Future products, leather opinion needed

Cat · Post by **Cat** » Thu Jan 10, 2008 6:30 pm

**Opinion needed for leather color - see my post a bit further down...

I'm in the process of trying to come up with new items for my site to replace the ones I will be eliminating. So far, I've got two new products that will be available.

FYI: I'm not currently taking orders. I've got a few orders I'm working on right now, or will be soon and once those are completed and I have had a chance to resupply, I will probably start taking orders.

First up is a 15th Century drawstring pouch, based off an example in the book English Longbowman 1330-1515 . I have made a few improvements in this one vs. the prototype I sold the other day.

Made of Elk skin, this is soft and supple. I have upgraded the stitching, and have gone from 4 ounce veg tan for the strap and drawstring cincher to 6/7 ounce for those. The heavier leather feels better, and has a quality feel that the 4 ounce doesn't have. I have also narrowed the belt loop down to an inch wide so it doesn't look so overbearing and bulky.

Size:
Top, opened up: ~5"x5"
Top edge, flat and straight across: ~7.5
Bottom edge, flat and straight across: ~6.5"
Top edge to bottom seam: ~7"
Belt loop: ~3"

These will be $35 plus shipping and optional insurance.

I will be putting up bracer prices and pics in a bit. I've got a volleyball game in a few, so I gotta run.

Cat

[img]http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2004-6/747695/15thCentDrawstring1.jpg[/img]

[img]http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2004-6/747695/15thCentDrawstring2.jpg[/img]

[img]http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2004-6/747695/15thCentDrawstring3.jpg[/img]

Cat · Post by **Cat** » Thu Jan 10, 2008 6:30 pm

3 more...

[img]http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2004-6/747695/15thCentDrawstring4.jpg[/img]

[img]http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2004-6/747695/15thCentDrawstring5.jpg[/img]

[img]http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2004-6/747695/15thCentDrawstring6.jpg[/img]

Cat · Post by **Cat** » Thu Jan 10, 2008 10:18 pm

Next up are the bracers. There are lots of options for these. The following is included in each category:

-Custom made to your measurements
-Hand made buckle in your choice of brass or steel
-Hand sewn straps - can choose riveted as well, but the stitching works much better
-Oil finish with waxed center strip
-Strap tucks in so no hanging straps
-Your choice of dye colors - I currently have the following: Black, cordovan, dark brown, light brown, tan, dark blue, green, yellow, and red. Along with the colors above, I also have a few of the Eco Flo colors that can be used on tooled images. I have smoke black, perismmon red, dusty rose pink, sky blue, and green tea. I have not yet tried these out on large areas. I've been told they work best sprayed, and I don't have a sprayer. So for now, the Eco Flo colors will be for small areas only.
-Tracking number provided free of charge**

**Tracking numbers and shipping insurance are not available outside the US, via USPS. I will ship by some other means if you prefer.

Buyer pays actual shipping/insurance costs. Insurance is optional. Refusing insurance is done at your own risk.

Pricing:

Plain bracer with your choice of oval center strip, or crossed center strips. No background texture. I don't have a pic of one of these.

Price: $25

Bracer with background texture, your choice of oval or crossed center strips. I am attaching pics to show examples.

Price: $35

Bracer with tooling: Your choice of oval or crossed center strips, or a single straight center strip (to give more room), textured background, and your choice of image**

Price: Starts at $45 for a large, low detail image.

**These bracers are relatively small. Images with a lot of detail may be impossible to do. I will need to see the image you want, to see if it can be done. Price will vary based on complexity. I am attaching a pic of a bracer with oak leaves. This one would fall in the $45 range.

Add ons:
Multiple colors can be done on one bracer. "Illuminated manuscript" (as in scenes done in color) type images can be done if the bracer sizing allows for a large enough image. Two tone bracers can be done, as well as other options. Populace badges, archer's badges, etc are some examples of images that could be done in color. See color list at top of post. Price dependent on complexity.

Cat......pics in a sec....

Cat · Post by **Cat** » Thu Jan 10, 2008 10:22 pm

Here's the pics...

Cat

[img]http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2004-6/747695/brassbuckle2reduced.jpg[/img]

[img]http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2004-6/747695/b4.jpg[/img]

[img]http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2004-6/747695/p4.jpg[/img]

[img]http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2004-6/747695/2p4.jpg[/img]

Cat · Post by **Cat** » Thu Jan 10, 2008 10:25 pm

One more...

Chris - GSMBristol · Post by **Chris - GSMBristol** » Thu Jan 10, 2008 11:23 pm

Cat-

I'm talking to my guys to try and get a group order for you when you have some free time. The bracers look and feel great!

Cat · Post by **Cat** » Thu Jan 10, 2008 11:39 pm

Sounds great Chris! I will have time pretty soon, but I'm about out of leather. I've got a few payments coming in, and will be able to resupply once those hit my account. I'm guessing another week or two for all of those.

In the meantime, if you want to send me the images you were wanting, I can do some practice runs to get a better idea of how it's gonna work.

If you've got some people who know for sure they want one, I can get the measurements for those and get the patterns made up so I've got them on hand.

Anywho, feel free to email me with any questions.

Thanks!
Cat

Aaron Schnatterly · Post by **Aaron Schnatterly** » Fri Jan 11, 2008 8:05 am

Oh, man, Chris... that's going to be sweet. A unit with uniform bracers.

matt9625 · Post by **matt9625** » Fri Jan 11, 2008 10:27 am

grrr, i wish i didnt read this post. I was the one who bought the prototype pouch....

Just kidding, im sure ill love it.

Cat · Post by **Cat** » Fri Jan 11, 2008 10:39 am

About the only things I could change on yours at this point are the strap and drawstringer cincher leather weight. I can't change the strap width as the holes are already punched. If you like, I can make the swap. Or, I can mail it out today (it's packaged and ready to go). The upside is you saved $5 over this version.

Let me know. I would be happy to make the swap if you like.

Cat

matt9625 · Post by **matt9625** » Fri Jan 11, 2008 10:43 am

Na, im not complaining. I just thought it was funny. Its just fine the way it is. Thank you though.

Cat · Post by **Cat** » Fri Jan 11, 2008 10:47 am

LOL!

If you're sure, then I will go ahead and send it. If you change your mind once you get it, I could send you out replacement pieces as well. You would just need to transfer the hole pattern (using the holes punched in the pouch as a guide) to the strap and stitch it on.

Cat

matt9625 · Post by **matt9625** » Fri Jan 11, 2008 11:23 am

I dont stich.... of course ive tried but yeah.... i suck

. But thats why we have great people like you we are able to pay so we can still get what we want

Im sure ill love it just the way it is. And if i need some stiching done on it i have a lady friend that may help me out.

Cat · Post by **Cat** » Sat Jan 12, 2008 10:11 am

Hey guys, I want to get some opinions. First, how much interest is there in these pouches? Second, what do you think of pouches done in the elk skin pictured below? Most of the pouches I see are kinda dark, so I wanted to get some opinions before I bought this. I can still get the darker brown, but I thought this was kinda nice too. Sorry about the low quality image. This is the best pic they have.

Thanks,
Cat

Thjoren Grimwulfe · Post by **Thjoren Grimwulfe** » Sat Jan 12, 2008 12:09 pm

I like the light brown. Will make the pouch stand out a bit

Cat · Post by **Cat** » Sat Jan 12, 2008 12:13 pm

Cool! That's one vote for light brown.

I like it too, so I'm hoping there's a good number of "light brown" votes. I will still have the dark brown available, but when I go to resupply this time, I can only afford to get one. Once I sell some stuff, I can get another dark brown one, although I still have a bit of the first skin left.

Any other votes/opinions?

Thanks!
Cat

sha-ul · Post by **sha-ul** » Sun Jan 13, 2008 1:26 pm

elks got blue jeans???

Russ Mitchell · Post by **Russ Mitchell** » Sun Jan 13, 2008 3:13 pm

you don't see a lot of veg-tan elk... this an ebay tanner?

Cat · Post by **Cat** » Sun Jan 13, 2008 6:12 pm

Yes, this is a seller on Ebay - goes by the business name of Distant Drums. Brettun's Village also has some, AND it's undyed so you can dye it how you want. Only problem with their stuff is the sides range from 4 to 9 ounce PER SIDE, and I don't know how much would be useable for pouches. (They say the 9 ounce parts are stiffer.) Plus, the backs of their sides can be a bit rough.

Do you like this color? I was hoping to have more opinions by now, as it's only up for a couple more days.

Cat

Edmond De'Veraux · Post by **Edmond De'Veraux** » Sun Jan 13, 2008 8:55 pm

I like the light brown

Edmond

Cian of Storvik · Post by **Cian of Storvik** » Sun Jan 13, 2008 9:12 pm

Cat wrote:Brettun's Village also has some, AND it's undyed so you can dye it how you want.
Cat

Usually elk and deerskin are tanned with sodium chromate (chrome tanned), and will not take a dye after they've been tanned. I think i had some brain tanned deerskin that was the same way. Wouldn't take a dye.
Only vegetable tanned is intended to be dyed.
-Cian

Cat · Post by **Cat** » Sun Jan 13, 2008 10:23 pm

Brettun's site says it's chrome tan, but it says it's unfinished so it can be dyed and oiled. If that's false info, I probably won't be getting that.

Cat

Aaron Schnatterly · Post by **Aaron Schnatterly** » Sun Jan 13, 2008 10:41 pm

All I can add is my experience with the yellow/gold-toned elk from Tandy, which is chrome tanned.

You can dye it (tried black oil and black spirit dyes by Fiebings), but you'd get a better result using a permanent magic marker... looked, well... horrid.

So, to toss another option into the ring for hide colors... what do people think of yellow/gold?

Thorgrimr · Post by **Thorgrimr** » Mon Jan 14, 2008 12:02 am

Depending on where you are in Ohio, you might want to give Paulette
Furs a try. They mostly supply the buckskinner and FIW reenactor market. I live nearby, and if I need some deerskin or similar hides I go there exclusively.

Cat · Post by **Cat** » Mon Jan 14, 2008 6:14 pm

Thanks for the info! I will check them out, as the hide pictured above has been sold.

Cat

Thorgrimr · Post by **Thorgrimr** » Mon Jan 14, 2008 7:28 pm

I dunno if they have a website or not. They're located in Malvern, OH just up the road from the Great Trail Festival.

Thorgrimr · Post by **Thorgrimr** » Mon Jan 14, 2008 7:31 pm

Just did a Google search and found their Ebay store:

http://stores.ebay.com/Paulette-Fur-Company_W0QQcolZ4QQdirZ1QQfsubZ0QQftidZ2QQpZ2QQtZkm