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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 @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.

                «Stevie Heighway on the wing!
                We had dreams, and songs to sing…»

                • Dame Vera Lynn
                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
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                      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.

                              «Stevie Heighway on the wing!
                              We had dreams, and songs to sing…»

                              • Dame Vera Lynn
                              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
                                        • J
                                          jdl1279
                                          Joined:

                                          Those flasks are sexy

                                          Bourbon: because living in Kentucky just makes you want to drink

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

                                            I don't do Scotch, bad  experience when I was younger. For me it's Irish all the way.

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

                                            last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
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