steveb leatherworks: the blather

Spent some serious time on this beauty of a belt – some purposeful “font management”, clearly attentive deep carving of the letter forms, clean stitching with 277 thread –  and hey, who doesn’t love the red as blood tribal flames? A special feature on most of my belts and another invention from yours truly……The removable […]

So here i was cutting a piece of leather tonight with one of my my older’n dirt headknives (one is  from 1900, the other, about 1928)  – and realized right quick, my blade was dull, flipped it over and still not so good. Not a good feeling when your bearing down on a piece of […]

Getting the chance to produce a collection of various items for a customer at one time is a treat. It doesn’t happen very often, but when the opportunity arises, I am all over it, like water on a hot, greased skillet. For this special customer I had the pleasure of making a Slip Sheath for […]

I have always liked to work on my machines, no matter what the nature of their function might be. I am no fabricator, nor a builder – I am clearly a “maintainer” – and as our America’s last great hero, Harry said in a most memorable moment.. “a man has to know his limitations” and […]

Terry asked for a “triple black” belt: black background, black graphics and black thread. I gently suggested to Terry that he consider some contrast worked into the belt, to make it pop a bit and because, in my humble opinion, a black belt tends to just look like a black strip around your waist… and it absorbs the detail of the graphics, in this case […]

Being a skateboarder, or “skater” was one of the defining characteristics of my teenage years growing up East Coast… Citizens find it hard to believe, but there are alot of similarities between bikers and skaters when it comes down it,  to those in the know…know its true and the thrill of rolling is just one of those shared DNA strands between the groups. In NYC […]

I like to visit. I especially like visiting when I am on 2 wheels because the reception is always better when you get to your destination on a bike, and as we all know – riding is waaay better than driving in a cage, no matter how nice the cage may be. I like going […]

Needing a ride every so often – I am always on the lookout for a good spot to use as a destination, a reason to get on the bike and a place, that once i get to it…inspires a bit of reflection. I wont get on the bike unless I am going at least 50mi, […]

Hey all  – got a request for you all – please send me a pic or two of the leather I crafted for you, I’d like to see how its holding up & what it looks like. Consider it research if you will. If I can get a shot of you (on the bike, in your shop, […]

I like simple and i like functional. Although i dress up my work with as much ornamentation as a person can stand – the piece has to work to a high standard, my standard. Something as simple as a phone case presents a myriad of choices if you take the time to think about it – which i do… shape, material, mounting […]

It is alot of fun coming up with something that is a surprise gift. I think it really says alot about the gift-giver, thinking that far ahead, going through the added hassle of connecting with me (not that that is a bad thing, right?…right?) and working it out. It is alot easier to go to a store […]

So, I am looking to develop a few items that are easy to bolt-on and change up from the o-so-popular modern FL series, the goal of which is to help make the ride more distinctive. Since i have an 08 StreetGlide, I have a vested interest in coming up with a few bits and pieces.  I bought an Anniv. […]

Had one heck of a storm blow through here last night, while i was in the shop working, only to awake to bluebird skies and a little bit of stuff blown around. Ran to the local hardware emporium early this AM to get a few bits and pieces to make the new tourpak strap set i made work well AND […]

rain riding with my crew is better than no riding. new hampshire.1993   remember when no one you knew owned a windshield, let a alone a dresser and there were maybe even a few shovels traveling with you?

So I have some customers who are the salty types, some are military, some are LEO’s, many of them bikers, some…  well who the hell knows. So I get a request from Casey (who is military) for a plain black Fin wallet, well after a little back and forth via email, we ended up with this…not quite the plain black […]

So, old #7 needs a new belt for the jacket (that was too big for me) I sold him , like 10 years ago. Seems the “cheap junk” wore out after 10 hard riding years so #7 says to me – ” i need a new belt for the jacket – and then hands me […]

So, I went to Sturgis this year. Got radical, didnt bring a bike. I know I know – why?  Well, I got my reasons- but for the most part it comes down to the fact that if I brought a bike – I’d be on it and not doing what i set out to do, which was reconnect […]

Bill is a fire guy, big shot – a Chief or something like that – I forget. Anyway – he is important enough to have to carry a radio. I mean thats pretty important right? They dont let everyone carry a radio do they? Anyway, Bill wanted to pimp out his radio rig, having been a customer of mine previously, Bill knew what to […]

Friday afternoon…..another holiday here is here, heralding the end of summer..hmmm…a good time to scheme getting some “last licks” road trippin’ in, what do you think? Can I squeak another one in? I feel like a kid scheming his next cut class. Got a bunch of work waiting for me on the bench, the “events” agenda is […]

Thanks to Paul Levey at marcom   http://www.mcc2.com/   I have a fancy new front end on my site – thanks Paul, you rock. I will say it again friends, its better having a friend who can help manage this devil box powered electronical stuff than it is a Dr. in the family, or a lawyer for that matter. […]

Sent another belt out, this one is a piece o’ work – concho’s, florettes, fancy buckle set with tip and keeper, its all here. Two departures from the norm for me with this belt – the first being i riveted through the belt and lining (normally I’d try and avoid putting holes in the lining), but i […]