Restoring And Customising A Briefcase

[Anne-Sophie]

Michael, you are a master craftsman!

[Shangas]

Very impressive, Michael I wish I had a bag like that.

[delano]

I only just stumbled upon this thread when the recent posts bumped the topic up a bit. I am absolutely awed at your skill, and a fair bit jealous.

[my63]

Thanks for the kind words I am far from an expert I am still very much a beginner, the restorations have shown me how old cases were constructed.

Making cases is much more difficult than restorations but I have enjoyed the process and hope that I get asked to make another soon.

The burgundy bag will be off to the USA tomorrow to its new home with a FPN member so we may get a picture or two when it arrives.

 

Thanks

 

Michael

[Mr. Dante]

Michael: I just came across this thread and your work is incredible. I'm curious. Do you know or can you give a ballpark estimate of how many total hours you spent on the first project from last year?

[my63]

Mr Dante I don't keep track of the amount of hours each project takes I can only work for short periods without resting so each case takes some time to finish.

I should try to log the hours but I usually have three or four projects on the go at any one time, for example today I have dyed leather for a pair of pen cases and a single case at the same time.

If you have any other questions please feel free to ask

[pen2paper]

no questions.. just simply that viewing your work causes a smile, I'm sure lowers my blood pressure = my63 as good medicine.

I understand multiple major steps, restorations, (the Locks!), (handles!), I linger enjoying each new step.

 

But when I see those stitches! (wow) I'm glad the thread stands out, as my detail orient eyes delight seeing your work, and how its constantly perfecting.

 

Thank you so much for sharing with Us all. It's one reason I enjoy visiting FPN.

Best to you and yours.

p2p

[my63]

Thank you pen2paper for your kind remarks I am sure some aspects of this work raises my blood pressure and sometimes it is relaxing,

I find sewing difficult at times and often painful but once I have started and decided which needle is going where and where each thread is going it is almost relaxing, there are one or two places where the threads have not passed in the right way and you can see a drop in the line but it is hand sewn and thes things happen.

 

My next case is a remake of an old case where the leather could not be saved although the hardware is reusable.

 

Thanks again and best wishes to you too

[Anne-Sophie]

Such talent, Mike!

[byggyns]

Michael,

I was glad to see you posted some of your work over on Leatherworker. I've admired your skill & innovation for a while now. Keep up the good work.

[my63]

Thanks Anne-Sophie

Buggyns I have been reading and researching on the leatherworker site for some time and thought it was about time I shared some of my own work.

If anyone is interested the case was collected from me in the UK at 16.20 on Wednesday and is out for delivery in the USA today using UPS express saver service impressive service.

[jimhughes]

Skypere is going to be in Doggie Heaven. I think this is his bespoke Leather Bag. I love the work you did for me and am so glad Skip pulled the trigger on his Dream Bag with you. I can hardly wait to see it in the flesh. Have an awesome weekend, jim

[jimhughes]

You must have a personal relationship with Royal Mail and USPS, I never get anything that fast from across the pond, DHL, EMS, Fed Ex, all are a week if I'm lucky.

[my63]

Thanks Jim

I can tell you it has arrived I hope that the owner will show us a picture in use.

The package was sent it via UPS the Royal Mail ship packages and transfer them to the USPS and that seems to add some time to the process UPS collected it from me Wednesday afternoon and it was delivered on Friday lunchtime local time in the USA.

I am very impressed with the service and will use it in future.

[jimhughes]

Service was great. Skypere is very pleased. He past out on the unveiling, overwhelmed by the beauty design, workmanship and materials of your work. He was rushed to the local House of mercy, St. Victims as we know it locally. I think the Local Horse pistol will release him from ICU by Noon Monday. He currently has a house full of guests to the wonderful City Different so the photos will be a bit delayed on posting. I'm as disappointed as everyone else is. I noticed your notes on UPS after I made my comments on your delivery service. Old Timers comes to the reservation and I'm the index case. The only thing faster would be a Queen's Messenger for delivery. I'll have to look into your service closer. Skypere is very pleased. I'm very happy for him as this is something he's been searching for for several years. All the local artisans turned his request for a bespoke bag aside. You are a miracle worker, Michael , for both of us. I look forward to see what your next project looks like. Have an awesome weekend, Jim

[Skyppere]

Thank you Scrawler if I remember correctly you have one of my first wooden boxes I hope it is serving you well.

Here is my first case finished (at last).

 

IMG_0102_1 by my0771, on Flickr

 

IMG_0109_1 by my0771, on Flickr

 

One of the requirements for this case was for a handle that would not allow the case to flex underneath it

 

IMG_0108_1 by my0771, on Flickr

 

The inside of the case was lined with cognac suede

 

IMG_0111_1 by my0771, on Flickr

 

IMG_0110_1 by my0771, on Flickr

 

Thanks for looking

 

Michael

Well I thought I, as the lucky recipient of this bag should weigh in! It arrived last week, pefectly packed and in great condition and speedily too! And I couldn't be more happy. Michael and I had corresponded for some time about this. I wanted a specific messenger bag with exact dimensions so it would hold things like a portfolio if I wanted to go to a coffee house and write letters so it would hold pens and papers and inks and stamps and envelopes and the like. AND that when I traveled I needed something for a novel, small camera, ticket and assorted carry on things. The pocket in back was designed for me to put my boarding pass for easy extraction for example.

Michael and I collaborated (translation, he did all the work and I watched) beautifully on the color, the thickness of the leather, the interior...

all in all just a great experience AND now I have a great messenger bag!

cheers

skip williams

[jimhughes]

Beautiful job Michael. Skip is a very Lucky Man. I'm envious as the dickens. Life doesn't get much better than this in our world.

[dcpritch]

Wow! Fantastic work!

[my63]

Thanks Jim I am sure there was some encouragement from you Skip was great to work with making a handle that would not move whilst walking was a challenge but we got there in the end, I freely admit I did have a bit of a crisis when it came to cutting the flap, but Skip was very patient and did not apply any pressure.

I would love to make another case but those type of commissions don't come along very often, my next project is a multi pen case with a twist.

Restoration wise I have another tan coloured Pendragon case actually I now have three but keep that under you hat.

 

DcPritch thanks for your kind comments

[AAAndrew]

Coming late to the party, I started reading at the beginning, and then just could not stop! It was almost like a mystery novel. I kept wanting to see what happened next. I kept thinking, "I'll just skip a few pages" but then I couldn't stand the thought of missing something.

 

Not only do you do wonderful work, but it's a quite a journey you take us on. I've done some hand work with photographic recording, and it makes it so much more trouble, but it's so much fun to watch! Thank you so much for sharing your process and the wonderful pieces you've brought back to life.

 

Andrew