Members VansCustomLeather Posted March 26, 2015 Members Report Posted March 26, 2015 I'm READY to LEARN!! My name's Van Woodruff and I started Vans Custom Leather. I recently medically retired from the Army after 13 years service. Got to see A LOT of the world but glad to be back in God's Country...Sweet Home Alabama. You'd be amazed at the amount of people in the military that have "some sort or craft/art skills." As for me...I started playing around with leather a few years back. I was "drawn" to doing leather plaques from the very beginning. I only did trades for the first couple years. Once I really started finding my "niche" with the "leather biographies"...business "Within my Army Unit" took off but it's hard to get your "Leather Products" in front of "the masses." As I was going through the retirement process at Fort Bragg...I had an opportunity to meet an AP reporter. I did my best "Billy Mays pitch" to him right after the "original interview" was done. He told me that once I move back to Alabama...he'd come do a story and he was a man of his word. Here's the link...I don't know how to add the link so I'm just typing it in: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Ab-Yc1rjIM ...if that doesn't work Google "Veteran Creates Job During High Unemployment" it should be 1:50 long. As you can see...my leatherwork is "aesthetic in nature." I LOVE doing the plaque designing and tooling but I want to LEARN "Functional Leather Skills." I want to know how to make quality Holsters/Belts/Wallets/Purses/Bags...that people will be able to pass down. I've been fortunate to have "Quality Leather Advice" along the way. The 3 main ones being Aubrin Rheem at Tandy Leather Raleigh. Michael at AnvilMade Leather and Christian Marsh at Xian Leather. If you haven't seen Michael or Christian's work...you SHOULD check them out. In MY opinion Christian's the Best in the World at what he does. I'm going to try and attach some pics...I have NO IDEA what I'm doing or how to "crop them properly." If they're all jacked up...I apologize. Quote
Members plowboy73 Posted March 26, 2015 Members Report Posted March 26, 2015 Welcome. Thank you for your service! It looks like you are already well on your way with a new career and your skills with carving and design are awesome. Quote
Members Wicked Welts Posted March 26, 2015 Members Report Posted March 26, 2015 Welcome aboard Van! Your work looks great and the scale, wow, them pieces are big! Thanks for sharing with us and for your service. Quote
Members VansCustomLeather Posted March 26, 2015 Author Members Report Posted March 26, 2015 Thx for the military support boss man. I enjoyed my time and enjoying the transition as well. It's AMAZING the amount of people and knowledge on this website. Thx for the leather compliments...it's been a 5 year evolution into what u see now. Quote
Members OdinUK Posted March 29, 2015 Members Report Posted March 29, 2015 Welcome to the forum and fantastic work! I watched the video, very well done indeed. You found the right place to learn about every aspect of leatherwork. Quote Lord Of Leather
Members VansCustomLeather Posted March 29, 2015 Author Members Report Posted March 29, 2015 I appreciate it OdinUK. I've barely started to dig around in these forums and it's AMAZING how many techniques are used that I never had a clue about. As for your work...you have a VERY unique look to your products...looks Awesome. I've NEVER even heard of a Tankard before I checked out ur website...those things are cool. Had one question for you if you don't mind answering it. What type of "matting/backgrounding tool" do you use on those back patches? I've never seen a matting tool that is that "gnarly" for lack of better words. Quote
Members biglew Posted March 29, 2015 Members Report Posted March 29, 2015 WOW... great work. If your belts and other items are as beautiful in looks and craftsmanship as your plaques well then you are amazing! AND I love the toolholder you have in the video. Michael at anvil is another great leatherworker. I have watched his videos Hope to see more of your work soon! Thank You for serving! Lewis Quote
Members maddhatter Posted March 30, 2015 Members Report Posted March 30, 2015 thanks for your service and your work is awesome. by the looks of your skills you will have no trouble at all. good luck and welcome home. Quote
Members OdinUK Posted March 30, 2015 Members Report Posted March 30, 2015 Thanks Van! One background tool is called the 'pebble' tool but I forgot what the other is called. When I get home this evening I'll check the part numbers on the tools and send you a PM. I think I got the pebble tool from Springfield, and got all 3 sizes. Quite a few folk here make tankards and Jacks as they are sometimes called depending on style. Thanks Van! One background tool is called the 'pebble' tool but I forgot what the other is called. When I get home this evening I'll check the part numbers on the tools and send you a PM. I think I got the pebble tool from Springfield, and got all 3 sizes. Quite a few folk here make tankards and Jacks as they are sometimes called depending on style. Opps, seems something went wrong with my last post! Quote Lord Of Leather
Members VansCustomLeather Posted April 1, 2015 Author Members Report Posted April 1, 2015 I appreciate it biglew and maddhatter. As for the toolholder...that was the first piece of woodwork that I did once I retired. If y'all know how I can attach photos to these posts...I'll add some close-ups of it. As for Michael at AnvilMade...he's the one that told me about this website. He's only been doing leather for a couple years now...which is INSANE when you see the quality of his work. He's an artist for sure. Quote
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