Selvune Report post Posted February 11, 2022 Good afternoon everyone. My name is Jeff and I live just outside of Indianapolis. I recently made some changes in night life and I am looking to find a new hobby over sitting on my butt watching TV after the kids go to bed, or maybe doing the hobby while watching TV. I previously was into miniature table top gaming with painted miniatures, but COVID closing stores and my son losing interest, I thought I might take a dabble into the world of leather. Hoping to pick up some beginner tools tomorrow morning and start with some basic work. Any advice or suggestions on tools/templates will always be appreciated, but fairly sure the internet has the list I need. My thought was to start out making wallets, bracelets and key chains, but nothing overly fancy. I have spent quite a while on sites like this (lurking) as well as watching Youtube videos. Hoping I enjoy the craft. I did find a local "leather club" (no, not that kind haha), but they haven't updated their website since early 2020, so not sure if they even exist anymore Have a GREAT day and a GREAT weekend. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Scoutmom103 Report post Posted February 12, 2022 Welcome. Check out Landwerlen Leather Company landwerlen-leather-co.business.site 365 S Illinois St, Indianapolis, IN 46225 Great place. Near Lucus and Union Station. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Hags Report post Posted February 12, 2022 Welcome! Plenty of info here. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
tsunkasapa Report post Posted February 12, 2022 Welcome. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Handstitched Report post Posted February 12, 2022 G'Day Selvune , Welcome to the world of leather Heaps of good peeps on here from beginners to experienced that are happy to help. HS Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
toxo Report post Posted February 12, 2022 Welcome from the UK. You've started something now. But I know you'll enjoy the ride. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
chuck123wapati Report post Posted February 12, 2022 welcome from wunerful Wyoming! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Selvune Report post Posted February 13, 2022 Thank you everyone and thank you Scoutmom 103. This is a little closer to me than the Tandy leather shop on the west side. I went out yesterday and bought some tools and leather to work. Would have started yesterday but my other craft (beer) had a big tasting happening, so didn't think sharp tools would be wise Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Scoutmom103 Report post Posted February 13, 2022 YW. I love Landwerlen's. It's like stepping back in time, and they are very friendly and helpful. They are a bit of a drive for me, but worth it. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Catharina Report post Posted February 15, 2022 Hi from France! Newbie here too! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Dwight Report post Posted February 15, 2022 Welcome Selvune . . . as the Navy says . . . glad to have you aboard. One of the quickest projects you can do . . . and one that will bring some personal satisfaction . . . go to a leather craft store . . . and purchase a good looking belt blank . . . 1 1/2 wide. Buy a buckle you like . . . and don't buy a cheap one . . . get one you will be proud to wear. Tell the guy you want to tool the belt . . . you'll need a swivel knife and a half dozen tools to complete the job . . . and you need the pattern template for it. Check out youtube for advice . . . lots of good stuff out there . . . and even watching the goofballs . . . you will learn something . . . even if it is WHAT NOT TO DO . It'll take you several days . . . you'll have to find a solid place in your house where you can tool without waking the entire household . . . You'll have to take it out in the garage to dye it . . . and add the finish . . . use Resolene for the finish . . . Once you are done . . . you can wear that belt for years on top of years . . . and every time you hook your thumbs in it . . . you can be proud of your work. I have one of mine from over 40 years ago . . . I still wear it occasionally . . . still proud of my amateur work I did then. May God bless, Dwight Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Selvune Report post Posted February 15, 2022 (edited) 1 hour ago, Dwight said: Welcome Selvune . . . as the Navy says . . . glad to have you aboard. One of the quickest projects you can do . . . and one that will bring some personal satisfaction . . . go to a leather craft store . . . and purchase a good looking belt blank . . . 1 1/2 wide. Buy a buckle you like . . . and don't buy a cheap one . . . get one you will be proud to wear. Tell the guy you want to tool the belt . . . you'll need a swivel knife and a half dozen tools to complete the job . . . and you need the pattern template for it. Check out youtube for advice . . . lots of good stuff out there . . . and even watching the goofballs . . . you will learn something . . . even if it is WHAT NOT TO DO . It'll take you several days . . . you'll have to find a solid place in your house where you can tool without waking the entire household . . . You'll have to take it out in the garage to dye it . . . and add the finish . . . use Resolene for the finish . . . Once you are done . . . you can wear that belt for years on top of years . . . and every time you hook your thumbs in it . . . you can be proud of your work. I have one of mine from over 40 years ago . . . I still wear it occasionally . . . still proud of my amateur work I did then. May God bless, Dwight Thanks for the advice. I did go to a leather craft store, however I picked up leather and a template for a wallet, not a belt. Might need to go back and do that as well. I bought a extremely discounted piece of leather and have been practicing cutting the leather, burnishing, beveling, etc. So far it has been fun and I hope to buy a better quality piece of leather to actually make a wallet (or belt ) that I might actually use. Thanks again for all the advice. Edited February 15, 2022 by Selvune Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Dwight Report post Posted February 15, 2022 (edited) 4 hours ago, Selvune said: Thanks for the advice. I did go to a leather craft store, however I picked up leather and a template for a wallet, not a belt. Might need to go back and do that as well. I bought a extremely discounted piece of leather and have been practicing cutting the leather, burnishing, beveling, etc. So far it has been fun and I hope to buy a better quality piece of leather to actually make a wallet (or belt ) that I might actually use. Thanks again for all the advice. Wallets are good too . . . in the storeroom of my "goodies" I have a billfold made by my biological father . . . It is the only attachment I ever had to him . . . sometimes just get it out and hold it . . . wonder where all it went . . . all the conversations it heard . . . They can become special keepsakes . . . not sure anyone keeps a PVC purse or billfold. Put yourself into your leather work . . . it is a way of sharing yourself with others. I have one wallet customer . . . I know he remembers me every now and then . . . his daughter had bought him a "different" tri fold billfold some 20 years or so before . . . and it was just about done . . . flat out falling apart. He looked all over trying to find one like it . . . finally wound up in a Tandy store one day when I happened to be there . . . the store manager sent him to me . . . telling him they didn't have completed billfolds . . . but I could make him one. He kinda looked at me dumbfounded when I told him I'd need the old one for a pattern . . . but he emptied it up . . . put the stuff in his pockets . . . offered to pay me whatever I wanted if I would make him one like it. I did . . . sent it to him a couple weeks later . . . off in Pennsylvania somewhere. Got a letter back from him . . . he was tickled pink. Those are the moments that make life an enjoyable experience . . . leatherwork included. May God bless, Dwight Edited February 15, 2022 by Dwight Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Selvune Report post Posted March 2, 2022 On 2/11/2022 at 8:33 PM, Scoutmom103 said: Welcome. Check out Landwerlen Leather Company landwerlen-leather-co.business.site 365 S Illinois St, Indianapolis, IN 46225 Great place. Near Lucus and Union Station. I went by the shop last Friday. Super friendly people. The shop was a lot larger then I expected. Thanks for the suggestion. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
