice to talk to and did me a good deal on a bit of leather.. thier stuff is also more reasonably priced than lefflers is.. not such a big mark up (well in thier little store front it wasn't.. I haven't actually looked at the online prices) I got to have a bit of a wonder around the sheds where they do the tanning.. very interesting

Natalie

[$$hobby]

hi,

I am 22 years old, from NSW Australia. I live in a place called "Lemon Tree Passage", it's nice but isolated so I need a new hobbie.

I am pretty new to leather work. All I have made so far is a dog collar because my mum could not find a collar big enough to fit our dog.

I have made some horse halters from PVC

I would like to learn to make these in leather as well as other tack. I want to learn to stitch leather so it can have a more desired finish.

I was thinking of getting a hand stitching kit to get me started as well as a few additional tools. I will only be working with pre cut strips at this time.

I do eventually want to get in to cutting my own leather for more unique tack.

On my website I mainly make ribbon browbands and would like to expand in to tack making! as well as making my own leather browbands

I already have a tack pattern set i bought a few years back and have never used. I was thinking about buying cheap horse leather to practice with.

I would also eventually like to make medieval tack and leather horse face plates. I have patterns for the medieval horse costumes so making a whole set would be wonderful.

Any advise is helpful! I don't really have a clue what I am doing

Thanks

welcome.

hope you have some fun with your new hobby.

i made many brow bands that were fun in the short term, but a person wented me to make thousands and my life is worth more that that. I did have fun making and trying different techniques to present the beadwork. im not sure how the horsey industry is down there, but up the flashy brow bands has slowed in the dressage arena. most dresage judges dont like the blingz. i do see that a company is now offering them sort of custom.

whatever you do have fun and dont be afraid to make mistakes or ruin some leather.

[TapTapTap]

Welcome to the forum from the NSW Central Coast. You have been given a good list of suppliers and I would recommend Birdsall's as I have been dealing with them for over 20 years. Ask to speak to Tracy to set up an account. Their online system has a quick turnover from placing order to shipping. I know Cabbage Tree passage quite well having spent many hours paddling a kayak in and around Port Stephens with the Navy diving section. You will find this forum will have an answer for all your questions. Good luck.

regards,

TapTapTap

[99Reza]

Welcome!! You have nice stuff in your website.