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    Iron Heart Fall/Winter 2025 Collection Preview - Now Live

    ZeeBee Leather

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    • ?
      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

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        • ?
          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
                        • 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
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