Several years ago, after being deemed "unemployable" from spinal injury and forced into retirement, I became fascinated with leather crafting. Because of arthritis of the spine, joints, etc etc (whining here),the hand stitching I learned the craft through had to be abandoned due to progressive joint stiffness, despite the use of potent medications given in hopes of slowing the creeping advance of the disease. I made many holsters for family and friends, learning as I went and making my own patterns. But the idea of hand stitching the length of a leather belt was daunting.
I have always been one of the most active and eager-to-learn folks in my family I'm told. Every since childhood I've worked with my hands. I refused to give up on my new-found hobby, and with the encouragement of my loving family and even my own physician, I took money from a small, poorly performing retirement fund and purchased a true leather sewing machine. New horizons immediately opened up for me and I did indeed become able to craft leather in ways I never could before. I also modified an arbor press to do precision linear stamping, and designed and built a special vise from bed frame railing to hold for sanding the long, thick laminated gun and work belts I this year began crafting and selling across the country.
My wife makes and sells "boutique" jewelry, or as some call it "costume" jewelry. She buys parts and creates her own designs to fit the wishes and interests of different hobbiests and professionals. Together we attend maybe six art and craft shows together a year, sharing our tables, time, and love for being together.
My sewing machine is 300 pounds of cast iron and steel, and let's me stitch through up to 3/4 inch of stacked leather laminations. The belts I make one at a time are almost 1/4 of an inch thick double layered, and cut by me from American vegetable tanned 7-8 ounce hides. I love the powerful, solid feel my machine has, and appreciate it's construction. Sort of like I feel about my tractor.
Below is a photo of my machine in my wife's and my shared "studio", and a group photo of the styles of belts I am now crafting because I persevered in wanting to learn the leather hobby.
I always ask if there are other leather crafters wherever I go, and enjoy trading ideas and inspirations. Several others on a leather forum I participate on have used my bed frame vise video to make their own. it's makes me feel I'm giving something back in a way to others with physical troubles similar to mine.
If there are other leather workers here, it would be great to see pictures of your specialties! Oh. The last photo is of my expression when I found this forum.Thanks for looking, Don
I have always been one of the most active and eager-to-learn folks in my family I'm told. Every since childhood I've worked with my hands. I refused to give up on my new-found hobby, and with the encouragement of my loving family and even my own physician, I took money from a small, poorly performing retirement fund and purchased a true leather sewing machine. New horizons immediately opened up for me and I did indeed become able to craft leather in ways I never could before. I also modified an arbor press to do precision linear stamping, and designed and built a special vise from bed frame railing to hold for sanding the long, thick laminated gun and work belts I this year began crafting and selling across the country.
My wife makes and sells "boutique" jewelry, or as some call it "costume" jewelry. She buys parts and creates her own designs to fit the wishes and interests of different hobbiests and professionals. Together we attend maybe six art and craft shows together a year, sharing our tables, time, and love for being together.
My sewing machine is 300 pounds of cast iron and steel, and let's me stitch through up to 3/4 inch of stacked leather laminations. The belts I make one at a time are almost 1/4 of an inch thick double layered, and cut by me from American vegetable tanned 7-8 ounce hides. I love the powerful, solid feel my machine has, and appreciate it's construction. Sort of like I feel about my tractor.
Below is a photo of my machine in my wife's and my shared "studio", and a group photo of the styles of belts I am now crafting because I persevered in wanting to learn the leather hobby.
I always ask if there are other leather crafters wherever I go, and enjoy trading ideas and inspirations. Several others on a leather forum I participate on have used my bed frame vise video to make their own. it's makes me feel I'm giving something back in a way to others with physical troubles similar to mine.
If there are other leather workers here, it would be great to see pictures of your specialties! Oh. The last photo is of my expression when I found this forum.Thanks for looking, Don
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,, And that died an ugly death in a barn fire not fixin that one,, the tree was burned in half!! Then my Ex and I had a parting of the ways, and some how all my stuff got lost,,, hmmm wonder how that happens. The 1911 rig looks real nice
