steveb leatherworks: the blather

Freddy – wanted to give his Dad, Big Joe, a steveb belt for the holidays. Big Joe, is not a jeans wearing kind of guy, instead favoring “slacks”. This necessitated the manufacture of a narrow *dress* belt. So in answer, a 1″ strap was cut from a brand new, delivered last week hide, because, Big […]

A new belt for Tyler. Black color, tan thread, brass buckle, a wack stamping pattern, lined with Pig. Tyler never had his draws so stylishly secure. 

My normal Scrapper belt is a three piece affair with a buckle end, a billet end and a back piece…very fancy, and a bit complicated, requiring skiving, gluing and some odd sewing. I made Bill’s belt a half a Scrapper with only two pieces, simplifying matters and giving him something deceivingly simple and unique. Color […]

Spending a full day in the shop under fluorescent lights standing on concrete was enough to send me out into the snowstorm pummeling the area today just to get some air and move my body to an area larger than 15sq.ft. Heard on the radio there are 6 hour delays at the airports. I feel […]

Hmm, simple, clean elegant and certainly something different – this latest Journal stands on its own. Made with the very finest domestically tanned saddle skirting, the Smooth journal feels substantial with high-quality tactile overtones, has a hefty hand and is imbued with beautiful color, a complex blend of: brown, dark brown, saddle tan and burgundy. This […]

I love logos. I have a thing for graphic design. My specific interests are in logo’s, identity’s, brandmarks – whatever you might want to call ’em. I like the idea of distinguishing ones self and services through a graphic mark or device. If designed, with knowledge and sensitivity of the subject matter – a logo […]

I am back to making toolbags. I thought I’d share this recent toolbag that left the shop for a happy new home. The proud new owner, a repeat customer, has simple tastes: black leather and red flames. This bag was particularly challenging to make because of the material- 10oz, fat stuffed motorcycle latigo- overkill in all regards – this is […]

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Some tools you really need to do a job well and there are some jobs you can get by with a sorta-kinda tool, maybe. Edging is one of those things, that having the right tool, in the right size really helps. Edgers are foundational tools for most any leather crafter. You reach for them often […]

15 years ago doesn’t seem all that long from a numerical standpoint. But the truth is that 15yrs is a helluva long time, in a lot of other ways….  looking at these old shots from a memorable road trip of long ago reminds me of that. Pupkin, Gonzo and me headed up to the wild […]

It is not too often that I start a project without a clear idea of the “desired end-state”. Usually with customer work, I attend to the details in a number of emails or conversations that drill down into the  specific colors, design and hardware they’d like me to use. I don’t ever cut leather until […]

Alot of my customers carry a briefcase or over-the-shoulder/sling/ messenger/ computer bag. Usually they are some sort of heavy duty ballistic nylon – like my favorite (and pricey) brand of choice – Tumi. All of these type bags come with a standard issue shoulder strap – pretty ugly. Since I am always looking for ways […]

As if you havent figured it out by now, I like my words. I like words in general, but i especially like my words…lol. I always carry a journal with me, to capture thoughts, take notes when i am in a meeting and in general, to make me look smarter than I am. For many years […]

Looking at these two pictures of Dennis’s bike, I think to myself – “oh man, what is up with you? Featuring a bike looking like this – a powder puff pimp queen?”  Forever and ever, I’ve been a 3 shades of black guy (wrinkle, gloss, satin), my fxr best personifying this ideal, as that bike […]

One of the rules of taking care of your tools is to use them correctly. Screwdrivers should’nt be used to pry or be pounded on with hammers (unless they are someone else’s), ratchets are not breaker bars, knife blades are not screwdrivers, etc, etc. In the leathercraft world we dont use metal hammers very often, […]

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A picture tells a story – and this one has a happy ending. He’s humbled and wiser, but ok. As you most probably know, tough guys hate it when they get it in the nose. Lesson learned – watch where you stick it.

Reaching back in the archive here for a little discourse on a special *surprise birthday* wallet with a meaningful, personal piece of art showcased front and center. My customer Brandi was a girlfriend of the gent who had this art as a tattoo. Mind you this was a small tattoo, and a very old tattoo..and […]

Anvils are one of those tools – you don’t know how much you need one, until you’ve got one at your disposal. I punch a lot of slots, tips, holes, etc – and find my anvils essential to a clean, neat and safe punching job. Nothing provides a more stable surface and you want a […]

Some years back i was given a scrap of alligator to play with. I don’t work with hides or skins much, so put it aside, knowing that one day when i had some idle time, I’d get to some experimenting and see what I could do with it. Time passed, and lo and behold, I […]

Yea – we got issues in the retail environment, let me tell you (nothing you don’t already know). These pics were taken in a normally busy mall. This holds true especially on a Saturday afternoon at 1pm… around the Holidays!! Unreal, see the tumbleweeds? Ya feelin it? I sure am.

blue suede paisley.. Found some really different and exceedingly expensive leather suitable for lining wallets. Both pieces are a matte finish suede and sport cool paisley/ bandanna. type prints. Both colors are outstanding, both prints are really something different. I was only able to find a small piece of each, so this is sure to be […]

My grandfather Max, had a thing for cars. Being a traveling vaudevillian entertainer traveling the USA from the mid 1920’s (see the caravan pic with my Mom holding the dog and my grandmother in the back car) through serving in WWII in the USO, he knew that transportation was pretty important to his ability to […]

This customer had a favorite scrimshaw blade he carried every day. Being a folder type of knife, some sort of pouch style sheath was appropriate. Being a daily carry knife, required I use a strong, tight to the body style – so it wouldn’t get hung up or snag on stuff. I decided to use […]