sailorsh

New Tools!

Spent the day in Telford and came across this paraffin lamp.  I had been on the lookout for one and today was the day.  Came home, straight into my workshop and now there is a stand for the lamp.  I will be using this arrangement to heat my edge finishing irons.  Admittedly the design is crude but it works and for now that is fine.  Refinements will come with time. The lamp contains methylated spirits currently and I will have to see if it is a safe option instead of paraffin.  The worry is that methylated spirit is highly flammable. … Read More »New Tools!

Gussets attached and stitched

Progress

The brown folio case is well under way.  Please see below some photographs and brief descriptions of the progress so far.  There is a lot going on and quite a few stages and tasks have been omitted to keep the blog ‘short’.  Please feel free to ask any questions or provide suggestions using the comments box at the bottom.  Or email me via awais@sailorshandmade.com.   The gussets and main body have been cut. The edges have been crease and stitch line marked using 10spi (stitched per inch) traditional French pricking irons. The top edge has been stitched first. The gussets… Read More »Progress

Fun Little Video

Made this fun video in collaboration with my daughter who kindly volunteered to play her frame drum for background sound. Getting some tools together for the next handmade leather craft project for a customer.  It is a bespoke mens folio style clutch bag with double gussets and a hand carry strap.  The bag will be made using my stock of remarkable Russia leather, luxury Fil au Chinois Lin Cable thread and the most exquisite red goat kid suede lining.  Fully hand stitched and made to order.  No machines and made to last. The  bag is designed to carry a book… Read More »Fun Little Video

Folio Prototype Done!

  The prototype portfolio case is complete.  I have decided to sell this to raise some much needed funds for tools and materials.  I am selling this prototype at a discounted price to compensate for some minor defects that do not affect the appearance, quality or functioning. None-the-less the portfolio prototype has taken a lot of time searching for leather, lining and thread and in designing and making.  The result is a one of a kind, completely hand made leather item that the user will enjoy using for a long, long time.  This portfolio has been hand cut, hand saddle… Read More »Folio Prototype Done!

Folio Laptop Case Progress

Today I have had the pleasure of spending a few hours on the portfolio prototype attaching one of the gussets after the lock and the lining have been attached and the edges skived.  Lots of decisions to make along the way.  There is no one way of doing things and various factors affect the decisions made at each stage.  It is like a journey along an unknown path with surprises to be found along the way.  One can plan the route but is subject to the unpredictable nature of travel. Once the second gusset has also been adorned with saddle… Read More »Folio Laptop Case Progress

Brown Russia Leather With Red Goat Suede Lining

Laptop Portfolio Sleeve Making Time

The best things take the longest!  While I am not sure this is quite true I hope to confirm this after the current laptop folio sleeves are completed.  It has taken a while to gather all of the materials and I gladly share with you that all of the gathering and preparation is complete.  I can now continue with the black and brown sleeve and commence the brown and red one also.  The materials to be used on both projects are different.  While the one is being made with black bridal shoulder, brown goat suede lining and brown linen thread… Read More »Laptop Portfolio Sleeve Making Time

Laptop Folio In The Making

Having received a request for a portfolio case I have been working on the design and have started making the first prototype.  I am using black vegetable tanned bridal shoulder along with black linen thread.  The case is single gusseted and is closed with a lockable solid brass briefcase latch.  The plan is to use goat leather for the lining.  There are a lot of design considerations that need to be decided upon and hopefully the result will be a design that works well and looks good.  The radii of the bottom edges, the incorporation of the Golden Ratio, the… Read More »Laptop Folio In The Making

Experiment and Testing

Recently I received an order for a bespoke laptop sleeve.  After many long discussions over the design and materials we decided to use replica Russia leather that is based on the famed 200 year old 1786 Russia leather that was recovered from the wreck of the Metta Catherina after lying on the sea bed off the coast of Cornwall for over 200 years.  The original Russia leather has some very special properties which is why it was considered among the best of leathers in the Victorian period.  The replica leather was made after two years of research and experimentation and… Read More »Experiment and Testing

Latest Project

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I have been working on this design for the last two weeks and I am pleased to present the prototype of my first cross body bag.  The design and style has been in my minds’ eye for a long time and it is quite exciting to see it in the flesh (no pun intended). The leather is English bridal leather finished here in Walsall, UK.  The hardware is pure brass, most of which is cast in a foundry also in Walsall, UK.  I have chosen the leather for the natural patterns and marks that are visible in the photographs.  The… Read More »Latest Project

Coming Soon

Coming Soon I am preparing my first ever batch of leather goods to present to the public.  I plan to make some of these items available for purchase in the coming weeks. What’s coming? Four pen rolls that can carry six items of stationary (almost ready.  Straps to be completed this week) Four minimalist card holders for up to four cards (at stitching stage.  Not long to go) Five sets of five multipurpose straps (at cutting stage and awaiting an order of Sam Browne studs) Three bifold card wallets for up to eight cards (will start on these next week)… Read More »Coming Soon

Latest project – layered watch strap

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Latest Project   A few nights ago I was inspired to make a watch strap.  Armed with a mental image of the design I entered my workshop this morning and made my first watch strap.  It is installed on my 30 year old cheap Casio divers watch for testing (I won’t be doing any diving).  Here is what it looks like…       It is made from buffalo calf leather with a layer of russet leather in the middle.  I have used linen thread for the saddle stitching.  The strap is 20mm wide and I have used the buckle… Read More »Latest project – layered watch strap