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    Iron Heart Fall/Winter 2025 Collection Preview - Now Live

    ZeeBee Leather

    Other Brands and Shops
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    • seawolfS
      seawolf
      Mod Squad
      Joined:

      Thanks @Giles ! It was so hard to pack it up and let it go. That bag and I became good friends 🙂

      “Good design is actually a lot harder to notice than poor design, in part because good designs fit our needs so well that the design is invisible” - Don Norman

      @zeebeeleather

      last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
      • ?
        A Former User
        Joined:

        I can totally relate to that sentiment with my work as well @seawolf …..But it's the only way to get the real magic out of it.

        And what magic you've produced here!  Your photos highlight the stunning craftsmanship, and I'm sure there are still more impressive details that we can't see.  It is great to witness such marvelous achievements of mind.  I would love to see it in thirty years!  Instant Heirloom.

        last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
        • seawolfS
          seawolf
          Mod Squad
          Joined:

          Thanks @adam313 ! You've hit the nail on the head.

          One detail that I couldn't seem to capture but tickled me a little, are the hand-polished copper rivets. When rivets are made, I'm guessing they pour the hot metal into a mold until it's cool enough to release. Many of these rivets have a texture on the head that looks like solidified drips of hot metal. It has a certain slightly bumpy texture to it. There's nothing wrong with that, but I wanted to take it to the next level with this bag, so I sanded the rivets up to a 400 grit, then polished them with green jeweler's compound to bring them to a mirrored shine. They immediately began to tarnish from the oils on my fingers, but they're smooth and gorgeous.

          “Good design is actually a lot harder to notice than poor design, in part because good designs fit our needs so well that the design is invisible” - Don Norman

          @zeebeeleather

          last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
          • ?
            A Former User
            Joined:

            😘 Hit the "rivet" on the head more like it.

            That's a delicious nugget of craftsman glory!  That's what it's all about, and they are gorgeous!

            last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
            • seawolfS
              seawolf
              Mod Squad
              Joined:

              Thank you! That kind of stuff doesn't really matter to most people, but to a select few, it's all in the details!

              “Good design is actually a lot harder to notice than poor design, in part because good designs fit our needs so well that the design is invisible” - Don Norman

              @zeebeeleather

              last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
              • seawolfS
                seawolf
                Mod Squad
                Joined:

                It occurred to me recently that I could use a naming scheme for the items in my shop. I was getting tired of item descriptions as item titles (i.e. Compact Bifold), and felt like they could use a little freshening up. I came up with a (nearly) completely arbitrary but appropriate naming scheme that revolves around Bees.

                Back in July it was my wife's birthday, and I wanted to get her something she'd really get some use out of. Something she's love and have forever. I told her that I would make her the purse/bag of her dreams. So, we both sifted through pictures of bags that she liked, for inspiration, and settled on a style. She picked out the color, thread, and hardware, and left the rest up to me.

                It's still in the early stages, but I thought I'd share some pictures of the build with you all. It's 7oz English Tan Dublin by Horween, and by far one of the most interesting leathers I've ever worked with. It's vegetable tanned, and absolutely stunning. It's a saddlebag style satchel with outer stitching (meaning that it won't be stitched and flipped right-side-out afterwards) and will have a main compartment and a smaller pocket attached to the front. I made a pocket for her phone and a couple pens, and plan to make a little business card sleeve for it as well.

                I'll try to remember to snap some pics along the way, but I thought it would be fun to share whatever I can think to capture with you.

                Presenting, a work in progress, that will ultimately bear the title "Queen Bee."

                “Good design is actually a lot harder to notice than poor design, in part because good designs fit our needs so well that the design is invisible” - Don Norman

                @zeebeeleather

                last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                • B
                  browniemcghee
                  Joined:

                  Loving that briefcase.  Thanks for sharing your work with us.

                  Sent from my SM-G920F using Tapatalk

                  last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                  • neph93N
                    neph93
                    見習いボス
                    Joined:

                    Beautiful! Look forward to seeing the complete piece.

                    “Some of those that work forces
                    Are the same that burn crosses”

                    • Virginia Woolf
                    last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                    • seawolfS
                      seawolf
                      Mod Squad
                      Joined:

                      Thanks gents!

                      Here are some more progress pics of the Queen Bee!

                      Stitching that floating pocket was quite difficult, but I think it came out pretty well, and it's not going anywhere. I polished all of the rivets to a mirror shine, but it's really hard to photograph so it's hard to tell in the pics.

                      “Good design is actually a lot harder to notice than poor design, in part because good designs fit our needs so well that the design is invisible” - Don Norman

                      @zeebeeleather

                      last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                      • seawolfS
                        seawolf
                        Mod Squad
                        Joined:

                        Queen Bee Satchel Progress shot. Almost there!

                        “Good design is actually a lot harder to notice than poor design, in part because good designs fit our needs so well that the design is invisible” - Don Norman

                        @zeebeeleather

                        last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                        • AetasA
                          Aetas
                          見習いボス
                          Joined:

                          This is marvellous!

                          last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                          • ChrisC
                            Chris
                            Raw and Unwashed
                            Joined:

                            That's a sexy looking French hammer hanging in the back.

                            Bag looks great, of course.

                            last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                            • seawolfS
                              seawolf
                              Mod Squad
                              Joined:

                              Until I get out and take some shots with the fancy camera, these will have to do!

                              Queen Bee Satchel
                              This hand-stitched satchel is made from 7oz Horween English Tan Dublin, and has solid copper rivets, solid brass hardware, and a solid brass quick release.
                              zeebeeleather.com

                              “Good design is actually a lot harder to notice than poor design, in part because good designs fit our needs so well that the design is invisible” - Don Norman

                              @zeebeeleather

                              last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                              • seawolfS
                                seawolf
                                Mod Squad
                                Joined:

                                @Aetas:

                                This is marvellous!

                                Thank you!

                                @Chris:

                                That's a sexy looking French hammer hanging in the back.

                                Bag looks great, of course.

                                Good eye! I love that hammer 🙂

                                Thank you for the kind words!

                                “Good design is actually a lot harder to notice than poor design, in part because good designs fit our needs so well that the design is invisible” - Don Norman

                                @zeebeeleather

                                last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                • neph93N
                                  neph93
                                  見習いボス
                                  Joined:

                                  Beautiful work.

                                  “Some of those that work forces
                                  Are the same that burn crosses”

                                  • Virginia Woolf
                                  last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                  • pillowPANTSP
                                    pillowPANTS
                                    Joined:

                                    Looks wild man. Good job [emoji1319]

                                    last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                    • seawolfS
                                      seawolf
                                      Mod Squad
                                      Joined:

                                      @pillowPANTS:

                                      Looks wild man. Good job [emoji1319]

                                      Thank you! I appreciate it 🙂

                                      @neph93:

                                      Beautiful work.

                                      Thank you!

                                      “Good design is actually a lot harder to notice than poor design, in part because good designs fit our needs so well that the design is invisible” - Don Norman

                                      @zeebeeleather

                                      last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                      • seawolfS
                                        seawolf
                                        Mod Squad
                                        Joined:

                                        Nectar Protectors

                                        Jacob Bromwell Copper Flasks wrapped in Horween English Tan Dublin and Color 8 Shell Cordovan.

                                        Edited to include the name!

                                        “Good design is actually a lot harder to notice than poor design, in part because good designs fit our needs so well that the design is invisible” - Don Norman

                                        @zeebeeleather

                                        last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                        • Megatron1505M
                                          Megatron1505
                                          見習いボス
                                          Joined:

                                          The Queen Bee is incredible, a total labour of love.

                                          Those flasks and making me thirsty…..and it's not even 7am  😶

                                          Made in England, clothed in Japan, fed in America and drunk in Belgium !

                                          last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                          • seawolfS
                                            seawolf
                                            Mod Squad
                                            Joined:

                                            Thank you! The wife is really enjoying using it too, which makes all the difference. I'm not a fan of making things that sit in the closet.

                                            The flasks are making you thirsty? That bottle of Talisker is making ME thirsty! 🙂

                                            “Good design is actually a lot harder to notice than poor design, in part because good designs fit our needs so well that the design is invisible” - Don Norman

                                            @zeebeeleather

                                            last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
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