ZeeBee Leather
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Military Hardware/Decorations/Insignia Book made with Horween English Tan Dublin and Wheat Essex. It has "pages" that can be swapped out depending on the requirements of the mission making it modular and customizable. This version has a place to pin ribbons, warfare devices, and insignia, as well as a zippered pocket for miscellaneous items. Each "page" is held in with 5 long Solid Brass Chicago Screws. This reminds me of something you might find in your grandfather's attic with all of his decorations from WWII. This will be a great keepsake and a wonderful travel companion on deployments or other official travel.
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Exquisite!
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A brand new ZeeBee Leather Hand-Stitched Briefcase in Black Horween Chromexcel Front Quarter Horsehide for our dear friend @burnt_goat . Fully lined with Horween Wheat Essex and outfitted with YKK zippers. It has a zippered pocket, a passport pocket, and a sleeve pocket inside too. Fully custom and fully handmade in USA.
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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.
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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.
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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!
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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."
