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    Iron Heart Fall/Winter 2025 Collection Preview - Now Live

    ZeeBee Leather

    Other Brands and Shops
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    • ?
      A Former User
      Joined:

      Exquisite!

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

        Thanks @adam313 !

        “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:

          Finally got a functioning buckle…so I took some quick family shots

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

          last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
          • 4c4
            4c
            Banned
            Joined:

            Great setup/ZeeBee collection!

            last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
            • EastWestE
              EastWest
              Joined:

              What a set!

              last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
              • D
                davito
                Joined:

                Amazing, so nice. Enjoy

                Cheers,
                David

                last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                • J
                  jdl1279
                  Joined:

                  Thanks gents, can't wait to see what the new set does with some wear

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

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

                    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.

                    “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
                    • GilesG
                      Giles
                      IHUK Crew
                      Joined:

                      Next Level…

                      "OK face up to it - you're useless but generally pretty honest and straightforward . . . it's a rare combination of qualities that I have come to admire in you" - Geo 2011

                      last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                      • 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.

                                      «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
                                            Joined:

                                            This is marvellous!

                                            last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
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