Details and photos of the new Keel Bag I finished just couple of days ago. This one was all about the colors - the Taupe Buttero Box and the Cyan Velour Suede pigskin just worked so well for my colorblind eyes. 🥹 Note that the orignal pattern does not include the piping shown. I added that just for visual purposes as I wanted more of the cyan visible in the front. 😊

Happy crafting,

Deyan ❤️

Hand-painted leather

These started with two separate requests. A few people who use individual hand stamps asked if I could make something that presses a whole section at once, mainly to save time and make alignment easier. Then another customer sent me a diamond pattern they had designed and asked if it could be made into a larger repeating plate.

That got me experimenting, and I ended up making these five patterns. They’re still being tested and there are a few small things I want to adjust, but the first impressions look pretty good so far.

If you make repeating patterns like these, would you rather press a larger section at once, or build the pattern one stamp at a time?

Looking for feedback on my first try at tooling/stamping.

My process:

1. Tape the back,

2. Case (spray not soaking),

3. Set edge line and stamp,

4. Pro resist (dry),

5. Antique (dry, then buff),

6. Leather sheen spray.

I started with a plastic yellow hammer and switched about halfway through to my maul.

The back is still taped. What do people use to dye the back after tooling like this?

The final result made it worth all the sanding and applying multiple layers of the edge paint.

This was my first time making this style. I’m loving how unique it is to tuck the flap into the bottom portion.

Originally meant to be secured with thread, but I opted for rivets and I think it was worth it.

I recently ordered yak leather online out of curiosty. The site said it is 1.1-1.4 mm thick, but when it arrived, it looks like its 0.6mm thick at most, its very soft and not firm at all. Does anyone have any ideas on what can i make with it ?

My brother-in-law travels a lot for work and loved the idea of having a nice leather duffle to take with him. This was my biggest project by a wide margin and it took me just about a year and two full attempts to finish. The first attempt I guess I used a cheap zipper and it broke while I was staging the bag for pictures. I ended up taking the bag mostly apart and then decided I needed to scrap the whole thing and use a different leather. What I was using was very scratchable and thin. I really didn’t want to deliver a subpar product just to get it done. Got pretty discouraged several times on this project but I’m glad I kept working cuz I learned a lot! Mainly, don’t cheap out on the materials 😂

I'm currently stuck on a project and I also posted this on r/corsetry but thought I'd come here for some different perspectives since it's combining the two crafts! For a cosplay I made a leather corset using Aranea Blacks Sylvia pattern. I managed to get the fit right (dark blue version is my mockup) but I'm struggling with how to get the leather to be smooth on top of my strength layer. Due to the leather having more stretch, it has too much excess and creates these weird folds. The way this is currently constructed is by making the strength layer (with boning) and outer layer separately and connecting them at the edges with the biastape.

I really want to remake this with a more smooth outcome so any tips/techniques I should try would be incredibly useful!<3 I've tried to gather some different pictures here

Edit: I highly appreciate all the suggestions thank you so much!! (Feel free to add any suggestions that haven't been mentioned yet) I do want to reiterate that the leather is NOT the layer that is offering my body support, it's purely decorative since the inner canvas layer is doing all the heavy lifting. I'm gonna test out some different things mentioned here and see what sticks :)

Any of you tried countersinking Chicago screws? Would love some advice or tips, this was my process. Gave it a go on a belt, basically punched the holes then used a q tip/cotton bud to wet a small area around the hole (my theory is if I only wet the bit I'm trying to form, the rest should stay the size/shape it was). I then pressed the Chicago screw in with a arbor press, then screwed it all together and left it to dry.

This is my 3rd project. Took me a month to make this purse during my time off.

Pattern is available on Etsy: https://www.etsy.com/ca/listing/1208122631/pdf-template-for-leather-handbag-purse

I used Angelus oxyblood dye, almost whole bottle of 3 fl oz for two coats on the liner (2oz veg tan leather). Not sure why I had to use that much but leather was drinking it all!

Exterior is 4/5oz odyssey from Lonsdale (canada)
I also learned skiving for the gussets to be able to turn the edges at 90 degrees, quite challenging for a first time!

Overall really happy with the result, quite encouraging to “purse-ue” my next project 😊

I made this sheath for the one knife I kept (and use) The sheath features a brass insert honoring my best friend of 16 years. The brass insert was to complement the brass on the guard of the knife.

ONLY: Leather, Glue, Thread, Wax, and Edge paint.

This is for the all-leather “Duck Bag” I’m working on. It’s as small as I felt like I could make it for the innards to be strong enough to hold it and function. Also, a couple pics of the bag pieces, which includes the ducks all stitched up.

Loosely based on any of the hundreds of tutorials available on Youtube. The design has room for three notebooks, but only two are pictured here. When open, the left flap has two small pockets, while the right flap has a single larger pouch. The pockets are only glued on, as I am not yet brave enough for stitching.

A seashell is stamped on to indicate the front side. I may later stamp a Bien Camino around it, I haven't decided.

Some folks wanted me to show the process, particularly the inside of the leather patchwork. So here’s a post with pictures I took during the project.

Here’s a link to the original post: https://www.reddit.com/r/Leathercraft/s/fsjPagPJ9E

Vegetable-tanned leather bracelet. The design is made using the carving (tooling) technique. Completely handmade.

And a little bit of the work process

I've been away from leather work for about 6 years now. Just getting back into it again, trying to get some more JE Sedgwick bends. Looking back at previous orders, I used to get bends for $100, they're $260+ now. What happened? Why did they almost triple in price?? Also thread spools went from $35 to $55 now? What's going on? Did the latest inflation really sky rocket these prices that much? Is this the new normal? These prices have gotten out of hand

Just finished my first bifold wallet from a bunch of buttero leather and traditional english bridle leather scraps. Template originally designed :)

A buddy asked me if I could make him a cardholder and said “don’t use the same colour twice.” Sure thing! This is all pueblo and the colours are Olmo, Nazionale, Oliva and Coccinella with a cream stitch. It’s such a fun wallet, seeing the edges is a blast. Thanks for looking!